Has anyone got any experiences (hopefully with unexpectedly happy endings) of somebody having Wernicke’s Encephalopathy +/or Korsakoff Syndrome?

We had to take Mrs R’s brother to hospital last week (after another hospital had discharged him late at night presumably thinking he was ‘just pissed’) and now had the diagnosis back last night. To complicate matters further his accommodation is tied to his (furloughed) job, so I’m guessing that he’ll find himself homeless too.

So is a hospital likely to discharge someone with that diagnosis if they have nowhere to go?
Any idea on likely nature of care / accommodation that’ll be required?
Any top tips on getting a loved one to stop drinking themselves to death?

TIA

There’s plenty more behind it of course, but you’ll be aware that W-K is fundamentally a vitamin (thiamine) deficiency. Wherever he goes, adequate nutrition and taking his vit supplements will be important to avoid repeats.

They won’t hold on to him forever but having no home should kick the care services into action trying to find him somewhere.

If it’s a biggish hospital there’s probably at least one ALD specialist nurse attached to a hepatology service who should be taking an interest (though probably massively overrun too). If not at this particular hospital, there should be one somewhere relatively close by. Trouble is, he’ll need to be willing to listen, same as all addicts.

Best of luck with him

I think wernickes is when its still reversible, korsakoffs not so likeley.
He’ll not be absorbing nutrients well, so as well as good nutrition and supplements he should have vitamins by injection.
Sorry but if its gone that far i’ve no happy anecdotes but its not my area of work.

thanks; I think they wanted to wait until they’d had him for a week of treatment & observation before they made a diagnosis. Sadly it seems as though not a short-term Wernicke episode but the full blown Korsakoff Syndrome, and he’s not any more coherent / less befuddled than when he went in.

Will see what they say in coming days, but happy to benefit from any experiences (good or bad) anyone might be able to share