The Brain Literally Starts Eating Itself When It Doesn’t Get Enough Sleep : ScienceAlert

Then much later, once everyone was ready to sleep, Henry was up again. And then pretty much every 2 hours thereafter. For as long as I can remember we have camped alongside this lake. Some of my best memories – fun times, family times, peaceful alone times – took place right here on this lake. After about 20+ years of casually house shopping on each trip up here, my parents finally bought a house on the lake about 10 or so years ago. Unfortunately that was right around the time Elliott and I moved out of New York, so I haven’t had a mush brain chance to enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

The World According to Lilly

I try hard to practice those lessons everyday and think of her often when I do. In addition to receiving a vitamin B1 injection and stopping your consumption of alcohol, it is important to focus on eating a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet that includes vitamin B1 will reduce your chances of the wet brain occurring again in the future.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Wet Brain?

• While anyone can develop the disorder, people who consume alcohol are more likely to develop the condition.
• Alcohol addiction is extremely difficult to overcome on your own..
• Stopping alcohol use will prevent wet brain from developing again or progressing further if it is already permanent.
• If you’re concerned about vitamin B1 depletion or know someone experiencing co-occurring wet brain symptoms as a result of drinking alcohol, it’s essential that you get professional help.
• The grim reality of chronic alcohol abuse is that the body can only handle so much; and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a tragic, heartbreaking consequence of the abusive nature of alcoholism.
• This explains why individuals with wet brain syndrome have a variety of serious medical issues.

That might sound like your run-of-the-mill coincidence, but I don’t think I’ve ever run into a family member anywhere in my life simply because we just have not lived in the same places. I grew up with some of my cousins very nearby and wished the same for my kids. But you take the good with the bad, and overall our life in Louisville is very good. I found comfort in the fact that Lilly was truly bonding with her cousins during our visits to NY even if she only saw them a handful of times a year. Vitamin B1 should be given as soon as possible to patients presenting with symptoms of the wet brain.

Let’s talk about your recovery

• So, what—exactly—is a “wet brain?” According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is really two different disorders.
• These effects can include headaches anxiety, shaking, hallucinations, nausea, depression, vomiting, and more.
• I think kids older than about 10 would have been bored (although we skipped SoakZone because it was probably more for bigger kids).
• Now she lives 4 miles away and we bump into each other at Target.

Instead we planned to hang out in PA for a little while in the morning, have lunch with my family, then get on the road in time for afternoon nap. This was supposed to work since we’re only driving 3 hours today instead of 5, so there’s no need for a side trip to break up the day. We’re getting back on the road today after four days at my parents’ beautiful lake house in the Poconos. Before this we spent a day at Idlewild and SoakZone in Ligonier, PA – a 5 hour drive from here. I really hate to say this when I know we still have 3 hours to go in the car today and quite a bit more after that to get home .

Patients typically require immediate medical attention, including thiamine replacement therapy administered intravenously, along with proper nutritional support to address any underlying deficiencies. What is the Official Medical Term for Wet Brain? Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is the official name for wet brain. The disorder is broken down into two stages called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis.

Who is at Risk for Developing Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?

Now if we were smart we would have said, “Wow! Let’s go home and give the kids a chance to relax before the lobster bake tonight.” But we didn’t. The kids look like they’re getting a little tired. And Henry screamed the whole way there and the whole way back. Thankfully there was a hiatus from the the screaming while he tasted his first Italian ice. We knew we wouldn’t be leaving before the 4th of July so we’d have to get through at least 48 hours here and hope the kids would recover enough for the long drive home to be tolerable.

Seeking Help for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

• He was still taking up new hobbies, like surfing and playing the organ, into his seventies and beyond.
• It helps the body process fats and proteins and break down carbohydrates.
• Unfortunately that was right around the time Elliott and I moved out of New York, so I haven’t had a chance to enjoy it as much as I would have liked.
• Actually this time I wanted to lock myself in a soundproof room and sleep for 12 hours.

Additionally, people suffering from alcoholism are less likely to Alcoholics Anonymous consume well-rounded, healthy diets, which is how you get enough vitamin B1 into your system. It is an essential vitamin that is not produced naturally by your body, so it must be consumed from outside sources. If a person with wet brain is unconscious or in a coma, they will need special care in a medical environment, and potentially, for a longer period, depending on the severity of their symptoms. Brain mush may be a frustrating and all-too-common experience, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent state of mind. By understanding its causes, recognizing its symptoms, and implementing strategies to combat it, we can take proactive steps towards maintaining our cognitive health and mental well-being. The impact of a mushed brain on daily functioning can be surprisingly far-reaching.

Eat Foods Rich in Thiamine

The kids have really been troupers in the car. An hour or so later, everyone was awake and getting hungry so we stopped for a leisurely, kid-friendly dinner. Getting back in the car, Elliott and I were feeling good. We’d already gotten about halfway home and we had only planned to go 2-3 hours; the kids were obviously happy having a down day. My grandfather taught me to waterski when I was 5 years old. He taught me how to surf about a decade after that.

The best ways to protect yourself against the irreversible effects of wet brain are to monitor your alcohol use and ensure you are getting a sufficient amount of vitamin B1 in your diet on a daily basis. Because the two syndromes often occur together, the above symptoms can overlap and do not necessarily occur on a specific timeline. It is more common to experience the symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy first, though it is not a rule that they have to appear that way.