I think I finally understand the protocol of these message boards to start a thread that tracks my progress.

PreTSM 77 to 84 units (US) avg. 11-12/night
So Far: 9,4,5,5 (avg. 5.75/night)

Thursday, Oct. 28
I saw my MD yesterday. Despite being well-armed with Sinclair’s paper, numerous studies, and the Newsweek article. But he refused to entertain it. Instead he referred me to a specialty clinic. I may or may not follow up there. That he would not listen was quite disappointing. Fortunately I had a back up plan and my twenty days of Nal arrived in the mail on the same day. I started with half (25mg). I experienced no side effects. The alcohol tasted subtly different, both beer and vodka. I had been abstinent the day before in preparation for blood/liver tests (which I did get). I typically drink a pint or more of straight vodka a night. I don’t get so drunk that it is obvious that I am drinking (tolerance) and I rarely ever experience hang overs. Anyway, after only one half dose I did not finish my pint. I left about two units in the bottle without effort. I think I’ll take a full dose tonight. Cheers!

Later:
I experienced about ten minutes of mild nausea Thursday afternoon. So I decided to take a half pill again on this night. I had a few drinks with a friend over a few hours since I had to drive. (Units = <1/2 pt. Liquor. Craving very low (1).) No desire to continue drinking. I usually come home and finish up with beer. No Need. Slight sleeplessness last night. Got up extra early today. I enjoyed feeling in control of drinks last night. I read that it is typical to get off to a quick start: drastic reduction at the start of TSM protocol. I decided to quit using the gym for the first week or two of my new regimen. Once I string some AF days together, I’ll return to my normal exercise. For now, I am going to walk and do brief workouts at home. Feeling very optimistic. I have gained about 8 pounds this past year, despite 6/day week typical exercise. In the short-run, I’ll watch my calorie intake. Since I have had such an immediate response to 25mg, I will stay with that dose tonight.

Oct 29 and 30 were mirrors of each other:
Still on 25mg. Had 2 shots of vodka after Nal and then nursed two high powered <10oz glasses of beer for the rest of the night. If last night, I felt more like I really couldn’t drink any more and would have to force myself, tonight I seemed to have had even more of a choice. My choice was “never-mind” and I went to bed. My drinking is already half of my usual amount and I am looking forward to AF days. I used to white knuckle a few out every week up till just a few months ago. Only side effects of Nal are some loss of appetite and mild insomnia, but its worth it….I’ll sleep when I am…..Sober. Then again, these symptom could possibly be mild Alc withdrawal.
I don’t get intoxicated on the amount of alcohol I am drinking now, but I catch a warm buzz minus all the craving. I plan to finish the week on 25mg and perhaps try an Alc free day next week. I appreciated what one member noticed about the tipping point of our compulsion to drink: He theorized that where perhaps at first our tipping-point of loosing control of our drinking was one or two drinks, on NAL the tipping point is still there but is raised much higher, perhaps as much as six or more. I read this on the excellent thread of Firebird. See:
http://www.thesinclairmethod.net/commun ... f=17&t=273

Anyone else have success on 25mg Nal? I think I read that Jim Clark is doing this. (I'm not advocating it, I am more or less saving it, if I can, for the predictable bounce up after an apparently typical honey-moon period.)

Hey digetic, looks like you're responding really well to the nal. I definitely had a honeymoon period and my units increased after the first week, but there are also many members whose honeymoon never went away and they saw steady decreases week after week. Good luck to you and be warned that it may be a bumpy ride.

Welcome digetic! I agree with Tambo, I've scoured through most of the forums and one thing that stands out is how different it is for everyone. I keep recalling a piece of advice someone gave me (ironically) at an AA meeting: "Don't let anyone try to tell you how your recovery is supposed to go." At the time I was nearing rock bottom with my disillusionment of AA with everyone else I met doing just that (telling me what I should be doing) especially after I kept showing up to meetings and confessing to yet another relapse, and I felt so much better after hearing that. TSM is different for everyone, we all have different physical, emotional, and biological reactions to it so you just keep doing what is working for you. The site is a tremendous source of non-judgmental support and information.

I hope this is the right way to add to my thread. If not someone please let me know?

Oct 31

Halloween: I planned my drinking. I had < 20 oz of fortified beer in the fridge and poured out < 100ml of vodka into a separate flask. I watched the Steeler’s game and World Series without a drink—not typically my triggers. Just before diner I drank the vodka in one or two gulps (normally chug half-pint). I then nursed the remaining beer over two hours. I had no cravings for more and did not beat myself up for not drinking less. Since my pre-TSM units were so high, I had been somewhat concerned about withdrawal symptoms (as you can tell from my other anxious posting). But now that I have strung together 5 radically reduced days, I think I’m out of those worried woods. I caught a warm buzz, tired, and went to bed before 10:00. I fell asleep immediately, but woke a number of times in the night thinking that I had already had a goodnight sleep. Ha, I had four hours Six hours till sunrise, woke again at Four, then Two. I was eager to start the day. Now, I continue to read the trail blazers’ threads (now reading Bob3d)--- Real strugles, very inspiring. My plan for tonight is to reduce by one unit, but I’m not making any promises. I’ll work with the Nal and not too far ahead of it. I am still only taking 25mg of Nal.
Thankful for this board, the history, the current struggles, and the welcoming support of StJude and Tambo.

