Rehab help please

[theoldboiler]

I have decompensated liver disease and have fallen off of the wagon, lots of reasons, no excuses. Previously had one seizure in hospital when dry and now too scared to stop drinking on my own as it isn't fair on my family if I seize again. I think I probably need a residential rehab as the hospitals can't cope with anything non-critical right now. I think my only two options are a home nurse for a few days or a residential rehab place. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[DavyGravy]

Hi Wendy

Fighting addiction is tough but always more difficult when you are on your own. Having someone there for you is an enormous help. If you have a home nurse attending, be honest, give up all alcohol in the house.

I think a residential rehab would be a very good idea. You would be in a controlled environment, no access to temptation and exercise and treatment. I think most places offer 7 or 28 days detox... personally I am not convinced 7 days in long enough but if the choice was 7 days or nothing then 7 days would do.

If it is your decision to make Wendy, If it were me, I would take the rehab.

wishing you well

Dave

[theoldboiler in reply to DavyGravy]

Thank you Dave. The local one I have found is suggesting 14 days or 28 days. I have major family commitments so 14 is possible and 28 impossible

[DavyGravy in reply to theoldboiler]

It is worth checking to see if you can get NHS funding Wendy. It is cheaper for the NHS to pay for rehab than to keep a patient on the ward with Jaundice, HE, Ascites, varices or all of them. You may need to impress on the person you speak to that you cannot stop drinking without rehab and you do not want to end up very ill in hospital, ask is there any way you can get assistance with the cost of rehab. Check with your liver team they may be able to put you in touch with someone who can help.

[theoldboiler in reply to DavyGravy]

Thank you DavyGravy

[Ubwa]

Yes, I took myself to rehab to get my head straight. I managed to stop drinking by going cold turkey although I later found out that wasn’t a good idea although I got away with it. I slipped up which is what made me think e itch is enough. I was there for 6 weeks. Rehab is not a magic pill, it will give you tools and help you need to succeed but it’s still up to you to give up and it will be a struggle. I agree with Dave, 7 days will not help and I don’t think having a nurse periodically checking in will either if you are at the stage you are decompensated and still drinking.

You are in a catch 22 as if you are decompensated, each drink may be causing irreversible damage but if you are prone to stroking you can’t just stop. Have you gone to hospital/spoken to your doctor as you are not far from it potentially being critical?

You need a plan for right now as you may have to wait for a place in rehab. While you are drinking you are playing Russian roulette with each sip so you may not have time for that place to become available. Will you be self funding, if so I can send you the details of where I went provided I don’t fall foul of any rules?

[theoldboiler in reply to Ubwa]

I don't think there is any option other than self funding so any private recommendations appreciated. I have been talking to a local place today but have no idea if they are any good

[Ubwa in reply to theoldboiler]

Private medical insurance, if you have it, may cover it. I have sent you a message.

[Hidden]

Hi Wendy,

We would suggest reaching out to your doctors today.

Here is a useful link to Alcohol services including how to search for them in your own area.

nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-su...

Take care and keep safe.

[theoldboiler in reply to Hidden]

I have tried. No joy

[theoldboiler in reply to theoldboiler]

They did ring back finally and advocated home slow reduction with support

[Chriseylad]

I've got decomasated liver disease stage 4 Your mug if you start drinking again I had 72 hours to live

So get a grip no one going to feel sorry for you if you're drinking again

Stop drinking its a hard battle I've got all the final stage symptoms and it ain't nice

[Kji378 in reply to Chriseylad]

Hey Chriseylad!

I don't think this person is out for sympathy, that's very harsh. They are asking for HELP, there's a big difference!

It's a rotten place to be in, I and MANY people have also been like you, with a very unknown few weeks, days, hours, minutes.

I'm sure you don't have to tell the person what it is like. They are asking for help, if you can't help and you only have criticism to contribute, then I'm afraid that your negative energy is wasted here!!

[Margolia in reply to Kji378]

I have interpreted Criseylad's comment in completely opposite way. He was trying to help not bring in negative criticism.

[Kji378 in reply to Margolia]

Happy Christmas.

I hope you get some Rehab help you posted about.

