alcoholic brain I jury

[Fishsoup]

does anyone have any experience of alcoholic brain injuries? My 36 year old daughter is in hospital with wernickes. I would like to bring her home but wondering what support might be available.

Many thanks to all.

[Alibongo60]

Hello Fishsoup, welcome to our group I am sure there will b someone who will be able to help you or maybe give headway helpline a call I am sure they will help. I have just left a message for a lady with a bi from alcohol induced, maybe she can help you . I hope you get the support for your daughter, mental health is struggling, and help isn’t always available, I wish you lots of luck let us know how you get on love Alice xx

[Fishsoup in reply to Alibongo60]

Thank you so juch

[Pairofboots]

Hi, contact the brain charity thebraincharity.org.uk as a starting point, dementia UK and the Alzheimer's society have information on Wernicke - Korsakoff Syndrome. Hope you get the support you are looking for.

[Fishsoup in reply to Pairofboots]

Thank you so much, I will do so

[dovrob]

Hi fishsoup,

I am replying to this as a former nurse and also someone who has suffered a TIA ( Traumatic head Injury) and had issues with alcohol. As with all suggestions here we can only offer a broad opinion as every case if head injury is individual to the person and family affected.

Wernicke's as far as I'm aware is caused by excessive alcohol consumption over a lengthy period of time. One of its main symptoms is severe short term memory loss. This introduces concerns for the person's safety as they are vulnerable to getting lost, forgetting electrical goods are switched on, realising they have a problem plus a host of other problems. There is also the problem associated with their drinking. This may have developed into an crucial part of their day and so they don't see a problem with carrying on drinking and may become aggressive or secretive when attempts are made to stop their drinking. I know that after my TIA I thought I could carry on drinking as before with no realisation, though the evidence was plain to see, that I had a marked reduction of my tolerance to alcohol and that I had become most unpleasant when drinking.

Suggestions already voiced towards reaching out to get support from Brain Injury groups as well as Dementia and mental health I support wholeheartedly. I would also add a group such as AA may be useful and with their simple messages may help your daughter to keep things simple and one day at a time. The good thing with AA is that there are many different groups so your daughter may try a few before she finds one she is comfortable with. I would also add that your own Mental Health may take a pounding, so reaching out to Brain injury groups may also aid your own understanding of what is happening as well as offering support in what is a hard and at times thankless task of looking after someone with a brain injury. Al Anon is a group for family and friends of someone with a problem with alcohol and you may find joining such a group for yourself helps maintain your sanity.

I wish you continual strength, tolerance, patience and a soft place to bang your head when things just refuse to follow logic.

Take care and feel free to contact me here if there is anything I can offer.

Dov

[Fishsoup in reply to dovrob]

Thank you so much for your wonderful supportive reply. My daughter is still in hospital and has not had alcohol for 23 weeks now. Social worker is looking for her next step…I.E. what sort of accommodation and thinking of 24 hour supported care. I am thinking of bringing her home but am worried what problems I might face and if I can cope. Also just wondering what support I willbe offered. I will be asking for more advice and help through Headway I think.

Thank you again