prinzeugen

After a month long wait for non-urgent appt, I have the GP (in UK) appointment on Monday morning.

I know I'm probably not a "severe" enough drinker to warrant any kind of detox given the strain the NHS is under, but I may well ask him/her to prescribe some benzo's and hopefully refer me for counselling.

I'm a bit dubious of this admission being on my record but as was wisely stated on here previously, if I don't admit it now I'll have to admit it for some more pressing concern later on.

Does anyone in the UK have any experiences of what to expect? I appreciate this is hugely Doctor dependent. Will be my first time telling them this.

MantaLady

I haven’t told my doctor although I think they suspected it anyhow so no advice based on experience to offer. However, if you are going to do it be brutally honest about everything so they can help appropriately. Unless you really really feel there is a need for benzo’s I wouldn’t recommend them as they come with their own problems, many people at my rehab were trying to get off them so think carefully before embarking on that road. All the best and congrats for deciding to get sober, it wom’t be easy at first but it gets better and you’ll never regret it! Best of luck xx

prinzeugen

Thank you Manta, advice duly noted. Truth be told I am very apprehensive about letting the genie out of the bottle, if you excuse the pun haha! I know if I admit everything then I will definitely have my record stamped with at the very least "alcohol dependent".

If you don't mind me asking, how did you enter rehab without informing your doctors?

MantaLady

I paid to go to rehab in Thailand as it was much cheaper than the U.K. Best decision I ever made. I learnt so much about myself and addiction and feel it has given me a really solid foundation for my recovery back home. I still haven’t told my UK doctor that I went but he does know I used to drink at least a bottle of wine a day! I didn’t need a detox at the rehab but most people did. My mental dependence was far bigger than my physical but saying that if I carried on the way I was going it would have happened. Glad I got out and got sober beforehand. x

prinzeugen

Very interesting, thank you.

Dee74

I have no experience with the UK but don't sugar coat anything - be honest -self deprecatory statements like "I know I'm probably not a "severe" enough drinker to warrant any kind of detox given the strain the NHS is under" might stop you from getting the help you need...?

Best Wishes

D

Primativo

I had no qualms about it being on my record. I may be ignorant but in which line of work would you having a history of alcohol dependency be relevant?

I can understand for say the police or airline pilot, train driver etc or if you are a doctor etc but for "normal" office jobs I don't see the issue?

I thought it only stays on your record for 7 years anyway.

Much rather get the help you need and be brutally honest about it...and having it on your record is much better than a DUI / drink driving charge instead, or worse etc

Kath50

I’m from the UK... I went to my dr and was honest from the beginning. I was in such need for help that I felt it was the only way to do it. My dr was amazing. She did blood tests and monitored me weekly, offered support via counselling and said she found my attitude very refreshing towards my dependency. With the support, I was offered two different routes: 1. I would have to wait for my referral to a counselling service which could’ve taken 6-8 weeks. Or 2. I was referred to an local alcohol and drug centre to meet with a nurse who could discuss home detox and set me up with some CBT counselling.
Both a tricky choice. Do I wait? Or do I go to a centre which frankly, the idea scared me. It was in a rough area in north London and I had a job in the community and I knew lots of people in the area.
I sucked it up and chose choice 2.
I wanted the help straight away.
They helped me massively.

Cut to now. And I moved house so therefore my GP changed. I relapsed.
I went to my new GP and with three months sober under my belt, they aren’t taking my health concerns seriously.

I think it completely depends upon your GP as to level of care. But regardless of that. I would ALWAYS be straight with my doctor. Regardless of it being on my medical notes. In fact. It’s even more reason to be on there. If anything, god forbid, happens to me, I know it’s on there for doctors to see and to then help.

Anna

I'm glad that you are doing what you need to do to recover.

Delilah1

I'm glad you have an appointment with your doctor. You've got this.

prinzeugen

Thank you Kath. That's pretty much what I was looking for and answered my question re it being very much GP you're speaking to on a given day amongst other things.

prinzeugen

The issue is that I am a professional where having this on my record could affect it detrimentally. Secondly, there is a possibility I may migrate in the not too distant future and that would, of course, require the prospective new country to review my records.

August252015

I would much rather have records of info and steps taken to treat my alcoholism on my health records than have a death certificate that cites cirrhosis as the COD.

allishope73

Hi . I m sure there is confidentiality policy. What to expect depends on doctor and how much you drink . Doctor told me they reffer to hospital only severe cases. Asked to reffer myself to CAT and Glasgow council on Alcohol. In both cases was redirected to gp as assesment shown i was binge drinker not alcoholic going through loss and nervous breakdown . Took me two years eventually to bevreffered to Mungo and they took me as at that time i was isolated as split with husband. Doctor might give you short prescription of valium diasepam which is benzo probably minimum dose
There is no free rehabilitations centres unless you are homeless very severe etc or taken from the streets to supported accomodation. Not much help if you are over 26. It is from my expierience. I can only comment on Mungo Project . Workers were great although as i used to work in similiar environment i just doibled knowladge. The real knowladge on addiction i learnt from personal expierience and this site reading. Everybody is different and has different tesons and patterns of drinking. In ideal world treatment should be taylored to individual but its theory i learnt at uni. My doctor told me not to attend AA as it is not science based and harmful approach. I found it helpful as i take what i need. Not dogmatic but good to be around people. Good luck. I m curious what you get offered. But first well done for devision . When you quit and detox ... work on telapse prevention. I decided to quit time ago and took me couple of relapses to learn my triggers ... hitting tock bottom in sense alcohol did not soothed just made me measarable cry and self pity and torture of not being able to quit couplebof days in a row . After i kinda managed to go cold turkey and it is not nice at all... very scary as anxiety hit you like hell. Let us know big hugs x D

prinzeugen

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement, all duly taken on board.

PhoenixJ

With respect- detox IS using valium to stop bad withdrawals. Like seizures- which I got. Be careful.
Support to you. Well done on your post. Keep posting.

Delilah1

Just wanted to wish you good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Check in and let us know how it goes.

Delilah1

I'm not sure of the different rules regarding disclosure, but I k ow I have changed jobs since getting sober and medical records were never part of the process. I was required to get a physical and drug test, but that was all.

You can always ask when you are there about HIPPA and what is allowed to be shared.

trailmix

Not necessarily and not in my experience. Those are privileged/confidential information and if a country is asking for access to those, you might want to rethink the move!

Seriously though, this forum might be helpful to you if you are migrating to the U.S., if it's a different country I am sure there are similar forums, good luck!

https://www.visajourney.com/

daisy1

I bit the bullet and fessed up to a GP years ago, and then another, and then another. Each of them basically said 'it's up to you to stop' and sent me away. However I think awareness has changed and they are better at referring to the available drug and alcohol services. Do you know if there are any in your area?

I am a senior nurse and was very concerned that my secret would get out, as I deal with very sick people and have to make crucial decisions. My current GP who is coincidentally but luckily for me, is a drug and alcohol specialist, said that it is confidential and they do not have to know.
However, he said if I drink I must go off sick and attend all the groups and be able to show I am proactively trying to tackle it. He said it is an illness the same as another illness and they can't discriminate as long as I am treating it and not putting my patients at risk. He urges me to tell my line manager the real problem all the time but I won't, because I know full well I will be judged, watched like a hawk and any mistake will be presumed alcohol related.
So what I've done is hand in my notice and I'm looking for less responsibility while I recover - I'm much worse than you physically it's caught up with me and affected my health badly, so I'm glad you are catching it early. Good luck, you won't regret asking your doctor for help xxx