Universe93B

I don't like that we are all on this forum, but that's life and I'm glad we have this space and you all are here. I first joined last March 2022 when my monitoring agreement started. I posted a little bit, but then the traffic here really dropped o...

How many AA/NA meetings is everyone required to go to in your programs? I don't find them helpful anymore, maybe in the beginning since the stress of everything that happened - listening to others' stories helped. Now, it doesn't help - I don't hav...

Oh that is for sure! For sure! For now, it's a game of urine etg, peth tests, and documenting AA/NA meetings and trying to end therapy (there is a guideline that if the therapist agrees, we can stop therapy).

I'm glad you finished the 2 years and you got out! Enjoy! 2 years is impossible in my state, it's always 3-5 years monitoring, with 5 years being the standard now. Everyone is "labeled" with a substance use disorder of some type so they can...

My state (SC) is moving to the physician model or slowly towards it anyway. In that model, you most likely will need monitoring but it's not called probation anymore. It's called a "condition on a license" or a "consent order." Main order being th...

They may help some people get back on track and maybe some are a danger to patients unless they get some help first before they get back to work. But mainly this is just a big money maker for them. For the board, monitoring agency and their "ap...

For the nurses, physicians, pharmacists and NPs I've seen, if you have a positive test, your monitoring agreement gets "more difficult" AND you get more time added. So the added time is the worst. But you have to do even more work like getting phys...

Same here - I don't go anymore, I just log them on the app. Well, looks like if you screw up (test positive on urine etg, etc) - it's like Covid doesn't exist and you have to physically go in and get signatures.

I'm happy you came on here to this forum and joined the community. We'll get thru it together for 3 years - that's about what I have left. And there are plenty like us who are NOT GRATEFUL that we are in a monitoring program or are going to say...

They suspected you of being under the influence of something but they didn't even test you - that's ridiculous on their part and a mistake. A "medical board" lawyer (who deals with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc) will know how to clear this si...

I'm in a similar boat as you with the career/job on coasting or whatever we want to call it. I also have the same issue because I don't feel comfortable with speaking to my therapist who is "approved" by the monitoring agency. I'm paranoid that if ...

Yep, exactly. And some of the prices for "evaluations" and rehab at their "approved centers" is insane. I do know some physicians who have gone and they make them pay tons of money! Although recently, rates for RNs, PAs and NPs are increasing also...

Yep, that's how it is in my program. They only call you for positive tests. My case manager did call me to tell me my FIRST peth test I ever did was negative, after a I went on a cruise. She did that because "This is a test people are not used to,...

It's supposed to detect "small" binges if the Peth is done within 5 days. It can even detect single drinking episodes if the test is done within 5 days as well. But if you had not drank at least 4-5 weeks before any episode, the Peth is very diffic...

Then this is negative. Your peth might have been a touch above 20ng at day 2 but had enough so much time to get back below 20ng with the 11.5 days.

Peth in the blood is additive, so it depends on how long your period of not drinking was. When did you last drink/how often before the 4.5 beers episode?

Absolutely. I also use other number "tricks" to make me feel better mentally. Use months or weeks instead of days sometimes. Or divide days over the total days and come up with fractions (I'm 40% done with monitoring!) Different days I need d...

Wow, ridiculous. Just shaking my head here. Take Tylenol and Motrin as needed. Can't wait til all this mess is over!

That's like the 2 medications that won't show up on any test! Don't be so worried about false positives!

I use Recoverytrek and they have an option to send you a text every morning to remind you to "checkin" for $5/month. No thanks, they are taking so much money during this monitoring anyway. I just check-in while I'm brushing my teeth and it's a rout...

Oh right, I do like Everything bagels which have poppy seeds on them. I have eaten the since starting monitoring, but I haven't eaten them that frequently and have never been tested the day after eating an everything bagel. That could be an issue -...

Oh yeah, that's the other thing I forgot to say. I kept buying the alcohol-free mouthwash but after 2 years now, I just buy what I normally do and what's on sale - if it has alcohol in it, so be it. I even used listerine (40%) at night and had to t...

I'm sorry the OP never got their question answered. But accidental exposure is more overrated than it is discussed. And not to be mean, but "accidental exposure" is the excuse that everyone uses when they get a positive urine ETG, Peth or whatever....

How are you missing these check-ins? Are they on the Recoverytrek app? You just check-in when you wake up or when you're brushing your teeth. Yes, it's demeaning and makes us feel like criminals, but just do the time and get through the period. ...

Yep, me neither, but it doesn't take much to stay clear of them I found (tried). I've been in monitoring for 2 years now with a very low cutoff ETG of 100ng and ETS of 25ng, and Peth below 20ng. I have drank 3 O'doul beers (0.5% alcohol) and got te...