[JennyP]

Keep going to meetings every day; keep asking your "higher power" for help with each day. It really does help; and it does get easier as time goes on.

I just want you to know that I'm an Al-Anon member and will be receiving my 1 year medallion the end of this month. My brother stayed with us last year to do his "90 meetings in 90 days" in AA and did well for about 6 months. He's back in treatment again and we've extended the offer to let him stay here and try again. Even though my brother doesn't live near us normally; I have continued to go to meetings at least every other week because *I* learned so much from them. I do my daily readings from "Courage to Change" and find that my life is better because of it. Alcoholism is a disease that affects the whole family; I hope that your family can get connected with Al Anon too.

[lpRN13108]

Hello Everyone and Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers out there. I am doing well on Day 17. Went to a meeting yesterday and then my husband and I went out to dinner with another couple which was very nice. Thanks Jenn for sharing your experience as a family member of an alcoholic..it really helps me to understand because my family doesn't say much. I am continuing to ask my higher power for help daily and working with my sponsor. I hope everyone has a great day!:rose:

[lpRN13108]

Happy Monday to everyone. I am very excited today because I realized that I had missed a couple days of my sobriety..from April 22 to today is 20 days..yeah! I am in a good place today. Trying very hard to live for the moment. The hard part is that I have so many decisions coming up that have to be made..but I can't pre-plan for them because it makes me crazy to think about everything at once. I am taking baby steps in recovery but at least I am walking forward. I am going to a meeting tonight with another nurse I met in the program so I'm looking forward to that.I hope this message finds all of you doing well too.

[AmandaWIRN]

Glad to hear you're doing well- keep it up!

[lpRN13108]

Thanks Amanda..today is day 22.Things are getting a bit stressful. My husband started getting jealous of how much time I am spending on AA and not home with him at night. I tried to talk to him about it but he says it's not right for a man's wife to be out every night? He has been to a meeting with me before..he knows what we do..I don't know what he is thinking,but I do know that I can't change him so I just have to keep doing what is right for me. I am also down to the last minute to make a decision about what I am going to do about work. My job ends in 12 days and My boss and my husband want me to go on disability because I won't be able to keep any other job with all the days I miss due to seizures and pain..but I can't even imagine not being a nurse. I am thinking that I will get hired and work for them as long as I can until they let me go because I miss too much time..then go to another place and do the same thing..at least I will be able to work as a nurse on the days I can drive. I know it's selfish but I just don't want to give in to this Damn disease and go on disability. My boss says I can go on disability and if and when they get more disease management work I can return..but I hate ifs! I became a nurse to help others if I go on disability I will be giving up a dream and I have already lost enough..well I am sounding whiny now so I'll go. If anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it.Thanks

[Aaron C.]

Just so you know. I read all your posts.

I made a huge long post to you when you were going to stop posting but I could not get it to post for some reason. I saved it as a draft on my desktop but now it's too late to post it.

Keep posting and keep on keepin' on!

As far as advice goes, I would have to think there is a job out there that you can do. Missing shifts without notice isn't good for you, your employer, or the people you are caring for. There has to be a solution somewhere in all this...

Also, I added your picture as an avatar for you. You can remove it by editing your profile but I figured you'd rather have it over there than in your signature. You can keep it in your signature if you want. I just figured I'd do that because I noticed your sig pic was a gif and you can't add a gif as an avatar so I changed it to a .jpg file and added it for you...

[JennyP]

Laurie, there will be a job for you; but first you have to get healthy. Period.

I've been on both short term and long term disability. I am back to work now but can no longer do any bedside/floor nursing. My current position is as a telephonic nurse and I have found that I'm not cut out for this job. I'm not a person who can talk for 8 hours. There are many other types of nursing out there; that is the beauty of nursing: it's one of the widest and most varied occupations there is! There are many different types of telephonic nursing positions out there. Please, try a short-term disability and take the time to get well.

Here is a site I found quite a while ago: Exceptional Nurse | Welcome There is a section there called employment; and when I first found the site there were ads all about nurses who had severe disabilities and one in particular struck me: she could only sit up for limited time; but she promised whoever hired her that she could do 4 hours of work/ day.

There are jobs out there for disabled nurses. Your boss is exceptionally kind and wise. Please follow her advice.

[lpRN13108]

Thanks Jenn. I am currently doing telephonic nursing but the company is closing down the division. I am going to take your advice and go on disability for a while to get my body healthy and then I will see what the good Lord has in store for me from there..his plans are always better than mine. I am on Day 24 today and for a change I am looking forward to the weekend. Hope everyone has a great weekend too.

[JennyP]

Laurie, I'm glad you have decided to go on disability and get healthy. That should be your primary goal right now; and once you get better you will be able to be a good nurse again. {{{Laurie}}}

[lpRN13108]

Hello Everyone
sorry I haven't updated in a few days but everything is still going ok. I will be at the 30 day milestone again tommorrow. I have gotten as far as 39 days before. This time with the help of my HP I will be able to stay sober. One more week to work my job, I am feeling like I am making the right choice going on disability for a while. I went to the Drs. again yesterday because my seizures have gotten worse and I have started having alot of joint pain. He told me that the only way I am going to get adequate pain control is to use Vicodin again. I am very nervous about using it again but I also can't function daily with this kind of pain either. My husband is monitoring my use with me, and I am only taking it as prescribed. I know this is not a good thing for me to be taking but the pain will make me crazy if I don't. It prevents me from living. Please pray that I will be able to avoid abusing the medication. It does feel good to finally have a break from the pain, but not at the cost of my sobriety.