[Sandy]

I am all he has.....he is in the midlands and I am in, live Scotland!!!!!! He is an alcoholic but not drank for over 14 years, I had a hell of a time when I was near to him before, had to endure a lot of stress at a difficult time in my life, he eventualy collapsed into a coma and went to hospital and I thought that was him but he recovered very well and gave up both drinking and smoking.....I ring him every week and he has been great until now, had some strange E Mails from him that I found a bit upsetting, so I rang him today and he is drunk, in bed, freezing with no medication!! He added he has to go through the DT's in order to go to get his medication...I told him to ring his Dr and make him aware of the situation, not sure what he is going to do but he said he would....I am shaking with worry now as I dread him being all alone in a house that a lot of homeless would not live in!!!!!!!! I now I cannot do much but wrote this to help me get it off my chest...sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sheardale]

Thinking of you.  I do hope all will be well.
HELEN

[little blue]

oh Sandy, how sad for you and him.
Do you have contact for his neighbours, or doctor or anything?
So you can feel you are  doing  something at least. 
thoughts are with you both

[Sandy]

My brother is a recluse, well almost, his house is a tip as he is a bit of a mad bottanist and has bits of things everywhere, worm farms, stuff growing in tanks, no heating, no real bathroom as I think he just washes in his kitchen sink, he has no proper bedding but an electric balcket and bricks holding up his bed, honest my chickens shed is posher, he also was made redundant some 12 years ago and not claimed a penny in benifits since, he lives off his savings and I am sure they must be nearly cleared out but thats not my worry as he will recived his pension very soon, he also has no morgage but he has impressed me for being able to live on his savings for so long and for packing up the booze and fags too as he has only me who he has any contact with at all. I had my suspicians as his E Mails were strange but I have got his Drs name so I may be able to find it but he would go mad if any neighbourgs went around, he hated the fact I went to rescue him before and that Steve visited his house and Steve worked in Hostels and on the streets with homeless!!!! Anyway, I do understand there is little I can do, I worked in drug and alcohol counselling for some time and he is the only one that can do anything at the moment but my biggest fear is him detoxing and going into a coma on his own and knowone being there to help him!!!!!!!!!!

[Hilarysmum]

Poor you, you must be so worried.  When we discovered our 50 something neighbour was in grave difficulties OH rang local social services who were fantastic.  Can you contact your brother's local SS Dept and chat with someone. Thinking of you both.  HM

[Sandy]

THanks, but he has only been drinking for 2 weeks and when I worked in SOcial Services I tried to get a 13 year old lad in care for the night as his mum was particulaly off her trolly on booze but due to his age and her only being temp "disabled" knowone would help so I contacted his dad who lived a long way off and he went there for a few days, I must add, the Lad had Aspergers and could not even make himself a sandwhich, I tried to get him to do things while I waited with him, also, his mum was setting fire to her hair and had fallen down the stairs but still no help so I am not sure they would be interested in someone "just" drunk!!!! I will keep in contact daily and if I do not hear anything for more than 24 hrs I will call for help as I had to before.....police, ambulance etc!!!!

[smallholder in the city]

Let his GP know and even if they give you the brush off ring them back if anything happens to make you more concerned, DTs are a serious medical condition and need treatment. If he doesn't stay in contact you can ring the Police and ask if they can do a welfare check. In the longer term it is down to him but just cos he's fallen off the wagon doesn't mean he can't get on it again.

[Sandy]

THanks, I rang his surgery but the phone rang and rang so I left it for now, he just E Mailed me a few lines and said it took him 2 hours to write, he will book a Taxi tomorrow to get his meds!!! I have seen people with the DT's, several in fact and they all went into comas!!!

[little blue]

its the snow Sandy... try again in a few days.   
would the AA or similar be able to help?  by "calling in" I mean?

[darkbrowneggs]

So sorry to hear that Sandy.  There is nothing I can offer in the way of help or suggestions, but I am thinking of you both, and pray that all of this will have a happy outcome.

All the best
Sue

[faith0504]

my thoughts are with you, been where you are and its not a nice place to be, let your thoughts and fears out on here, you have so many friends that will listen 

[Sandy]

I keep getting little E Mails, I think he likes to know I am around so to speak, I went down all similar routes before, the AA did call around and he was happy with that yet he still went into a Coma, I dare say he is far stronger than me and has far less to worry about......I will keep everyone posted!!!

[knightquest]

I live in Birmingham Sandy. If it's anywhere near and you want someone to pop round, give me a pm.

All the best,

Ian

[Sandy]

Thats nice, he keeps E Mailing while he is comming off the drink, if I do not hear or get a message from him on a regular basis I will sort something out, he is in Northamptonshire and is paranoid about what people will say about him.....even if I were nearer there is little I could do other than keep posted like up here, I then hope he has some incentive again as he would love living up here is Scotland, as a Botinist he would like exploring and he also could enjoy a better life with nice walks nearby and the comfort of central heating and a car!!!!!!

[woodlandproductsfife]

jezusssss I don't know you Sandy but your in my thoughts. what a horrible situation to be in and not to mention the time of year. Hope he comes round and sees sense for both your sakes

                               Craig