Originally Posted by
tweetybird rn
Hi- so glad to hear from u ! Sounds like ur really trying and making good progess. OK, I will lay out what I have learned and hope it wull help u. If I were in ur shoes @ this point I would recommened looking up tpapn web site and follow those guidelines as close as possible. Thet really do have a great program for recovery, it works. The Texas BON does work with tpap. They aknowledge the program as a strong one and those who complete it are given credit. Some of the guidelines r 90 / 90 meetings (90 meetings in nineth days, then it is 4 meetings a week for the remainder of the two years. I know it is a lot but it works, you get so use to it after a while. It helps to retrain ur thinking into sobriety, it takes two years (they say) to get some of the old triggers out of our heads. I love the meetings and the people I have met, many nurses, doctors, RT'S believe me we r not alone. Also they require counseling w/ an addiction specialist @ least 1 x per week and group 1 x per week until the counselor releases u. They will write a plan for u. Keep copies of all ur records, a journal or notebook of every appt u have. Any progress notes the MD, counselor writes. Don't write all ur problems in there, the BON only wants to know about ur your recovery progress. They are overwhelmed as is. Make sure u have / get sponsor in NA / AA keep dates of meeting and what step u are working each month, and what it mrans to u. It's easier to write it down as u go than to try and remember everything, really it is. Make sure u have a PMD, even if u don't think u need need one. Your MD needs to know about ur subtance abuse hx. Talk to him / her honestly, they will be more understanding than u would ever think. Most people really want to help someone that is trying. Get any Rx filled @ only one pharmacy so a record can b pulled if asked. Try not to take any mind altering meds, even benadryl, those r off limits in tpapn, and get tested for. Ther have been times all of this pissed me off etc, but if I am really honest w/ myself I know that a year ago I could have cared less if I lived or died. In fact death seemed easier. Tpapn, recovery, AA all of it are life, and a good life. I'm not perfect by no means, but I'm gratful. Pt's Im taking care of have the right to a nurse who not impaired on anything, not even hung over. I would expect that as pt, we all would. I never practiced thinking I was altered, or too sick to work. But this disease eats us up. Thank God there is help. I'm probably leaving some out, sorry. I will re-read and add whatever I can to help !! Packing for a trip, have an early flight. Will check back in ASAP. Bye for now. - Tweetybird-