Today at ARC
Posted , 8 users are following.
Well folks today I took the plunge and went to check out my local ARC.I had a 20 mile drive and was feeling a teeny bit anxious all the way.After a hunt I found the place.A seedy looking place from the outside with rather a discreet back entrance.Well I thought I am here now so go for it girI and self refer.It was a scary moment as I was petrified as to what I was stepping in to .Deep breath and through the door I went ,I was greeted by a lovely lady and after my anxious mumbling she took me to a room where she said the duty officer would see me.It all seemed a bit bizarre from then onwards.He took a few personal details and a brief outline of my past and present drinking history.I told him I was currently taking nalmefene This was met with a blank.look so I repeated myself using the brand name Selincro .Still a blank look and he then announced he had never heard if the medication .I was gobsmacked .He then asked what I expected of the centre. I explained that I was buying nalmefene privately and I ultimately hoped I could get an NHS prescription as there was a shelf life at to how long I could afford to buy them.He then said they didn't prescribe at the centre and he didn't think I would get it on NHS because of the cost ! I told him I knew differently from a reliable source (thanks Joanna C3) and quoted 'the local NHS has deemed that both medications (nalmefene and Naltrexone )can be used for the Sinclair Method and have been rated as amber Amber means they prefer the initial assessment and prescribing to be done by a specialist physician at local ARC services .I mentioned TSM and got another blank look , I described the process as best I could and he wrote it down.I expect he is googling it tonight 😘😅 As my drinking levels before nalmefene were on average 50 units a week he didn't really think that was too drastic compared to some who came thru the door there .I mentioned Naltrexone and he reckoned he had heard of that but said they tend to use Antabuse and Campral The long and short of it is I will be allocated a key worker for an assessment but unclear where it goes from there.I think.o might as well go to.my GP now as it seems if anyone will prescribe it might be him after all
0 likes, 42 replies
Joanna-SMUKLtd Nat666
Posted
First off, well done Nat for getting yourself there.
Interesting how he first said they don't prescribe at the centre, and then said they antabuse and campral. They are also both prescription only so they DO prescribe!!
It always amazes me that (even taking naltrexone out of the conversation for a moment) Selincro has been approved in this country since November 2014. How on earth can the people working for the ARC - be it duty manager or key workers - never have heard of it? Obviously, they lived under a rock that November or was off the planet on holiday on Mars or something because it was all over the tv news, the radio news, the newspapers and the internet.
You may well end up having a very similar conversation with the key worker too, sadly, but are prepared with the facts in your hands so they can't possibly deny it.
And if they try getting out of it by saying that only treat abstinence, then the NICE Guideline CG115 (print it out if you need to) clearly states that although for most, abstinence is the preferred goal of treatment, they are not to deny their services to those wishing to reduce their consumption levels if the patient feels that abstinence is not what they want.
The actual quote says 'When a service user prefers a goal of moderation but there are considerable risks, advise strongly that abstinence is most appropriate, but do not refuse treatment to service users who do not agree to a goal of abstinence.' The point number on CG115 for you to highlight is 1.2.2.1
JulieAnne101 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Hi Joanna yes it was you who told us to push for treatment at the ARC. They must have a duty doc if they are prescribing Campral and antabuse. We got exactly the same reaction to our request for Nalfemene!
I don't think my husband was strong enough to fight for it at that point so he accepted Campral.
We went to gp who didnt want anything to do with it in the first instance, so had to go back to ARC. I did write a letter of complaint that has yet to be answered properly. Campral is now on script for 6 months
Nat666 Joanna-SMUKLtd
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JulieAnne101 Nat666
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Hope you are ok x
Nat666 JulieAnne101
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Hi JulieAnne..It was spur of the moment thing this morning...Once I get a key worker on board it should be different.I just couldn't bieve how little the guy I saw knew xx
JulieAnne101 Nat666
Posted
Yep. They are just AA orientated. That is all they know, that is all they WANT to know. Hubbys key worker was quite prepared to let us reach rock bottom. He is 57, rock bottom to me at his age and condition means death. I despair with the whole effing system.
Sorry, everytime I think about the ARC my blood boils
As your head is clear, you should be able to sort something out, especially with Joanna's info. Good luck x
Nat666 JulieAnne101
Posted
It's all such a shambles ..I also felt today he was sort of taking the higher ground a bit. I have been sat here tonight and wondering if I am going to end up with Campral being suggested.I will fight my corner.
Rock bottom.. by what you have told us all my lovely it sounds like rock bottom was reached way back
I'm glad I went though today as it has confirmed all I have read on here .. the only odd thing was there was no one else there lol
JulieAnne101 Nat666
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Thinking of everyone on here as always x
Nat666 JulieAnne101
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Not a soul about and it is described as 'A vibrant centre' 😃😃😅😅😅but you 've got it JulieAnne ! They are all cured and it's just me left to cure in the area now..wow LOL
Nat666
Posted
RHGB Nat666
Posted
Erm, I think you might be heading for a disappointment here, by expecting your key worker to be competent.
