New Excuse

Hi RHGB 

Thanks for that, it's really helpful.

So not only was the dr I saw this morning talking out of his a###e, but the consultant last night who My DIL saw, was doing the same.

As for him saying it's illegal, well I knew that was bull****.

Yes joanna, his actualy said it's illegal for gps to prescribe and that it was against NICE guidelines.

I don't understand why all these so called professionals and experts don't know about alcohol treatment medications. What's the point in gps sending patients to ARCs because from my experience they're the same, they don't, or claim not to know and fob you off by saying they're trial drugs.

Well done on your bike ride. Braver than me! Nice idea of putting a picture to your name

Yep with you there.  Can you believe it - trying hard to eliminate this out of our lives but in reality and for back up from the medical profession  p+++++g against the wind.  How is it helpful ?!!!  Must be frustrating for you.

Hi Paul

I think he got everything wrong!

I would have thought Antabuse would have been withdrawn by now. I took it nearly 30 years ago and ended up in hospital for five days because I had about half a bottle of wine. Ok it was me that drank the wine, no one made me, my choice. I honestly thought I was dying. As you know it's not an anti craving drug. 

I don't need any medication, but always ask Drs. It was on the tip of my tongue to say "yes but you prescribe methodone to drug users" and we all know why that is.

Is Antabuse cheaper than campral or something? Campral was a life saver for me, I probably wouldn't be here now if I'd not taken it.

I'd tried numerous times to stop, 4 years at one point without a drink. Well you all know the rest. It did work for me, and obviously RHGB too.

I don't think it's about cost with Antabuse. Doctors learned about it years ago and the vast majority haven't updated their knowledge.

I actually think that the ongoing prescribing of methadone to opiate users is doing them a disservice. That is simple maintenance designed to lower their risk of breaking the law, sharing needles or overdosing from a purer dose than they are used to. It doesn't help them to get off opiates. Opiate detoxes exist but it is very rare to see them used by the NHS. So, while it appears that a lot more money goes to helping people with drug problems, that money is not really used to help people resolve their issues.

That sort of explains it. I was under the impression that opiate users wanting to stop, join a drug rehabilitation programme and become registered addicts, ( think I might have this wrong, sounds like they're joining a health club!!).

I thought once on a rehab programme, methodone was given instead, and very slowly decreased or tapered down, like an alcohol detox with Librium .

Well I've learnt something new today!

I'm sure I've heard methadone users say it is harder to come off that, than it is heroin. Also, you won't die from heroin cold turkey, but you can with methadone cold turkey.

Of course he did - I don't think this is covered much in Medical School.

Question:  Is Antabuse what the dentist precribes for you if you have an infection.  I have had it twice and he told me not to drink even one sip of alcohol otherwise I would be really ill.  So I did not dare to.  But it ripped my stomach to pieces.

Hiya gwen

I've never heard of Antabuse being used by dentists, but then I'm no medic. However, I do know that "metronidazole" is used as an antibiotic by dentists. You are well warned about the danger of taking it with alcohol .

Its a strong antibiotic used to treat sepsis and parasitic infections and leg ulcers. I had it when I had a wisdom tooth out. Use  Mrs Google Gwen, she will tell you about the unpleasant side effects. In fact it's recommended not to consume alcohol for 3 days after finishing the course, and certainly not whilst taking it, both by the dentist and the pharmacist.

Yes Gwen your spot on! I'm sure I've read and heard that doctors are in the profession which has the highest number of employees suffering from AUD. ironic isn't it. 

Obviously addiction is swept under the carpet at medical school. We're the kind of people who bring it on themselves. It's self induced, we don't have to do it, we choose to drink.

What about all the obese people, they choose to eat, eat and eat, despite all the warnings. COPD sufferers who still chain smoke. Lung cancer patients still smoking. They get help and must cost the NHS a fortune for extra large beds, special stretchers, reinforced ambulances, oooh I'm having a real melt down.

I am not saying all COPD patients smoke, or all obese patients chain smoke, before someone shoots me down. It just comes down to the fact that people like paul Turner and Joanna are few and far between. AUD comes at the bottom of the pit.

I had to have an operation for a shoulder reconstruction, and the ortho staff were really nice. That is until I saw the consultant who asked me if I was drunk when I fell into the sandwich chiller in a well known supermarket  whilst I was working!!! ( yes I can laugh about the accident now, lying in the chiller covered with prepacked sandwiches haha).

I would not have gone down the compo route, that is until I heard my boss telling the store manager that it was a good job I wasn't a customer as they could sue the company.

I did get compensation eventually, 5 years later. The company's legal team bought up my long standing alcohol addiction, even though that was 10 years ago! 

I am really going off topic now so better finish!

'that doctors are in the profession which has the highest number of employees suffering from AUD'

Yes, but if they need a few diazepam to get them through a bad Monday morning after a session weekend, they can help themselves. Same as if they wanted Selincro for themselves, they could get hold of that.

Don't mind at all going off topic - OMG sandwhich chiller - yes it does make me laugh - bit of a Benny Hill moment!! interesting about compo - you are a right ole feisty piece aren't you - always good to read though - you have really come thru this and a hard slog.  Respect Feisty One xx

I asked my Doc point blank what would she do without alcohol in her life; she paused to think.  Then I asked her what would you do if I were her Doctor and she was my patient and I said - you cannot have alcohol in your life anymore - how would you cope - her answer to me was that life would be very very boring!

Gwen

Ive been the first to criticise the compo society we live in, and I thought long and hard about it. Two main reasons I went through with it.

First was hearing the two bosses saying they were glad I wasn't a customer as I wouldn't know anything about the accident at work procedure, so there'd be no comeback. Implying I was some sort if thicko, or dim half wit. 

Secondly, I'd noticed a bottle of wine had smashed and needed dealing with, half an hour before I slipped. I asked my boss if I could use the mic and put a call out for the store cleaner. He said he'd deal with it as I'd not been trained, hardly rocket science!

For some reason, the typing is disappearing again so my reply is two bits.

They were laughing that I'd only get sick pay for one week as I'd only been there a year. They wouldn't put the accident in the accident book as it would cause a lot of hassle. I got my way as I said fine, I'll phone HO tomorrow, no worries and explain to their area manager that it was too much hassle for them to follow company policy.

It went in the book 2 mins later!. As the ambulance came before my shift finished, my boss told me I'd only get paid for the time I'd worked as I'd left early. I politely told him if he'd dealt with the mess when I asked him and there were two witnesses, the accident wouldn't have happened. No way was I going back there as I was too dim to know the necessary procedures.

I don't think I'm feisty Gwen, but I've got a brain like everyone else. Had they been concerned and compassionate and followed the rules, no way would I have sued them