They thought my DH was drunk

People “assume” according their experience and most people staggering are drunk, even the police would until proved otherwise.
If my husband had this condition I would be very aware and not let him out without company, either myself or a friend.

I'd have already been round to give them a tongue lashing !

Glad it's been sorted and nice to know the ignorant young man has a decent father who left him in no doubt as to the stupidity and crassness of his behaviour.
Hopefully lessons have been learnt and he'll behave like a grown up in future.

Please note that Mr Bankhurst has resolved the situation. A good result, so no further need for advice. ?

Glad to hear your husband felt able to deal with it himself Bankhurst and there was a good outcome. I hope his health problems are resolved soon.

I think I would write a letter explaining your husband's condition and put it through their door.

I think if you speak to them direct they will be embarrassed and do what most people do in that situation is get truculent awkward and difficult (or rather more so) and this could lead to a difficult confrontation. By sending a letter, they will see it and read it at home, without having to defend their behaviour.

I think most of us would like to string people like this up by their big toes, but they are neighbours and you have to live with them. So, give them the opportunity to suffer their humiliation in private.

You may not want to tell them what medical condition your DH has, but you could point out that a range of conditions can cause symptoms like those they saw: Posters on here have listed MS and diabetes and I would add epilepsy. I once went to the aid of someone with that illness when others were just assuming he was drunk. Add Parkinsons

Put the letter through the letterbox. Doo not expect a reply, but it should enable you to continue to be civil to this horrible family, even if between gritted teeth.

Great outcome.

Your post reminded me of my bad behaviour forty odd years ago when a woman sat next to me on the bus and started chatting. I thought she was drunk and was very aloof - but when she got off I realised she was paralysed down one side, probably from a stroke.

So so happy for your husband. Glad his Dad embarrased him. He will think twice now.

Ohhhh i am soooo happy this happened.....

I thought that once the neighbours knew the real situation, that they would be deeply upset by their actions, but bottom line is they were not to blame, they didnt know.

So pleased x

Nannarose

I would definitely let them know. Aim not to sound judgemental yourself, even though you will feel it (grr!)
In principle I would rather knock on the door and tell them, but if you don't feel up to that, write a note.
Keep it simple:
Welcome to X Street (if appropriate). We need to let you know that (DH) has a medical condition that sometimes causes him to stagger, and occasionally collapse. Please help, or let someone know if you see him like this - other neighbours are aware
[NB: if they aren't, then tell them as well!]

Thank you.....Bankhurst & DH

This gives them room to apologise.
The reason I wouldn't ignore them (though tempting) is that we all need to get on with our neighbours - you might need their assistance at some point, so best not to take umbrage, even when well deserved.

Great shame that you have to deal with this - and I wouldn't go into any medical details - if asked say briefly 'a neurological condition'. If you don't say, it makes ignorant people more nosey!

Good luck!

What Nannarose said! Give them the benefit of the doubt and make them aware.

I hope the hospital are able to come up with an answer and suitable treatment.

I'm glad all turned out well Bankhurst and hope he gets a diagnosis soon
They should have had sympathy even if he was drunk and approached him to help.
We did have unknown to us a next-door neighbour who was an Alchahoic. He often fell as he got older and one Christmas day my DD found him lying on the drive with his poor wife crying beside him. DD came for us and we picked him up got him into the house and stayed while his wife made coffee. She then explained the problem and we felt so sorry for her she had struggled for years without telling anyone. We encouraged her to tell.No one laughed and she got help.

Good result, I’m glad your husband was able to explain.

Thank you all for your good wishes and helpful comments.
This afternoon my DH was passing the neighbour’s house and asked a man working in the garden if he was the owner. He said it belonged to his son, and went to fetch him.
DH explained what had happened and the son was embarrassed to admit his behaviour and get told off by his dad in front of a stranger. Good result!

Your new neibours are just pratt's, they think they are funny, but they are just p... taking bores.
Explain to them their ignorant behaviour upset your husband, and why he was staggering, but be prepared for these morons not to be interested. I hate people like your neibours, they think they are funny when in fact they are idiots. Hope your husband gets a diagnosis.

My lovely Mum had a diabetic incident in a street. 'Luckily' (but unkindly) a shopkeeper called the police referring to a drunk. The police quickly recognised her sobriety and called an ambulance. Afterwards, when recalling her helpless state and embarrassment, all she could say was 'and I was wearing my fur coat too!'. Must have been a high day in more ways than one.

Thank you for getting back to us.

Couldn't have worked out better - that young man has been taught a useful lesson.

What a good outcome Bankhurst. I hope your poor DH can be diagnosed and helped soon.
Sorry about your Dad PinkCosmos.

My dad collapsed in the street whilst he was walking to the dentists.

Turns out he had an undiagnosed heart condition. He was in his 70's.

He had used mouthwash before going to the dentist and there was a bit of gossip going around that he had collapsed because he had been drinking.

He hadn't been drinking (at 10.00am in the morning!!) but the mouthwash has quite a strong smell that I suppose could be mistaken for alcohol

Anyone who knew him knew he wasn't a big drinker anyway. Just a couple of pints a week in the pub with his brother.

Good result Bankhurst.

Perhaps the unfriendly road I live in influences my opinion Bluebelle.

That is a very good result, and I am certain they will be very supportive, should you need any help in future.

I'm glad your husband dealt with it himself. Hopefully there will be no repercussions and an insensitive neighbour will think twice.

Thank you for your helpful comments. When passing the house of the neighbours this morning, my husband saw someone working in the garden, and asked if he was the owner. He replied that it belonged to his son and went to get him. My husband explained what had happened and the young man was very embarrassed to have to admit to the behaviour and get told off by his dad in front of a stranger. Good result!

I'm not sure approaching them will get you anywhere. Even if I thought your husband was drunk, I would have still offered help not behaved like that.

Why not ask for your nieghbours help? Tell them how worried you are about him and ask if they see him in this state again could they get you or help him home? Appeal to their better natures. They might be very ashamed.

I would talk to them. My mum has age related macular degeneration and in the early days could manage to get about using her peripheral vision and people would make comments casting doubt that she was blind at all - she’s putting it on etc Then she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and again I’d hear nasty comments from people. One rang me on her high horse to complain that she’d not been at home when a car had gone to pick her up for a medical appointment i politely explained that she had Alzheimer’s and had probably forgotten or got confused - she only half believed me but people should be more tolerant and sympathetic.