Sweet, nauseating smell

[SJean702]

After living with my fiance for a year, I'm certain he's an alcoholic. He's had some professional setbacks and is drinking bourbon or whiskey daily. He eats less than I do (I'm a 5'2" 125 lb woman, he's a 5'11" 180 pound man). He is trying to "taper off" the hard stuff, in hopes he can still have a glass of wine or two with dinner. Today he is giving off a sweet, nauseating (to me) odor that comes back almost immediately after he takes a shower. He also complains of a cloying pain in his lower left abdomen and feels intermittently nauseated and weak. Shakes, too, presumably tremens. Of course, he doesn't want to go to the doctor. Thoughts? Suggestions? Help?!?!

[SJean702]

Thank you so much for your advice.  My fiance spent a week in inpatient detox and is coming home tomorrow.  As you mention, he was given lorazapam to prevent seizures and they are now weaning him off. He has committed to attending AA meetings and I just checked the website for the nearest ALANON. I have my fingers crossed this is the start of recovery -- I'm anxious to get on with our lives together.

Again, thank you all so much and good luck to you. You helped me when I knew nowhere else to go or even what questions to ask. Bless you.

[desperate2getbetter]

I have recently quit too. I have in the past as well and from what I have researched, the more times you quit and go through withdrawas the worse they get. TRUST ME. I stopped drinking April 2. I went through the shakes and everything. I use to drink almost 2 liters a day. Well, this past Monday, 10 days after quitting, I had a seizure while walking in the park. This has been happening everytime I have quit in the past which has made me want to drink even more to prevent the withdraw.

Well, I am glad to say that I am done with drinking. Let me tell you, you can't do it alone. A rehab or at least a detox would be best. Seizures are no joke. My teeth are chipped everywhere, my tongue is all bit up, bruises, bumps on my head, probably over 150k in med bills, etc...The last time this happened I died and they had to resuscitate me. It has been aweful on my friends and family. Just aweful...


Some of the medications to discuss with your doctor would be: Lorazapam as needed, and Depakote. I think the recommended dose for depakote is 20mg/kg but you'll have to check with your doctor on that. Do your research. There are a lot of sites and studies on the net that talk about it. That's how I came across this site.

I left a post asking if anyone else had gone through this and for how long did they have to take the medication to be in the clear of seizures since I can only afford a month's worth of medication.

If you can afford it, see if he can get a counselor to talk to as well and attend AA and AL ANON.

He may be an honest and good man but addiction can cause people to lie, beg, steal, do things they would not normally do.  Good luck!  Remember, no tolerance!  

[Tom_123]

I think what you smell is acetaldehyde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetaldehyde

[boogieman]

Hello. That's wonderful news! Hopefully he will carry through with rehab. You might want to check out alanon too, it will help you to understand and find support from others in your situation, as alcoholism effects both the drinker and those that care about them. Take care, GM

[SJean702]

Thank you so much, guys. You've told me what I guess I've known but needed to hear.

And how's this for an Easter miracle? He woke up this morning and said he knows he needs to go to rehab. That he can't do it alone and he's put me through enough.

Wish me -- and him -- luck and thanks again.

[boogieman]

Hello. Ya, he should definitely see a doctor as it sounds like his health is deteriorating. Much of the damage done by alcohol can be reversed, if it is caught and treated in time. From your description, he appears to be alcohol dependent, and if so, "tapering" or switching to wine will do little, if any good. Untreated alcoholism only gets worse, and eventually can be fatal. Take care, GM

[Jacker]

I'm afraid my best advice is to see a doctor soon. I don't want to minimize this stuff......the damage can often be repaired but not if you keep drinking.  The smell is the alcohol coming out of your pores....it's one of the many ways that it works its way through your body. My wife used to complain that my sweat smelled funny and I'm sure she was right.  In regards to the pain. it could be any number of things. Seriously- it's time to see a doctor and if he''s been drinking for a long time he might need some help detoxing.  

Detoxing can be deadly under some circumstances, so it's nothing to mess with.