Archive for the ‘Blood Test’ tag
Feedback: prepare for a novelette….
Okay, I had a negative episode at my substance abuse treatment center today.
I go there for antabuse and alcohol abuse counseling. However, for the last month or so have been without a counselor. The one I started out with had no experience or education as a substance abuse counselor and actually had a degree as a social worker. My last session with her consisted of her asking about my family, what language my kids speak in my bilingual home, what my native state in the US is like and her most useful piece of advice regarding drinking was when I feel the urge to drink...say "ohm". I decided it wasn't going to work out with us, and was never assigned another counselor.
That left the sum total of my activity at the center going there twice a week for antibuse and nothing else.
As I mentioned in another post I had a relapse last week for 5 days and the
doc at the center, also with no addiction training, decided I was supposed to show up at the center and have a dose of antibuse every morning this week. And get a blood test to see if I had any liver damage from my relapse. The doc made this decision very quickly without consulting anyone.
Today, walking there, I thought: what is the purpose of this treatment? When I added up all the mg's of antibuse I would get, it would be more than double the mg's I usually take and I didn't see the point of having to go there everyday.
Okay, bear with me, this is a long story but I have been turning this over in my head all day.
Anyway I asked the nurse and then again the doc why they had chosen this treatment, I got the answer it was "procedure". In other words, I didn't get a straight answer. I pointed out that with my work schedule, I wouldn't have time to leave a blood sample (at another location) AND go to the treatment center on one of the mornings. Also I pointed out that I couldn't go every day of the week, because outpatient hours on Thursday are in the afternoons when I am at work. The doctor became sarcastic and angry and, without really answering my questions, walked away in a huff.
To make a long story short, I think she devised this as a hand-slapping "punishment" approach. Make me go there everyday and double my dosage....because I was a bad girl!!!
I would have preferred to be treated as an adult facing consequences: such as being told if I do what I did last week...again, I could seek treatment elsewhere.
I live in a socialized healthcare system and a lot of addicts and alcoholics get welfare on the stipulation that they go to this center. The fact is a great majority of them lie and play the system. I see them out drinking and using and many of them are open alcoholics that have been around my neighborhood for years. I know who they are.
They don't WANT to quit.
I don't get welfare and I WANT to quit. I think that my doc devised this hand slap thing because she has to deal with them and maybe hasn't thought outside of the "welfare merry go round" box.
Am I wrong to question her method? Was I being stubborn? Was this my alcoholic "Everyone else is wrong and I'm right" behavior coming out? I tried to be diplomatic, but I think I have rights as a patient to get a logical explanation for my treatment.
I really don't know!
Feedback?
I go there for antabuse and alcohol abuse counseling. However, for the last month or so have been without a counselor. The one I started out with had no experience or education as a substance abuse counselor and actually had a degree as a social worker. My last session with her consisted of her asking about my family, what language my kids speak in my bilingual home, what my native state in the US is like and her most useful piece of advice regarding drinking was when I feel the urge to drink...say "ohm". I decided it wasn't going to work out with us, and was never assigned another counselor.
That left the sum total of my activity at the center going there twice a week for antibuse and nothing else.
As I mentioned in another post I had a relapse last week for 5 days and the
doc at the center, also with no addiction training, decided I was supposed to show up at the center and have a dose of antibuse every morning this week. And get a blood test to see if I had any liver damage from my relapse. The doc made this decision very quickly without consulting anyone.
Today, walking there, I thought: what is the purpose of this treatment? When I added up all the mg's of antibuse I would get, it would be more than double the mg's I usually take and I didn't see the point of having to go there everyday.
Okay, bear with me, this is a long story but I have been turning this over in my head all day.
Anyway I asked the nurse and then again the doc why they had chosen this treatment, I got the answer it was "procedure". In other words, I didn't get a straight answer. I pointed out that with my work schedule, I wouldn't have time to leave a blood sample (at another location) AND go to the treatment center on one of the mornings. Also I pointed out that I couldn't go every day of the week, because outpatient hours on Thursday are in the afternoons when I am at work. The doctor became sarcastic and angry and, without really answering my questions, walked away in a huff.
To make a long story short, I think she devised this as a hand-slapping "punishment" approach. Make me go there everyday and double my dosage....because I was a bad girl!!!
I would have preferred to be treated as an adult facing consequences: such as being told if I do what I did last week...again, I could seek treatment elsewhere.
I live in a socialized healthcare system and a lot of addicts and alcoholics get welfare on the stipulation that they go to this center. The fact is a great majority of them lie and play the system. I see them out drinking and using and many of them are open alcoholics that have been around my neighborhood for years. I know who they are.
