pobool

Hi all, I am new to these forums, and here is a copy and paste of my first post;

"Best subforum to ask about rehab/ detox experiences?"
"Hi, I am new here and hope to look around a lot and find help with recovery. I was wondering which subforum I should post questions about finding rehab/ medical detox advice. I know some threads you cant ask/ give medical advice. Just looking for recommendations/ others experiences getting medical detox for alcoholism. Also questions about insurance etc. Thank you! "

I know that for most if not all of us struggling with addiction are or have had a hard time, battling demons etc. I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place right now, have been drinking too much for a few years now, am 33 years old, mother of two kids close in age, and for the last few years have been supporting the family and been the "breadwinner". Husband does work but not as regularly in the last year or so. I stopped drinking for about 6 months about 2.5 or 3 years ago, and it wasnt terribly difficult to stop, but now it is. Terrible withdrawal symptoms. Scared that I could really hurt myself if I went cold turkey.

But also dont feel like I can comfortably see a local doctor for this problem. Even though I am working hard at my job, we are trying to catch up on rent and other bills, and I dont have the money for insurance. I did have DSHS health insurance up until a few months ago, I reapplied over a week ago but havent heard back yet.

I pretty much know that my problem has got to the point where I need to go to a facility for medical detox to do it safely. I live on an island, small town, and will need o stay on the mainland for anywhere between 3 and 10 days for detox.

Anyone else done this? Its so hard, thinking about making sure insurance will cover it, taking the time off work, arranging childcare for two young kids. My seasonal job will slow down toward the end of September, but since I feel so ill right now I barely feel like I can cope with current circumstances that long. I want to be able to push through but am not sure I can.

If I find a good local doctor is there the possibilty I can medical detox with a prescription? In the past naltrexone hasnt helped, and I have insomnia and anxiety issues as well. I think maybe valium would help, is this what most detox centers use to help people detoxing from alcohol?

Living 4 hours drive away and at least 100- in transport costs to get to a center is a another hurdle too.

i am so ready and excited to break this cycle, and utterly sick of the daily negative impacts right now of my addiction.

If you have read this far thank you, and hoping to hear back from people about dshs insurance and 3 day versus 10 day detox, or personal detox success via just seeing a doctor rather than going to a rehab center (which I am happy to do but it will just be more complicated under my circumstances).

I feel like if I dont do something soon I could lose my career/ marriage/ kids etc Plus I just want to be myself again.

CarolD

Welcome....

Please click on the link below to read some info and expierences with de toxing

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html

In many areas The Salvation Army has free de tox centers and longer treatment centers ..also free.

No I did not do a medical supervised de tox...I had no idea that it was risky and dangerous to not.
I did not go to a treatment facility either...but straight into the program of Alcoholics Anonymous
and have remained an active member for years...

Wishing you all the best as you move into a sober future

suki44883

I did inpatient detox for 6 days. I loved it! Basically, you have a structured day which includes checking your vitals 4 times a day, meals, standing in line for meds, classes where you learn some coping skills, visits with a doctor/psychiatrist and stuff like that. I found it to be a wonderful experience and from there, I went to an outpatient (IOP) facility for 6 weeks.

Don't be scared. It's a chance for you to work on your issues, learn a little about yourself, share with others who are going through a lot of the same stuff and just concentrate on how to take care of yourself. I highly recommend it.

c49

Some do the home detox, some go for the professional one. Its a decision you should make based on what is safest for you.

Pros and Cons?
I did both so heres my two pesos...

Hospital De Tox:
PRO: Safest method with doctors and nurses to watch over you. Medications provided that will help and soothe the hell that detoxing can be. Meetings, reading, and help finding aftercare since getting sober is only a small percentage of what we need to remain sober.

CON: Cost. However do look for a Salvation Army as earlier suggested if insurance is to be an issue.

Home Detox with Dr. Prescription:
PRO: its home
CON: You have to be COMPLETELY honest as to the quantity of alcohol you ingest. If you understate your consumption and your Dr prescribes you something that may be inadequate for your condition then you have risked your life. You also run the risk of drinking while under the influence of STRONG tranquilizer and due to the lack of supervision you can again risk your life.

