dtanna

If you are really worried about dilutes there is a very simple solution that does not have you avoiding caffeine or diuretics... My BP med has hydrochlorothiazide in it so that wasn't really an option for me. Drank coffee every morning before my UA along with taking my meds and never once came up dilute. But if you have been flagged in the past or are that worried... go to Amazon or any Health shop and buy Creatine Monohydrate powder. Take 1 rounded tbsp mixed with whatever liquid you like every night before bed and your creatinine levels will never be an issue. Creatine naturally metabolizes into creatinine in the body and will boost your levels. If you are worried about SG, add a tsp or two of salt. I never had to employ this method with close to 100 UA during the life of my now expired contract but the aforementioned WILL work if your creatinine levels are causing you issues. Good luck.

You say that hospitals don't tell you what you can do if you need help because you are diverting... yet you could have asked for help at any time but got caught before you could. Every hospital I have ever worked in has some form of Employee Assistance Program and you could have talked to them before you got caught and the result would have been the same. You would have had to self report to your State's recovery program anyhow and you would be in the same predicament you are now. I was in a group full of recovering heath care professionals and someone them DID try and get help for their addictions and wound up sitting right next to my anyhow... Forced into some sort of contract with the State so the outcome really wouldn't be any different. Good luck in your journey of recovery.

I think most posting here would concur, that would have been the FIRST thing we did after being accused of something we didn't do. Hopefully she will update the thread with the results. Every day that goes by after they gave her the results and she hasn't had some other test done to show her innocence makes her case that much harder to defend.

In a nutshell, you are still dealing with an intake manager at this time. You case will eventually go to team on a Thursday where they will figure what kind of contract you will get. You have to have that singed and notarized and return in a couple of days. You will get a least a two year contract. There is nothing less in Michigan with HPRP. You will be assigned a case manager. You can file a 1st step appeal, then a 2nd step. Most if not all appeals are fruitless but not knowing the particulars it is not possible to know. Here is what you can expect in the beginning: * You will not be able to work in home health care * Depending on what you did, you will not be able to pass narcs for a period of 6 months once you become employed again * You will not be able to work overtime * You will not be able to work between the hours of 0000 and 0700 * You will not be able to work more than 2 consecutive 12 hours shifts * You will be required to find a worksite monitor at whatever job you end up at * Your worksite monitor will have to create an online account with HPRP and fill out quarterly reports on you * You will have to find a sponsor * Your sponsor will have to write a brief quarterly report on your progress in AA/NA * You will have to call/log into the FirstLab number/site every day, M-F including holidays between the hours of 0400 - 1500 * If chosen, you will have to take the COC form you have mailed to your house with you and pay for the collection fees on the spot * Site collection fees range for $5 to $30+ depending on where you go, Concentra is on the upper end of the cost scale * In addition at the end of the month, you will get a bill from FirstLab where each test is charged a cost of $47.50 now * You will have to find an addictionist and pay to see them quarterly * You will have to attend at least 3 AA/NA meetings a week and have that documented * You will have to mail that meeting list to your case manager by the 10th of the follow month, every month. * Between the 1st and the 10th of every month, you will have to log into the HPRP website and submit a monthly self report * Every week you will have to attend group therapy at an Eastwood Clinic type program with other health care providers * One a month you will have to attend a caduceus meeting * When you see a doctor/dentist you are supposed to bring with you a form letting them know you are a drug addict * If working, for the first 8-12 months you will be selected 3-4 times a month to pee. If not working 1-2 * If you want to leave the State, you will have to request permission in writing * If you go up north for the week, you are still expected to find meetings and collection sites for your random drops M-F Depending on the reasons you were let go, you may get unemployment. Some do, some don't. Doubtful you would get SSI disability, but food stamps and welfare are not out of the question. You should be applying for them in the meantime, as well as Medicaid to help you defer the costs of the program. NO insurance, private or otherwise will pay for the drug screens, those are 100% out of pocket. The addictionist and group meeting can and do fall under some participant's co-pays. Good luck.

You can claim the Chain Of Custody wasn't followed correctly. They do splits to perform an instant assay test at the lab the specimen is sent to. If there are any positive for the usual 10 panels they test for, they then use the 2nd split to run GC/MS to quantify the specific metabolites caught on the assay. The GC/MS doesn't lie. Being flagged for a positive methadone is pretty damning. It's highly doubtful they let you go based on an instant immunoassay test. People keep suggesting you get a hair test done. That would rule it out if it comes back negative. Is there a reason you aren't doing this? This IS your Ace in the hole. Not having one performed isn't helping your cause.

The THCA metabolite is not confused for any other substance when sent for GC/MS quantification. Continue to take your Motrin and Prilosec without fear.

Hmm... I have been taking prevacid, prilosec, and nexium for years and have never had a false positive for THC which is my drug of choice and I am tested sometimes 2x a week. I take 2 different PPI's a day and have never even failed the ASSAY test to be sent for quantification. That's why they split the sample into two containers, one for the instant ASSAY and one for GC/MS confirmation if you fail.

Too late to edit my post: If anyone reading this in Michigan knows of a FirstLab approved 365 testing facility someone between Detroit and Novi please let me know? Thanks kindly in advance.

Thanks for the answers. In Michigan we are only M-F and I have called every testing facility within a 50 mile radius of Detroit and can't find one that is open. Even the ones at Hospitals (which don't say employees only) all seem to be the occupational health departments and every one of them is closed Thursday and Friday as well. Well I hope I am not selected as I don't see any viable solution. Again, thanks for taking the time to reply.

This is my first holiday having to log into the FirstLab website. I have already called my testing facility and they are closed both Thanksgiving and Friday. Do we have to log into FirstLab on holidays and if so and a test is ordered, what is the protocol since I would imagine most if not all labs are closed these days? Thanks in advance.

Hello, I am expecting my Intake Manager to finally present me with my Monitoring Agreement which I know will consist of monthly caduceus meetings. I have tried searching on Google for where and more importantly when a local meeting occurs so I can plan me upcoming work schedule but cannot find any links. I am in Southeast Michigan. I work the afternoon shift. 5 shifts a week from 3pm to 1130pm which has already been approved by my IM. I have been to AA/NA some 20 years ago for 4-5 years and know at least that aspect of my MA will be free. In addition to my question above, does caduceus meetings cost money? If so how much? Thank you in advance for any info you can provide. dtanna

Agree with skinnedknee. When I signed up to give my CC number (as you know not in a contract just yet) it stated only M-F. I'll update you Mcm79 when I have to sign my IMA if that info changes.

Could you please forward me the name of the lawyer you chose? I am spending a fair deal already and have yet to even see the Addictionist yet, all 3 names given had over 1 month wait to see them. I'm sure they will try for the 3 year plan and my lawyer insists he can get it down to 1 or no contract at all. Thank you so much mcm79, it appears you and I are in the same boat.... [email protected]

Could you please email me the name of the lawyer you chose? There are only a couple in Michigan and I want to make sure I picked the right one. Thanks, it's [email protected] The process is very slow for me right now and have not even gotten to the contract part which is where my lawyer says he can help mitigate the damage/time commitment. He assures they will go for a 3 year regardless of whether or not it "was only pot". I'm scared beyond belief at this point. The not knowing is taking its toll. Thanks in advance.