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Anyone Had To Deal With Alcoholism?

Dixiebell

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Dixiebell Contributor
Dixiebell
Posted

My husband came to me today and said he wants to stop drinking and asked if I know of anything to help him sleep. He says he can't sleep unless he has 'many' beers. He has also been off of dip for three months. He has been using nicotine lozenges to help with that and is able to go many hours without one now. This is all good news for me.

Do any of you know of suppliments that can aid him with this? If you have quit drinking, how did you go about it?

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Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

My husband came to me today and said he wants to stop drinking and asked if I know of anything to help him sleep. He says he can't sleep unless he has 'many' beers. He has also been off of dip for three months. He has been using nicotine lozenges to help with that and is able to go many hours without one now. This is all good news for me.

Do any of you know of suppliments that can aid him with this? If you have quit drinking, how did you go about it?

I highly commend your husband for recognizing he has a problem yet wants to take the steps to stop. It's not easy but he can do this. He may not want to hear this but I would highly recommend he seek help with it from a doctor specializing in alcohol related recovery. Whether you drink a lot or enough that you cannot sleep without many beers is something that needs professional help. They can make recovery a lot easier and can supplement him with what he needs to help make him comfortable while he is getting used to not having alcohol as a sleep aid. I am highly experienced with alcohol dependency from having family members with serious drinking issues. Not saying your hubby is that bad but if he cannot sleep without drinking, he has a problem with it at some level.

Good luck to him and you. He won't regret ditching the booze but it can be hard getting there. Tell him not to be afraid to ask for help.

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AerinA Rookie
AerinA
Posted

I agree that he should see a doctor. Over time, the body develops a dependance. I don't know how long / how much he has been drinking, but in some cases it is dangerous to detox at home--he should definitely get a medical opinion (even if it is determined "safe" for him to detox, you should be made aware of what to expect as far as withdrawal symptoms). Both of you should seek support, such as AA meetings and/or counseling. Alcoholism can affect more than just the people who drink, both in terms of emotional impact, and the way to deal with the recovery and the changes in lifestyle, as well as relapse (if it happens).

About the sleep, you could ask his doctor about melatonin (a natural hormone that helps you feel sleepy,) or something like Simply Sleep, which has the same active ingredients as Benadryl (but is cheaper--haha.) I would be very wary of prescription sleep aids, at least for now, since while trying to kick one addiction, it is very easy to become dependent on something else.

Good luck to you both, I hope things get better, and congratulations to him for deciding to take this step.

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Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

I also would recommend that he seek a medical doctor's advise. There are now some aides, which could make the transition easier.

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I also am going to advise that he talk to his doctor. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to have him get checked for celiac while he is there. I know this sounds strange but although I haven't seen either in a long time both my father and my brother are likely celiac and both are addicted to beer. When I was first diagnosed my brother tried to go gluten free as he has many of the same symptoms I do but he just couldn't switch from beer to wine. With beer for celiacs it is a double addiction, one to alcohol and one to the gluten in the beer.

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hockeymomofceliacchild Rookie
hockeymomofceliacchild
Posted

I also am going to advise that he talk to his doctor. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to have him get checked for celiac while he is there. I know this sounds strange but although I haven't seen either in a long time both my father and my brother are likely celiac and both are addicted to beer. When I was first diagnosed my brother tried to go gluten free as he has many of the same symptoms I do but he just couldn't switch from beer to wine. With beer for celiacs it is a double addiction, one to alcohol and one to the gluten in the beer.

Very interesting, my dad is an alcholic or should I say recovering alcholic I never dreamed he could do it. my brother and my son both have celiac and I think my dad is contemplating getting checked too he says he has always had similar issues as my son when he was younger. We are all getting checked it would be interesting if my mom or dad have it.

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Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Very interesting, my dad is an alcholic or should I say recovering alcholic I never dreamed he could do it. my brother and my son both have celiac and I think my dad is contemplating getting checked too he says he has always had similar issues as my son when he was younger. We are all getting checked it would be interesting if my mom or dad have it.

Alcoholic dependency can be a serious factor. And it can be misdiagnosed as consistent with Celiac Disease. Both can destroy the villi. Both can develop full malnutrition.

It's easy to confuse both. The advanced level of both would be similar. Advanced testing would be recommended.