First thing I would say, and this is aimed at anyone reading the forum. Don't expect much from an ARC or any of their staff. You are not handing yourself over to experienced people who will take care of everything, assess you and take the best course of action for you and listen to your requests sympathetically.
I walked out of my first ARC, after having had a meeting with the manager to give feedback, that she had requested to attend and then promptly spoke over me at every opportunity.
However, in my experience and the majority of others whose posts I have read, a GP will not help or get involved. So, your only route to getting an NHS prescription is through an ARC. If you view an ARC as nothing more than a place to get your prescription and that you will have to battle to get it, you will not be disappointed.
In a nutshell, don't expect much from an ARC, but unfortunately, we all have to end up going to them, unless we want to fork out for private prescriptions.
Nat666 RHGB
Posted
All the lovely quips from here were running through my head there yesterday as I trundle in there .On my part it felt like an experiment in some way and yep I got the same results as most people as expected. Its purely a route for me to get medication on NHS so I am ready for the battle.. I nearly said to him yesterday 'don't give me a spotty teenage keyworker please as that just won't cut it '! thought better of it though lol
He did suggest to me to chat with my GP as GP'S are very understanding of alcohol issues these days .!! I could run round in circles
JulieAnne101 RHGB
Posted
Regards
JulieAnne x
JulieAnne101 Nat666
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Words fail x
JulieAnne101 Nat666
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So definately feeling lessed stressed x
JulieAnne101 Nat666
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Nat666 JulieAnne101
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Ahhh JulieAnne You heard real sweet words from hubby today I think it was either RH or Vickylou (or both) that said that he would say he hadn't thought about alcohol a few weeks down the line .Its a true miracle. Wonder if this state of mind would persist if you just carried on taking the meds .Interesting x
PaulJTurner1964 JulieAnne101
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The idea that people need to hit rock bottom before they can be helped is a myth. Imagine telling a person with any other illness 'wait until your life is completely ruined and then we might help you if you're lucky.'
Joanna-SMUKLtd PaulJTurner1964
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I completely agree with Paul on this.
It may well have been true at one time, many years ago, before scientists understood what is happening in the brain.
Now, we have treatments that can help long, long before that point of 'rock bottom'. It is no longer necessary to lose your job, your home, your family and your health before someone can (and should!) seek help.
RHGB JulieAnne101
Posted
I don't want to sound like a mother hen, but that is Campral working, just as it should.
Don't mention alcohol or naltrexone. His body and brain are recovering, it is giving him the rest that he needs. He is probably eating better than he has been in a long time.
If further down the line, he starts to get a thirst, then you can talk about naltrexone.
JulieAnne101 RHGB
Posted
🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓
Lol
Joking apart. Yes it is working. I am very relieved. It does help tho when he bloomin talks to me!
Thank you all x
JulieAnne101 Nat666
Posted
'I wonder if this state of mind would persist if you just carried on taking the meds'
Hi Nat. I don't think we will ever discover that because he has only been prescribed for 6 months supply for whatever reason. But I am NOT going to start worrying what will happen then. Its ages away x
Nat666 JulieAnne101
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6 months , maybe they are only used for a specified amount of time J.These meds are clever but strange .This nalmefene has made me feel real strange this wknd , not a feeling I like .Dont feel like a drink either but better have something after the 2hrs. Can't waste a tablet can we now ! lol 😆x
vickylou JulieAnne101
Posted
JulieAnne
ive said before that I admire you for supporting and caring about your husband. Youve tried to understand AUD and want to find ways to help your husband.
It most probably is me, but rightly or wrongly, I get the impression that he is none to keen on trying TSM. The fact that you and not him have researched TSM and you not him obtained the medication, are you maybe pushing him in a direction he may not want to go. Please don't think I'm criticising you as I'm not at all, but maybe just let campral kick in fully (it's already starting to work) the longer he takes campral (up to 12 months) the more stable he will be. When I was on campral at first I avoided, as much as possible. anything to do with alcohol. The last thing I wanted would have been someone telling me if I take this pill I can drink. Any talk about TSM at this stage involves him drinking alcohol, the very thing he is taking medication to stop him drinking. Again no criticism intended, just another view from someone who has been where your husband is now.
JulieAnne101 vickylou
Posted
Yes vicks. I really do understand that, honestly I do. I initially bought the Naltrexone as a failsafe. I was scared, still am wary, but trying to stand back whilst Campral works.
He doesn't say much. He is the type of person that doesn't say anything unless it's I dont know, relevant? I am a worryer as you might have guessed, but in my defence, he has kept things to himself until it's too late 😶 but from what I can gather from this site that usual for AUD sufferers?
I have learnt so much in the last few weeks, about peoples journeys, emotions, behaviour and unfortunately the lack of support for us all from the so called medical professionals.
It's good to pick brains and share x