Thanks, Yogagirl.

Well, last night due to a gym class, plus running errands, I did not have much drinking time in the first place. I went ahead on my husband's advice and bought cheap beer (PBR) so I wouldn't feel guilty money-wise if I had a lot, but I only had 3 of those plus a Victory Prima Pils and a Saranac Pale Ale, so my total works out to be about 5 drinks for the evening. Not moderate by any means, but a hell of a lot better than 13.

At the end of the evening I did not feel like drinking more, I felt like going to bed. Sort of surprised myself. The other thing that surprised me was my sense of absolute calm after taking the pill, that I could wait for an hour with no problem. I thought I'd be much more impatient about wanting to drink before an hour was over.

One thing I'm not sure of is how to explain to my mother what I'm doing, since I wrote to her at the beginning of June to tell her I'd stopped drinking and was considering all options (including the Sinclair method, but I don't think she looked it up).

Yesterday she asked in an email "How are you doing with not drinking? Is [your husband] being supportive?"

Not sure whether to tell her all about what I'm doing, so early in the process. She lives 1000 miles away, I'm not likely to see her for months, if at all anytime soon, but we email several times a week.

She might be persuaded by the scientific literature - I have a copy of the 2004 article on the targeted administration of Naltrexone, as well as Dr. Eskapa's book of course. Or she might just be annoyed that I am still drinking at all. Her brother has just about killed himself with repeated relapses into heavy drinking after repeated attempts at detox and rehab. I know she doesn't want me to end up like him.

I might just tell a white lie and write to her that I am doing fine and that yes, my husband is being supportive.

When I first read about TSM and was about to get my prescription for Nal, I wanted to shout it from the mountaintops, especially to all the heavy drinkers in my family. I tried telling a few, and was met with resistance, disbelief, apathy, etc.

Now I have decided that it is a personal quest, and I don't really need to share the details with everyone, including my parents. I will share my success, when and if it actually works for me.

That said, I think it is okay not to give your mother all the details, especially when she is not in your life every day. Maybe it would be better to wait till you feel in control, and then tell her how you got there.

Luna,

You should also try and get the book and/or info to your uncle about TSM.

It would be shame if he could have a healthy last part of his life. Have you seen our fellow members post Ben on youtube? He sounds like your Uncle and it has helped him tremendously.

Just my cents, Best, Jim

I have seen some of Ben's stuff. He's a funny guy.

My uncle was the first guy I ever knew who was a home brewer, back in the 1970s. It was sad to see him go the route of whole bottles of tequila and seizures and hospitalization, and to lose his job at age 63 from drinking on the job. According to the last I heard from my mom, he's trying to drink moderately (trying again) and his girlfriend is supportive of whatever he does and wants him to be healthy (although she's got her own problems, but that's a whole other story). If he is still drinking at all, I will send him the book. I think I should talk to my mother about the Sinclair Method too, since she and my aunt (my uncle's 2 siblings) are very involved in trying to help him as much as they can from a distance. (He's on the West Coast, they're in the Midwest.)

The one thing I'm concerned about with my uncle is that his liver might be too compromised to take Naltrexone. That's something he'd have to discuss with his doctor. Hopefully there are TSM friendly doctors out in the Bay Area.

Just got this from my mother: "I still haven't heard a word from [your uncle] since last Thanksgiving. I guess he's avoiding withdrawal symptoms by drinking. Perhaps he can learn to mostly control it. What do people who keep drinking too much eventually die of? I wonder how long he'll last."

I really need to get the info about the Sinclair Method to both my mom and my uncle. I know I'm going to have to tell my mom I'm doing this. She thinks I'm staying sober with willpower. I wish. I can do AF days but I haven't since the 8th of this month, I think.

like the billy joel song. Tell her about it. sounds like the guy has nothing to lose. I have tried to get my uncle and sister on TSM but they won't even try it. weiners

Well, my numbers are up this week from last week. Maybe I was really drinking this much before starting TSM - I wasn't counting every day.

The odd thing is that my husband says I've been "good." His definition of being good and mine must not be the same, because to me drinking 10 or more drinks (US units) per day is not being good. But he's right that I haven't ever blacked out or been out of control. My personality has essentially remained "mine" all evening - none of this Jekyll and Hyde business.

But my hangovers have been worse. Not the physically queasy-headachy kind - I rarely if ever get those - but I wake up feeling sleep-deprived, wiped out, mildly depressed, generally unmotivated. Actually this morning wasn't so bad. Taking a shower helps.

Also alcohol has made me much tireder than I'm used to. None of this energy kick I sometimes used to get. I guess the main mystery to me is why I'm still drinking so much of it. Mostly it seems to be because I am drinking it fast. I am going to try to work on drinking more slowly this week and see how I react to that.

Oh, on Monday I took my Nal before going to weight training class, because I anticipated going to the bar right after. I shouldn't have done that, it kept me from getting any endorphins and I really needed them. We were doing arms and abs, and some of this stuff was hard. Afterward I was a grumpy tired gal. I would have done better to wait until after the workout to take the Nal, and do some shopping before heading to the bar. Live and learn.

Hi Luna,

Sorry I've been incognito for a minute.

Well I want you to know how I'm rooting for you and your uncle.

I would venture to say that taking nal is easier than drinking constantly. You could probably ask any doctor over the phone or even pharmacist. I think that is a good question though...

When do the benefits of taking NAL outweigh the drinking and Vice Versa. If they would allow Nalmefene here in the states that would take that argument out of the equation.

Wishing you well, Best, Jim

Well, I told my mother in an email yesterday. I also drank even more than usual yesterday - it was a long day, and I was stressed out about telling my mother. But I reread my email and it reads pretty soberly, so that's good. I'm very nervous to find out what she thinks. I'm sure she won't approve of my doing this without a doctor's supervision and getting my meds from India. Also since I'm spending money on both alcohol and Naltrexone, that's something else for her to disapprove of. She always sends me money for my birthday, and I really need it soon, but I hesitate to tell her so after having let her down in terms of not staying sober.

I know, this does not read like the writings of an almost 42 year old woman. Where my mother is concerned, I will always be a teenager.