Wow! Thank you, Jaba! That settles that, I'm not going to see a TSM doctor. I have 9 Revia pills left and I will buy some Naltima online, hoping it is an improvement from the Nodict I tried in 2013. Also, I'll do the research that JSP suggested. If I have success with Wellbutrin and Naltrexone together and reach the suggested dose of 32 mgs of Naltrexone (for weight loss), I may just take it in the evening, along with a little extra, when I do decide to drink.

Now for another question (which I have researched on here and think I may already know the answer): I *think* I felt a slight buzz last night, but not much of one. I understand that the Naltrexone is an opiate blocker, so does this mean that I will no longer feel a buzz when I drink? As B.B. King said, the thrill is gone, which I think I am OK with, but now wondering what will be the point of drinking? One of the questions on the FAQ on the 3C site says that yes, you can still get drunk while taking Naltrexone, but it's not drunk I want, it's a buzz. I read a thread on here about this and it sounds as if it's different for everyone.

Thank you again Jaba for kindly looking into the HIPPA/custody issue for me. Divorce isn't happening tomorrow or anything. I just know someday it will. We are unhappy and stay together because of the children. I don't know if I'm OK with that anymore.

Gee, sorry to be posting so much! I just have to share that today I have ZERO interest in alcohol. Like I said, I don't drink often, especially since I am still technically breastfeeding, but usually the day after I drink, which is typically more than I should, I am preoccupied with drinking again. Often it's the hair of the dog, some kind of relief. Anyway, I know I didn't drink much last night, but I am feeling such a strange indifference about alcohol today. Normal? Something just feels really different today...

And exercise was super difficult!

It seems to vary by person. I still get the warm, relaxing, fuzzy feeling from beer and don't really feel that much missing. Others feel like "what's the point?", so I've got to assume there's something they felt that I never did. Alcohol will still tone down your Glutamate receptors and stimulate your GABA receptors (akin letting up on your brain's "gas" pedal and stepping on the "brake" pedal).

Just fyi, you should take another dose and wait an hour if you're still drinking 12 hours after your first dose (same day or next day). That aside, it sounds like you still have a blockade in place, as you don't want a drink (per usual)? Exercise could be difficult if you're not getting an endorphin hit off it. Did you just not feel as strong or was it hard to stick with it?

Hopefulwoman,

Please let me explain about HIPPA and how the courts view it. If custody becomes a concern the courts always want both parents involved; however, if there is a question about drug/alcohol abuse or mental status the courts will ask you to wave your HIPPA rights, and even if you pay out of pocket it will be subpoenaed and the doctor will have to release it (by your consent); however, they have to know the doctor you are seeing to be able to subpoena it (I do not know how well you could hide it from you husband or the courts). You could always deny the courts your records, but that is never a good thing. In some states the judge/arbitrator will review the medical records to see if there is any relevance for it to be enter into the decision of the court and/or have it part of the records of the case. (Remember I do not have any legal degree, I am just getting this from legal websites). If you have never endangered your children or have been reckless behind the wheel (tickets, DUI) I sincerely doubt you will have any issue. As far as not being happy in your marriage and divorce not happening soon, things will change with time and with the age of your children (hopefully for the better). I do not know your situation, but I have been where you are and stuck it out. It was worth it to me, but every situation is different.

As far as breastfeeding for comfort, my heart goes out to you, for I stopped a lot sooner. But I do remember my mom weaning my brother. She would set a schedule to let him know of his "comfort times" and stuck to them (easier said than done sometimes) and if it wasn't that time and "he wanted comfort" she gave him a "blanket" that she made from a shirt of hers for him to cuddle with, for sometimes the smell of you is all that it takes.

As far as getting the name brand nal, you may just go to your family doctor and ask if they will prescribe nal and wellburtin for weight loss (that is how I got started). That way you do not have to worry about taking the LDN and trying to find actual name brand nal. If your doctor insists on writing a script for the Contrave (the manufacturer has coupons), tell him/her you sensitive to certain medicine and would prefer to take them separately to make sure you do not have a reaction or if you do have a reaction you will know which one it is.

Shipping a package through customs is a nightmare and if you and the other person are caught there are big penalties.

The drugs that come from India (Nodict and Naltima) are different from what I get from Walgreens generic (which wasn't from India I was wrong) mine is made by Mallinckrodt here in the US; however, I did read that Naltima has less side effects than Nodict, and most people do better on it. I do hope that Naltima works better for you. Sometimes slowly increasing the dose will help with those side effects (starting with 1/4 of a dose and working up from there).

I would still get drunk (who wouldn't after 1 bottle of wine), and sometimes now I notice my tolerance is down, for I will drink very little and I feel really drunk. I think it might be I started drinking without anything on my stomach, but not sure. Most times it is like I am drinking Kool-Aide and I cannot feel anything, but I rarely go over 2 glasses of wine.

That is wonderful for it sounds like the nal is doing its job and you are responding to it !

Please do not be sorry for posting so much, for we love to help and hearing about your progress!

Jaba

Wonderful responses! Thank you! And what great suggestions, Jaba. I actually take my thyroid medications separately for the very reason you suggested that I request to have Wellbutrin and Naltrexone prescribed separately: I want to know how each one affects me. I could take my T4 and T3 together in the form of natural dessicated thyroid hormone (I am assuming you know what I am talking about as you mentioned the book STTM), but choose not to as I want to be able to individually tweak each one to meet my body's needs. I feel that argument, plus the cost of Contrave, would be very valid for any doctor to understand and agree to. Who knows? Maybe 32 mg of Naltrexone daily might kill any desire to drink? Or, assuming they come in doses of 18 mg (because isn't that how they start out when prescribing for weight loss?), I can take 50 mg, in the evening, on the days I decide to drink. I think I may be covered without having to see a TSM doctor. Oh, and I did order 10 Naltima pills from All Day Chemist to give it a shot.

