Hi all,

I just wanted to check in with you. I don't keep a weekly progress thread for my BF, but I do update the spreadsheet every week. He is still drinking a lot, but I'm thinking I see some progress and I hope he's almost done with alcohol.

-He's started saying things like, "I don't really want a shot, I just feel bad from withdrawals. Maybe I'll wait a bit."
-He's started filling up the shot glass only halfway a lot of the time.
-He had two really low drinking days over the weekend, which is usually when he goes nuts with the booze.
-He's drinking a lot less when he's at home alone.
-He's beginning to go a lot longer in between drinks, sometimes without really realizing it.
-Even when he's drinking a lot, I don't feel like he's acting wasted nearly as often.

Could the end be in sight? He's past the 6 month mark, but then again he didn't work his way up to a full 50 mg dose of nal for quite a while. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Those all sound an awful lot like the sort of things I experienced (albeit with glasses of wine vs shots) just before I "turned the corner" so to speak. Sounds promising. Wishing you both well.

Sweet, that's what I wanted to hear! I hope this is all wrapping up nicely soon.

I don't post a lot but this forum is vital, I'm here reading almost every day and sending my BF information and inspiration from posters here all the time. Thanks everyone.

That is definitely some huge progress. The benefits of naltrexone last up to three years per Eskapa so he should only improve with time. There is no magic predictor of when the switch will be clicked, but he sure is on the right path. Congratulations!

Wow - sounds so very encouraging! If he is not already on 50 mgs/day he should be. And with the progress he's made, just keep tracking. I went up to 100 mgs for the last 6 months and other stories I've researched have gone up to 150...with much success (except me). But if that is the case, that he has upped the dose for another 4-6 months and no significant decrease in cravings/drinking are there, then it's not working.

But it sounds like he has had significant success so far - and hope it's a function of The Sincalir Method. If not, look into Baclofen therapy, like I am - very hopeful again! Good luck!
XO

Any improvement is improvement.

START TAKING 50MG EVERY TIME. I've found that after the first week or two, 25mg is not enough if you anticipate having more than 2-3 drinks in a night.

He is up to 50 mg now, every day. It just took a while to get there, he is really sensitive to the drug and experienced really bad side effects. But at this point he is able to take 50 mg every day - it makes him pretty sleepy at first, but that's about it.

If he's not able to get his drinking down pretty significantly in a couple months we may have to look at baclofen. He has a very important business trip that may take him out of the country for a few months, and he can't afford to be drinking the whole time. Urg it's so hard to wait, but I really feel like he might be close to turning a corner. Thanks all!

nmarie,
Just want to compliment you for being so active in your BF's recovery. It sounds like you are giving him incredible support (rather than nagging, as my DH does!) Your support will help him ultimately succeed in whichever method he chooses. But his progress sounds textbook TSM.

Just wanted to pop in and say that the BF posted lower numbers over the weekend than I can remember in a LONG time. Weekends are usually the highest drinking days of the week for him. He has also pretty much gone to doing half-shots all the time. He took a whole shot over the weekend and was totally grossed out by it. GOOD, I say! It is gross!

I don't want to cling to false hopes or anything, but I'm just so ready for this to be over, for both of our sakes!

Ok, I'll play wet blanket: several times you have said things like "I can't wait until this is over." Please be careful about this kind of thinking. I know you care for your BF and are just so happy that you are seeing progress but remember it may be a long while before he's able to exert real control. As well, what is your goal for him? What is HIS goal for himself? Are they the same? If he's only able to cut down but not as much as you'd like, would that be failure to you?

I'm all in favour of your enthusiasm, and you have had to suffer all through his heavy drinking, but please believe me - there may not be the end as you envision it. There, I've played "bad witch." Now I can say with the others how happy I am for you and your BF. You sound so happy and pleased to see progress! Good for you that you are so supportive - betcha he could not do this without YOU!! (and nal, of course ;} )