They don't WANT to quit.
I don't get welfare and I WANT to quit. I think that my doc devised this hand slap thing because she has to deal with them and maybe hasn't thought outside of the "welfare merry go round" box.
Am I wrong to question her method? Was I being stubborn? Was this my alcoholic "Everyone else is wrong and I'm right" behavior coming out? I tried to be diplomatic, but I think I have rights as a patient to get a logical explanation for my treatment.
I really don't know!
Feedback?
Ol Tex in some trouble and a very odd situation.
Alright, so I've been sober since the end of January. I've been going to AA and doing all the "right" stuff.
So who get's in a minor fender bender last night and spends the rest of the night in jail? That's right....this guy! I was on my way home from work, rear ended someone minorly and when the cops show up I fail field sobriety. I demand a blood test or breathalyzer. I blow a .27. Jail, aggravated DUI.
Here's the thing. I can honestly tell this message board I had nothing to drink. Even the doctors at the jail were asking my arresting officer if I was concious because there's no way I could've been operating a vehicle at that BAC according to them. He interviews me, doesn't give me any medications and puts me in gen pop. No withdrawals or anything. Even the CO's are confused. The DA takes one look at me and releases me OR, no bond. So I call my MD and ask what might set off a false positive. Going for blood work again in the morning. I get the best lawyer money can buy in this town but even he doesn't want to defend this case if I'm going to go with the "I wasn't drinking" defense, because the Breathalyzer's obviously say different. I think I have to plead this down and actually take a hit for something I know in my heart I didn't do.
I have no idea what to do and I'm flipping out. I was in jail ten hours, came home and fell asleep and still made it to work. Again, no drinking at all and I came home to my home breathalyzer and blow a .26.
What the hell could be causing this? I wouldn't lie I WASN'T DRINKING!
So who get's in a minor fender bender last night and spends the rest of the night in jail? That's right....this guy! I was on my way home from work, rear ended someone minorly and when the cops show up I fail field sobriety. I demand a blood test or breathalyzer. I blow a .27. Jail, aggravated DUI.
Here's the thing. I can honestly tell this message board I had nothing to drink. Even the doctors at the jail were asking my arresting officer if I was concious because there's no way I could've been operating a vehicle at that BAC according to them. He interviews me, doesn't give me any medications and puts me in gen pop. No withdrawals or anything. Even the CO's are confused. The DA takes one look at me and releases me OR, no bond. So I call my MD and ask what might set off a false positive. Going for blood work again in the morning. I get the best lawyer money can buy in this town but even he doesn't want to defend this case if I'm going to go with the "I wasn't drinking" defense, because the Breathalyzer's obviously say different. I think I have to plead this down and actually take a hit for something I know in my heart I didn't do.
I have no idea what to do and I'm flipping out. I was in jail ten hours, came home and fell asleep and still made it to work. Again, no drinking at all and I came home to my home breathalyzer and blow a .26.
What the hell could be causing this? I wouldn't lie I WASN'T DRINKING!
blood test
Hello, I have a question. My husband was arrested and had a blood test taken instead of taking a breathalizer. He was then fined several hundred dollars. When I asked him what his alcohol level was he said that they needed to send it to a lab. Is this true, and will we get the results in the mail. How can they fine him if they don't know if he was over the limit. When I did pick him up a couple hours later he did not seem under the influence. Thanks for your thoughts.
soul cleansing
My new friends, such caring guys, that we shared the love for self destruction, and enjoyed the gigantic drug blanket, let me tell you, Im out of bed, looking sober, Dont have a hang over and the world looks like sh*t. I least im able to sleep right?? with open eyes I see that I dug a hole pretty deep, consecuences that unfortunately will have to live for the rest of our lives, I got a lawsuit going on, which has me scared, cause I might have detectives behind my back, waiting for me to be myself and cave in. Also, do any of you guys know, what kinds of blood test they do at the hospitals when they sent you to ER?? are those test strictly confidential, or is it public property?? well hopefully God has a light brighter than the sun, maybe he will come, not in a vision, but break in my house, stand in front of me. I want to know exactly what to do with my life... with my girl pregnant, out of work, recently sober and following a lawsuit, I get angry at what my life has come to be. this is my channel, for the people that reads this, like i read your posts, i truly thank you, since right know Im like soft clay, and every word of support, hardens me.
