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I lost blood faster than they could replace it
 |
| Phil Cameron |
DOCTORS said his next drink
would be his last. Phil
Cameron woke up in the
middle of the night vomiting
blood. Confused and delirious,
he was taken to the Royal
Bournemouth Hospital where relatives
were told to expect the worst.
The dad-of-three would not make it
through the night with heavy odds
stacked against him.
Years of drinking 17
pints a week had finally
caught up with the
telecommunications
analyst and his
liver was shutting
down in protest.
Unable to
process blood
fast enough it
created a
backlog,
bursting veins
in his throat and
flooding his
mouth and stomach.
Nurses fed
about 12 pints into
his deteriorating
body but it was no
use. The precious
liquid was leaking
faster than they
could keep up.
Soon his heart, without
any blood to pump,
started giving up the
fight and nearest and
dearest were informed
he had a 90 per cent
chance of dying
overnight.
"I have no idea how I
survived. Maybe it was
not my time for the
Pearly Gates. I am a
stubborn person.My
dad said my eyes
were filling up with
blood and I spent three
weeks unconscious."
Emerging from Kings
Hospital in London, to
which he had been transferred,
the 43-year-old was
a changed man. Weak and
jaundiced, his weight had
dropped from 16 stone to 11
stone and his own son struggled
to recognise him.
"When I stepped out of the car
my youngest son ran to me happily,
but my middle one burst into
tears. He had failed to recognise
me. Looking in the mirror, I
hardly recognised myself.
"The consequences of my three
or four visits to the pub every
week hit home when I went to
see my doctor. He said I am glad
to see you are alive. We weren't
expecting you to
make it.' I asked if I had been
on the edge of the abyss and
he said No, you were at the
bottom of the abyss'. I was told
that if I had another drink I
would die. Giving it up wasn't
a problem - I was never an
alcoholic."
The Ringwood dad hoped his
terrifying story would help
put an end to growing numbers
of 20-somethings in
Southampton showing
advanced liver disease.
The "silent killer" takes ten
to 15 years to develop and is
usually seen in drinkers in their late thirties
and early forties. However, Southampton doctors
are reporting a worrying emergence of
young adults with the disease.
Liver expert Nick Sheron has seen a startling
trend developing over his 14 years at
Southampton Hospital. He said: "Overall we
are twice as busy as we were when I started
here. Nationally liver disease and deaths have
doubled and I feel it is about the same for
Southampton. Fifteen years ago the majority
of people coming in with liver disease were
in their 50s and 60s. Now they
are mainly in their 30s and 40s. We never
used to see people in their 20s. Now we are
getting three or four a year which means they
must have started drinking when they were
ten to 13.
"By the time they come in it is often fatal.
They never get the chance to modify their
lifestyle."
The disease strikes without warning. By the
time symptoms develop it is too late and one
in four people die immediately. It is the fifth
biggest killer in the UK and the only one of
the top five that has been increasing year on
year for the last three decades.
Dr Sheron, the creator of
Southampton's liver disease
screening programme scheduled
to begin in June, blamed
readily available booze. He
wants to see an increase in
alcohol taxation, a properly
funded screening programme
and a widely publicised campaign
on the risks of drinking.
He said: "Alcohol is three
times as affordable as it was 15
years ago. People tend to spend
the same percentage of their
income. The obvious solution
would be to increase taxation
and put it into funding screening
programmes so we can pick
up on the disease before it
becomes fatal."
HadMr Cameron's condition been detected
earlier it might have made all the difference.
Instead he is reliant on daily drugs, a monthly
GP appointment, visits to a liver consultant
and thoracic consultant every other month
and quarterly blood tests and scans.
He said: "When you are in your 20s you
think you are indestructible.What they don't
tell you are the long-term effects. You lose
your dignity. You have to be bed-bathed, you
lose your libido and the drugs lower your
testosterone, making you grow breasts.
Knowing this, it's up to young people to make
up their own mind."
7:19am Sunday 18th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Fred on 8:28am Sun 18 May 08
"Alcohol is three times as affordable as it was 15 years ago"
So is Orange juice. Go figure.
"Alcohol is three times as affordable as it was 15 years ago"
So is Orange juice. Go figure.
Posted by: hulla, baloo on 8:41am Sun 18 May 08
"...What they don't tell you are the long-term effects..."
Is obvious, like smoking, that putting poisons into your body has health risks and knock on effects
"...What they don't tell you are the long-term effects..."
Is obvious, like smoking, that putting poisons into your body has health risks and knock on effects
Posted by: Denzil, Chilworth on 9:05am Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
"...What they don't tell you are the long-term effects..." Is obvious, like smoking, that putting poisons into your body has health risks and knock on effects [/quote] Wisdom not passed down from the parents. Blame the parents.
hulla wrote:
"...What they don't tell you are the long-term effects..." Is obvious, like smoking, that putting poisons into your body has health risks and knock on effects
Wisdom not passed down from the parents. Blame the parents.
Posted by: i know best, dorset on 9:50am Sun 18 May 08
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.
Posted by: know best, eh on 11:05am Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]i know best[/bold] wrote:
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.[/quote] So you're aware of the long-term effects of drink, have just read a story about how extreme things can get, and yet admit to sitting at home drinking there because it's cheaper. Know best, eh? I don't think so
i know best wrote:
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.
So you're aware of the long-term effects of drink, have just read a story about how extreme things can get, and yet admit to sitting at home drinking there because it's cheaper. Know best, eh? I don't think so
Posted by: Pollyanna, Southampton on 11:51am Sun 18 May 08
It is time the Government and Councils gave some thought to the "other" victims of alcohol abuse, the people kept awake by all night parties in gardens and drunken shouting in the streets until nearly daylight. The Service for dealing with noise in houses does not stop the noise at source so some people risk their lives going out and trying to get things quietened down.
