I agree on the 'telling' and don't plan on discussing it with anyone else until I'm a few months in. My daughter did start reading the book and has already decided she will never drink. Think I made that same decision years and years ago... but heartbreak can make you do stupid things when you're a teenager.

Trying to figure out the best weekend plan since we'll be going to the beach and no doubt, I will be drinking more than usual. Take a half dose tonight w/ a drink, then full on tomorrow...or be AF today and half dose tomorrow? At this stage, it probably make minimal difference but would rather have one more chance at side effects before the weekend.

Virginia

I discuss TSM only with my perscribing doc. The only other people I talk to about it is on this forum. People don't get it. It is too new and strange for them. I don't go there with them but alot of people say thing to me like, " hey you don't drink as much" and " you didn't get drunk last night. Why?. I just say oh well. That was just the way I felt.

Just got back from a beach weekend and just wanted to post, well, not an update, but my beginning experience. Took a half dose on Thursday and Friday. Had no side effects on Friday and had 3 drinks. For now, I'm assuming that each of my drinks (that I make) is 2 units each.

On Saturday (full dose), had a total of 9 drinks from 2 pm to midnight. Since they were mostly ordered, it was probably around 12 units. Started with a couple with lunch, a couple by the pool, a couple at dinner, and a couple at a concert.. normally, when i start this pattern, i am ready to go all night and when we got back to the hotel, my husband kept asking if i wanted to hit the hotel bar or any other night spot but i knew i was just done. Was buzzing but still pretty focused and had no memory lapses. On Sunday, got up early with NO hangover, no nothing. Had a great day w the kids and wasn't dragging to entertain them or wishing for a nap. Came home and thought about having a drink but didn't feel like taking a pill. then a ton of family drama happened (calls and emails) that normally would have sent me right to the vodka/tonic but i was just like, well, didn't take a pill earlier so why bother now... there is no way that this is a result of anything quick happening with the nal. Just think it is a combination of having to think through things more and the fact that i want it to work so bad.

Mostly I wanted to post about my minimal side effects and the beginning of a new mind-set. Don't usually drink on Mondays but I'll just play it by ear and see how the cravings are.

I'm torn between wanting to drink on a daily basis to get the Nal going.. but I also want the AF days. Patience.......

Yes, you are off to a positive start, with no real side effects to deal with. As WTE said, drink as you always have -- that's what Dr. Sinclair recommends in THE BOOK. Beware of the "honeymoon effect." Some people lose a lot of their interest in drinking immediately and this may very well be due to the naltrexone -- it was for me anyway. Then after two weeks I was back to my unhealthy ways. Just recognize that this is very common. But you are correct, the real impact of naltrexone will not take place for months, assuming you have been abusing alcohol for years.

Yes, classic honeymoon effect! Most of us remember it well. And most of us remember the disheartening climb back to our previous drinking levels and some surpass their prior drinking levels before they stabilize at some rate for what seems to be an endless number of weeks. Then it happens. The craving-drinking cycle begins to break down, hit and miss at first, but then more and more often.

I am glad you are part of the small group of folks that did not experience side effects. I myself started taking 50mg right at the beginning and had no side effects, too. I also had a honeymoon phase.

I agree with WTE, drink in your normal fashion. If you normally have AF days, then do that same pattern except use your Nal 1 hour prior to the 1st drink of the day.

Congratulations on your first few days!


Here are two sayings of Lao Tzu (600 BCE) that you've no doubt heard before:

"A Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"
&
"People... often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure."

The first saying is mainly for you. You've taken the first steps in a long journey.

The second saying is mainly for the "double-digit week" club, those of us who are in that long stretch at the end.

Bob

Thanks for the support!

My AL mind is now trying to convince me that since I had an AF day on Sunday (not typical) that my reward should be a drink tonight

May give in, may not... will probably depend on how loud / demanding the kids get. Plan on totally blaming them in the future so that they have a well-developed guilt complex..

Don't worry about fighting the cravings. . .not necessary! If your AL mind wants a drink, take a nal, wait an hour, and drink to your heart's content.

(Now, who ever said there isn't a God?)

Hi and welcome!
I totally understand where you're coming from in wanting to tell people about your discovery. I had no idea how to cope with my problem - which meant denying to people that I HAD a problem. Like many, I tried AA and I recommend it if you enjoy hearing stories from people who are worse off than you are. I found it very depressing and a little condescending. So, when I stumbled upon TSM method through MyWayOut, I wanted to shout from the rooftops. I told my husband (who was supportive for about a week b/c he didn't see things changing), I told my mom and sister, and I made the mistake of telling my psychiatrist, who initially prescribed the nal for me. She has no clue about TSM....I printed some research and she read it, but she is not supportive (at least I have refills till 4/2010!)

So, yeah, I agree with Kris. The most important thing is that it gives YOU hope! I keep trying to remind myself of that one whenever my husband gets on my case (at least 3x a week....so I'm still having to hide it from him, too.)

You'll find a fantastic group of folks here. They get me through the bad days and usualy make me laugh, too!

haha.. I just want to continue the family tradition.. guilt is a BIG thing

Have already got the teens in line. Nothing like having kids way too early, then struggling to get to the place where they have nothing to seriously worry about (abusive father gone, great home, no 'real' financial worries unless they actually worry about my retirement account lately, great step-father that is never called 'step', new siblings...ok, maybe they didn't want that...) Have told them enough of the real history of my life, their start in life so that they BETTER NOT FOLLOW MY PATH!.. Of course, they will make their own unique mistakes but hopefully not life changing..