Please wish me luck.

[Mishi]

Good Luck!!!

[taxguykarl]

Good luck. Be strong, you don't need that crap.

[Mikkel]

Good luck , update as soon as you can, please.

[Flying Grype]

Aw, your managers rock. Get better.

[Magpie]

Good luck, and good for you for taking the plunge!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Wow. Just...wow. I didn't know alcohol could kill you during withdrawal from it.

You're incredibly strong to be taking these steps to beat your addictions, and your managers are awesome for standing by you.

Nothing else to say here but...good luck.

[bean]

In an ironic, and sad, twist of fate... I got kicked out of the hospital today.

Why? Turns out my insurance doesn't cover substance abuse. Same insurance I used last time I used this same hospital - apparently now with underinsured, unless it's an emergency, they need payment or insurance up front. I wasn't able to cough up $4,500 on the spot. No payment plans available.

My insurance did cover all of the blood work though, so I was able to walk out with the results (which they said were very impressive for a heavy drinker - slightly elevated liver enzymes, but just barely, and mildly elevated glucose.. everything else looked decent). And since I was admitted via ER (the only way this particular hospital does detox admins), I have a $0 copay. They told me the final bill will most likely be in the $500-700 range before my insurance discount. I've seen my insurance turn a $50,000 ICU visit bill into $7,000 before, they're pretty aggressive.

They did hook me up with an outpatient detox clinic that's a HELL of a lot cheaper ($600-800 depending how many days I'm treated). Plus, while I won't be able to drive myself since they've got me doped up out of my skull, I'm staying with family and getting fed rather well. Hospital was also nice enough to give me some ativan to lessen the withdrawal symptoms and anxiety once I lined up a ride (they didn't want me to attempt driving).

The outpatient clinic.. I show up once a day, spend about an hour and a half in group therapy, vitals are checked, they give me 2 pouches of meds (1 to take when I leave, 1 to take at bedtime), and that's it. And I actually have privacy (well, as much as the parents allow, lol).

[bean]

All I can say is... fuck the store mgr I talked to who said he'd handle everything.

After butting heads and going round and round with HR and my own boss for the past several days, I found out I had been terminated for no call/no show for the past weekend. Apparently the store mgr never told anybody about my call. Asshole. Even after attempting to fax FMLA documents for several days to HR (they kept giving me a number that just rang.. and rang.. and rang.. and rang...).

Lots of arguing and faxing medical documents to HR later, I'm back in my job, but on "final", meaning if I miss a single day I'm fired. And while on final, I can't transfer (which completely fucks over my moving plans), get a raise, or get a promotion (or demotion). I'm effectively stuck. I'm on final for 6 months.

I've always been the one they call to cover when someone calls out, or to stay late. Not anymore.

[Aethian]

You've got it right now. They want something extra they need to go through the nose for it. Nothing special anymore, just work at your job and thats it.

Seriously they seemed really really *beeped beep beepo* up their *beeped beep beepo*. So yea no more favors for them.

[BlaqueKatt]

Apparently the store mgr never told anybody about my call. Asshole.

did you call from a house phone or a cell phone? Cell would have a call log or wait for the next bill to prove you called in....

[bean]

Cell, but it combines all calls to/from one number in the same day under one entry. So no dice there.

[Andara Bledin]

Can you get a proper log from your provider?

^-.-^

[bean]

Yes, that's already done.

The final diagnosis:

Stage 2 kidney failure, Type 2 diabetes, Hypertension, Alcohol dependence.

I detoxed fully in an outpatient setting. Still going to be irritable as hell for a few weeks.

They're going to love it when I tell them that when I have to pee, I REALLY HAVE TO PEE (which I've been trying to do for awhile anyway).

[Squeaksmyalias]

I'm so sorry Bean, that's really screwed up.
It's not like you were taking off for a couple days. *hug*

[bean]

Uh oh... I was just looking through my copy of the employee handbook (so glad I saved it now). It's the current handbook for my region, last updated 2007 (I expect a new one should be coming out this year though, they usually update them every 3 years).

"<employer> is interested in helping team members who voluntarily seek outside assistance to overcome drug or alcohol dependency. The decision to seek such assistance will not be used as the basis for corrective action."

So.. a small sliver of hope anyway.