Wernicke's Encephalopathy is a very serious illness that one
develops as a result of a vitamin deficiency. The deficient
vitamin is B1, also know as thiamine. The most popular
classification of people that develop the illness is
alcoholics. From what I have read, second to alcoholics are
bariatric patients, specifically gastric bypass patients.
NOTE:
Please do NOT link any of my videos to FaceBook. I do NOT
want Diane to get upset about me speaking about her illness
on the web.
Introduction to
Wernicke's Encephalopathy Part 1
Introduction to
Wernicke's Encephalopathy Part 2
Being a
common man, I'd like to keep things simple and explain my
knowledge of the illness in layman terms. It would do most
people NO GOOD if things were explained in a way that they
would have to struggle or study to understand. So most of
what you will read or hear on this site will be easy to
understand explanations which may not be technically
correct, but proper in a nut shell.
I call it an
illness and not a disease because it is not contagious and
can not be transferred to anyone else. It is an illness that
one develops and will quickly die from is help is not
received.
Long story
short, when your brain does not get vitamin B1, it starts to
melt away or becomes damaged. Once that damage is done the
brain does not regenerate and you experience permanent brain
damage. When help is received and the affected person begins
to receive the vitamin B1, the deterioration process is
usually immediately stopped. In my wife's case, she was
administered an IV in the emergency room which bypassed the
liver and sent the vitamin directly to the brain. It is the
livers job to send that vitamin to the brain, when the liver
is damaged to a certain point, it can not process and send
the required amount of the vitamin to the brain, thus
starting the melting process.
If one
survives the initial illness, they will actually recover
from Wernicke's Encephalopathy within a few days or a couple
of weeks at the most. At that point, as long as they receive
the nourishment they need, and stay away from whatever
caused their liver to malfunction, they can make it. However
they will be left with whatever brain damage has been done.
Depending on how fast one gets the help they need damage can
me mild. The most common is short term memory loss. Others
have memory problems accompanied with physical disabilities
(including chronic pain). I have also communicated with a
few people that have been sitting at a bedside for months
because their loved one was in a coma, probably one that
they would never come out of.
The short
term memory loss is often classified as a form of dementia
called
Korsakoff's syndrome. Most Korsakoff's patients
should never be left alone and often require permanent
supervision.
Korsakoff's syndrome is a dangerous
condition that should not be taken lightly.
I hope to
finish a couple of books that I have started soon. One will
strictly highlight the illness, the other my story. I want
to warn people about this dangerous illness and help people
that are affected by it.
NOTICE: I am not a medical
professional, have no medical experience, and do not intend
to give you medical advise. I am simply sharing my
experience with this illness.
