Hi EL - just wanted to quickly chime in with the others and congratulate you for striking out on your own. Good luck out there!

-H

Weekly recap time here: 24. A pretty high number for me, but not really considering the circumstances: best friend's 30th birthday party in New Orleans (three day weekend affair). I am pleased to report that at no point in NoLa was I out of control or completely hooked on craving more booze. I did drink too much one night and have a wicked hangover the next morning/afternoon, but it wasn't the end of the world. I fit in with my relatively moderate friends (we were by no means the "surly" crowd as Hesster would say Listened to a lot of amazing music, smoked cigarettes, ate WAY too much food, and generally nursed bourbon the whole three days. Now, back to exercise and a reasonable amount of food and booze So not too worried about that number despite being my highest in a while. I've already had two AF days in a row since coming back and gone for some runs, so feeling good.
The one negative thing I have been noticing is that my nal hangovers are becoming increasingly crippling - not just physically, but they tend to create great social anxiety in me, and I can't even seem to drink through them like I might have in the past :/ so this makes multi-day social affairs a big anxiety source....it's like one night with nal and more than 4, 5 drinks tops just STRIPS me of good feelings and the ability to be fun socially

Hi there, EL - sounds like an awesome trip.

The fact that you survived New Orleans without any surly times is something you should be very proud of. I hope you got off the main strip and got to spend some time on Frenchman and Magazine.

Have these post-drinking social anxiety bouts gotten progressively worse during your treatment? I'd encourage you to look at these as negative reinforcement, but that really sucks when you want to have a few saucy days back-to-back. I'm not sure what your medication history looks like, but is it possible that your tolerance has reduced to the point that a big night of boozing tips your depressant scale too far, and any uppers/mood-elevators you take can no longer adequately compensate?

I really hope this is just a temporary thing, as Nal has already put you through the gauntlet of side effects.

Great to hear from you!

-H

Hello. Just wanted to say thanks for all your help!

Hey EL

New Orleans - wow! Another place I'd love to see one day.... Sorry about my drunken whinge on Chrissie's thread about feeling OLD - that was the alcohol talking and it was getting me down that night. I guess you can relate to that! My age doesn't normally get me down. I know I don't look 50, thanks to being slim. dressing young, having a facelift and liking exercising.

I guess you can relate to that feeling down after almost as long as me on this board/medication? Alcohol in largish quantities definitely negates the effects of antidepressants. Not sure if you take those, but definitely relate to much in your posts.

How's your business going? Perhaps I might have some words of wisdom there, having being self-employed with hubby for 13 1/2 years now.

And how's the bf? Still as supportive as ever I hope?

When's the wedding in Oz? Would love you to come stay on your way there/home. Or I could maybe use it as an excuse to go to Melbourne - I have 2 good friends there and one of them flew out to NZ for my 50th.

All the best
Sticky

EL: Amazing report from New Orleans, the land of the wasted. How I love that town (off B street). Have spent a lot of wonderful time there.

Bummer about the hangovers. Seems like your body is getting to a pre-booze kind of state: the kind of day-after a 13 year old would have if she had consumed that much.

This nal stuff has always been a physical challenge for you. And I've admired your strength in keeping with it.

EL, you are the best, coming in & catching up w/ everyone despite your being so very busy...some of us have been trying to take up some of the slack, welcoming newbies (progress! I'm no longer a newbie!), but I realize it's really hard to catch & greet everyone. Just keeping up w/ the Weekly thread is about all I can do. I really wish there weren't so many threads to "monitor", and sheesh! we only have 1,100 members or so.

But enough about that: I loved hearing about your (moderate) adventures in New Orleans recently. You're right, 24 is a wonderful #, after a party weekend like that. Have your friends commented on your being more of a light weight these days? Are many of your friends aware of your TSM journey? Keep up the good work, girl.

Chrissie

ElectraLou, Your Nal side effects sound horrendous! The upside is that you seem to have been really successful reducing your intake to "normal" amounts. Bummer that there has to be that trade off. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

Hey el. I've been off the board a bit but have checked in periodically to see how everyone is doing. Sounds like you are doing great! Good job conquering Nola. Sorry about the nalovers though. I guess you are getting some negative reinforcement but it does not sound fun!! Glad you are doing well in general though.

-pp

Howdy all, weekly update time, a day or so late Only 13 units for my post-NoLa week, and well, that's fabulous! I actually even did have a big night of drinking and a hangover in there, so it's not actually my ideal week (I think I'd be ok with the same number of units per week, but spread out a bit more, in general). I wanted to cut down a lot after a heavy boozing weekend, and I did. I wanted to party on Friday night (it was a special occasion) and I did. That's the amazing part. I've noticed that recently, I don't drink more than I plan to. If I tell myself 3 drinks I almost always have 3 drinks. Sometimes I don't plan a specific number of drinks, because I know I want to have fun and let loose. And I think that's ok, especially since my worst consequences these days are terrible hangovers w/puking. I mean, not great, but not blacking out or violence or embarrassing behaviour or anything like that!
I feel like I'm hovering on the edge of cured but am not entirely sure I will ever feel comfortable calling myself that, for the simple reason that I don't think I will end up being indifferent to alcohol. I LIKE drinking. I think maybe because I started addressing my problem early on, I caught it when I could still salvage the good without just giving up alcohol entirely? I'm not sure. I just feel like I will always enjoy drinking and have it on my mind in some way - just not a compulsive, world-dominating way. I suspect I might occasionally put away a bit too much, especially as I struggle to deal with nal side effects and changing tolerance levels. But I guess what I'm saying is...I'm ok with that. I haven't felt the crushing despair of the vicious cycle of drinking in months, just occasional frustration with myself for being hungover and not being able to fully enjoy a day here and there. The worst thing that happens from drinking these days is occasionally missing a social engagement, or forcing myself to go to one when I am hungover. In the scheme of things....I think that's all right
EL