My brother began drinking as a young teen-ager. He is now 43.

After a number of failed attempts at rehab, two years ago this month, he nearly died. 22 days in the ICU with a number of rounds of dialysis, and three additional weeks in hospital, he was told: A) only about 10% of patients who are admitted in his original condition make it out of hospital alive; and B) he can never drink alcohol again as it WILL kill him.

He has chronic pancreatitis now, and has been in and out of hospital multiple times. He is in foreclosure, hasn't worked since June of this year, and is now in hospital again, although swears (like usual) that he hasn't been drinking, and has been sober about sixty days.

I guess I just had to unload....my parents are a mess over it, and I really have no where else to turn where this story and its effect on those around my brother can really be understood.

Thanks, Kim

Oh Kim, so sorry to hear about your brother...

My Father and Brother both were Alcoholic's. I say were because they have both passed because cancer.

Chronic Pancreatitis is not an easy thing to deal with. My daughter's ex boyfriend had this but wouldn't stop drinking while she was with him. He has been at deaths door a few time. He did finally stop drinking as much...wish I knew what to say...you and your brother are in my thoughts and prayers...

PM me anytime....

Thank you for your kind words....it is very frustrating to watch what can only be described as a slow motion train wreck.

Hi ~ I'm so sorry this is happening. Anyone who knows anything about alcoholism knows that you can't make an alcoholic stop drinking ~ HE has to stop on his own. No amount of begging, threatening, pleading, etc. will do it. He has to hit bottom and want to stay sober more than he wants anything else. I PRAY that he is at this point now. And I hope it's not too late.

The family of alcoholics suffer the most ~ alot because they don't understand the disease of alcoholism and they don't understand the alcoholic. The group Al-Anon is wonderful ~ they can help you learn to live with an alcoholic without enabling him, and without losing yourself to the disease. They teach you to have a life of your own while living with an alcoholic. Your life doesn't need to revolve around your brother. It shouldn't. Try to get the whole family to Al-Anon. Your brother needs AA.

I wish you the very best of luck. I pray he makes it thru this crisis. And I pray he never drinks again ~ he has the choice not to, with the help of AA. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

Well, my brother is in hospital again....vomitting, urinating & defecating blood.

There are times when I am SO angry with him because he is doing this to himself and I'm the poor, dumb slob who through no fault of my own managed to get Young Onset Parkinson's Disease.

I struggle with being angry that he is demonstrating a slow-motion suicide, with no regard for what those around him are being put through. Then I feel guilty because I know that he is sick and it isn't "nice" to be ****** off at a sick person....ARGH!

Thank you for listening to me vent.....!

Hey, vent away! So sorry about what's going on with your brother...yes what is happening is very hard on family...don't really think he realizes how hard it is on you. I guess I could say to look past his faults and love him the best you can....you take care of you!!! Keep us updated on his condition!

I'm so sorry sweetie. I know what you're going thru, because I'm going thru the same thing with my son. He just keeps on drinking, regardless of what he's doing to himself or anyone else. Then he wonders why people don't want to talk to him when he's drunk. DUH.

I LOVE my son - but I don't like him at times. If he truly wanted to stop, I'd do anything I had to do to help him. But he openly admits that he doesn't want to stop. So there's just nothing I can do about it, but watch him kill himself. I don't want to bury my son. Just like YOU don't want to bury you brother. But I've come to the conclusion that that's probably going to happen. I can't say I'm prepared for it - but I won't be surprised.

There are such people, as AA has taught us, that simply cannot or will not give themselves to this simple program of AA. My son is one of them. He's been to AA and rejects it. There's nothing more I can do.

So I know what you're going thru Fowki. And I'm truly sorry. If you ever want to talk or vent - let me know. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Hi Fowki..I am a recovering alcoholic who has been sober through AA for 21 years..I have also had Parkinsons for 8 years

Leesa gave you some great advise..The only thing I could add to Leesa's post is that I went to Al Anon for 7 years myself, and I got some new tools to work with, found out more about myself, and how my alcoholism effected other people, especially those closest to me

I use the AA's 12 steps to deal with my Parkinsons as well as my alcoholism, because I am powerless over it, and my life has become unmanageable because of it

This has been the most challenging year of my life due to the progression of my pd..Pd takes like acoholism does..the only difference is that I am not the one setting landmines for myself..I can stop drinking, but I cannot stop Parkinsons, and I have to come to terms with accepting the things I cannot change, and it has not been easy..I go to more meetings, atleast 9-10 per week..In AA and Al Anon, you will find people who genuinely care, and are there for you with no strings attached...I really believe if booze did not kill me before I got pd, I would have ended my own life if it werent for AA, and the people in it

I live in Rhode Island, the smalllest state in the country, and know most of the AA members in my state know I have pd, and I can go to a meeting 25 miles away, and someone will get me a soft chair to sit in, and put me up front where I wont be bumping into people when I get up..Someone will get me a coffee without me asking..I dont know where I would be had I not found AA

I went spirituallly and emotionally bankrupt for the past year, because of the progression of pd..I had a string of bad days, and I got up one morning, and thought about swallowing a bottle of pills, cuz I figure my pd was only going to get worse, and it would probably just be easier not to be around anymore..I felt useless and hopeless, just like I did at the end of my drinking, and those folks in AA brought me out of it through their love, compassion, understanding, and felllowship, and my putting one foot in front of the other..They told me that I inspired them by just showing up at meetings, no matter what, and not going back out drinking instead..I still go to meetings after 21 years, because there is still something in those rooms I want, and that is hope

I hope, and pray that your brother has that moment of clarity that will save his life, and change his life..It is there, it is free, and all you have to do is want it

As long as there is still life, there is still hope, and I have seen more than one miracle in the 21 years Ive been sober

All the best to you, and you brother, and may God Bless!!

Steve