Alcohol breath from low carb diet?

MsAmandaNJ

Is this something that typically happens when on a low carb diet? When the smell occurs, is the person intoxicated?

Trying to figure out if someone is drinking or if it's the result of her diet two years post gastric sleeve surgery.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

its probably ketones from the low carb diet that can make your breath and sweat smell odd. sometimes it smells like ammonia/acetone and other times it could smell like alcohol or a sweet smell. she could also have a possible yeast infection in her body as well. it doesnt mean they are intoxicated. that smell can come from diabetics who dont regulate their blood sugar well. but is it possible she is drinking during the times you notice? if shes not on a low carb diet she should not be having this issue,but there are health problems that can occur(forget what its called) that will make someone produce alcohol in their bodies, even when they dont consume alcohol- alcohol brewery syndrome? something like that. its rare but happens.

MsAmandaNJ

It smells like alcohol, her behavior changes like when she would drink - slurred speech and such. I read that people can produce alcohol in their body due to undigested food (could that be from not chewing food enough?) and wondered if that production can cause intoxication. Honestly, I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I'm convinced she's drinking. It's my mother, I grew up with her alcoholism and can easily recognize when she's been drinking. She denies it, but I trust my (sober) senses.

elphie754

Is she diabetic? If so, the odor you smell, in combination of slurred speech and coordination loss (or even completel unresponsiveness) indicates a serious issue and you need to get her to an emergency room.

Unfortunately, if she is drinking and denying it there really isn't much you can do. Yeah it sucks, but she is an adult and can make her own choices. The only one who can change that and seek help for that is her.

If I were in your shoes, and suspected she had been drinking, sit her down and talk to her when you believe she is sober/doesnt have the smell or behavior. Explain your concern and if she still denies it, maybe suggest she see a doctor for alternative possibilities.

RodaRose

I dropped someone out of my life for that kind of lying.

MsAmandaNJ

As far as I know, she is not diabetic - she openly discusses her medical status - she's back on BP meds and is on thyroid medication.

Yeah, it does suck. I moved away, came home for a visit and have observed that her eating and drinking habits are absolute crap. She won't change unless she is ready. I wonder if her denial is stronger or if she's delusional.

I've spoken to her about it while she is sober, I really like hanging out with her until she chooses the alcohol. Unfortunately, she's far from honest about her drinking. Excuses she's given for the drunk behavior: she took an antibiotic, she gets excitable when she's concerned about me, she ate something funny, she's tired. She sees a therapist every six weeks (it was twice a month), but I'm sure she isn't open with the therapist or her doctor about her drinking.

I really appreciate your responses, both of you.

MsAmandaNJ

RodaRose wrote: »

I dropped someone out of my life for that kind of lying.

I'm getting very close to that. It's hard because she's my mother, but it isn't healthy for me to have this dysfunction in my life. On one hand, I feel me walking out will kill her, on the other, it could sober her up (but I doubt it).

elphie754

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

As far as I know, she is not diabetic - she openly discusses her medical status - she's back on BP meds and is on thyroid medication.

Yeah, it does suck. I moved away, came home for a visit and have observed that her eating and drinking habits are absolute crap. She won't change unless she is ready. I wonder if her denial is stronger or if she's delusional.

I've spoken to her about it while she is sober, I really like hanging out with her until she chooses the alcohol. Unfortunately, she's far from honest about her drinking. Excuses she's given for the drunk behavior: she took an antibiotic, she gets excitable when she's concerned about me, she ate something funny, she's tired. She sees a therapist every six weeks (it was twice a month), but I'm sure she isn't open with the therapist or her doctor about her drinking.

I really appreciate your responses, both of you.

That would have me believing she was lying as well.

I am a recovering alcoholic myself (been sober 26 months) and I can honestly say, there are days when I consider saying "oh well" and caving back into temptation. Honestly, the only thing that hasn't was an ultimatum I was given when I first saught help. My one significant other told me they love me, but only when I'm not drinking, and refuse to be around me when I do. I was pretty much told its them or the alcohol, and it's pretty obvious which I chose.

I'm not saying that will work with your mom, but if you decide that you won't be around her when you believe she has been drinking, it might be an incentive for her to seek help.

MsAmandaNJ

First off, good work on your sobriety!! I'm glad to hear where your priorities lie.
My one significant other told me they love me, but only when I'm not drinking, and refuse to be around me when I do. This is the exact conversation I had with her a while ago. She told me she would not drink around me, but surprise, surprise, she chose the booze. Lastnight, I smelled it on her when she returned from the garage (she went out to see why the lights out back weren't on). I packed up the project I was working on, she asked what I was doing. I calmly told her that I was going upstairs because I could smell she had a drink and I can't be around her when she does. Had I known she wouldn't hold to her promise (I always fall for it because I want to believe so badly), I would have made other arrangements.

MsAmandaNJ

I won't be staying at her house anymore. She's going to lose me and has kind of lost her grandchildren (my brother's kids) - they won't let her have them by herself (with my stepdad) for any amount of time. We went on a trip in October, my neice fell out of bed and ended up getting five stitches above her eye - my brother couldn't wake my mom up, so he got me to watch the boys.

elphie754

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

First off, good work on your sobriety!! I'm glad to hear where your priorities lie.
My one significant other told me they love me, but only when I'm not drinking, and refuse to be around me when I do. This is the exact conversation I had with her a while ago. She told me she would not drink around me, but surprise, surprise, she chose the booze. Lastnight, I smelled it on her when she returned from the garage (she went out to see why the lights out back weren't on). I packed up the project I was working on, she asked what I was doing. I calmly told her that I was going upstairs because I could smell she had a drink and I can't be around her when she does. Had I known she wouldn't hold to her promise (I always fall for it because I want to believe so badly), I would have made other arrangements.

