Husband drinking liter a day of vodka

[Cherilynn]

My husband is 52, weights 319 pounds, 6 feet and is drinking approx. 1 liter a day of vodka.   He has been an alcholic since his early 20s but he started drinking according to his mother at age 14.  

My question is:  is 1 liter a day a lot for alcholics?   He had a heart scare in January.. saw a cardiologist who then sent him to a kidney dr. the same day..then to an endocrinologist for high blood sugar.   All three doctors changed his medications.  He has high blood pressure, high sugar.   I say he's drinking a liter a day because I put a mark on the bottle at home.   He may have another bottle at work as he works in an office with only 2 people, and the other guy is usually on the road.    I just wanted to know is one liter a lot for an alcholic?  he drinks it within a few hours..  he had changed to wine from january till last month when he had the health scare..but is back on the vodka..which he has been drinking for 15 years..before that it was a case of beer a day..    

I did seek help but I cannot move out and would lose too much by way of my health insurance, benefits, etc.    So that isnt an option for me.  
thanks for any info...
Cheryl

[michaelgc]

To answer your main question, yes, a liter a day is a lot, even for an alcoholic. It is 10 times more than what could be considered moderate. And alcohol contains sugar, so in addition to everything else, it's contributing to his high blood sugar. I would be willing to bet he also has a bottle hidden at the shop.

When he went to the doctors, did he tell them about his drinking? And do you know if he has had his liver checked? Drinking that much and for that long has almost definitely caused liver damage, would be a good idea to have that checked.

Since you say you can't leave, I recommend that you check for an Al-Anon meeting near you that you can attend, you are going to need a lot of support. We can help with support here, but some close at hand, live help would be a great idea.

[ibizan]

yes he drinks WAY 2 much....he is pushing his luck being among the living with his drinking and health problems....michealgc gave u good suggestions here i hope u follow them!

[Cherilynn]

Michael,

Thanks for the info.   No, he didnt tell the drs. he drinks...  I know his blood tests came out normal except for urine... had very high protein...I think the normal was 50 and his was in the 300s.. there was another component to the urine test and the normal was about 40 and his numbers were in the 300s..i had saved a copy of it but put it away..  
he also has type 2 diabetes and the endocronologist gave him a new type of medication to inject twice a day..  and to test his blood sugar... he hasnt lost any weight and that was 5 months ago...  

Yes Im sure he keeps a bottle at work since there is no one there and he has his own office with a lock on the door.   He wont go to rehab and I tried and asked his sisters to help but they refused to do an intervention (they live in 2 different states).    Yes and he drinks the liter of vodka in a short time--3 hours and gets up for work the next day...one morning I saw his eyes and they were transparent...they are normally blue but this day he had no color..refuses to go to the hospital. etc..  

I havent been to Al-Anon because I went for counseling....I live in a different section of the house and only have to see him in the kitchen...  

[michaelgc]

Cheryl, although the doctors will eventually figure out that he's drinking, especially since he's never going to balance his blood sugar this way, but I would recommend that you contact the doctor and tell them, just ask them not to let him know you said anything if it's going to cause you problems at home. But he definitely needs to get his liver function tested. Cirrhosis is another one of those things that are treatable, but not curable. And as his liver fails, drinking the same amount he is now used to is going to have more serious effects on him.

Make sure you keep seeing your counselor, and stay active here in the forum, there are social forums here where you can just chit-chat as well as getting help along the way.