It has been such a long time since I posted, & I am sorry about that. I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season! I had a bit of an update, I guess. Nothing too crazy though. So as you know, if you have been following this, went back on the pill after a brief and disastrous hiatus in September, and I have been on it ever since. I still drink very frequently, usually every day, but the level of my intoxication is nothing like what it was before I started taking the pill. I used to drink straight vodka for the wonderful euphoria I would get, and the result was that I would get very wasted on a very frequent basis. As it is now, I take shots rarely, if ever,. I now drink just wine and mixed drinks, and usually pace it out a lot better and have fewer overall. I still drink more than the average person by a good margin, but the frequency of being black out drunk, or driving drunk has decreased drastically. This has not exactly been a pure miracle for me, but the difference is undeniable. Now I feel like I drink because I like drinking, not because I am mysteriously compelled by the euphoria. I don't think the story is over. I have a long way to go, but using the pill has given me an opportunity to be able to breathe and think this situation through while removing some of the immediate danger to my life. I hope everyone is doing well out there. Happy holidays,
And I will try to stay more active on this board

Hi Brittany - good to see you. Please keep taking the Nal - it will work eventually for you and as you said it has cut down the amount of blackouts for you - and please try to not drink and drive ! You would never forgive yourself if you hurt someone else.

Yes, try and stick around here a bit more - there is so much support here. Hang in there!

Hugs, Maggie x

BL,

Thank you for coming back in time for Christmas and giving us an update. It is great to hear you are happy with your progress. And I believe if you keep at it you will slowly but surely see even better results. Nothing better than waking up and knowing where you are and how you got there! Sure that the car is undented, that you paid your tab and your honor is intact Please try to keep in touch with us - it always so helpful to hear other people's stories, struggles and successes.

Merry Christmas

Welcome back Brittany,

I have just reread you journey. I am proud of you for coming back and sticking with this process, for it has not been easy for you.

I am glad that your drinking has been slowing down, and trust me it does get a lot easier.

I am glad you came back to update us, and I hope to hear more from you in the future.

I hope you have a happy holiday, and a peaceful new year,

Jaba

Thank you to those of you that have checked on me and read my story and supported me throughout the past 10 months. I can't believe it has been almost a year.

There have been lots of ups and downs, but I think it's safe to say that I am drinking very close to like a normal person at this time. Naltrexone has probably saved my life.

Not only do I drink far far less than what I used to, but many times I don't want to drink at all. Like I think about drinking, and the thought goes through my head, & I linger on it, & I tried to get excited about it like I used to, and I just really don't want to drink.

The clear headedness of talking to friends without wondering the next day what foolish things I said, and the wonder and beauty of actually sleeping 8 hours, and the security of knowing that I won't be driving the wrong way down the highway tonight in a stupor... These are priceless!

I still drink what most people would call regularly, but it is probably less than a third of what I used to drink. I have been upholding a limit of no more than two drinks if I am by myself, and no more than three drinks if it is the weekend and I am being social.

I am about to go back into the addiction specialist office, for the first time since he prescribed the naltrexone. I am a little nervous, because he doesn't know about the Sinclair method, & I I think I prefer to keep it that way.

I am afraid that if I tell him how I have been using this pill, he will say that I'm using the pill in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, or something like that, and refuse to refill my prescription going forward. Maybe doctors are not like that, but I am just nervous that he will take it away from me.

So I am trying to rehearse how I will talk to him about my health and progress without risking my prescription

Brittany -

Thanks so much for the update, it sounds like you've got alch pretty much under control now!

I didn't get the chance to read through all the posts, but just in case we've come across new TSM docs, what corner of the globe do you hail from?

Brittany, I am so glad to hear from you and to get this wonderful news!! I had been worried about you and it is marvelous to hear that you are doing so well.

Given that you are doing so well and that you have an upcoming appointment, it probably is worth taking that part of the book that is written for physicians with you to the appointment. Try to get him to see how much this has helped you. I know it can be tough to find a supportive doctor.

Thanks for the update and Nal on!! xoxo Newlife

Brittany - I am so pleased to read your update - you really have come a long way! Newlife made a good point in reading the few pages for professional and taking that to your doctor when you see him - otherwise the docs will never know that Nal does work but not in abstaining ! As in TSM!

SO happy for you,

hugs, Maggie X

Thank you for the tips Maggie and Newlife... i'll let everyone know how my appt. goes. It is next Wednesday.

Joe, I live in the St. Louis, MO area, so if anyone does know of any TSM docs here, lmk!

Brittany,

I am happy to hear about your progress, and I am glad you have kept us up to date.

I just came clean with my family physician, and she is okay with writing my script for TSM. She had never heard of nal being used that way, but if it works for me that is all that matters. I explained to her how being sober didn't work for me, and after researching TSM it made sense. My doctor is young and openminded to alternative medicines, so that might be why she was okay with what I was doing. She feels that you need to be your own advocate, and researching alternatives a good thing.

I would feel out your addiction specialist to see if they have even heard of TSM or Dr. Sinclair and go from there. If he/she says yes, just ask them what they think, and if they say no, tread carefully.

I do not know any doctors that does TSM in St. Louis, but maybe one of the VA doctors (if they see normal patients) might be open to writing a script.

I wish you luck,

Jaba