Question about BAC - Al-Anon Family Group

oceanpine · Senior Member

Question about BAC

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Being powerless over people places and things. I found that knowing the BAC did not help me to cope with the disease. My son frequently blew between a 4 and 5 BAC. When he went to the ER he was always admitted to the hospital because the ER Drs felt he should be in a coma or dead-- Instead he appeared sober-- he was walking straight, talking without slurring and could answer the standard questions as to who was president the day and date etc.

Keeping the focus on myself, living ODAT, praying,attending meetings working the Steps all helped me to keep on keeping on

Here is the chart about his BAC which-- I never saws in my son until he passed away in his sleep

0.4000.500	Severe central nervous system depression Coma Possibility of death	Breathing Heart rate Positional Alcohol Nystagmus

oceanpine · Senior Member

Thank you Betty, for both parts of your answer.

The gentle reminder about the things that we are powerless over.

And also, that likely A's can have much much higher BACs and seem normal.

I am glad that I asked him to use the breathalyzer last night, because it did give me some valuable information. I often feel a conflict between my gut, and my head, and also what he tells me. (i.e., my gut feels uneasy, my head says, hmm, but he looks fine, and is managing fine, and his words seduce me... I end up confused.) Because I have children to keep safe, it does matter sometimes, whereas I try to let go of it (if he is drinking or not) when I can.

I now know that he can and will lie and lie about his drinking. And that he is capable of drinking a lot, and appearing fairly normal.

I can't do anything about it, but I do need to keep my children safe. They know not to get in the car with him when they think he has been drinking, but that is not enough at their ages. They did not sense that he had been drinking last night. I am reminded again that I can't base my decisions on his words, because he lies... he told me last night that he hasn't been drinking at all. I feel so sad for him, to have such an experience of lying to himself, our children, and me.

I am so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. And I have such deep admiration for the way you live your life, and the depth and constancy of your sharing and giving to others through Al-Anon. Thank you.

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

My son was like Hotrod's son...blew around .5 when he would go to the ER. He was stable and didn't appear drunk when he blew .2. He now tells me he thought he was functional around .2 ...anything lower and he would be shaking and seriously sick.

Mattie · ~*Service Worker*~

My practice was to assume he'd been drinking, however he appeared. Because that's what alcoholics do. It's true that they have different reactions to different levels of alcohol than "normal" drinkers. On the whole, I've found that if they seem as if they've been drinking a little, they've been drinking a lot. If they look like they've been drinking a lot, they've been drinking unimaginable amounts. Those are my findings from watching the consumpition and matching it up to the results.

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