Virgil's Progress

Virgil · **Posted:** Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:11 am

bob3d wrote:

Virgil,

I am sorry that TSM did not work for you. You and I had very similar plans, try TSM for 9 months, then try baclofen. I suffer from OCD and hypomania (with its accompanying anxiety) , so we are also similar in that respect. The difference for me was TSM worked after 5 months of treatment and it continues to do so. I still have too take meds for OCD and Benzos for the mania, but at least I'm not in an alcoholic death spiral any longer.

You will eventually find your cure. I don't know if you remember, but I underwent Aversion Therapy 13 months ago and that still has an effect on me to this day. Prior to that therapy, my DOC was Bourbon and Vodka. To this day, I can't even smell or look at the stuff without getting nauseous. Under TSM, I only drank Guinness Stout, since it was the only beverage that was unaffected by the Aversion Therapy. And now I really don't care for it either that much.

All that to say there are other medical therapies available to you and if you keep trying you'll find the one that works for you.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the feedback.

When you say "The difference for me was TSM worked after 5 months of treatment and it continues to do so", I also think it's pertinent that you saw positive results from the very outset. Even after a mere 5 weeks, you witnessed a 33% reduction in alcohol intake! And, after 5 months, your consumption had dropped by a staggering 80%. And all that despite the benzos.

I found your thread about Aversion Therapy very interesting. It reminded me of a party that I attended many, many years ago. The guy holding the party had conjured up a whole load of cocktails that each used tomato juice. To put it politely, I had one too many! However, as a result, I could not drink tomato juice for years after that party. Even the smell of tomato juice made me ill. Interestingly, I now can drink the stuff again and I love it but, for probably 20 years, I couldn't stomach it.

At the moment, I'm pinning my hopes on baclofen.

All the best.

V.

Virgil · **Posted:** Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:14 am

6 Days in June wrote:

Hi Virgil,
I have been away, and have just caught up on your posts.
I find what you are doing very inspiring and have everything crossed that this new treatment works for you.
Good Luck with it.
Your fellow UK-er,
6 Days

Hi 6 Days,

Many thanks for your comments.

Good luck on your journey, too!

V.

Krazy1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:50 am

Hi Virgil,

I pray that you find the answer that works for you - nobody deserves it more. Cheers to you and Baclofen - may your heavy drinking and anxiety fade into nothing more than a bad memory!

corkit · **Joined:** Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:53 pm **Posts:** 478

Whatever you need to do to find peace from AL go for it. I know freedom will eventually come to you.

Praying for you
corkit

minneapolisnick · **Joined:** Tue May 19, 2009 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1793

I too am looking forward to hearing how Baclofen works for you. And as always, I am wishing you nothing but the best in defeating this thing. As others have said, no one is more deserving of beating this thing than you.

My best,

Nick

Virgil · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:17 am

Hi Folks,

I've been taking baclofen for just a week. During that time, I have been very slowly ramping up my daily dose. I don't have a great deal to report other than to say that baclofen is making me tired and sleepy - particularly when combined with alcohol during evenings. So much so that I have now fallen asleep twice when listening to music at around 10:00 pm. And I'm sleeping late on a morning, which is a nuisance. The duration of daylight is short enough as it is. To be precise, UK sunrise to sunset is currently less than eight hours. So, if I sleep beyond 8:00 am, I lose valuable daylight. I'm not going to disclose what time I awoke today as I am too embarrassed to say. :oops:

So, that's it for the moment.

V.

Lo0p · **Joined:** Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:40 pm **Posts:** 749

I must be having some kind of a paradoxical reaction. That stuff turns me into an insomniac...but a 'sober' insomniac.

Virgil · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:57 pm

Lo0p wrote:

I must be having some kind of a paradoxical reaction. That stuff turns me into an insomniac...but a 'sober' insomniac.

Lo0p,

Isn't it crazy/annoying/frustrating/confusing/irritating/angering/depressing etc. how one medication has such differing effects on individuals? The pharmaceutical industry has so much to learn. I have very little confidence in medications - whether they be for anxiety, alcoholism, mood disorders or anything else for that matter. As far as I'm concerned, medications are a lottery. And I've tried so many of them. Over the years, I must have tried fifteen different medications for one reason or another - most of which failed me! Needless to say, I keep a (very) open mind about baclofen!

My best,

V.

Jim Clark · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:09 pm

Virgil,

I am so interested in your journey with the Baclofen. Don;t worry about sleeping. The other day I slept til 4 PM the sun was almost down. That was depressing!

I was going to post here my shjrink experience today but realized that's hijacking!

Good luck Virgil, I am praying for you, Best, Jim

Virgil · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:29 am

K1, corkit, Nick, Lo0p & Jim,

Many thanks for your feedback, comments and kind words. As always, they are greatly appreciated.

Good wishes to you all!

V.

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