Visit today to alcohol recovery centre

General health and lifestyle
1

Had my monthly visit to the key worker today.

Still had the same problem, prescriptions split in two, so I am expected to take a forward dated prescription, back there in mid month and just take two weeks now, which is a pain. I explained the situation to her, and seemed to take it on aboard and come up with a solution to stop this nonsense.

She tried the group therapy angle today and once again I politely turned it down. Although I am thinking of going just once, just to see what it is like. Not because I want the support or because I want to gawp at other people less fortunate than me - it was indicated to me today that I am the only person on Campral, no one else is abstaining. But because I want to understand the system and the thought process behind it and see first hand what it does for people and what they expect.

I wonder if anyone here has been to one of those groups, because I'd be interested in what to expect. She seemed to indicate to me that they were quite big into the cognitive therapy thing.

Lastly I did have to laugh. She started questioning me (my last key is on maternity leave, so this was a new one) in a way that led me to believe that I was leading the meeting, at which point I said, do you know anything about Campral, have you ever dealt with anyone on it before, no was the reply. Internally I was smiling to myself and shaking my head.

Don't get me wrong, they are nice enough people, they put me on Campral and they pretty much leave me alone except for my monthly visit and pick up the prescription. The only real niggle is this two week prescription thing.

2

Hi RHGB.  Could you ask your G.P. for a prescription for a month's supply of Campral?  Does your Doc. know that you take it?

Alonangel 🎇

3

Interested to see how you feel about the group therapy if you go.

Also wondered how you are feeling on the Campral (perhaps I have missed a post, sorry). 

Thank you for the update.

Take care RHGB.

Pat.

4

He won't prescribe it off of his own bat, but if the recovery centre keep responsibility and he just writes the prescription, then I'm sure he'll be happy to do that. That is one of the options we discusse and I discussed with the last lady, and I know they spoke to my GPs surgery, but only got as far as the practice manager. I'm not sure why it didn't happen.

Once I know they've requested it, I'll be on to one of my GPs, I have their direct email addresses. Oh, and yes, I informed my GP I was taking it, as my primary health care provider, they need to be aware of everything I take. If I got run over tomorrow and taken to hospital, my GP would probably be their first port of call.

5

Campral is working fine, been on it for about six weeks now. No side effects and it is difficult to explain, but you just don't end up thinking about alcohol or feeling the need to consume it. Don't get me wrong, I could walk in a pub tomorrow and happily drink, but I don't feel the urge.

And it doesn't seem to dull any of the other senses, which a lot of medication can.

6

I won't ask which senses in particularwink, but I understand what you are saying. 

I am so glad it is working for you, you have worked so hard to get where you are and I admire your strength.

Pat.

7

OK.  I'm not familiar with Recovery Centre workings.  Did you just "walk in" there, or did your G.P. refer you?

I just see my Doc.  I could not cope with Group Meetings.  I get too emotional about it all.  'Cry all over the place !  Nervous wreck.

8

Hi ..I too had carpal. However it was not very helpful for me..

I attended an alcohol support group at the hospital for many years...I made many good friends...we also had many laughs...when discussing our various crazy escapades....and there were many...it may help if you try it for just a couple of times...you may enjoy it...I have not been sectioned for 13 yrs....I do have a few drinks twice or maybe 3 times a week.but it is now under control....I wish you all much love and success....we are not!!! Weak or bad people....we need and deserve support ...and you can get there I promise.....4 times I was only 1 week away from death.....but I got there in the end....we all can.....love and big hugs to everyone....Dee ..Deirdre xxx xxx

9

Hiya

fire away and ask me anything you want. I went to group therapy once a week for 3 years. There was probably about 20 when I started going and when I left about 8 remained.

i didn't want to go, I had no choice. I got caught drink driving the following morning after a party. I got a years ban, no fine , £50 court charges, attend a six week drink drivers course and attend group therapy.

to be fair, it wasn't as bad as I thought. It was run by a brilliant CPN and a social worker who specialised in drug and alcohol abuse. The group was just for alcohol abuse.

you got breathalised at the start of every session. and 90% of the time, someone would fail. Didn't bother me at all as it was during the four years when I had no alcohol at all.

its probably my warped sense of humour, but I was fascinated by the excuses people made trying to explain why they'd failed. Any trace, no matter how low meant they couldn't attend that week, but could come back the following week.

we seem to have a few things in common like campral, none of the other members had heard of it, not surprising as I was, again like you, the only one not drinking.

after the breathalising and we'd all got tea or coffee, we'd sit down in a big circle then came your favourite bit, THE DREADED WEEKLY DRINK DIARIES!! Sometimes this could take up to an hour, but was totally irrelevant to me.

the next stage was always to ask everyone in turn to think of something we'd enjoyed doing during the week which didn't involve alcohol. Some would say the classic one liner "nowt, cause I don't do owt if I can't drink" or sometimes someone might say "nowt, cos wif me tag I can't do nothing ( double negative which always irritates me!)