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hockeymomofceliacchild Rookie
hockeymomofceliacchild
Posted

Alcoholic dependency can be a serious factor. And it can be misdiagnosed as consistent with Celiac Disease. Both can destroy the villi. Both can develop full malnutrition.

It's easy to confuse both. The advanced level of both would be similar. Advanced testing would be recommended.

So are you saying because he drank for so many years he could have the testing done for celiac and have a false positive? When you say advanced testing what does that intail? My brother only had a skin biopsy because he has DH. My son had a blood test and they tested three different antibodies his results were 80's/90's/ and over 100. Then he had a scope done to determine for sure if he had it. (He also has a rash which I say is DH but dermatoligist says is just echema...but don't let me get started on him! lol)

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Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Alcoholic dependency can be a serious factor. And it can be misdiagnosed as consistent with Celiac Disease. Both can destroy the villi. Both can develop full malnutrition.

It's easy to confuse both. The advanced level of both would be similar. Advanced testing would be recommended.

that's all I'm sayin' :) No need to read too much into it. ;)

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

So are you saying because he drank for so many years he could have the testing done for celiac and have a false positive? When you say advanced testing what does that intail? My brother only had a skin biopsy because he has DH. My son had a blood test and they tested three different antibodies his results were 80's/90's/ and over 100. Then he had a scope done to determine for sure if he had it. (He also has a rash which I say is DH but dermatoligist says is just echema...but don't let me get started on him! lol)

I doubt it especially if there are other members of the family that have celiac. I believe the mechanism for malnutrition with alcoholism is different. Being an alcoholic will not cause the antigliadin antibodies although both could cause similiar malabsorption problems. What I meant is that because celiacs can have an addictive effect with gluten the addiction can be a double whammy if the alcoholics drink of choice is a gluten derived beverage.

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lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

If your husband has been drinking heavily he most certainly should not just quit cold without the help of something like Ativan, either at home or in a detox facility. This would require a prescription. Detoxing without chemical help can lead to convulsions or seizures. At best, it's just downright unpleasant.

As for a sleep aid, one problem is that if your husband is alcoholic, typical sleep aids are generally a bad idea because of possible addiction. However, there's an anti-depressant called Trazodone that is non-addictive AND helps you fall asleep. The trick is that you MUST lie down and try to fall asleep as soon as you take it because it's ineffective after 15 minutes has passed. This would also require a prescription.

richard

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hockeymomofceliacchild Rookie
hockeymomofceliacchild
Posted

I doubt it especially if there are other members of the family that have celiac. I believe the mechanism for malnutrition with alcoholism is different. Being an alcoholic will not cause the antigliadin antibodies although both could cause similiar malabsorption problems. What I meant is that because celiacs can have an addictive effect with gluten the addiction can be a double whammy if the alcoholics drink of choice is a gluten derived beverage.

LOL Thanks, I actually understood your post but I was confused by Lisas reply to my post I think being on here when I am dead tired could be a factor in this case. lol I didn't read anything into her comment I just didn't understand anything in her comment! LOL Mommy brain and lack of sleep I guess. ;)

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Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

LOL Thanks, I actually understood your post but I was confused by Lisas reply to my post I think being on here when I am dead tired could be a factor in this case. lol I didn't read anything into her comment I just didn't understand anything in her comment! LOL Mommy brain and lack of sleep I guess. ;)

My apology for any confusion. :) I often confuse myself ;)

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hockeymomofceliacchild Rookie
hockeymomofceliacchild
Posted

My apology for any confusion. :) I often confuse myself ;)

lol that was me with the mommy brain, not meaning you :) lol No problem, sometimes all this technical jargin just goes way over my head, :blink:

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bridgeofsighs Apprentice
bridgeofsighs
Posted

I had a strong mental addiction to alcohol (beer) for a few years. I believe it had a lot to do with Celiac disease because my thirst for alcohol has diminished greatly upon going gluten-free. I currently only drink distilled clear liquor, gluten-free beer, and wine in moderation, with no desire to binge anymore.(however, i do still enjoy drinking on occasion)

I'm not saying that alcoholism and Celiac always go hand in hand, but in my case, i know they did. It makes me wonder, how many other alcoholics could overcome their addiction with a gluten-free diet?

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