matabolism and MS

[Hensley]

I am 36 yrs old and was recently diagnoses with MS. I am also being monitores for substance abuse. I have been cean nearly 2 years but 4 separate times I have had a positive test for alcohol. I haven't been drinking. My drug of choice was opiates. These positive tests make me look like a liar. I feel helpless. Can MS have something to do with metabolic disirder that would cause a positive test?
Any help would be appreciated
Hensley

[Momzilla]

Hi, and welcome!  

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with all this at once.  First, the illness, andthen, the fight for you credibility.  I can't guess which is worse.  

If you stick around, you find we can be an excellent support system for you.  I hope you do.

Take care, and eat well!

Zilla*

[Jazzyfizzle]

Hello and welcome to the group Hensley,



Jazzy

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.  I can't imagine how awful it must be to have false postives destroying your credibility with others!  On top of that, dealing with MS.  I do hope you stay.  I was a physician in my former life, but now am disabled with vertigo and MS and hang out here answering what I can.

First, MS is not a metabolic disease and does not itself affect the metabolism.  But, it can in inidrect ways.  I know VERY LITTLE about your problem, but I found two instances where EtOH tests frequently cause false positive results.  The first is when the person is producing a lot of ketones, such as fasting or losing weight on a low carb diet.  Large amounts of ketones in the urine can cause a false positive for alcohol.  Try eating a good breakfast with some whole grains before the test.  If you have not been fasting, but are depressed (which is a direct result, often, of MS) and not eating that will also cause you produce ketones in your blood.

Also, diabetics who are slipping out of control produce a lot of ketones and may test positively.

The other problem, and I don't know how common this is, is that one of the tests used for testing for alcohol is SOoo sensitive that it gives false positives all the time and several advocacy groups have come out against its use.  It is called EtG.  You might check to see what test is being used.

That is really all I know.  I hope you stay and hang out.  We can share a lot of information and be a lot of fun.  (it doesn't take much to amuse some of us  ;)

Quix

[essdipity]

Hi, Hensley. I can't help with your question, but still want to welcome you to our forum. Soon you'll think this of this as home. The people are great. So hang in here and someone knowledgeable will respond.

ess