Could we have some sympathy for the people who cause no trouble and do not cost the NHS a fortine ?
It is time the Government and Councils gave some thought to the "other" victims of alcohol abuse, the people kept awake by all night parties in gardens and drunken shouting in the streets until nearly daylight. The Service for dealing with noise in houses does not stop the noise at source so some people risk their lives going out and trying to get things quietened down.
Could we have some sympathy for the people who cause no trouble and do not cost the NHS a fortine ?
Posted by: paul b on 12:36pm Sun 18 May 08
WHy does this waste of space look pleased with himself, i would hang my head in shame if it was this man
WHy does this waste of space look pleased with himself, i would hang my head in shame if it was this man
Posted by: lowe and behold, st marys hotseat on 1:51pm Sun 18 May 08
Another person taking advantage of jamie olivers healthy living advice
Another person taking advantage of jamie olivers healthy living advice
Posted by: Martin, Lyndhurst on 2:20pm Sun 18 May 08
17 pints a week!? We had better all worry
17 pints a week!? We had better all worry
Posted by: Christoff on 9:16pm Sun 18 May 08
softie, that's only 2 and a half pints per day
softie, that's only 2 and a half pints per day
Posted by: i know best, dorset on 10:23pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]know best, eh[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]i know best[/bold] wrote:
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.[/quote] So you\'re aware of the long-term effects of drink, have just read a story about how extreme things can get, and yet admit to sitting at home drinking there because it\'s cheaper. Know best, eh? I don\'t think so[/quote] toss pot.
know best, eh wrote:
i know best wrote:
drink is 3 times more expensive in the pubs but 3 times cheaper in the supermarkets.
Must admit i have cut down pub drinking but drink a few bottles at home it is so much cheaper.
So you\'re aware of the long-term effects of drink, have just read a story about how extreme things can get, and yet admit to sitting at home drinking there because it\'s cheaper. Know best, eh? I don\'t think so
toss pot.
Posted by: Phil C, New Forest on 4:48pm Tue 20 May 08
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
WHy does this waste of space look pleased with himself, i would hang my head in shame if it was this man[/quote] Well go ahead then Mr. Perfect. At least somebody has the balls to highlight the problem and the effects that it had on his family. He is entitled to NHS treatment, being a UK citizen and paying his taxes for 25 years.
It is all to easy to hide behind some internet moniker and pass judgement on others - I bet you wouldn't have the balls to do it to his face. You probably sit at home in a darkened room alternately getting off on such puerile posts and squeezing your zits! Listen, your Mum is calling you down for tea - fish fingers and peas again, yum yum.
Eat up quick and you can go back to being the moral majority without knowing all the facts. Silly little boy.
paul b wrote:
WHy does this waste of space look pleased with himself, i would hang my head in shame if it was this man
Well go ahead then Mr. Perfect. At least somebody has the balls to highlight the problem and the effects that it had on his family. He is entitled to NHS treatment, being a UK citizen and paying his taxes for 25 years.
It is all to easy to hide behind some internet moniker and pass judgement on others - I bet you wouldn't have the balls to do it to his face. You probably sit at home in a darkened room alternately getting off on such puerile posts and squeezing your zits! Listen, your Mum is calling you down for tea - fish fingers and peas again, yum yum.
Eat up quick and you can go back to being the moral majority without knowing all the facts. Silly little boy.
Posted by: Anonymous, UK on 11:54pm Tue 20 May 08
See that it hasn't taken away your ability to fight back in your usual most obscure way. Was it really 17 pints a week or more? and I'm sure that constitutes alcoholism. Also,no doubt this article doesnt really highlight everything about your situation and the effect it has no doubt had on your family both emotionally and financially; but then that's your business and my heart goes out to you all. Totally agree that people should not pass judgements; they dont know you or your family. Good for you for trying to turn it into a positive and taking the abuse; others may just sit and wallow in self pity.
Alcoholism is an illness and one that sufferers dont tend to realise or deny they have. You have been saved by knowing that you cannot have another drink rather than fooling yourself you can have the ocassional one and give up like some - they are the most difficult to cure; George Best being the most famous example.
People should be realistic you cannot blame parents or the government; if you're an adult you take responsibility for your own actions and make your own choices in life. I think alcohol is like drugs; some bodies can handle it and some cant - your body, your choice, your gamble but is it worth it?
Anyway good luck with it, all the best and remain, as always, strong and stubborn in the face of diversity.
See that it hasn't taken away your ability to fight back in your usual most obscure way. Was it really 17 pints a week or more? and I'm sure that constitutes alcoholism. Also,no doubt this article doesnt really highlight everything about your situation and the effect it has no doubt had on your family both emotionally and financially; but then that's your business and my heart goes out to you all. Totally agree that people should not pass judgements; they dont know you or your family. Good for you for trying to turn it into a positive and taking the abuse; others may just sit and wallow in self pity.
Alcoholism is an illness and one that sufferers dont tend to realise or deny they have. You have been saved by knowing that you cannot have another drink rather than fooling yourself you can have the ocassional one and give up like some - they are the most difficult to cure; George Best being the most famous example.
People should be realistic you cannot blame parents or the government; if you're an adult you take responsibility for your own actions and make your own choices in life. I think alcohol is like drugs; some bodies can handle it and some cant - your body, your choice, your gamble but is it worth it?
Anyway good luck with it, all the best and remain, as always, strong and stubborn in the face of diversity.
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