Could this person have a serious illness from alcohol?

Asked by Aster (20028

) August 10th, 2017

My daughter’s father in law, 58, is an alcoholic. He has a real sweet side to him and a cuteness but my daughter tells me he’s always drunk. I’ve seen him or been inside his house for parties about a dozen times so the last time I wanted to give him a big hug. What I felt was worrisome to me and something I had never felt. His body felt like mush. Like he had water underneath his skin. Think “waterbed.” My daughter said it’s probably liver damage and/or edema. She is a nurse. This sounds serious, does it not?

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2 Answers

Your daughter is probably right. Generalized Subdermal Edema. Another one of the joys of alcoholism. If it sounds and fees crunchy, it is probably subdermal emphysema, another joy of advanced alcoholism, but mostly associated with alcoholics that smoke. He’ll eventually drown in his own fluids and that will be the end of it.

Espiritus_Corvus (17294

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@Espiritus_Corvus what a thorough, frightening, educated answer! I’m impressed. Depressed but impressed. And to think I’ll outlive him blows my mind. Sweetest wife imaginable he has put through Hell.

Aster (20028

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