OK,first week..Well Joe12 pack,u were right,Roller coaster is a good word..I had a very cool honeymoon the first 3 days..My consumption and craving reduced so much,I thought I was cured.Hahaha..Anyways,Im back up there..I cant seem to figure out this tracking thing..Im not gonna frustrate myself with it..What I was doing before tsm was drinking around the clock, as I could not sleep..I do not like being drunk,I was just keeping off the withdrawls..So I would say i was drinking 24-30 beers a day..My first 3 days on nal I was able to keep it to a 6 pack or less and was extatic..Day four was about a 12 pack..And the same or less the last couple of days..But,I dont know,its different somehow..I have hope.That is something I haven't had in years..My only hope has been white knuckling in Aa rooms,waiting for the next relapse into hell..Oh well,I have really enjoyed,and will continue to do so,reading this forum..I saw my psychologist today and talked her into letting me try this..She's gonna keep me out of group and 12 step therapy..Whew!! She is also gonna keep writing scripts for nal..and get me some anti anxiety meds..When I get the drinking under control she would like to try some ssri meds..Well,thats all folks..For the record,I have some other pretty serious life issues going on that has nothing to do with drinking..I self medicate is what I am saying..I don't know if that makes me an alcoholic or not..I never really fit in at AA..But I am definately addicted to alcohol..In my mind that makes me an alcoholic..Not a bad man..Hence the name..Goodmanonce

Hi and welcome,

I dont know a lot about this but there is some evidence as far as I am aware that anti anxiety meds like valium and xanax have an effect on the efficiency of naltraxone. Have a look around the board because as I said I dont know a whole lot about it.

Mario

goodmanonce,

I completely understand. I first week was great. My second week was much higher. But, so far my third week has been very mild. It almost doesn't feel like me. I'm glad this board has given me a realistic perspective so I stick it out. Good luck!! BTDT

Lookin good! Yeah, I've definitely read that benzos ie: valium,zanax, klonopin and the like, can hinder TSM success. SSRI's however are no known to affect it.

as far as tracking...you just gave a synopsis of your units in your post. that's tracking. just write it down every day. doesnt have to be exact. but it helps to see the progress. I recommend buying the book if you haven't already. and I would search "benzos" on this forum. There's a thread on here somewhere entitled "the benzo bunch" ahhhh here it is. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=439&hilit=the+benzo+bunch

plenty to watch out for with the benzos. those are some of the most addictive substances known to man anyway so I'd be careful. harder to kick than opiates or coke or anything physically. You got to wean off em. ironically, they give them to many alcoholics to "detox" in 12 step treatment centers everywhere. no need for that foolishness with TSM

keep it up!!!!!

thanks all for the replys..You have been very helpful..I am getting very frustrated with this board though..Please check out my posts on the general discussion thread..I am at work,not drunk..I am having trouble understanding what this board is and also am not very computer literate..And for this I get accused of lurking and being drunk??I don't know..Im getting enough resistance from friends,family and doctors..I actually started drinking again to give this a try..Im just trying to do this right, as i have alot on the line..I got the book and read it.I have not taken a drink unless I took a pill first..I'm just having a hard time navigating the board and knowing where and where not to post..Oh well,I started this and so I will finish..Have a good day or night..Whatever..Thanks again.

I'm gonna post about your question in the general discussion section but it looks like you're doing fine to me.

Hi all..Today marks my second week doing tsm..I dont know how to rename this thread,so im gonna just use this as my weekly progress report..To those who have been reading my posts..I suppose u have noticed my confusion..That is mostly lack of internet knowledge,Im learning..Ill get there..I think I may need to get a laptop or something..Im doing this from my cell phone..Anyways,I am pleased with my progress..Friday was supposed to be af,turned into 18 beers and puking saturday morning..I was able to keep it to 6 beers saturday..I worked nights saturday,sunday,monday and tuesday..I drank a 6 pack each morning after work..That is about half of what I normally consume..No effort really..I just made sure to take my pill an hour before I got out of work..Wed.was my day off..So this is where I get confused..I drank 6 beers in the morning and went to bed for 6 hours..Got up around 3pm and wanted to drink..Is this a new session??I dont know but I took another pill just to be safe and ended up drinking another 8 beers and went to bed at around 2am..Today,no craving,no beer yet..So if my math is correct, thats 56 beers for the week,down from in excess of 100..Mostly what I notice is a sense of control and a better ability to sleep..Night shifts are making it hard to track daily consumption..But when I do drink its different..The beast is not there..Hope it stays gone..Af days are gonna have to wait..That turned into my only real binge this week..Oh well,I think im gonna take a week off of posting..But I will be reading and look forward to readin everyones progress..Have a good week all...Goodman

This is great progress GMO, a 44% reduction is great. You wouldn't want to go from 100 beers a week to zero anyway as most people's bodies would rebel at such an abrupt removal of alcohol. It's great you are reading the book. One of the things you'll read about is the alcohol deprivation effect which explains why we drink so much after we try to abstain from alcohol.

You're doing great. Yeah Eskapa said after 10 hours to take another Nal so you did the right thing. I bet a cell phone is a hard way to do this stuff. I still don't have intrawebs on my phone.

looks like it's working. don't fret the binge night. it's part of the trip. and don't be surprised of the numbers spike up. they should go down again. rollercoaster

Hi all,I just completed 3 weeks on tsm..No benders,no binges..62 beers total.Still way more than I want to be drinking..What I have been noticing though,is I am satisfied with 2-4 beers on any occasion but I am purchasing larger amounts out of habit..Then I drink whatever is on hand,again out of habit, just because its there..That mad desire to run out and get more is gone.And I am unable to blot out and escape,no matter how much I drink..This is a good thing for me as it is forcing me to find other ways of dealing with lifes problems..Like actually dealing with them,hahaha..Last night I was out of town on buisness,alone in a hotel room..I could have drank as much as I wanted..I puchased a six pack and only drank 5..I admit, there was the thought of getting more but it passed quickly..I realised what I really wanted was to go to bed..So I did..This is huge for me!! Unheard of really..One other thing,absolutely no side effects from the nal this week..My goal this week is to purchase less al,and only drink what I really want to..I dont believe that is applying will power..Just want to test myself and see where I really am with the addiction..And of course I will not drink without taking nal first..Have a good week all and good luck..Goodman Oh yeh,one other thing..No withdrawl symptoms this morning and no desire to drink..Also unheard of for me after only 5 beers last night..Not quite sure what that means? But I like it,Ya know?? Wow!! Coffee in the morning instead of beer..Who is this guy? hahaha!!