On Saturday between 10 am and 1 am, I had a relapse and consumed 3 bottles of white wine. Female aged 44, weight is 150. Have been drinking copies amounts of water. Can I pass an ETG test at 250 level Tues am at 9?

Just so I get this right, you drank 3 bottles of wine across a 15 hour period, ending at 1am Sunday morning? Regular size wine bottles?

Yes. Regular size.

At least, you consumed the equivalent of 15 standard drinks (US). The time span across which you were drinking averages about one drink per hour. EtG and EtS are produced as you metabolize alcohol and are also eliminated as you drink. So you were eliminating EtG as you went along. But a rough calculation of your BAC at time of last drink is near .18 which means for the next 18 hours (approx) you were still creating EtG. When that is subtracted from 55 hrs time until test you are left with 37 hours for EtG elimination from BAC=0.

I don't believe that is near enough for the amount consumed.

There is an additional problem with wine. It often contains EtG and an even greater amount of EtS (http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/2/187.full?sid=5cf8d521-9b3e-49a3-a597-a10c9f4ed2b1). (They may or may not test for EtS).

Predicting EtG elimination after drinking to a BAC >.10 involving heavy and prolonged drinking adds an additional layer of imprecision to an already imprecise calculation. All of the measured dose studies have dealt with quantities ranging from 1g to approx 4 drinks (BAC .08). Those involving heavy drinking have relied upon BAC levels, usually detox patients, from which it is necessary to extrapolate backwards to estimate consumption. Nonetheless relying on existing studies your clearance time probably requires a minimum of 40 hours and a maximum of 78 hours.

The water undoubtedly will influence the results but to what degree I can't predict. EtG is water soluble.

Please let me know how this turns out. One factor in your favor is that false negatives run high on the initial screen.

With great respect, thank you for your answer. I pretty much knew what you would say, but was hoping for magic. As most of us do. I find kindness and no judgement in your posts, 100 steps forward, 2 steps backward. The same philosophy when my children were going through different stages of life. We can only fail if we don't learn from the experience.

I will post my results and believe I will fail it and I deserve to. It is OK. And I accept the consequences of my actions. I look at it as a growth and learning opportunity.

That is a very productive attitude. How long had you been dry prior to the lapse. And, if you don't mind my asking, is the test treatment related?

I had been dry to 100 days before this and 9 months before that. Test was between ex and I for more custody of our children, although we have a ramp-up phase. The more I test sober with EtG and hair tests, the more custody I get. Just struggling with the inequity of all of this... and we never seem to talk about these mitigating factors. I know that drinking to excess solves nothing and only creates more problems, worry and stress. I am smart enough to know that binging for 15 hours on Saturday was not wise. I am not justifying my actions.

I have been a Stay-at-home mom for 10 years and find myself in divorce, legal debt, and the reality that ex was doing more than playing mixed doubles with his female partner.

Again, I want to re-iterate that no one made me drink. It was my decision and I accept the consequences.

The short term relief from stress and worry is very enticing to those that have learned to use alcohol, or any intoxicant, to that end. We always recognize, after the fact, the destructive nature of the actions. But it's a re-learning process. The periods of sobriety that you experienced are a reference point for you now... so you are learning.

Here is a website for Women for Sobriety. Been around for decades and gets far too little attention. Problem drinking is very different for women than for men. If you get a chance look it over... just might give you the focus you need. Your statements lead me to believe this may be a good fit.

Women for Sobriety (http://womenforsobriety.org/beta2/)

At any rate, you had a brief lapse. Not at all unusual. Just keep looking forward. Keep us posted on how you're doing even after the test.

AND?! How did it go?!

No results yet. Usually turnaround time is 5-7 days with the lab that they use. They utilize Quest Diagnostics out of Philly. I will keep you all informed.

I am dumbfounded to report that the results were negative.

I am dumbfounded to report that the results were negative.

Do your best to turn that to your advantage. For your sake I'm glad you won't face any consequences.

Your case is instructive as it was clearly a false negative in that it failed to detect heavy drinking within a period of 40 hours (approx).

I second Dr Bill... use that to your advantage! We can do this!! Was sober for 22 months and I too feel to the demise! Let's make our weak become our strong to over come... day to day that is ; )

I was blessed, yet still feel quite guilty. My consequences are with my ex-husband and custody of my children. Absolutely, I cannot and do not drink around my children. One of my frustrations is that when I do have my kids (every 7 days), ex does not want me to take them to AA meetings. The kids (ages 8, 9 and 10) had no problem going, I voluntarily blow into a breathalyzer before I drive them anywhere. The kids make my ex do the same thing and I have had to pick them up from GFs house many times because he thought he could get away without blowing. I don't want the kids to be the police - it is not their job. Yet, we can discuss openly and honestly about drinking to excess.

Supposedly, I also need to take a 2 month hair test, which I will fail even though I passed the urine EtG and even though my hair grows super fast. So, I am thinking that in my new life, honesty is the best policy and I will sleep better at night. Thoughts?

What is the hair test checking for and which lab is performing?

Samples are taken from ArcPoint. Lab is Quest. Only alcohol. I tried weed once in high school and never since. So, only alcohol. I was actually afraid last week when I made homemade ice cream with my son's class and I was handling and pouring vanilla extract. I had never realized that it might affect me.

I do understand that relapse is part of the process. I have never had a hair test before. I have been told that again, the science is imprecise, so ex has asked that I submit to the $200 test when I have 75 days clean. I will do the right thing and count the days.