Please help.

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Hello. This is so hard to post. But due to chronic pain, I have become addicted to pain meds. They aren't prescribed. I am going to a methadone clinic soon. 1. To help stop this stupid behavior I'm doing before I go to prison or die. 2. To help with the unrelenting pain I have daily and try to get my life back and somewhat be able to function.

Does anyone know if I have to disclose to the clinic my profession and where I get my meds?

Do I have to disclose to my employer that I'm on methadone?

I'm so scared and disappointed in myself but know this is the right course for me before something bad happens.

This physical addiction has come directly from MDs refusing to help me and treat my pain, unfortunately. I'm angry at them and myself for getting to this point.

Any insight would be great.

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This may not be correct advice, but based on what I have read in the recovery forum, I would resign my job and rehabilitate myself on my time and dime, then go back to work when I could deal with it, no one the wiser. I have found that letting a doctor know that I am a nurse when I am only seeing them for a cold will bite me in the butt. No way would I want to go through the process described here. But that is me looking at this, I’ll let the experts give you their take on this. Nursing or no nursing, get the help you need. Best wishes.

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I financially cannot stop working.

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If you continue to work as a nurse while you rehab yourself, you run the risk of the Board and your employer finding out and putting you through the ringer. But you know that.

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I don’t have any answers for your questions as my situation was different, but I do agree with caliotter3 that it might be a good idea to do something different while you rehab. You could still have repercussions since you’re still a “nurse” but your life will be under a microscope for years if the BON gets involved.

You just said your meds weren’t prescribed; if that includes diverting, you’ve got to stop before you get caught. Either way, get help sooner than later. My meds were my own prescribed medications and I still did 5 years of this mess that left a permanent mark on my record. I wish you all the best and hope you get what you need ASAP.

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32 minutes ago, KatmamaRN said:

Thank you for the advice.

I won't say where I get them. But I will say I know it has to cease immediately. ?

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I work in a medical withdrawal program. Being in this hell one of the first questions I asked was if they would report an nurse to the bon if they come asking for help. They do not. You can call and ask anonymously what their policy is.

How messed up is that we are fearful to ask for help because we know we will be punished in an extreme fashion.

Vivitrol would be a good option for you. That and getting a job where you are nowhere near the temptation.

Do it now before you end up like us! Under the thumb of the bon who seems to relish in our failures.

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It is sad. Makes us fearful to seek help for sure.

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Can you take FMLA? It might be a good idea to take FMLA and seek help . No you do not have to mention your'e a nurse, I wouldn't if I had to do it all over again. I had alot of paid FMLA time off , my only mistake was mentioning Im a nurse. Now I am in the monitoring hell hole with a permanent mark on my license. Thankfully I have a great job as an infection control nurse now and I am only in the mess for 2 years. I think its worth being public just to only have 2 years of this hell!

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I haven't been at this job long enough for FMLA. ?

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Awe Im sorry. Just do the next right thing and get help. Just dont mention your'e a nurse. Prayers sweetie

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Try getting work at a dialysis clinic. We don't have narcs in house, so we are recovery friendly-proactive to your problem, and in the case the board does get involved. Not everyone's dream job, but we pay decent (varies by area), and pretty good benefits. I'll pray for you

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