Home detox without DR's knowledge.... bad idea.

Whatever you do just be safe and do it right the first and only time Good Luck!!

lushly

I have done both. Home and medical. Medical is safer. If you go the home route I have to agree with c49 be honest with the doctor about the amount you have been drinking. Have someone to be with you. Have care for your children. Don't try to be a caregiver and detox at the same time. That someone that is with you should be knowledgeable about alcohol detox symtoms and ready to rush you in if there are any problems. A controlled environment is really great if you can afford it.

HuskyPup

Because I was not a daily drinker, I just decided to quit. I was in a pattern of drinking to excess between 1 to 3 times a week, 2 times on average, spaced 3 to 4 days apart...maybe an odd pattern, but it sure did hold me back, and exaggerate depression and moodiness. So I felt pretty safe just stopping, but I think if you are a daily drinker, medical advice is best. I had some leg cramps and insomnia, but all in all, nothing that severe, really...though I am not at all suggesting this is safe for heavier/more frequent drinkers...best to be cautious here.

pobool

Thank you everybody for answers and replies so far, all very much appreciated. I will keep checking back. I am grateful to hear everyones views and experiences about detox and rehab, thanks again

LaFemme

Hi and welcome! I hope you spend some time here we love to support people trying to get well.

I can't offer any advice...I didn't know any better and dried up on my own and was lucky. Obviously you are in a tricky situation. Be honest with your doctor and get his opinion. Best of luck and keep us posted.

JimE

I did both, home and medical. In '87 I tried the home method, just cold turkey after a lengthy binge of drinking and smoking coke and had a seizure. The next time was a medical one and I had a seizure there too. After that I had a few medical ones without problems and the last one in '90 was at a place called the Rogue Center in Orange County, CA. It was free with no meds, just a bunch of folks doing the detox together with a staff there ready to call 911 if anyone needed it. That one stuck for me, so far.

Beebizzy

Hi pobool!

Welcome to SR - nice to meet you.

I'm not in the US and have no experience of insurance or medical costs there, so I can't help you with that I'm afraid. Although here in Europe everyone balks at the reputed cost of it all without insurance... :-) It's similar in Ireland, where I come from, but now I live in Belgium where there is a 'social' system with health insurance (usually) provided by your employer - this helps cover GP visits, medication, hospital and specialist visits.

Anyway... I was referred to an addiction psychiatrist and did a home detox with valium (tapered down dose over 7 days) and some vitamins (B and multi), omega 3 as well. Lots of water, fruit and veg as well (a first for me). I had no problems at all with any of it. My bf checked in with me every day, and I saw the doctor during that week as well. Having said that, I have no kids and had no other responsibilities during that time (except my two cats :-)).

I only ever drank 'alcoholically' at home, so 'home' itself could have been potentially a trigger. The doctor advised 'changing everything', routines and even down to re-arranging the furniture :-) I didn't feel the need even to do anything like this.

The doctor told me 10 days for this process would be ideal, so I negotiated 9 days (including two weekends - so one full work week) off work with my boss upfront. That part stressed me the most to be honest. But I just basically said 'I need a week off for medical reasons, it has to be within the next month or so. If there's a week that's better than any other (workwise) tell me, and I'll shoot for that week'. And he did, and I did and that was it (it was going to happen anyway whether he liked it or not, but I preferred to level with him - but I realise it might be different in US). Annoyingly, I'm still off 3 weeks later for a depression that kicked in afterwards (which of course I'd been self-medicating with booze).

As c49 and lushly wisely say, if you go this route be totally honest with your doctor about your consumption. It wouldn't have occurred to me to do otherwise, I was so desperate to stop with his help, but it's an excellent point.

I've never done rehab, but I have been in psychiatric hospitals for depression a number of times and all I can say is that the advantage there was being totally removed from your usual environment, and being 'taken care of'/supervised 24/7. It's possibly not a good analogy for rehab, but I do see this similarity potentially.

