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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Detox with no insurance
Post Info TOPIC: Detox with no insurance
Pinhook84


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Detox with no insurance
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I've looked through these threads to be sure I'm not duplicating another, so if I am, point me in the right direction.

I have several concerns about detox for a loved one with no insurance. First, obviously, is the cost of in-patient detox. He doesn't have insurance, and he may not be able to afford this. I've read a couple of places that it may be covered by medicare (or -caid... I get them mixed up.) Even if it is, the prolem left after that his fairly new job prevents him from having the time off he needs to be away several days.

That said, I know that detox can be very dangerous, and probably shouldn't be done at home. For someone who drinks about 6-8 (average, I assume) beers every evening from about 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., is home detox as dangerous as it would be for some of the others I've read about here, who may be drinking far more and doing so all day long? He seems to want sobriety (we attend AA meetings 2 to 3 nights each week, and things are getting much better after about 3 months of meetings), but seems absolutely terrified by the horror stories of detox. I honestly wonder, though, if detox would be as bad for him as it would be, like I said, for somebody who drinks much more than he does for a much longer time period. Maybe the effects of detox are not relative to the dependency, maybe it is... I'm hoping some of you can give me insight.

We have a perscription of Campral (perscribed by mental health counselor) to lighten the cravings, but the warnings suggest not taking the medication until after detox.

It's such a viscious cycle. He's (we're, actually) at the hub of a wagon wheel, with everything that can go right or wrong depending on every other factor. Nothing gets better until the thing before it does, and that can't get better without the thing before it... you know my point.

I know that I have to get out of the way for his sobriety to happen. I can't get him sober, but I feel like I can help him during this time of weakness to take the next step. Like I said, he's in an AA program, and it's helped attitude, emotions, and more tremendously, but it's not stopped the drinking, nor will it. However, he knows the support system is there.

Any advice?



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Pushka


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If he has a sponsor, which he should if he's working a program of recovery in AA, he needs to be on the phone with them working out a solution to this issue. His sponsor knows what he's gone through and will be able to point him in the right direction of his next right action.

Hugs P :)

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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
Pinhook84


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Thanks, Pushka. He does have a sponsor, who's been overseas for about three weeks now on vacation. He's in contact with some other group members, and it seems to help to talk to them. It's just the practical side of things that seem to be the hardest for him. It's like a commercial I saw the other night, where the couple chases the ever-moving start line.

I know that my only ability in this is my prayer for patience, tolerance, and understanding--adding to it, the plea that his craving be gone.

Any other advice is welcome.



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debhud


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alcohol withdrawal can be DEADLY. people can go into seizures when withdrawing. they can have high blood pressure and very high heart rate. also, tongue tremors, sweating and hand tremors. i worked in the emergency room for 15 years and saw some very bad withdrawals that needed admission. i also worked in a detox unit for a period of time. it depends on the person. my AH did not need detox for alcohol and he drank 3/4 quart of tequilla a night. he never had any of the above symptoms when he stopped drinking. he made the decision to stop drinking 2 years ago and does his AA. my son on the other hand is active in his alcoholism. he drinks about 14 beers a night. the next day. his hands shake so bad he can hardly light a cigarette. the shaking stops as soon as he has a drink. he could never stop drinking without going into a detox unit as his body would not be able to handle the withdrawal. hope this helps...

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debbie huddle
Pinhook84


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Thanks, debhud. The optimist in me has high hopes for home detox. Same optimist (enabler) wonders if I'm making his drinking out to be worse than it truly is... but I'm certain that it is what it is when I see that he can't go without it. He does very well to go to work every day, come home and do household chores, etc., for a couple hours into the evening... then sit with beer in hand until a very late supper, after the buzz comes.

Come 5 o'clock in the evening, 6 at the latest, his discomfort is evident (seems agitated, distracted), but I've never seen him push the limit more than another couple hours later than he'd like to take the first drink for me to know the beginning effects of detox for him.



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Debilyn


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Dearest it is not how much or what they drink or use, it's how it is affecting them.

NO we cannot prescribe meds. We have no idea how his body may be compromised by this disease or another.

As far as job,whatever it is, he is useless anyway as he has a horrible disease. if he does not get help, undoubtedly he may lose it anyway. Also detox does not mean he will be able to work after that as he will need rehab.

Detoxing is very hard on the body and mind!

he has a serious illness!!! But again it is up to him completely, not us.

some places offer medical for detox and rehab thru work.

But if he wants to detox, then go to AA then all he has to do is be very drunk and go to ER to detox. they cannot turn him away. They he can make a payment schedule to pay it. or ask that it be taken off the books becuz of his situation.

Medicare is for people who worked and made a certain amount of money. Medicaid is for people who did not work or made very little. Like our challenged people go on medicaid.

My question to me would be what is making me get involved in something that is none of my business? BUT what you can do is love them, tell them you hope he or she gets help.

and even share to go to er.

Hugs lady, so glad you are here at mip. love,debilyn



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orchidlover


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I think this is so difficult because there is a line between caring and doing for others.

If you go to an open AA meeting there are a lot of people who safely detoxed. Some of them did it in programs and some of them did it by stopping gradually and some of them did it in stops and starts. The main issue is some of them did it.

I know I could get sucked into doing far more for the now ex A than I needed to. When he needed, all my own issues were swept away by his constant unremitting drama.

Maresie.



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orchid lover
sookie


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My husband had drinking patterns similar to yours and they did some initial testing and said he could detox just fine at home. He felt sick and laid in bed but was fine. Then he did in-patient rehab.

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callmemara


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He is on Day 4 and grumpy. I don't think he drank like the type of drunk that would go through D.T.'s.

He is supposed to start outpatient on Monday. We'll see.

They usually offer you a free intake and assessment at the rehab facilities and they will be able to do financially counseling with you too. At least I hope. It's stupid that if someone needs the help they'd get turned away because they couldn't pay. They told me that if my insurance didn't cover it or couldn't be checked b/c it was Sunday, I needed to give them $4K up front.

MediCARE- Cares for you. It is what people get when they turn 65 or if they have been on Disability for 2 years (there are a few other instances).

MediCAID Aids you. It is State run plan for low income people. Though in most states you cannot get it if you are a healthy adult. Although some states have a form of it for non disabled people there may be a waitlist.



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