Looks like a good start digetic. I'm glad you are seeing some quick reductions in numbers. It is a kinder, gentler detox than cold turkey. Keep posting and welcome.

Oct. 1 Had three units of hard liquor. No desire to drink more. Very strange.
Oct 2. Had a two shots of vodka and then nursed < 10oz glass of beer while reading no less! I am a avid reader but I never read when I am in a drinking/party mode. By the end of the glass of beer I thought it tasted soapy. Perhaps the glass was not rinsed out prior to the pour. Not likely, I did not notice it until the bottom of the glass. The control I feel over my drinking is the most amazing experience. I still seem to have a very low tolerance for Alc. I get a nice warm satisfying buzz. Very unusual. I share a commonality with most here: if I drink one, I drink three; if I drink six then its eight, and if eight, I loose count.
This is the last day of my first week (9, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, x). I have passed through my concerns with withdrawal (Pre TSM 77-90u/week). Although I am still sleeping lightly and less, I am not uncomfortable and I have plenty of energy for the next day. I also find myself thinking about the misguided way the medical profession treats heavy drinkers. If one admit one has a problem one is encouraged to relinquish your freedom, supplicate yourself before a Supreme Being (however you conceive him), and admit that you are a flawed human being because of your sinful enjoyment of alcohol. (Enjoyment?!). Is this not a scandal? This atavism of Puritanistic thought covers-up and hides the ignorance of our flawed general view of addiction. How can one not feel outraged? . (My Doc would not even look at the info on TSM.) It was only when I read about TSM that I finally admitted that I might just need help in stopping. I would have never broached the issue with my doc if I thought he would prescribe traditional AA or lock-up rehab. I would die first, as many do. (Of course it is easy to say that I had not reached my bottom yet, that's likely true) I am sure there are so many who could benefit from TSM that have not yet heard about it. The ethos of the current treatment model is antithetical to TSM. Think about it: Can a physician in good conscience actually bring him/herself to prescribe a ‘drug’ to an addict and then encourage him/her to use his/her drug of choice (alcohol)? (Think of the faith he/she would need to have in order to overcome the threat of medical liability!) To the current medical/rehab establishment TSM is blasphemy; it is just as unthinkable/illogical as Einstein's notion of curved space is to Newton’s plane geometry. The shift in treatment paradigm may come slowly to the tipping-point and from outside these established opinions about addiction. (Sorry to get on my band-wagon here, but since I’m not going back on the water-wagon any time soon, I have room to rant).
Wednesdays, the last day of my first week, is a trigger day for me. It’s one of the days of the week that I have typically allowed myself to drink as much as I want. Funny I don't feel so inclined. So instead of engaging in the activity that I typically do on Wednesdays, I'm following the gospel of St Vincent and Saint Jude and I’m off to the gym tonight for the first time in a week. Perhaps I’ll have a beer or two when I get home, I suspect. Or perhaps not.
Honeymoon? Still on 25mg.
Pre-TSM: 77-90u (USA) craving 8
Wk1: 9, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, x craving 2

St Jude needs to follow her own gospel and get her ass to the gym



I'm totally in agreement with you. I have an excellent Primary doc whom I had such respect and regard for prior to going to her with TSM. I told her how much I'd been drinking, all that I'd done to try to stop (rehab, AA, etc), and that I felt I was helplessly and hopelessly drinking myself to death, and she basically could do nothing for me. I got the sense that her hands were really tied. Even the addiction psychiatrist who I'm seeing now who is wonderful and supports TSM can only see me monthly as part of an outpatient rehab program that also requires 2xs weekly group therapy and is abstinence based. I have an appt with him on Tuesday and I'm going to tell him thanks for his attempts to help, but I'll just order the NAL on my own. I feel for the first time that I have the confidence and ability to tackle this on my own...also this site helps a lot!

The honeymoon ended for me Friday night. After an initial 70% drop in my usual drinking habits, I drank at least six units. I started up on my 50mg and this new protocol did nothing to extend my honeymoon period. I also drank at least six units the next night. The compulsion to drink was back. It was such a stark difference from the first eight days on Nal. It is so easy to see how one can initially believe one is among the chosen ones, "Nal is going to work immediately for me", only to be disappointed when it ostensibly stops working. No wonder people drop out without support of others who know the ups and downs. Speaking of which, I had an AF day on Sunday. Not because I drank too much for two days (still drank less than usual), but because I did not want to drink, i.e., no craving. That's a bit odd too. I kept waiting for it. Monday night football tonight.

Sounds like you're following the classic curve. That mirrors my experience almost exactly, with a spike followed by a long, slow reduction. Or it was until I began forgetting to take my Naltrexone, which is why I'm rededicating myself to TSM as of today.

Pre-TSM: 77-90 units USA
Week 1: 9,4,5,5,3,3,3 (Total: 32u)
Week 2: 3,6,6,7,4,AF,5 (Total: 31u)