WE got my brother in law in rehab - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Teri · 12-01-2003, 06:00 AM

This is so sad. In one week he got in 2 car accidents. By Friday he was a gonner so he did agree to go into the hospital. He was so out of it he didn't know his name. When his son got him there he was wearing 7 fentnyal patches, had ingested God knows how many pain pills AND no one has a clue as to when he'd been sober last. IT's a complete miracle that he is alive. He should have died of an overdose.
My heart is breaking for him because it is all taking me back to that day on March 29, l987 when I knew that I could not go on one more minute trying to find happiness or peace of mind in the bottom of a bottle. Getting sober was so hard for me that giving natural child birth to 12 children would have been much easier. I struggled every minute of every day for 2 solid years. I went to at least one meeting a day for that 2 years and had my phone contacts that I could and did use 24/7.
I was so weak that I carried the Big Book with me where ever I went. I worked in a wet place and for me, it was the best medicine because those people were ME, the ME I didn't want to be anymore. God, I was in sooooooooooooooooooooo much pain and I know that my brother in law is in the same amount of pain. He wasn't trying to kill himself with all the booze and the pain meds, he was just trying to make the pain stop.
All's I can do for him is pray. And, if he decides to work the 12 steps when he gets out and if he goes to meetings when he gets out, I will be there for him 100%. My in-laws are bible thumpers and they believe that everything is possible if you read the bible. They don't realize that right now he's not thinkin' God's on his side so the bible isn't the book he needs to be reading. I am a VERY strong willed person and so is my mother-in-law. We've already butted heads once and I'm sure, before this is over, we will butt heads many more times. So be it....he is my AA brother and I will do what I can do to give him the help he needs to find his way....please, we know how strong the power of prayer is, pray for Keith.

auntiedeb · 12-01-2003, 06:35 AM

grouphug grouphug grouphug grouphug angel angel angel Prayers for you and Keith. take care of you too.

vm · 12-01-2003, 06:35 AM

I will definitely pray for him, Teri. I know what you mean about watching people we love in those beginning stages of recovery and how it can bring it all up for us once again. I hope he comes in contact with some good AA men who can lead him on his way.

TONS and TONS and TONS of prayer, Teri. I have had family members in similar situations and it is so hard. We wish we could open them up and pour all our 12 Step knowledge into them and it is so painful sometimes to not be able to. But, it could not work that way for us ---- and unfortunately it cannot work that way for them.

I wish him all the best and MORE.

Nicole in ATL · 12-01-2003, 07:45 AM

(((Teri))),
Sounds like things are really bad with your brother-in-law. I hope he finds success in rehab. Sending a prayer his way.

Nicole

Iris · 12-01-2003, 08:09 AM

Teri, looks like your brother-in-law is going through a really tough period in his life. I feel for him , and I feel for you, it is not easy to see someone you love experience the pain an alcoholic goes through. My uncle went through it, and so did my mother-in-law so I can understand your pain. Prayers for you both at this time, and take care of yourself, prayers, love and hugs Iris angel angel grouphug grouphug