Hi Kylepesce,
Alcoholic blackouts typically mean episodes where the person has
amnesia ie. he can not remember an episode. Apparently your uncle is showing those signs. This usually occurs in a period of intoxication (excessive drinking leading to abnormality) rather than withdrawal syndrom (abnormalities occuring when drinking stopped abruptly after the body is dependent on it)
Also, yes an alcohol dependent can have seizures both in intoxication as well as in withdrawal. Also, if he is producing more Iron, that physical cause can also lead to seizures. There are many other reasons, physically, why an alochol dependant person can have seizures like
vitamin deficiency,
low blood sugar etc.
Also, loss of short term memory could be an indicator of impending dementia (
memory loss) called
alcohol dementia....again there are many reasons why the memory, of a person dependent on alcohol, is not right.
Also, there is no use stopping drinking just like that, having been dependant on it for so long.....it has to be done either slowly with gradual reduction in dose of alcohol or with cover of many medication if stopped sudenly. It can sometimes be fatal if stopped suddently without support of medication
LET ME END BY SAYING...IT IS HIGH TIME YOUR UNCLE GOT PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT OF EITHER ADDICTION
PSYCHIATRIST OR DURG&ALCOHOL TEAM IN YOUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
I would think your twin brother might be having other causes if he has the same symptoms unless, at 18 years of age, he is allready as dependant on alcohol as your uncle.
Please contact your nearest psychiatrist/ alcohol/addictions team for help.
Good Luck to all of you