Abstinent vs Recoering
Abstinent and recovering. These two words appear to have the same meaning but they differ substantially when looked at over a long period of time. Abstinence may measure the same as recovery in a urine sample or blood test but the intention, expectations and the long-term durability of the two paths to “legally defined sobriety” are qualitatively quit different.
The abstinent addict is looking for a quick-fix for their problem where the person living in recovery seeks, desires and expects to find a new way of living without the need for any substances (crutches) in their lives. Abstinence may cure back problems (getting your license back, job back, family back) but it does not address the underlying causes of needing a mind-altering substance in the first place. A person seeking true recovery recognizes the truth about themselves, that is, that there was some kind of problem that existed prior to seeking out drugs or alcohol initially.
For the person who was uncomfortable in their own skin to start with, not drinking or drugging does not treat their bigger malady (anxiety, frustration, guilt or despair). The individual who is merely abstinent must go on to face these obstacles long after obtaining their short term goals or getting their stuff back.
There are a series of “simple to grasp” slogans used within recovery groups designed to get the newcomer through the next day/week/month or whatever short-term goal that particular program has. In all fairness to any counselor/teacher/sponsor these psychological tricks and tips are essential in the first few months of any kind of recovery and there is no practical way around them. The danger for the person in recovery comes when they continue to rely on these “band-aids” permanently and fail to heal the wound.
The limitations and weaknesses of abstinence typically do not show up until sometime later-on in the recovery process, when the now sober mind starts to realize that only a few things get better while most “life challenges” go on. They begin to recognize that most of the slogans they heard were simply not true or were gross exaggerations. One such slogan is; “just don’t drink, go to meetings and life will get better”. Your parole officer might think your life is better but he is looking at the situation from the perspective of a baby-sitter who is responsible for cleaning up your mess. The reality is that if you can’t sleep at night because of worries and fears, your life may in fact get worse and the 4 horseman of the Apocalypse may even move in with you. Peace of mind is a precious commodity to the soul living a sober life. Drugs and alcohol may have been a “rock” comfort-wise, but life without them may prove to be the “hard place” for the person who was caught in the middle and must now choose one side or the other. Now where does he or she find refuge?
A person taught to say the serenity prayer in his or her treatment program is in a better position than someone not familiar with the importance of peace of mind. Serenity is the deluxe edition of sobriety, which includes peace of mind, acceptance and a starting point for meditation. Without serenity, sobriety may not be worth having. True sobriety rides on the coat-tails of serenity. The next time you canÂ’t sleep at night try asking yourself if sobriety is of any help in this particular situation.
Where humility has teaching power, serenity has healing power. That is the power to instill peace of mind. Just because someone was powerless over their drinking or drugging does not mean they have to be powerless over their recovery.
The abstinent addict is looking for a quick-fix for their problem where the person living in recovery seeks, desires and expects to find a new way of living without the need for any substances (crutches) in their lives. Abstinence may cure back problems (getting your license back, job back, family back) but it does not address the underlying causes of needing a mind-altering substance in the first place. A person seeking true recovery recognizes the truth about themselves, that is, that there was some kind of problem that existed prior to seeking out drugs or alcohol initially.
For the person who was uncomfortable in their own skin to start with, not drinking or drugging does not treat their bigger malady (anxiety, frustration, guilt or despair). The individual who is merely abstinent must go on to face these obstacles long after obtaining their short term goals or getting their stuff back.
There are a series of “simple to grasp” slogans used within recovery groups designed to get the newcomer through the next day/week/month or whatever short-term goal that particular program has. In all fairness to any counselor/teacher/sponsor these psychological tricks and tips are essential in the first few months of any kind of recovery and there is no practical way around them. The danger for the person in recovery comes when they continue to rely on these “band-aids” permanently and fail to heal the wound.
The limitations and weaknesses of abstinence typically do not show up until sometime later-on in the recovery process, when the now sober mind starts to realize that only a few things get better while most “life challenges” go on. They begin to recognize that most of the slogans they heard were simply not true or were gross exaggerations. One such slogan is; “just don’t drink, go to meetings and life will get better”. Your parole officer might think your life is better but he is looking at the situation from the perspective of a baby-sitter who is responsible for cleaning up your mess. The reality is that if you can’t sleep at night because of worries and fears, your life may in fact get worse and the 4 horseman of the Apocalypse may even move in with you. Peace of mind is a precious commodity to the soul living a sober life. Drugs and alcohol may have been a “rock” comfort-wise, but life without them may prove to be the “hard place” for the person who was caught in the middle and must now choose one side or the other. Now where does he or she find refuge?
