I wouldn't say that that was all I took from it, just that it was a bit too dumbed-down for my preference. I can use it as a jumping-off point for further research, probably.

I'd already heard of the tooth decay connection, but I couldn't say whether most people have or not.

I've been delving fairly deeply into neurotransmitters and their relevant receptors, but I don't want to wear blinders. We're complex interactions of systems which are themselves complex.

So happy for my spouse at this point He has had a real confidence boost in the past 1.5 weeks since starting TSM. Intoxicated (only)once..drank slowly and in smaller quantities on all other days he has had alcohol.

Mon- AF!
Tues/work day off- 16 oz's of beer, slowly... and done!
Wed - AF!

Says no cravings Mon/Wed.


He is eating a low carb diet...(removing simple sugars in most of their forms from his diet to better control blood sugar fluctuations and possibly help cravings. Taking AHCC, methyl form of B12 and other B complex, magnesium, trace minerals,5HTP/ amino acid builders, etc.

It might sound hokey but considering coffee enema to boost liver function.

Hope the rest of you concerned spouses, et al are fairing well this day.

Of possible interest:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 132212.htm

That's fantastic progress. Signs are that he's a quick responder (he sounded like a good candidate for quick response, but only time really tells).

Maybe something like milk thistle before coffee enemas? It'd be less unpleasant, at the very least.

I've saved the link to read later, but when I loaded it to save it, I saw that the page links to another report showing that naltrexone is more effective than Antabuse. Perhaps it's a sign that the science is slowly percolating through the medical community? Science Daily, aimed at laypeople, is a good sign that the info is creeping out of just the medical research journals.

We should compare notes in detail some time. We've each been mounting in-depth attacks on the puzzle, from different fronts.

Yay. I'm so happy about your husband's progress.

Sounds great. I was recently reading that blood sugar fluctuations cause big alcohol cravings, so that might have been one of the causes of his sudden desire for booze.

Things continue to go very well here for my spouse (and thus me!)

A combination of AF days and Nal + drinking moderately days. The past few times he's drank..he said the alcohol doesn't taste the same...kind of off, not normal tasting, not as enjoyable.

I can't believe the change in him already. There is definitely a physical change, but his personality, mental clarity & a light heartedness have returned. It's so good to see him feel well again. Being back to work, drinking/craving less and less stress in the home...I'm sure all factor into that.

It is almost as if I can see the difference in the craving situation. Gone is the sense of tension in him, in the air, the fidgety demeanor. I wonder if that isn't because drinking isn't "taboo", but rather a choice he feels he has now, but one that no longer seems to hold the dangers it did just a short time ago? Whatever it is...it's palpable, the same way it was when he was craving and drinking heavily. The intimate side of our relationship has even improved! (bonus!, lol) One of my spouses "tells" when drinking secretly was a kind of darkness in his mood...clammed up & quiet, maybe irritable even. Now he laughs, talks a lot, wants to plan things together.

He continues to call this medication a "miracle". I continue to remain cautiously optimistic ...but growing moreso by the day.

Best to all of you.

gkv That sounds so great all around. You seem to have played your cards very well in this whole drama. I've said before that, for a lot of people, what seemed like a mighty ocean to cross to get from "addiction" to "freedom" turns out to only be a small, gentle stream.

I'm glad that he responded quickly. That's awesome.

Sounds like he's not quite cured but well on his way there.

Hey all you concerned spouses and otherwise : Happy summer!

My spouse continues to do very well on TSM. His drinking is almost on par with what it was back in his 20s when we first started life together as parents of little kids.

More AF days than not..and not a single binge.

A few slip ups as far as having 1 drink without taking Nal first..but I think thats also been ironed out. He had it in his mind that the Nal was more for social drinking and not required when one knows they are *only* going to have one drink (with the boss)

Write more later!

That is great !! Sometimes adding some moderation management strategies really helps also, there's a site called Moderation Management that has a lot of good common sense ideas.

It's a good way to understand why you drink, and how to drink "sensibly"

This problem is fixable, I know that as I have done it.

Good luck !!

BTW gkv, your posts are a pleasure to read. My wife was pretty fed up with my drinking behavior also, but is fully on board with this whole naltrexone approach, and is very happy with its results.