Take good care 🙂

[Margolia in reply to Kji378]

Sorry, did you respond to me? I think you have wrong addressee. 🙂

[Kji378 in reply to Margolia]

I don't know now, it's gone a bit mad 😂

[Kji378 in reply to Margolia]

You replied to me 😂

[theoldboiler in reply to Chriseylad]

Chriseylad. Thank you so much for your help

[theoldboiler in reply to Chriseylad]

and I didn't ask anyone to feel sorry for me

[Zukosmile07]

Chill out please people. Someone is reaching out. The boiler can always be repaired. I should know. I've tried a few methods to stop drinking and I'm afraid it's all in your head, you have to be ready to quit. No matter what you do or where you go. You have to be committed. I understand Chris because sometimes a scare is what you need. Sometimes being scarred of stopping drinking overwhelms living.

I will tell you this though...if you carry on you will die. I can't sugar coat that.

[Zukosmile07]

What I can tell you is I've been there and end of life liver disease is horrible. You don't just die it hurts. That's the scary part. I would go to hospital and do the detox there and they will do the checks to see how bad your health is. Maybe you need to know just to put you on the safe side. Rehab will not do scans and things to see what shape your liver is and it may do more damage. Stopping drinking is the best recovery for the liver but not cold turkey, it can kill you.

[theoldboiler]

Thank you. Our NHS is in a very bad way at the moment so I think I would have to be critical/dying for help there. I have talked to a triage doctor today and his advice is to reduce over the next few days at home with counselling support rather than any kind of short detox

[Zukosmile07 in reply to theoldboiler]

You have to stick to reducing because on your own it's easy to have one more. If you explain that you have decompensated cirrhosis of the liver. Drinking is making you feel poorly but it's the only advice I've been given to cut down and carry on. That is not good advice for someone who has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease... unless it's not as bad as they told you.Don't know only you can say how you feel. I wouldn't of drank if I knew I was decompensated I know that much.

Good luck Danny x

[Positive001 in reply to theoldboiler]

You are very brave to pour your heart out and reach for the support of your friends on here after what hopefully is just a blip on your road to complete sobriety. You don't need criticism, you are punishing yourself enough. You are seeking out the best way for you to succeed with other's suggestions so be proud of yourself for doing that and l send you the very best to keep you off the slippery slope.Laura xx

[Hidden]

I will not close this thread at this time as there is lots of useful support being offered. Can I remind forum members to be kind and mindful of their words- written text can often be misunderstood.

Take care of yourselves, and each other.

Trust9

[AndImStillHere]

I would definitely suggest the 14 days as a minimum for a detox, I did a 7day last time & was still ill & suffering some withdrawals. That is the main thing, it clears your body, but more important is what happens next (when you get home) You need to change your mind set, your routines & several coping mechanisms in place. As we all know the addiction never goes away so not only do you need to be strong you need to find some like minded people / groups that can be there & help you in your moments of weakness. Strike while the iron is hot (now as you need help now) because it is all too easy to get yourself clean, think everything is ok & then slowly drift back. I wish you well 🥰

[Geordiemac]

I cannot believe the toxicity in some of these posts......

[Geordiemac]

Wishing you all the very best in getting the support and help that you so desperately need. xx

[BetulaT]

Hi there! From my experience with my husband I think this counts as critical, or is only a step away from becoming critical. My husband decided to stop drinking this summer after he started feeling unwell (showing what I now know are symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis but I had no clue at the time). He reduced the amount of alcohol he was drinking which made him very unwell - I had to call an ambulance but he refused to go to hospital. He was advised to taper slowly his alcohol consumption and that's what he did, unfortunately his liver couldn't take any more alcohol and a couple of weeks later he became very unwell again and I had to call an ambulance again. He was hospitalised for two weeks for emergency detox as his liver had failed. Hopefully your liver is in better condition than my husband's but just a warning that the situation can worsen very quickly. x

[Roy1955]

I self referred to a rehab group called CGL (Change Grow Live) its part NHS part charity funded.They arranged a supervised medical assisted at home detox.

They can also arrange inpatient detox but it takes longer.

Then 6 months ongoing face to face support before being discharged with the invitation to "come back if you need us"

I can't praise them enough!

Google your local group.

Theres also Addaction, again its affiliated with NHS.

Both give you fast access to Specialist Dr's and nurses as well as councilers and recovered alcoholic helpers.

I just walked through their door one day (without an appointment) and started my new life!