Reply With QuoteJust wondering where did I go wrong with reaching out for help through this site. It's been a while and still nobody has responded. Can someone offer some suggestions on how to get any advice on my situation?
lil one in TX need advice. Please
Hello,
im new to the site and in need of some advice and reassurance. My story goes a little something like this... I obtained my lvn license in 01 and went through a dental procedure and became addicted to pain killers. I was working for a docters office and was caught calling in prescriptions to pharmacies. I also was written up for coming to work groggy from taking too many prozac. Then i walked out on them one day when they were understaffed, after being refused any help. They reported me to the tx bon, i surrendered my license and the board told me that i could petition after one year, and 12 months verifiable sobriety. This was in 06, i had given up fell into a deep depression, and called it quits. My kids and husband helped me to regain my confidence and i just started taking monthly drug test in january of this year, i also completed an outpatient 21 day treatment program with a facility called brentwood. Now that my 12 months of testing is coming to an end i decided to start researching others experiences, and i must say im really discouraged now. I read that the board will probably say my test arent sufficient, enforce polygraphs and pyc evals and lawyers and all types of things. I would like to hear from someone with some knowledge of this type of situation. Can anyone help me and let me know what to expect, or what else i can do to better my chances of regaining my license?
Thanks
Just wondering where did I go wrong with reaching out for help through this site. It's been a while and still nobody has responded. Can someone offer some suggestions on how to get any advice on my situation?
Nikalea,
I am sorry that you have not received any replies... but applaud you for not giving up and for repeating your request for some help on your situation.
I am not from TX, but have read quite a bit about the way they work and follow a few blogs from TX lawyers involved with the BON.
I concur with your conclusion and strongly suggest seeking legal help with this in order to get the best outcome. I personally know a nurse who had good success after hiring a lawyer, and can give you his name privately.
Hi, I am new to site and just got through reading your thread. I'm also in texas. How is your situation going ? I'm in Tpapn, so on a little different path. Let me know. Get a lawyer for sure, one that is educated on the BON, that makes a big difference.
Hello!! Tweetybird and Whome 3
Im sooo glad I finally got someone to respond I had lost hope. Well I'm currently attending NA meetings 3 times weekly. I talked with my moniter in Oct and she said the random drug screens and the 21 day outpatient treatment wasn't enough and that I should go to the meetings. I wish I could afford a lawyer!! I've been praying that when I submit what I have and petition in March that something will happen. I hope they will allow me to participate in TPAPN. Im just so ready to go back to work. Welcome to the site and thanks for writing it really means a lot. Whome 3 I would like to know of that lawyer it doesnt hurt to at least contact them, you never know what the future may bring.
hi, really glad to hear from u. I tried to send a reply about some steps I have taken they may help with the BON and recovery (#1). I guesss it didn't send. (I was on a break @ work on my phone, screne is kinda small !) Let me know if interested, ok ?
YES!! I'm extremely interested. I've never gotten any responses from anyone on here so I'm still learning the ropes on replies and everything. I did answer the friends request. After responses went second to none I stopped coming on as much. Please do let me know those steps.Originally Posted by tweetybird rn
Thanks!!
Hi -
So sorry you have not been receiving a lot of responses. I don't know anything about the Texas Bon - But it sounds like you are on the right track. Do go to the meetings they are helpful to keep your stress at bay especially when you start working again.
It has been suggested that you seek the advice of an attorney - My own experience with using an attorney to deal with the BON was not very successful - The attorney told me that since I had no criminal charges and the program was "voluntary" I had little choice but to comply with the BON program.
I sat down and figured it all out the other day. I was in the California Program for just under Five years. Rehab cost me $15,000, Monthly program fee from the BON for 51 momnths $1300.00, Lab tests 2 monthly for 51 months $6800.00, I paid an attorney a $2500 retainer (which did me no good at all).
Grand total $25,600 to keep my license - (We actually took out a second mortgage on our house which we paid off as soon as I started working again).
The results however were priceless as I honestly believe that I would be dead today if I had kept going in the direction I was going.
My experience and advice is whenever possible don't fight with the BON. It's very rare that you'll win and I don't know of any BON program that does not require documented AA or NA attendance.
Remember that resentment and anger are the root causes of our disease
When we give into resentment, anger, and indignation (even the justifiable kind) we stay sick. We are only as sick as our anger and resentment allow us to be.
Good luck on your journey
Peace and namaste
Hppy
Thanks hppygr8ful,
That was so awesome to read!! Well when I surrendered I received paperwork saying I had to wait 12 months and then provide 12 months verifiable sobriety before I could petition. I've gotten a 21 day out treatment program down and 12 months of random urine drug tests completed but being too "embarassed" didnt start NA until October after I called the board and they told me just the randoms wasnt enough. MY moniter told me to get at least 3-4 months with NA and then try to petition. So thats what I'm doing. I pray so much that if they dont grant them with some kind of stip that they will at least let me in their TPAPN program. At least I will feel like I'm making some kind of progress. I've gone without my license since 06 and I'm so ready to get this behind me and start back doing what I know I'm supposed to be doing and not taking advantage of what my God has provided for me. This has been the most humbling experience of my LIFE!! and I've had a life which is a major part of why I self medicated. Through this I've actually learned my problem and am able to recognize the differences in me and when I need to be seen about, instead of pushing on and finding other ways to mask the problems. I pray something happens this year, but if not I know my higher power will find a way, I just pray this is the path he has chosen for me.
Thanks so much for the post
Happy New Year!!
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-
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