In any case - good luck to you, and I hope you get started with some treatment, despite the obstacles you face.

BB

PAR

I'm new to here and some how found your post. I tried to detox on my own and had a seizure about 5 months ago. I was rushed to the hospital and was stuck there for 5 days. It wasn't a great experience, but I guess it was necessary. The scary thing is that I wasn't feeling that bad. That morning I had the shakes like crazy and was very fatigued but I didn't see that coming. I've read you can detox on your own by drinking a little at a time, but when do you stop without a professional telling you to?
I've since then detoxed at a rehab (yes, I was back to drinking). I stayed at the facility for 5 days. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. They checked my vitals (B/P and temp) every 4 hours. They gave me meds 3 times a day. I've been given both Librium and Phenobarbital when coming off a bender. For better or worse I thought I'd give you my personal experience when it comes to detox. Best of luck!

Dee74

I'm glad you came through that PAR
Welcome to SR

D

PAR

Thanks Dee74. This is day 37 for me. I haven't been to AA yet but I've been lurking around here for about 2 weeks. It has helped knowing that others have/are going through the same stuff.

Itchy

Before I answered I had to look up that dshs insurance you stated you had and it came up Washington State. In doing that I found this page:
DSHS - Treatment Services

Excerpt from that page:

"People are eligible for state-funded treatment services if they are low-income and assessed as alcohol or other drug dependent. DBHR is committed to funding quality care that is cost-effective."

There is a phone number with confidential answers and eligibility assistance. I'd give them a call were I you.

I am a vet, actually retired AF, and my retiree health care didn't cover it that I could find, but the VA had a program that was no charge for in hospital detox and 28 day rehab after. If you served any time honorably in the military you very well may be eligible.

So I did an in hospital detox and had no real problems at all with that. That was a year ago. I don't plan on going through any of that ever again. Detocx was easy but the first few months were a real roller coaster ride for me. For others they are fine after just a month or a few weeks. I was determined and swore to myself if I could stop for a week of detox I would never give up that head start and never go back. I figured why waste a perfectly good detox on one drug and quit my three pack a day smoking habit too. In two weeks it will be one year with not one drink and not one smoke. My significant harassment still smokes very moderately and drinks moderately and that is not an issue for me. There is always a carton of smokes and a bottle of scotch in the house and not hidden away. Not a temptation for me, I quit for me not anyone else and a smoke and drink is a five minute drive away. Distance is not a deterrent if one wants to drink. Proximity is not a temptation if one does not want to drink. At least for me, as I do not want to drink, don't miss drinking, don't want to be a normal drinker whatever that is, ( I have been told that an alcoholic is someone who drinks more than their doctor: grin) and do not want to try it just for one time to see what it is like again for any reason. I would not want to try it alone or without an in hospital detox, but many do.

I hope that page pans out for you, let us know what they say. There may be another Washingtonian reading that benefits from the info down the line.

Welcome and good luck!

Itchy

Welcome and congrats on the 37 days Par!

Justfor1

I have been to many, many medial detoxes. A very general rule of thumb is if you have been drinking a pint of booze or more a day for a few weeks a detox is necessary. Of course, consulting a doctor is always best.

MattM316

Just detox properly. If you're heavily drinking and want to quit, the worst and most dangerous thing you can do is quit cold turkey.
That's what I did and it nearly killed me, so take my advice and speak to your doctor about the best way to do it!

I had 3 seizures in one day, was very lucky, all because of alcohol withdrawal. Needs to be done properly.
Most people around you won't understand at all, because the dangers of alcohol withdrawal are pretty much sneered at by the majority of people.

Anna

Scared, I did not do a medical detox but I probably should have.

Detoxing from alcohol is unpredictable and can be dangerous. If you are concerned about insurance, is there a possibility of going to an ER?

I wish you well with your decision.

Itchy

pobool did you try that link and phone number? Have you detoxed yet? I do hope no news is good news although that is usually not the case, it sometimes can be.