Thank you!!! This is a great posting. Curi your top 10 is the best! I copied it and put it in my daily journal...

Smiles

Hi everyone,

As I see that there are a lot of new members to the forum, I thought I would bump this thread in the hope that some of you might find something useful.

Best of luck to everyone on your TSM journey,

Curi

Curie thanks, Yes, I think this list helps...
I also think that the concept of titrating up is overlooked and would go as far to say it is ok to start at a quarter of a pill. I have given up on this method in the past because I thought I was hypersensitive, but now realize that it takes a couple of weeks for the body to adjust.

I can't stress enough how important hydration has been for me..

And persistence

And patience (we are all too hard on ourselves)

Good previous comments on this topic!

My comment/input/question below may seem silly to most normal people, however, I'm sure it has crossed the mind of some other TSM patients in similar environments to me before.

I have been debating a "tool" or actually a FIB to use on my friends (fellow alcoholics)!

Not only do I have the genetic thing going on, Father in AA for 40 plus years, Grandma Drank pretty heavy into her 80s, Uncle died young, however, as I have discussed before, my environment is full of booze.

Some of my environment issues have been self induced to my selection of friends, co-workers, groups, events, etc. etc. etc., however, my hometown, which I have never left is full of old school catholic germans. That being said, on occasion, when I do end up in one of my drinking situations rather abruptly, I have been simply taking the pill and drinking, way less than the 1 hour golden rule. This happens maybe once a week. So I still take the pill, but have a zero waiting period, which is not ideal.

Obviously, I could choose not to drink at all and have them all scratching their heads, and try to explain to them that I am an alcoholic, and probably, so are they. However, I'm not there yet. There have been a couple of instances where I didn't drink, and fibbed stating I was taking a zpack for an infection.

So I have been thinking about fibbing, (fibbing sounds much better than lying), to my friends, to try and get that hour in before hand when an event like this may happen.

Not sure what kind of fib to tell yet though. Your thoughts since we are mostly all fellow alcoholics, and we tend to think alike. What sounds most believable?

1. Beer has been giving me heartburn lately unless I take an antacid 1 hour before to let it work.
2. I have developed an allergy to barley or hops and need to take an antihistamine 1 hour before.
3. Penicillin thing if not drinking at all.
4. Fill in the blank here with your idea.

No. 1 sounds the best to me so far.

PS: Did you see I used the phrase "TSM patients" above? I guess that is what we are. You agree? For those of us self treating ourselves, without any input from our GP, I guess we are our own patients.

From: Thesaurus.com
Main Entry: patient  [pey-shuhnt]
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: person being treated for medical problem
Synonyms: case, convalescent, emergency, inmate, invalid, outpatient, shut-in, sick person, subject, sufferer, victim
Antonyms: doctor

What's wrong with just saying you don't fancy an alcoholic drink, you just want a water, juice or soda, might have a beer later?

We are individuals and can express choice over what we put into our mouths and bodies, and don't have to justify ourselves.

My fib has been that I am taking a new high blood pressure medicine and it makes me a bit nauseated so I am cutting back to get rid of that feeling. I didn't even realize that I was drinking slower but they did. Making all the jokes about can't I keep up since I was always way ahead of everyone. I am on my 6th week of TSM. I had to cut back to 25 mg because of neasea but it seems to still be working for me. I even had 2 AF days which I can't even remember having in the past 40 yrs. unless I was just about ready to die sick. Granted, I did have a cold but there was no urge whatsoever to drink. My before TSM drinking was about 50 per wk. Went to 33 wk1, 40 wk2, 46 wk3 and 4 (on vacation) and 32 wk 5. So I do see a decrease and definitely the craving has cut way down. I do see the connection between just going along with your old habits and taking some responsibility for your drinking habits. Now I can say to myself, wow, I really don't feel like having that next beer so why force it down because of habit. I have actually poured the last drink down the drain. I used to call that "alcohol abuse". I am so excited for myself regarding TSM and wish good luck to all who try it. Sorry for the rambling, thanks for listening. This board has been a great help.
Linda M

Hey that's fantastic, it sounds as if you are really seeing some progress there. Yeah it's great when you realise you really do not want that drink, and just get rid of it. Where is there any rule that we have to have a drink just because?

I also think people point out those who can't 'keep up' because they are frightened it shows them up. Alcohol is a damaging, destructive poison and I don't think it's cool to make it expected for anyone to drink it.

I've been on various alcohol awareness education courses, and the stuff you learn there really makes you think about how illogical and immoral we are as a society over drinking.

Again, I'd recommend Beck's "Alcohol Lied to Me" because he really delves into the issue of what we tell others. He suggests, and I totally agree, that we shouldn't make up lame excuses as to why we aren't drinking, or aren't drinking, as much. This just continues to let alcohol have a hold on us. Beck, if you recall, had all sorts of drinking buddies and was often getting drinks shoved at him by fellow party-goers. You can only make up excuses for so long. Like UKBlonde just said, Beck suggests that other drinkers are offended by us not drinking because it spotlights their own weakness and need to stop drinking. I really don't have much personal experience with this because, like I said, I'm now in my 17th week and not once has anyone mentioned that I'm not drinking!