10 Helpful Tips Before Going to Medical Detox (Part 1)

Part 1: Medical Detox

There’s a saying that floats around the rooms that goes, “Nothing is worse than a belly full of booze and a head full of A.A.”  I can attest to the truth of this statement. Continuing to drink while trying to get sober sucks, plain and simple. I was showing up to meetings early, staying late, making connections, and getting phone numbers. Following all the “suggestions” as closely as I could. I even got a temporary sponsor and started on some step work, but I couldn’t stop drinking.

Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, that’s how I drank. From the time I woke up, to the time I managed to fall asleep, and even waking up occasionally to take a swig. I was drinking something just about every waking minute. I was the type who never missed a day at work, never skipped a class, and always stayed on top of my responsibilities and obligations. It took me a while to realize that despite “high functioning” at rock bottom, I still had a very problematic relationship with alcohol.

I was young and in college. Never did I have any issues with the law, school, or my parents due to my drinking, I just drank like a fish, that’s all. It wasn’t until I hit a mental/emotional rock bottom that I even bothered to entertain the idea of quitting drinking. As it turns out, I had a problematic relationship with sobriety, too, due to my toxic relationship with booze. I literally needed to drink to live. Just in the nick of time (literally), I learned that drinkers like me often need a little help at first. Twelve step recovery programs are great, but they aren’t detox. I was chemically dependent and physically addicted to my drug of choice. So, if you’re like me, or if you even think you might be like me, I’ve compiled a list of 10 things to expect from a medical detox.

Tip Number 1: Ask for A Packing List

Funny story, I did not do this.  Pro-tip if this is you or your loved one’s first trip to a medical detox facility ask for a packing list. While I can provide a standard list of “DO’s and DON’Ts,” every facility is different so be sure to check with the specific facility where you or your loved one will be a patient. This will save you a lot of stress, money, and time if the situation allows for this type of pre-planning.

Take it from me though, if you have even as much as a 24-hour advance notice, try to pack smart. Otherwise, you end up like me with four pairs of underwear for what turned into a 46-day stay, and no jacket in the dead of winter. To be fair, I was convinced that I wouldn’t actually be admitted; I wasn’t really packing to stay.  Also, I was drunk… so there’s that, too. However, in the event, you find yourself unable to make the call to request said list, or in the rare event the facility does not provide a suggested packing list; here are some standard items you might should and shouldn’t pack. Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list, and it may vary from facility to facility.

Tip Number 2: Expect to be Uncomfortable

Perhaps I have scared you with this tip, if so, please understand it’s said with love and compassion. These days, I try to be both upfront and honest, so that’s what I’m doing. If you or your loved one is chemically dependent on a substance you will go through withdrawals. Withdrawals, to put it lightly, SUCK! There’s no two ways about it. It’s just one of those ugly truths about addiction.

At this point, you may be wondering “What the hell is the point of medical detox then?!?”  Great question, and as a recovering alcoholic AND a staff member on a detox unit, I wish more people would ask this question earlier. The point of medical detox is to keep you alive and safe. Granted, there are only a few substances out there with withdrawal symptoms that can kill you; however, detoxing from any substance can be dangerous without appropriate medical supervision.

In any case, regardless of whether you are detoxing at home or in a medical facility expect cold sweats, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, etc. Unfortunately, there’s no magical pill to cure the ails of withdrawal, and let’s be honest, many of us would abuse those, too, if there were. So please, by all means, if you are in pain or uncomfortable, tell your nurse. Just don’t cuss them out if they tell you it’ll be a while before your next dose of detox meds. Detox isn’t supposed to be comfortable; it is supposed to keep you alive long enough to get a crack at sobriety. Also, just as a heads up, don’t be surprised if a tech or nurse rounds on you every 15 minutes or so throughout the day AND night. It’s all a part of the process so you might as well embrace it!

Tip Number 3: Groups, Groups, and More Groups!

Again, I’d like to preface this with the statement that every treatment facility is different. This tip comes from the perspective of my own personal experience, and the experiences I’ve gleaned from others during their time in medical detox.

Chances are, whether you’re there simply for a 3-to-5 day medical detox or entertaining the idea of completing a 30-day program, you’re going to be attending several group therapy sessions. Depending on your facility, you may be in a large co-ed or same-sex group. Additionally, there may be times throughout the day that you are divided up into smaller groups determined by DOC, gender, last names, admittance date, etc.

If you get lucky, you may also find that your facility provides scheduled one-on-one time with a therapist to supplement topics addressed in the group. Regardless, it’s important to know upfront that medical detox isn’t typically waiting for a med pass and lying in bed all day.

Tip Number 4: Length of Stay

Here’s where folks, myself included, get a little flighty about inpatient treatment. There seems to be a profuse amount of myths and misconceptions surrounding medical detox and inpatient treatment. Now I won’t bother going into the specifics about meeting the criteria to be admitted, insurance versus private pay facilities, etc., as it’s not pertinent to this discussion at the moment. I do want to address the typical length of stay when entering a medical detox program.

Typically, a medical detox program ranges anywhere from 5-7 days. Sometimes shorter, sometimes longer, more or less, it’s dependent upon your drug of choice, physical health status, medical condition, frequency and intensity of use, etc. Generally speaking, 5-7 days is the maximum amount of time you’ll spend on an actual medical detox unit.

One thing that I would like to provide clarity on though, is the difference between voluntary and involuntary admittance. Right? I mean, that’s what everyone seems to be concerned about, “I’m not crazy, I’m not going to a nut house.” Medical Detox is NOT the same thing as a psychiatric or mental health unit. Again, it is NOT the same.

It doesn’t matter whether the facility is a part of the behavioral health system, a dual diagnosis treatment center, or your redneck cousin told you that the place is for “crazy people.” It’s a myth. Medical detox is not the same thing as the “loony bin.” Also, it’s 2023… can we silence the shame and stigma surrounding mental health units??

In any case, unless you are court-mandated, or actively planning to harm yourself (or others), no facility can legally hold you if you’re not willing to be there. To clarify, if you don’t want to be detoxed, they’re not going to lock you in a padded room with a straight jacket and throw away the key. You can go home if you want to, which conveniently, leads me to my next tip.

Tip Number 5: Don’t Leave Too Early

If I had the power to influence anyone of anything I would want it to be this- don’t leave too early. Don’t back out on day one, don’t skip out three days in, and for the love of god, don’t give up before the miracle happens.

If we’re solely discussing 3-5 days of inpatient medical detox, I know it may not sound like enough time for much of anything to happen, but trust me on this, it is. I can speak on this because I almost made this very mistake. It was day two of my medical detox journey and I was ready to hit the road.

If my memory serves me correctly, I felt like shit, I hadn’t been able to hold anything down for three days, and I had almost fainted from a simple blood draw because I was so dehydrated my veins were flat. I was ready to throw in the towel. Luckily, for me, my ride home lovingly refused to come and pick me up. I was “stuck,” but I was safe and exactly where I needed to be at that moment.

Little did I know my “decision” not to leave on day two would lead to another 38 days of PHP status inpatient care. I was exactly where I needed to be. Now, I’m not saying that just because you commit to medical detox you, too, will stay in treatment for a month, but at least commit to a short stay if nothing else.

For me, being open-minded, honest with myself about where I was in my addiction, and willing enough to at least commit to medical detox is ultimately what saved my life. You don’t have to commit to two weeks, a month, or even a year, but at least commit to completing a detox program and then see what comes next for you. Don’t forfeit your miracle by leaving too early…

**To be Continued in Part II**