HPMP

Nurses Recovery

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So I'm in VA HPMP and have been for almost 4 years. My CM called me yesterday and told me that I had tested positive on a screen. CM asked if I had taken anything or ingested any foods or drinks. I answered no, because I haven't. I asked what I supposedly tested positive for and CM wouldn't tell me, which I found to be weird. CM said they were going to talk more with the MRO and then let me know. I also requested that my split specimen be tested as well because something just isn't right. Anyone been denied info on positive drug screen? I find it odd that she couldn't just tell me what was in question.

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That is one of my great fears. You could ingest something and unwittingly take in something that you shouldn't. A nice lady at work gave me a pulled pork sandwich for lunch one day. After I ate it she told me she cooked it in a can of beer after I ate it. I was terrified. Luckily my screen was Ok. I don't know all the ingredient's to everything I eat. I'm terrified of false positives also. It puts you in a position of proving your innocence which is pretty much impossible. I can't prove I don't beat women but I damn sure would never hit a woman. I'm so sorry for your problems. I pray it works out

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I appreciate it. No idea what is even going on. I find it surprising that I don't even know the substance I'm being accused of testing positive for. Hopefully I'll have answers soon.

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I tested positive, found it before my CM.Called her all upset. She was sweet. I have been in compliance. She supported me, told me upfront it was a tad over the cut off on basic alcohol. I asked for PETH. She told me she didn't feel we had to be so drastic and wasn't all that concerned, but if I chose we could do an ETG which ultimately was negative. In the same conversation she approved a change in job duties which meant less supervision. I'm TPAPN, and I thank God for having such a great CM.

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My CM told me on Tuesday that I had tested positive but she has YET to tell me what for. I have emailed her a few times and she said, "I will call you once I know something." - which is so weird. I'm thinking she may be waiting on my split test to come back. I've been in knots thinking of what I've ate, drank, etc. and I can't think of a single thing that would cause a positive on ANYTHING. I HATE being left in the dark about all this. My CM is not very friendly either, so that definitely does not help!

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I'm in HPMP and this terrifies me; I had no clue that they wouldn't tell you what you popped a positive for! I know that a month ago I ate a homemade cupcake that a nurse brought into work...I took one giant bite and ate about half of it. But as soon as I started chewing, the strongest taste of alcohol hit me. I wanted to spit it out, and I should have, but I was at the nurse's station and didn't want to make a scene. I *SHOULD HAVE* just made a scene. I asked her what on earth she put in it and she replied I'm in love with vanilla extract! I put like two TABLESPOONS in the frosting alone!”

Yeah, vanilla extract is 35-70% alcohol; so needless to say, I was sh**ing my pants. It tasted like a freaking shot it was so strong. I debated calling my case manager...but I was absolutely terrified that they would order a test just to nail me to the wall.

I ended up deciding to wait it out and call if I got called for a random. I get tested weekly so I knew I was screwed...but for the first time in my entire HPMP run, I went two weeks before I was called again for a urine, so I think my Higher Power dodged that bullet for me.

I don't really have any advice. I just want to say that I am so frustrated that they don't tell you what you were positive for; I know it's because they don't want participants to know what option tests for what...but unless you keep a written log about everything you put in your system (Why yes, I see here that at 12:00 pm on 9/25 I dunked my sushi in less than 1 teaspoon of soy sauce.”), how are you supposed to know?

Please keep us posted with what happened. This has inspired me to actually start a freaking log of everything my body comes in contact with.

Hugs.

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Thanks for the support! Still don't know anything other than I tested positive. You wouldn't happen to have an "not-so-friendly-belittling" case manager like me would you? 99% of the time she makes me feel like an idiot! I'm just so frustrated right now. I've spent the last week worrying myself and trying to think of anything that could've caused this... it would make it easier if she would just COMMUNICATE!!!!!

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Thanks for the support! Still don't know anything other than I tested positive. You wouldn't happen to have an "not-so-friendly-belittling" case manager like me would you? 99% of the time she makes me feel like an idiot! I'm just so frustrated right now. I've spent the last week worrying myself and trying to think of anything that could've caused this... it would make it easier if she would just COMMUNICATE!!!!!

I think I am beyond lucky; I have a really supportive case manager...but thanks to Cadeusus, I know the names of two case managers who have a reputation of being the Anti-Christ. Not that I trust my case manager any further than I can throw her if something went wrong...but when I told her that I was giving up nursing, she was the one who talked me in to going back into paractice. I haven't run in to anyone else who has her, but I have heard plenty of very unpleasant things about the other case managers.

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UPDATE!!!! So my case manager called this morning and said that the MRO said I probably had a UTI that caused the false positive for "Etg" (after a week, I finally know what I even popped a positive for) - so no repercussions, no issues and it's ALL good! Keep a check on your kidneys guys! Lol we worry so much about making sure our urine is concentrated for the specimen that it can cause things like this!

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Specializes in OR.

Nothing like being so frightened of a dilute that you put your own health at risk by not drinking enough and probably walking around incubating a chronic UTI. Never thought I'd be appreciative of the fact that some of the medication that I take is a little hard on my kidneys....keeps the creatinine a tiny bit elevated.

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The whole "dilute" thing is crazy!!! So nurses aren't supposed to drink water before they have to pee in a cup. I always swill down a huge coffee or diet coke on the way

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