Hello all.
I started doing the sinclair method last month. I don't have the book yet but I'll get it. I went thru my PCP. I gave hime the wikipedia explanation of the method. They dragged their feet. I think he has a lazy staf. They were worried that he wasn't auth to prescribe nal. But talking w/ them and my Insurance Co, all I did is call my pharmacy to see if his DEA # was allowed to prescribe it. From reading others this may have not been necessarry. But found out he was, relayed info to his staff and he wrote script. They were all like come pick it up. Then they talked with my wife and said to fill it not to take it yet, they wanted the literature that came w/ it. ( I believe Dr.s have this info available) I complied. I started taking it. My Dr. asked my wife on a visit of hers how I was doing and if I was drinking. He told her that if I said I was drinking on my next visit he would discontinue. I am not sure if he was giving me the old wink, wink, nod, nod, telling me I better lie or not. He is kinda hard to read.
Anyway, my next visit I saw his PA, he was pretty busy, and she was all serious about not drinking. I don't think he briefed her, if he is subscibing to TSM, or she was serious.
Sucks not knowing and feeling have to lie.
One thing that sucks for me is the fact that a drinking problem in my private life can affect my job as I have to maintain certain credentials. The only thing that appeases the organizations in charge seems to be 12 step programs. This is a major concern of mine.
I guess my units thing, if i read it correctly as 1unit=1 standard drink(12oz beer), has to be about 12/day, or 84/ week. I believe it is going down, haven't done a serious analysis yet.

Welcome rapper!

I read from another post of yours that you have been a guest here for awhile and decided to register because you felt like the site was worth it. I also read you don't want personal info floating around. In that regard you wisely chose a good name "rapper" because a google search for your posts will turn up millions of hits for the name/term, so that will maintain your anonymity. I use bob3d, because a google search shows up hundreds of hits for Sponge Bob 3 dimensional pictures and there are other bloggers and folks who post that use the same name. Plus my real name is not even "Bob". So in a US state that has millions of people, it is highly unlikely my true identity could be deduced, even though I reveal I live in Florida and am 51 year old alcoholic man not named Bob.

Your drinking units calculation looks quite accurate. I had been drinking one US six pack (and maybe 1 or 2 more bottles) of 12oz. beer per day starting in late afternoon every single day pre-TSM. So my pre-TSM consumption was 6 x 7 days/week + about another 8 or so = about 50 units per week.

Geez, I don't know who or where your doctor is, but what a hassle getting your meds! Personally, I have a pre-existing manic disorder that requires psychiatric care, so I guess I was fortunate that I already had a shrink. Shrink's are far more likely to prescribe Naltrexone, than a GP, even though GP's are allowed to prescribe it. My shrink initially prescribed Campral and Valium for my alcoholism. The Campral did absolutely nothing for me except empty my wallet at a higher rate than usual. I got addicted to the Valium and I was still an alcoholic. When I decided to stop the Campral, I asked the shrink what was another med for alcoholism and he told me Naltrexone. While researching Naltrexone, I stumbled on TSM, found the book on Amazon, ordered it, read it, and asked my shrink for a prescription for Naltrexone. He knows I am taking differently than is recommended and he wants to see if it works. The difference I guess between a GP and a psychiatrist you've been seeing for years is great in my opinion. Psychiatry is not an exact objective science where conditions can be quantitatively analyzed by blood tests and biopsies. It is entirely based on subjective professional observation of symptoms. So in general (not always), psychiatrists are more likely to try different methods and pharmaceuticals, whereas a GP is less likely to be as "adventurous".

Since you got your prescription for Naltrexone, that's one battle won. Now you need to do whatever it takes to keep getting that prescription. I am not saying lie, but you certainly don't need to reveal all the truth if it gets you your Naltrexone. Remember, it is your health and your life; it does not belong to your physician. Your physician is a means to an end. Ultimately it will be better for both you and your GP, after a few months. They want to see that you get well too, but they are also concerned with liability. What they don't know can't hurt them in a quite literal sense.

Bob

WTE, I would take advice from you any day of the week!

Welcome, rapper. So glad to have you onboard. There's not much I can add to the comments here, except to encourage you to tell your MD you're taking naltrexone to maintain abstinence, and it's working. Your MD has no right to ask your spouse for personal details of your life - has he not heard of 'doctor/patient confidentiality'? To speak to your wife like that is a breach, as it reveals what you and said doctor have been discussing. Can you enlist her as your aid in getting the naltrexone? Have her read the letter to a concerned spouse thread - print it out, if need be.

Good luck! We're with ya!

In this instance I appreciate my doc talking w/ my wife as I think he was giving me a hint of what to say, not sure. We are small town here and they are kinda like that. He has told me in the past he is willing to do whatever needs to be done. The addictions counselling industry, though, would find fault. Liability. He doesn't have a lot of experience working this type of problem.
So, I get the breech but his motive may be in the right place.

Welcome rapper, I have all your albums. Well your doctor is an idiot, but that is evidently a national epidemic. Show him this article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/healt ... one&st=cse

Never mind the fact that this article legitimizes TSM and drinking while on naltrexone. The bigger issue is that the article makes it clear that naltrexone can now be prescribed widely by general practitioners in treating alcoholism.

Also, show him page 203 of The Cure for Alcoholism, when you get the book. If you don't have it, GET IT. It's invaluable.

Unfortunately, you will also have to remind your doctor about the doctor/patient confidentiality rule that he is violating when he chats up your wife. You should also LIE to him and tell him you are taking naltrexone to abstain as he has given you no choice. He sounds like every other doctor, just worried about the potential liability of prescribing nal when he knows you are drinking. He's off the hook if you lie. I'm an attorney and tell my clients the same thing when I suspect they may be up to something shady: "I don't want to hear about it. Next subject." (Not that taking nal is "shady" but I think you catch my drift.)

Good luck, Rapper, TSM works. Your instincts in signing up here were entirely correct.

Take care,

Nick

Hi rapper,

Just wanted to say Hello and Welcome! You'll find a lot of great people and undying support here. Gald you joined us, and best of luck on your journey.

Hello Rapper from an old user of this method. I started on Oct 6 of 2008. I am a binge drinker and I would say basically cured. My life is awesome compared to before the method but it is still a liittle bit of work. Suprisingly not as much as you might think. Take the pill, wait an hour, have a drink and bob's your uncle. That means everything is cool. Anyway welcome and best wishes. Check out springriders posts if you want definitive info on success. I have done well but I am way more boring than those other posters. best of everything to you.