Hello,

Has anyone out there lost someone to alcoholism?

I am trying to help a friend through what must be the last stages. He has been hospitalized twice in the last ten days to have his belly drained, which has yielded 13 liters of fluid (7 liters, then 6 liters yesterday). Even after removing all that fluid his belly is still terribly distended, and his legs are 3-4 times the normal size.

Besides the cirrosis, he has hepatitus, jaundice, gall stones, pancreatitus, COPD and other complications. He has not maintained any contact with his family, including three children and two brothers, so they don't know a thing about this.

I know there is nothing I can do for him, except be his friend. My question is...how many times can a person go through this draining (parasentisis), and how often? Should I try to contact his long lost family members? What if he dies without any arrangements for his buriel (he is indigent)?

It's very difficult to discuss any of this with him, but I feel like his only real friend.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you...