I am so scared. My husband is in ICU, in about his 7th day of Delirium Tremens. He is totally out of his mind, and actually attacked and injured a nurse. He frightens the nurses who try to assist him with mean and vile screaming. Is there a chance that this will persist and we will have to commit him to another facility? I just don't know what to do.

Big warm hug for you.

And a quick prayer that your hubby pulls through. More importantly, that the med staff stay strong and help him.

Hello dear Comforter...

I can feel your fear in the words that you write and I'm sure your husband's doctors have told you how serious delirium tremens can be.

Most people are usually over the symptoms in around 3-5 days, but others have gone longer than 7 days so please hang in there. ICU is the proper place for him at the moment, and I'm sure he's getting the best of care.

It's quite some time since I've worked among people with this condition and I don't trust my memory to give you valid advice, but my guess is that he's going to need ongoing care for some time.

I'm sorry that you also are suffering at this time, and I wish I had the answers that you seek.

Please know that we're here if you need a shoulder to lean on.

my dad was in recovery after his triple bypass & heart valve replacement at age 88. he read a robin cook novel about organ thieves and thot he was living it. he chewed thru the wires attached to him and was tryin to open his window to jump. a nurse came in and tied him down. he came out of it and remembers everything. it is now 7 wks later and he is still ok except for becoming easily frustrated and cranky. havin family with him helped, as the hallucinations quickly changed to harmless ones and stopped a couple wks later.