Good grief...I came up Positive

Nurses Recovery

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  1. How are Positive UDS handled in your monitoring programs?

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      Not an automatic assumption of relapse, but taken seriously

8 members have participated

Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. I was checking my results on affinity and my last test result is positive for alcohol. The problem is, I didn't drink. The only thing I can think might have caused it was some lemon tahini dressing at a vegetarian restaurant I ate at the night before. I've had the same dressing in the past and never had a problem.

The killer in all this is that I am due to complete monitoring in four days. Yes.

Never had any positives during monitoring, nothing but a dilute specimen. I'm not drinking, not using, nothing. And bing.

*Sigh*

I haven't heard from my case manager yet. I'm trying to stay calm and think. Stick to my routine and not worry. I know I do have options, I just can't believe this. After everything I have done, all the scrupulous watching everything I do, eat, drink, and walking on eggshells...BUT we will just wait and see.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

OH. MY. GOD!!! You have got to be kidding me? Four days before?

(I am in IPN too as you know)

I wonder if they will just order a repeat test or do further testing? Or hair test? I hate that option because its so pricey!

A lady in my group tested positive for alcohol a few times and she is diabetic, so she said did some investigating and ended up excusing it due to sugar issues, apparently an make it test positive? IDK. But it goes to show you there really ARE false positives.

Just try to stay positive. Chances are that it was just the dressing, which is not your fault at all.

A part of me wants to get on some big conspiracy theory... but thats just the addict brain talking, lets not do that hehe

Good luck! Ill be keeping you in my thoughts. Please let us know asap.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Yes, sugar in the urine can cause false positives, because of fermentation. I thought that possibility was accounted for, but apparently the etg just reads positives.

Thank you for the support. I have already spoken with my caseworker, who seems as mystified as I am.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

Did she say what the next plan of action is?

I am glad you've already spoken to her, and I hope this can be resolved soon.

Keep me posted? :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

He, actually. No. There might be more tomorrow. They have to discuss it in daily conference.

Thank you. I sure will.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Noooo. Keeping my fingers crossed that it works out in your favor!

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Specializes in RNC-OB,L&D,Antenatal testing, Oncology.

Four days before the end of your monitoring!!! What a mess. I'm sure they will take into account that you never had a positive result. Stick to your guns and tell them you are telling the truth when you said you did not drink alcohol. I will pray for you í ½í¹í ¼í¿»

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I have a long history of positive Etg without drinking. It sucks. I now have PEth test blood. This test too is experimental. I never figured out why I test positive. I dread every time I have a test.

Gabby

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Any news???

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
Any news???

Nope. I explained what I thought might be the cause of the positive in a message to my caseworker yesterday. I have since not heard a thing.

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Wow. Is this a 5 year contract? Keep us updated. Did you already submit all your exit paperwork?

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I'm so sorry to hear this and feel in my gut that you be successful in showing that this was case of accidental exposure. I do have to ask though- what in the tahini dressing could cause a false positive?

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