A person taught to say the serenity prayer in his or her treatment program is in a better position than someone not familiar with the importance of peace of mind. Serenity is the deluxe edition of sobriety, which includes peace of mind, acceptance and a starting point for meditation. Without serenity, sobriety may not be worth having. True sobriety rides on the coat-tails of serenity. The next time you canÂ’t sleep at night try asking yourself if sobriety is of any help in this particular situation.
Where humility has teaching power, serenity has healing power. That is the power to instill peace of mind. Just because someone was powerless over their drinking or drugging does not mean they have to be powerless over their recovery.
OT - update on me
Okay, so ya'll know that my liver enzymes were elevated and I went back and had some blood test done which determined that my hep c is active ... I am going to see a gastroenterologist on the 16th of sept to determine liver condition and I'm sure she will suggest treatment, but until then I am just taking my milk thistle and drinking my dandelion tea LOL
I've stopped smoking and have a week under my belt YAY GO ME!
I quit my job as a cashier, got a business license and have started out on a new business venture that would probably leave most scratching their heads ... since we are not suppose to post links if your curious to see what I am doing now just google Nit Picky Of Oregon (not the formal website, just a simple draft of an idea) starting from the ground up with little money, but with time comes change and progress and I will optimize as I go. (I've had two jobs already!)
School is starting up again and Savanna is going to kindergarten ... I am so excited for her. Dakota is doing great and we've been having fun this summer, Elijah is such a boy and full of mischief ...
Anyhow that is the scoop.
Love to all my friends and family here on SR
Passion
Hey Magoo I missed your call and lost your phone number so give me a jingle k ;)
I've stopped smoking and have a week under my belt YAY GO ME!
I quit my job as a cashier, got a business license and have started out on a new business venture that would probably leave most scratching their heads ... since we are not suppose to post links if your curious to see what I am doing now just google Nit Picky Of Oregon (not the formal website, just a simple draft of an idea) starting from the ground up with little money, but with time comes change and progress and I will optimize as I go. (I've had two jobs already!)
School is starting up again and Savanna is going to kindergarten ... I am so excited for her. Dakota is doing great and we've been having fun this summer, Elijah is such a boy and full of mischief ...
Anyhow that is the scoop.
Love to all my friends and family here on SR
Passion
Hey Magoo I missed your call and lost your phone number so give me a jingle k ;)
Has my time has come to get sober?
Hi everyone.
I am a 38-year-old man and have a problem.
I will be honest about my situation and hopefully some of you guys can give me some advice and support.
I am not sure if I am an alcoholic or just someone who drinks too much? I have been a drinker since I was about 20 years old.
Typical drinking for me would be a bottle of wine on a night in and five or six pints of beer/cider on a night out. I drink almost every night. I never drink during the day and never crave drink. It's more of a habit I've developed. Last week I had a dry day because it was raining and I couldn't be bothered to go out to buy alcohol. I very rarely touch spirits and have never woken up needing a drink or anything like that.
Last September I had a blood test which showed raised liver enzymes. My doctor told me not to worry too much but to try and cut down my drinking. I haven't taken his advice other than not drinking at lunchtime (I have stopped going to the pub with my workmates at lunch).
I've been to much of a coward to have another test which I know is stupid and really don't know where to go in my situation.
If I'm honest I'd like to think I could really cut down on my drinking so I can still enjoy a glass or two of wine a few times a week but I don't know if I could do it.
Should I stop completely? Is my liver likely to be permanently damaged?
I really don't know what to do.
Thank you.
I am a 38-year-old man and have a problem.
I will be honest about my situation and hopefully some of you guys can give me some advice and support.
I am not sure if I am an alcoholic or just someone who drinks too much? I have been a drinker since I was about 20 years old.
Typical drinking for me would be a bottle of wine on a night in and five or six pints of beer/cider on a night out. I drink almost every night. I never drink during the day and never crave drink. It's more of a habit I've developed. Last week I had a dry day because it was raining and I couldn't be bothered to go out to buy alcohol. I very rarely touch spirits and have never woken up needing a drink or anything like that.
Last September I had a blood test which showed raised liver enzymes. My doctor told me not to worry too much but to try and cut down my drinking. I haven't taken his advice other than not drinking at lunchtime (I have stopped going to the pub with my workmates at lunch).
I've been to much of a coward to have another test which I know is stupid and really don't know where to go in my situation.
If I'm honest I'd like to think I could really cut down on my drinking so I can still enjoy a glass or two of wine a few times a week but I don't know if I could do it.
Should I stop completely? Is my liver likely to be permanently damaged?
I really don't know what to do.
Thank you.
