Hi
Starting week 3 and having a few questions. I thought I was on a good role the firth few days but as my units show it wasn't the case (wk one is lower because there were two occasion where I couldn't drink). It seems from peoples signatures that most of you have a real decline the firth few weeks. I'm not and I notice that some of the people who didn't have a decline at first are the onces where the cure has or is taken them longer. I'm just wondering if anyone see a patteren too? And some of you guys are upping your dose. I know it is really to soon for me to try to second guess tsm but I would hate to find myself 6 months from now not doing much better and may have benefited with starting on 75mg or 100mg. Or maybe I'll be more like Firebird who seemed to have the switch tuned on instead of a gradual thing( WAY TO GO FB !! CONGUAULATIONS!! ) Also Virgil said someing about a blood test "6-beta" can show if you are taking enough . Has anyone hear of this test? I'm going to go on Virgils post and ask. But for now I'll just sit tight and keep my fingers crossed. My first goal is to have a af day, I haven't one in years.
Thanks everyone for the support,

Please read my post on Lenore's thread about women supposedly needing a higher dose. It's simply not accurate. Decisions such as this need to be based on accurate information.

Any decrease early on is meaningless. The method takes AT LEAST 3 to 4 months to work. AJ is a rare exception but he is very young and nipped his problem in the bud.

It's very important to read Eskapa's book to truly inderstand the process. If you don't have it yet, there are chapters on this board to read online.

Patience is key. Hang in there. Keep reading and posting.

Hi,

I'm not one of the cured (YET) but I also didn't have a decline in units for the 1st few weeks. I'm in the last day of week 10 and finally charted my numbers. From week 7 to now, there's been a decline in numbers, not huge but encouraging. But as Nick and others have said, the units don't tell the whole story so pay attention to other signs before second guessing the method. Just during the last week, I've noticed a strong taste of alcohol which seems to be a good indicator that a cure is near... and I have slowed down in drinking because when I feel that first sensation of feeling buzzed - I don't like it. Of course, I still push through it most times... not cured yet.

I would at least follow standard protocol for 4 months and then, if you truly don't feel any differently, look into other options.

The first few weeks is just hard, especially if there's no honeymoon period.

Good luck!

I agree with Lena. (And Virginia -- we cross posted.) The early, immediate, temporary drop in consumption -- the "honeymoon effect" -- does not happen for everybody and is not necessarily an indication of whether TSM will work for you. All of the studies are based upon 50 mg. In a few rare cases, where people are seeing no or few indications of progress after several months, some have elected to up the dose. Three weeks in is way too early to draw any conclusions. Also, regardless of dose, unfortunately you fall into the group of the heavier, longer term drinker, which means you are quite probably looking at six months or longer for extinction to occur, not the 3-4 month minimum for those "only" drinking 35 per week before starting TSM. Hang in there and remember our AMENDED formula: naltrexone + drinking + patience = cure.

Also, Virginia makes a great point: look for other positive signs besides pure numbers, like fewer hangovers, blackouts and less wild drunken behavior.

Hi CSOW,

Please take a look at the following thread:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=681

The blood test to which I referred is mentioned in the article that I reference in the first post of the thread. A blood test is also mentioned by Dr Eskapa in the same post.

V.

Thanks all
I think I'm making a mess of this site, I posted my replay but I'm not sure where it went--sorry, new at this. I know, I know, it's way to soon for me to question protocol. I was that "pain in the a--" student in the back of the classroom interrupting the lecture by debating with the professor, you'd think I'd grow out of that. I going to try to ride this out, be patient (I'm not good at that) and stop over thinking the process. I guess because it is just SO simple to do, nal + drink = cure, that I'm waiting for the "BUT".
Thanks Virgil I will look it up. And if I am posting in the wrong place I'm sorry, pretty clue less about blogging, maybe someone can stear me in the right direction. Thanks for the great advice and engorgement