Now I just need a doctor! My naturopath became a little bizarre so I stopped seeing her as my endo/primary care doctor and my OB retired! But, as mentioned before, I plan to see a thyroid specialist in the East Bay this summer who I am confident will not only prescribe Wellbutrin and Naltrexone, but perhaps make adjustments to my thyroid meds.

Again, I am feeling disinterested in alcohol today. I can go months without drinking and I am fine, but usually when I even just think about it, I feel a sense of relief, envisioning that first sip. My experience on Saturday seems to have stuck with me (which is remarkable!) and I can only imagine how months of TSM must be very effective. It's like that little click doesn't click when we drink, using TSM. It truly becomes no big deal, doesn't it? I am confident that this will work. Even when not breastfeeding, I don't drink daily/frequently, so I can see how the urge to drink may come on, I take my Naltrexone, thus I don't over do it, and the cycle ends there vs. I start drinking, I drink too much, I feel horrible the next day, and drink to rid the pain of a hangover. This usually goes on for a few days, all of them preoccupied with alcohol and how horrible I feel. So it's interesting to me that now, when I think about alcohol (which I am sorting making myself think of it, out of curiosity, or testing my brain), my mind remembers what it felt like to drink that sparkling wine on Saturday night. I remember taking the sip of the delicious sparkling wine in a delicate flute, and well, nothing happened. Not the normal, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...." (<<<< that's an Ah of relief, not a screaming Ah!). I enjoyed the flavor, the bubbles, the glass in my hand, but it simply was NO BIG DEAL. Amazing. Simply amazing. And so easy. I can do this. Just not with that damn Nodict!!!! : )

OK, sorry for the rambling. Much of what I am writing is sort of like I am thinking aloud, or a journal, but receiving responses and feedback is a super bonus! Thank you to anyone reading and a giant thank you for the responses!

And really Jaba, you started on Wellbutrin and Naltrexone for weight loss? Did I read that correctly? Was this just an excuse or did you really try it for weight loss? What was your experience? Did it help with depression?

I have gained about 25 lbs since my thyroid was removed in 2008. I bounced back from both pregnancies and years ago plateaued with weight gain, but can't seem to get down to what I weighed when I got pregnant with my first. I feel stuck at a set point, or something. I never had a weight problem and it is something that I cannot accept. I do give thanks every day that the medullary thyroid cancer is gone, shoot, before surgery they thought it had metastasized, but I resent the weight gain that was a result of the loss of my thyroid.

So the idea that I could take Wellbutrin, which could help my depression, Naltrexone, which could help me drink like a normal person, together could help me lose weight is very exciting! I understand there will be a period of adjustment in the beginning, so starting over the summer would be ideal, so that I can cope and adjust at home.

JSP, everything about exercise on Sunday was difficult. Normally, if you stick with it, when it's all over, you think, "Wow, I'm glad I did that". This didn't happen Sunday.

Hopeful,

I started on Wellbutrin for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and asked my physiatrist to but me on nal for weight loss (really needed help to lose weight but wanted it for TSM). She had no issue with putting me on it, but only allowed me to stay on it for six months. After those six months were up I asked my family doctor to put me on nal for alcohol reasons. Both times I was on the 50 mg.

I do not think nal comes in 32 mg (lowest I could find was 25 mg of Depade), so there may be a possibility your doctor will send you to a compounding pharmacy for that amount. Again, I would ask (to save money) for the 50 mg from a normal pharmacy.

Also, you may find that this doctor will want you back monthly, are you going to be able to make that trip every month?

32 mg will kill the desire to drink, and the desire to eat, but to actually fix/cure AUD you have to drink while on the nal (sorry to say). It doesn't have to be a lot, maybe 5 oz of wine.

I did email Kiwidrug and they do carry Revia from their UK supplier and will fill your script by giving it to one of their doctors for approval. They have mixed reviews (not sure if on the C-3 list), but it is the first pharmacy I have seen that carried name brand (most will say they have it, but it is out of stock). For 50 tabs it is $210.

I want to warn you Wellbutrin can make some people have anxiety.

I was on Wellbutrin SR 200 mg and was doing okay, but when winter hit I was having a hard time (and the nal was getting me down), so I asked her to up it to 300 mg XR and the difference is night and day. Finding the right AD and the right dose makes all the difference in the world. The side effects from the going up in dose has been insomnia (which I got on gabapentin for), and constipation, so be prepared for those are the most common side effects (besides high BP and heart rate). The Contrave has plain Wellbutrin which is taken a couple of times during the day (a big hassle), so you may want to ask to be put on the SR (sustained-release) which is to be taken every 12 hours, or the EX (extended release).

I am sorry to hear about your naturopath, for finding a doctor to actually listen and allow you to explain what is going to work for you is hard. It is good that you were able to get T4 and T3 separate, for I am on Armor and would have preferred that. But, I live in a very conservative area and I was lucky to find someone to prescribe that. It is so conservative here that one women got her entire thyroid removed and gained 60 pounds in month or two and had to find a new doctor to actually test her Free T4 and Free T3 and to get on T3, for she was told T3 or armor "will kill you". Hopefully you will be able to find a good doctor/naturopath soon.

I am glad to hear you feel disinterested in alcohol again, for that is fantastic news.

I think you are having a honeymoon period which is a very good sign, but that honeymoon may wear off, so be careful.

Jaba