So I am on week 51 taking Naltrexone. I have been absolutely religious about taking it at least an hour, but usually 2 or 3 before drinking. EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT EXCEPTION. I have read all the books, visited all the web sites (C3, etc.), kept a drinking diary the entire time and really nothing has changed. I had a honeymoon period the first 2 weeks but then things leveled off and I have been amazingly consistent. 40-45 drinks/week pre TSM, and 40-45 drinks/week now. I still think about alcohol constantly, really from when I get up in the morning - even though I don't usually have that first drink until 6-7pm. Maybe I don't get that endorphin rush anymore but I still get a wonderfully calm feeling from alcohol and I crave it still. I am not seeing a doctor - I get my Nal online from AllDayChemist.com. I am very frustrated. I have not had an AF day in probably 20 years except during my pregnancy 13 years ago where it was really easy for me. I thought by now things would have changed. Yes I have tried tweaking things like starting to drink later, really being mindful of my drinking, etc. so if any of you reading this want to tell me that, you don't need to. I really have tried - I SO WANT TO STOP THINKING ABOUT ALCOHOL. I still feel like when I am resisting the urge to drink I am really white-knuckling it though. It is basically no easier than before TSM. I am sitting here crying as I write this. I thought I would at least have seen some improvement. I am so jealous of all of you and your drinking graphs that show a dramatic decrease in your drinking. Maybe I need to see a psychiatrist....I just really really hoped I could do this on my own. Even my husband who has been so supportive is now starting to question things. Before he was leaving me alone about my drinking...assuming that it would decrease over time. Now he is much more watchful and I feel like I need to hide it from him - he'll go upstairs to bed and I'll stay downstairs in the kitchen to do the dishes or whatever, just so I can have a last drink. Thanks for listening - I feel like this is a safe place for me to vent. I am so frustrated. If any of you reached success AFTER a year I sure would love to hear about it! I know I read about Maggie and her fabulous breakthrough...but I don't remember hearing about anyone who really showed NO signs of improvement after a year who then went on to have success... Anyway, thanks for listening!

Melissa - one thing that you might want to try is to up your dose. I am loathe to suggest it usually because too often folk want to do it too early, but at your stage I would say go for it. I did up mine too - to 75mg and had it upped for about 5 days (I think - memory not too great) and got ill one day - and the rest is history! BUT I did not feel any different nor see any changes at all - just felt really poorly one evening - so it wasn't a Nal-Over, but spent the next day in bed (unheard of for me) NOT wanting a drink, and have not wanted any since.

Anyway - you have nothing to lose and I will hope against hope, that this works for you. IF you notice no change after a month then I do not think it will make a difference - maybe try e-mailing JoAnna at C3 - she might suggest something else.

Hang in there - I really feel for you,

HUGS, Maggie

I'd concur. Try bringing the dose up to 75mg and stick with that for a bit. If no difference, try 100mg. My doc said some people need less than 50 and some need more.

Are you taking any other meds?

Check the posts by "Guest" in this thread, took 15 months to get there:

http://optionssavelives.freeforums.net/ ... ollTo=5858

And:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4672

And Chrisb:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4091

There are others that posted in their own threads, not on the cured list, but I can't remember them at the moment.

Maggie is a good example of someone that TSM took a longer time with. she waited waited waited and then BANG! it happened. as she said, what have you got to lose? best of luck to you; I know it must be terribly frustrating.

Hey Melissa, I know where you are coming from but unfortuately I did not even have a honeymoon period. I started October 14th 2014 but did run out of Nal before I went away for 3 months to Mexico so I drank without Nal there and had to start all over again when I got back last March. Anyway I must say that I have been able to have AF days these days which I could not do before, I even had 6 in a row one week but still try for 1 or 2 each week which is progress. I still think about alcohol but not as crazy as I did before and sometimes when I take Nal I wait more than an hour cause I just get busy with things and it is not as urgent to drink right away. I have cried also but am hanging in there as I believe it is the only way I can deal with this beast. Message me anytime as I am in the same boat but if it takes years it's better than just drinking without TSM. Hang in their girlfriend!
Nal On!!!!

I think Melissa will have a bit of good news to report when she swings by this way again.

Nice to hear from you Cheeto! Glad that you are having some success - even though it has all been way slower and not as good as you had hoped. Being ever the optimist, I know it will all come together eventually for you,

HUGS, Maggie x

I'll say, Cheeto! You're "A #1++" for hanging in there and it sounds like things are beginning to budge for you! Thanks for continuing to share with us!

Thanks guys, don't want to take over Melissa's thread but it's so nice to have the support here for all of us at any stage of TSM!

Nal On!

Cheeto ((((hugs))))