Anyone could raise any issues or problems they had, which could make them drink more. The topics were so varied, which is natural because what worries and upsets some isn't an issue for others.

i can't remember how it started, but somehow I got involved in helping one of the members write a detailed and forceful letter to his landlord, who within a week of sending the letter, had done what he should have done months ago.

After that, I got asked several times to help people write letters, fill in forms and even the odd phone call on their behalf.

oh,before I finish, it was quite common for the police to be called out when the fighting started. There was always at least two emergency buttons in the room, which once activated were linked straight to the nearest patrol car.

finally, as I said, I had no option I had to go. I was really nervous for the first couple of weeks, after that it was fine. Would I go if in your shoes with you not drinking? yes, for exactly the same reasons as you.

i had eight sessions of CBT which finished just before Christmas last year, but I'll do a separate reply about that.

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One of the many other things that I discussed today (I was there for over an hour) was the amount of women that go through the door (at the recovery centre). I was told that there are at LEAST as many women seeking help as there are men, in what was traditionally a male problem.

I said that yes, that was my experience, that on a fourm (this one) I read, I noticed that there seems to be more women than men and that I had expected it to be mostly males with the odd female. And I know women want equality, but I always thought that there might be some aspects of it that they would want to leave for the men, like alcohol issues.

She said that she believed it was down to equality, women doing their own thing and having their own money compared to the last 50 years. I disagreed, I said that it is because they have moved into the male environment, they are suffering all the same issues, such as stress, being time poor, exhaustion etc. and that for the same reason that men had sought solace in a bottle, women now found themselves in the same circumstances reaching for the same solution.

11

The two week prescription thing would really irritate me, not just the financial aspect, but the waste of time. You've no sooner got it before thinking about the next one

12

Hahaha love it "I won't ask which senses in particular"

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Being sectioned, that would frighten the bejesus out of me. I was terrified they were going to do that to me in hospital, because I made a nuisance of myself always trying to escape.

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Masquerading as an angelic sort... I thought of the five senses... sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing.

Don't hurt yourself laughing, Vickylou. 

🙂😊😀😄😂

15

I agree, at least as far as I'm concerned, with your interpretation on women drinking.

I got married in 1980  and had my first son in 1984. I worked as a PA to a Finane Director full time. I left to have my son and had no intention of going back to work. I wanted to be at home with him, not handing him over to a nursery at 7.30am. In those days job share hadn't really taken off so whilst they couldn't fill your job immediately, you either went back to the same hours or you left. I didn't drive and would have to have left home at 6am

computers were around, but these forums didn't exist. It wasn't really that common, for a woman to do the same job as a bloke, at least not in the finance sector. Women didn't have targets to meet, breakfast meetings. I could go on forever. 

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Hi..I was sectioned four times....after a week or so it was okay....I could not escape because I was watched and searched constantly....on my first section ...they kindly let me pop to the shop for some cigs....I went back....and I was happily unaware ..while I was sitting on the wall ...SWIGGING HALF A BOTTLE OF VODKA....AND THE USUAL..HIDIng it in a coke bottle ) I WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA THE WHOLE TIME...

So..no more freedom after that.....and all of my visitors were searched....what fun...but it was okay..I got a good rest...and made some good friends..I still see 14 yrs later....hugs to you all ....lovely people..xxxx

17

I think that's made my mind up, even if it is just one session, for the experience.

I'll have to be carefull as I have a dry sense of humour, which isn't to be to everybody's taste. I'm the sort that could say, just as we're finishing up, right everyone, who's going down the Red Lion for one, we've got 30 minutes before closing, we can get four or five down if we hurry, first shout is on me.

At this point I would avoid eye contact with the person/people hosting the meeting, knowing full well that they would be looking directly at me, for some sign of a smile that I was joking. Then I would pretend to be oblivious to this and pull out my wallet and thumb through it, as if to show I was checking that I had enough cash on me.

No, I wouldn't do it, because of the trouble it would cause, not for me, but within the group, but it won't stop me imagining doing it, whilst I'm sat there.  I was born bad.

18

I agree with you RHGB.  Stress, exhaustion etc. nearly killed me.  My health broke down. Mentally and physically.   I have had the alcohol problem for 30 years +.  I tried to be some sort of superwoman.  Alcohol became my escape from the treadmill of my life.

Retrospect is a tough teacher.

We live and learn... but not always at the right time.

Alonangel 🎇

19

Hello Deirdre,

You have been through a heck of a lot.  I am so glad to know that you made it.  Are you sober, now? Did you try controlled drinking... with medication?

All the best to you,

Alonangel 🎇

20

Ha, ha, ha !  I think your imagination and visualisation will get you through the session, no problem.

Maybe bite your tongue when the "bad" wants a say !!

Alonangel 😀😄😆