[CABAYRN]

Hi Jewels123!

I am so glad you gave us a update! It sounds like you are doing everything you should be doing. I am so glad to hear you and your husband did something with your friends; they will be very important in the months to come.
Try not to get too caught up in "how long this will take". Believe me, that will drive you crazy! It takes as long as it takes but trust me; one year from now you will look back at this and your life will be truly amazing. 3 years ago I was where you are now. Today, I have been back to patient care nursing with no restrictions for one year and, literally today, I interviewed for a six figure income management position at my hospital. They interviewed me knowing I still have 9 months to go in diversion. I don't tell you this to be boastful only to let you know that once a recovery program is truly lived and embraced, nothing is impossible!

take care and please continue to write.

[jewels123]

We received word today that IPN is requiring him to see one of 3 specialists in either Jacksonville, Gainsville or Tampa. Each of them requires a large fee (not covered by our insurance) for evaluation and even larger fees for treatment. Can they force him to seek a non-insurance covered provider for his treatment? or say he is non conliant w/IPN if we cant afford the treatment. We're keeping out head above water with him having no income, but we can only do so much.

[jean1]

dear jewels, sorry, it has to be an IPN addiction specialist. I went to jax for my evaluation and I also needed an MPI. If i remember correctly the evaluation and MPI test cost approx. $750.00. Not covered. Neither was my assessment for Serenity House or out patient tx. (1700.00). My monthly nurse support group is 50.00 monthly along with UDS at 39.00. Yes, it is very expensisve. I;ve maxed out my credit cards but have managed to stay afloat. At any cost your husband needs treatment. It will be worth every penny and might possibly save his life. I know it did mine. BTW I received a huge check from the IRS due to the large amount of medical I was able to claim. Hang in there. Everything will be alright.

[jewels123]

Hi Jean. Thank you for the information. You have no idea how much hearing from someone in the same shoes makes us feel like this isn't such an alone thing. He made his appoinment with the Tampa Doctor for evaluation. We are hoping that they wont make him drive to Tampa every day for his outpateint treatment (if that is what they suggest). Again thank you and everyone for all your guidance.

[jean1]

Hi jewels, As addicts we tend to think we are unique, one of a kind and totally alone. In reality we are in the company of many. My experience is this, I went for my eval in jax. The addiction specialist then sent IPN his recommendations which for me was Intensive outpatient treatment. The treatment is not handled by the evaluator. I dont know where in FL you are but there are many facilities that offer treatment. IPN will give you several options and there will be at least one close to where you live. That I am pretty sure of. So try not to stress about the commute. There wont be much of one. Good luck. Everything will be alright.

[deeter]

Jewels-

I too am a nurse in Florida's IPN. From what I have seen in my Nurse Support Group, it is very much in the best interest of the nurse with chronic pain issues to see an addictionologist. I have several peers that relapsed in IPN, was found to have chronic pain issues (back pain, headaches, etc) and were both treated for these issues and are successful in their recovery.
All have said that they wished they were referred to the addictionologist the first time. The only reason they were not is because they were not forthcoming about their medical problems for fear of IPN giving them a hard time.
Personally, I feel IPN saved my life, and my career. I got myself into this mess, and IPN threw me a lifeline- I'm still holding on to it. I don't regret that phone call I made asking for help. Good luck to you and your husband, and take it one day at a time.

[jewels123]

Thank you deeter and everyone for your information and words of encouragement. I've been trying to get my husband to post as he reads this all the time but as of yet, he doesn't seem to be able to put much into words. I hope during his treatment he posts as well as reads.

Its the beginnings of a new week and we have rec'd some good news with direction from your posts. Florida IPN allowed a program that was covered under our insurance for both the evaluation and the outpatient treatment. They advised that if the person conducting the interview was Masters degree trained as well as the therapist and there was an addictionologist on staff that they would allow him to complete this program. All seems to be in order with their requirements so this was a huge financial burden lifted.

[jean1]

dear Jewels, I'm so glad things are working out for you and your husband especially financially. Keep us posted.

[smokindog]

Hey all! I'm a alcoholic and have been in AA for 10 weeks. I'm 49 and have been an RN for 11 years. My problem started at 13 years old(drugs and ETOH) . I was dry for 22 years,then started drinking again about 3 years ago. A few months ago I was blacking out 2 or 3 times a week and going into work hung over.

To make a long story short I got into AA and got a Sponsor. I'm working on my 4th step now. I'm in a great group, but do feel a bit isolated at times since we don't have a support group for nurses here(that I know of).I was having a bad week just sort if feeling sorry for myself and thinking that maybe....I might be OK if I just drank once in a while:39: ...you know...STINKIN THINKING

So...tonight we had our speaker meeting. Tonights speaker happened to be an RN who has been sober for 22 years. Talk about getting what you need at the right time! I feels so much better now. I don't know why , but hearing someone who is a nurse sharing her(or his) story helps somehow.

Anyway I decided to find a nursing recovery forum and here I am, thanks.

ken

[dlf2007]

I'm really grateful to have found this nursing forum site. I've posted a few times but mostly I'm reading about your experiences. I was sober in AA for 21 years before diverting drugs from my job last year(got away from AA and the disease took over). The past couple years I've been in and out of various jobs and finally a complaint was brought against my license for diverting. I'm about to enter my state's Substance Abuse recovery program. At first I resisted this as an option but now realize that it's not only my license at stake here, but it's my life. The way I see it is, the BON has given me a new lease on life. I'm feeling sooo overwhelmed right now as I venture into this 5-year recovery program with the BON. I'll be signing my "contract" with them on 6/15. Will lose my license for one year and then get it back with restrictions. Guess I'm feeling a little scared about it all. Next week I go to a counselor to set up Intensive Outpatient Therapy. My insurance company says they'll pay for the outpatient therapy and individual counseling. As you all are aware I'm sure, there will be the random drug testing, peer support groups, lots of meetings, etc. Sorry to be so wordy here, just trying to get what I'm feeling and experiencing out in the open on this site and at my meetings. I'm just so grateful to be alive today. The amount of narcs I was ingesting and injecting would have killed the "average joe". I was even taking my poor dog's Xanax that was prescribed for him during thunderstorms. It's really scary to think I could end up dead like so many before me because of this disease, if I don't keep recovery my first and primary focus. Thanks for listening/reading...and please keep sharing your experience, strength and hope.