I just had a positive test for Alcohol. I didn't drink.
I'm almost 3 years in to a 5 year contract in Fl's IPN.
I'm not a delicate flower. I didn't dissolve into tears, I was LIVID. Immediately upon hearing what she had to say, I asked for a pEth test. I was told 'no' and that the protocol for a positive etoh is to test specimen B of the split screen and go for an eval. I have NEVER in my entire LIFE tested positive for alcohol. Alcohol is just not my thing and never was.
I told her I would think about it and hung up on her! Immediately I got my own order for a pEth test and self urine tested, just for overkill. I have support systems in place and discussed all of this with my group, we met the same night for our regular weekly group. I kept raging and got a lot of good feedback on how to keep this in perspective and to remember that it was my actions that put me here. That helped me, because despite how angry I am, staying in a 'victim' spot is never a good choice for me.
I've been at this long enough so that although I do carry a degree of guilt and shame, I don't let it keep me from standing up for myself when I truly feel something is not right. One of the suggestions I got from my group was to go ahead and have the split screen tested. I was operating with the notion that if I hadn't drank, it must be contamination. And if they retested, would they use a second specimen to try and hang me. Then I learned about 'incidental' exposure. And I had taken Apple Cider Vinegar for joint pain and inflammation. There is no ALCOHOL listed on the label. A friend of mine in group had tested positive for etoh in treatment from red wine vinegar. I contacted my case manager who always very kind ( she's not the one I hung up on ) and deposited the additional $55 dollars in Affinity to cover the cost of the split screen. Spent $249 in less than 24 hours attempting to prove my innocence.
I was told later to do any test I wanted, no test result from this point on was going to negate a positive etoh. Which is fine. I'm not looking to negate the positive, I'm looking to establish a 'look back' through a pEth so that the time the specimen was submitted is surrounded by other days, before and after. If I didn't act then, that time would elapse and it would be easier for them to try and say I'm drinking. And, I'm in the process of setting up the eval. They will request a hair test, another pEth, fingernail and urine. That is all a ok. I am one of the fortunate that can withstand the cost of anything they throw at me. And I'm convinced that's what it takes.
I had an email war going. I asked them why it took 8 days to report a positive urine? Weren't they supposed to be protecting the public from me? I asked them what has my urine been doing for 8 days, fermenting? After that last message, I was given THAT day only to retest the rescreen. I didn't get the message till 6pm. So, I missed the window. What was my urine doing for 8 days? Why did it take them so long to notify a nurse who had a positive for etoh? I could've been on an 8 day bender! I wasn't, but that's beside the point. And, they wanted to retest the same urine. Something is weird about this.
I'm in the process of setting up the eval. I started calling THAT day, the person in my area has yet to return my phone call. So, I'll probably have to go a city away. It's impossible to do this stuff quickly. Then, once I get an appointment, I have to give IPN 72 business hours to fax the info to the person I selected. SO glad I had that pEth test done myself, mind you. Time is ticking away... Time to let them look back during the time the positive screen was collected.
Can you think of anything else I can do to be proactive? I do not mind being tested, I do not mind another evaluation. But I would be devastated if I lost my time in monitoring. I would like to say here that the person who is my full time case manager is very kind. Just the battle axe who covered for her on her day off was not and I gave as well as I got. The way I see it is, I'm required to comply. There is nothing in my contract that implies I'm a whipping boy. So, I stood up for myself and I always come out swinging.
Oh, Persephone! So very happy for you. You will come out on top of this, although, a lot lighter in the wallet! That part stinks. I am sorry you had to go to another eval and pay that money.
But, I am a little too happy that you get to stick it to your CM. And to think, they wanted you to wait and see..... Yeah, so they could screw you once again. Now, I am not saying they haven't had their fair share of people screwing up legitimately, but, it has tainted their view on EVERYONE and that is not fair.
Oh, Persephone! So very happy for you. You will come out on top of this, although, a lot lighter in the wallet! That part stinks. I am sorry you had to go to another eval and pay that money.
But, I am a little too happy that you get to stick it to your CM. And to think, they wanted you to wait and see..... Yeah, so they could screw you once again. Now, I am not saying they haven't had their fair share of people screwing up legitimately, but, it has tainted their view on EVERYONE and that is not fair.
So, so, so happy for you!
Thanks, re1965. But it ain't over yet.
I received a call from my case manager at 7:45 am this morning. She was letting me know that the split screen ( the 2nd bottle from the urine submitted on 4/10/18 ) came back positive. She seemed to enjoy it. It could just be how I took it. I'm still raw and upset.
I've learned a lot researching all of this. And while I haven't written off the possibility that perhaps I came contact with something, I still don't know what it was if it wasn't the vinegar. I just know it wasn't from drinking.
If you look back at my posts. I have a long history of testing positive for etg(without drinking) since 2006 when it first started being used....I spent a lot of money and never figured out what caused my positives. I never had a positive PEth. I was placed on fluconazole for possible gut fermentation. I don't know if it helped, I do know I never drank.