We always want to believe that our loved ones and friends will hold to their promises and do the right thing, but the sad reality is, some just won't. For way too many people it takes hitting rock bottom before they will finally seek recovery, and unfortunately, rock bottom won't be enough. Addiction is a monster and sucks the life out of everyone it touches. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is accept that they won't change and walk away. It's incredibly difficult, but if it's what you need to do to keep your sanity/yourself together, so be it.

I'm not sure if you know this but there is support groups for family members of alcoholics. Al-anon is kind of like AA but for the family members. It might be something to consider. Sometimes therapy for the family affected can be really helpful. http://www.al-anon.org

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

I won't be staying at her house anymore. She's going to lose me and has kind of lost her grandchildren (my brother's kids) - they won't let her have them by herself (with my stepdad) for any amount of time. We went on a trip in October, my neice fell out of bed and ended up getting five stitches above her eye - my brother couldn't wake my mom up, so he got me to watch the boys.

That's awful. I don't blame your brother at all.

MsAmandaNJ

Thanks, I'll look into Al-Anon. I know I need help and if I don't get it, I fear I'll ruin another marriage (I'm on #2). I came across a list of characteristics of adult children of alcoholics and it was scary accurate. I finally knew why I do things I do. I'm not using it as an excuse, but I felt a huge relief. Up until then, I thought I was losing my mind.

I fear what her rock bottom is considering she hasn't hit it in spite of things that have happened. But that's up to her. Maybe if my brother denied her access to the kids completely, she'd change, but it could also just push her into drinking more and I think that would kill her. He likely wouldn't do that. His experience with her drinking is different than mine, he was off at college and I had four years of living alone with her. Lucky S.o.B. The kids are kids, they're not stupid, they know when she's different.

RodaRose

Good luck you. Al anon has helped many.

elphie754

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

Thanks, I'll look into Al-Anon. I know I need help and if I don't get it, I fear I'll ruin another marriage (I'm on #2). I came across a list of characteristics of adult children of alcoholics and it was scary accurate. I finally knew why I do things I do. I'm not using it as an excuse, but I felt a huge relief. Up until then, I thought I was losing my mind.

I fear what her rock bottom is considering she hasn't hit it in spite of things that have happened. But that's up to her. Maybe if my brother denied her access to the kids completely, she'd change, but it could also just push her into drinking more and I think that would kill her. He likely wouldn't do that. His experience with her drinking is different than mine, he was off at college and I had four years of living alone with her. Lucky S.o.B. The kids are kids, they're not stupid, they know when she's different.

True. While kids may not know specifically what is wrong, they can usually tell when someone is acting different.

It doesn't sound like an excuse at all. Having a loved one who is an addict has a huge impact on a person. That's why it's a good idea to find people who have been in that boat and support each other. Support groups can be an amazing resource.

Good luck!

haviegirl

I also recommend Al Anon. It can help enormously. It was a lifesaver for me.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

It smells like alcohol, her behavior changes like when she would drink - slurred speech and such. I read that people can produce alcohol in their body due to undigested food (could that be from not chewing food enough?) and wondered if that production can cause intoxication. Honestly, I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I'm convinced she's drinking. It's my mother, I grew up with her alcoholism and can easily recognize when she's been drinking. She denies it, but I trust my (sober) senses.

if you grew up with it then how can you not tell? my mother is an alcoholic and has been for the last 30 years of my life and I know when she has been drinking even when she says she hasnt had any.I dont associate much with her because of how she treated me and my kids but thats another post. yes there are conditions like I stated above that can cause your body to produce alcohol and you can become intoxicated. few people have died because it was so high of a level.but if you think she is drinking again then Im sure thats probably it

PearBlossom9

New to a low carb diet = presence of ketones in your body being produced and turned into acetone which can absolutely smell like alcohol. It eventually goes away. They are not actually intoxicated.

elphie754

PearBlossom9 wrote: »

New to a low carb diet = presence of ketones in your body being produced and turned into acetone which can absolutely smell like alcohol. It eventually goes away. They are not actually intoxicated.

I have a feeling you only read the opening post. Read the rest of the thread, it's pretty clear not ketones but rather alcohol.

MsAmandaNJ

I found Al-Anon meetings I'll go to near me and spent the day with my uncle. I feel a lot better knowing how other family members and her friends feel - very concerned and not sure what to do. I came back to her house, she was sober. We had a nice, honest talk. Well, it eventually became honest - she started off with just saying what she usually does, but then we got somewhere. We're going to an open meeting tomorrow night, she found two others (women only) that she thinks she'd be comfortable with going to on her own.

Thank you for being supportive and there, you don't even know me. *HUG*

RodaRose

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

I found Al-Anon meetings I'll go to near me and spent the day with my uncle. I feel a lot better knowing how other family members and her friends feel - very concerned and not sure what to do. I came back to her house, she was sober. We had a nice, honest talk. Well, it eventually became honest - she started off with just saying what she usually does, but then we got somewhere. We're going to an open meeting tomorrow night, she found two others (women only) that she thinks she'd be comfortable with going to on her own.

Thank you for being supportive and there, you don't even know me. *HUG*

Wow. Thanks for the update. 'Wishing you peace and wellness.

elphie754

You are very welcome. Haha I help strangers every day (paramedic) so it just natural for me to be supportive and try to help. If you ever need to talk, feel free to message me.