Here's an idea...since the PeTH was negative and all the crap taken at the eval will be negative, the only excuse they will have is a 'not very reliable ' (read even the manufacturer warns to not use the results in isolation) test, tell them to send you to a GI doc to rule out the gut fermentation like what gabby3 was dealing with. Or throw a lawyer at them....because thier own steps 2 and 3 (blood tests and eval) cannot justify the P test result....there's really nothing they can do and a lawyer can dare them to try it. You are also legally entitled to a copy of the evaluators lab work. If they try to tell you 'we don't release 3 rd party records, fine...where'd they process the labs, you get them from there.
You know how to be a pit bull....they made your life miserable....irritate them in return...
im not sure people rightfully defending themselves instead of taking thier bullying and slinking away defeated is a concept they are familiar with....
If you look back at my posts. I have a long history of testing positive for etg(without drinking) since 2006 when it first started being used....I spent a lot of money and never figured out what caused my positives. I never had a positive PEth. I was placed on fluconazole for possible gut fermentation. I don't know if it helped, I do know I never drank.
Good luck
What happened? Did they keep refraining you from practice? How were you ever able to complete your contract? You poor thing... that's awful. I will look back over your posts. Thank you.
Here's an idea...since the PeTH was negative and all the crap taken at the eval will be negative, the only excuse they will have is a 'not very reliable ' (read even the manufacturer warns to not use the results in isolation) test, tell them to send you to a GI doc to rule out the gut fermentation like what gabby3 was dealing with. Or throw a lawyer at them....because thier own steps 2 and 3 (blood tests and eval) cannot justify the P test result....there's really nothing they can do and a lawyer can dare them to try it. You are also legally entitled to a copy of the evaluators lab work. If they try to tell you 'we don't release 3 rd party records, fine...where'd they process the labs, you get them from there.
You know how to be a pit bull....they made your life miserable....irritate them in return...
im not sure people rightfully defending themselves instead of taking thier bullying and slinking away defeated is a concept they are familiar with....
Those are good ideas, Cat. I am currently hounding the evaluator. He hasn't responded the way he did when he was so sure my PEth was going to come back positive. I'm so distrustful now. It's awful.
Those are good ideas, Cat. I am currently hounding the evaluator. He hasn't responded the way he did when he was so sure my PEth was going to come back positive. I'm so distrustful now. It's awful.
He cannot admit he was mistaken. So sad, for a person who should be on your side....
Wow I hope they let you use the peth you did on your own and don't come with no crap since they seem like they going to use the split screen against you. Calling you at 7:45 is over kill sound like she enjoyed making that call. I hope the evaluator can help you fight against these people. Hoping for the best. You will win this fight.
Wow I hope they let you use the peth you did on your own and don't come with no crap since they seem like they going to use the split screen against you. Calling you at 7:45 is over kill sound like she enjoyed making that call. I hope the evaluator can help you fight against these people. Hoping for the best. You will win this fight.
I have the results of my own PEth that I had pulled. I just can't compare the split screen yet ( if ever ), to see if the 2nd positive was higher than the first. To me that would indicate fermentation, maybe? I don't know. This is my first time ever fighting a positive.
There's a statute 456.057 that is supposed to allow me access to my own medical records. I've sent another request for the urine tests and evaluation report and those tests.
IPN gave me my Lab results and the values for Etg/Ets are increasing! What was 800/100 is now 1000+/200+! It's been 28 days since I submitted that urine. It was 27 days when I was notified of split screen positive.
Wait, the split came back higher from the same pee test? That's BS. The test is bogus. How does one effectively explain two different EtG levels from the same pee? They didn't confirm anything. Rather they cast more doubt on their case. Their stupid lab could even get consistent readings from the same pee on a test that's not supposed to be used as stand-alone evidence of drinking & you have a Peth test from the same lab that offers contrary evidence. You ain't gotta be Perry Mason to know that this garbage gets tossed with any standard of proof. It appears you have three tests from the same lab that aren't consistent with one another. What's that prove but either a sloppy lab or a contaminated sample(s). Nothing
Wait, the split came back higher from the same pee test? That's BS. The test is bogus. How does one effectively explain two different EtG levels from the same pee? They didn't confirm anything. Rather they cast more doubt on their case. Their stupid lab could even get consistent readings from the same pee on a test that's not supposed to be used as stand-alone evidence of drinking & you have a Peth test from the same lab that offers contrary evidence. You ain't gotta be Perry Mason to know that this garbage gets tossed with any standard of proof. It appears you have three tests from the same lab that aren't consistent with one another. What's that prove but either a sloppy lab or a contaminated sample(s). Nothing
I agree with spanked.. if they don't throw this out then that shows even more so how corrupt these people are. I hope they throw this out and give an apology. Someone in that lab handle your specimen real sloppy.
rn1965, ADN
514 Posts
Oh, Persephone! So very happy for you. You will come out on top of this, although, a lot lighter in the wallet! That part stinks. I am sorry you had to go to another eval and pay that money.
But, I am a little too happy that you get to stick it to your CM. And to think, they wanted you to wait and see..... Yeah, so they could screw you once again. Now, I am not saying they haven't had their fair share of people screwing up legitimately, but, it has tainted their view on EVERYONE and that is not fair.
So, so, so happy for you!