Hey all-
I just received my naltrexone in the mail last week and started taking it last monday. Right now I am working on some projects during the week with close friends out in the woods (building a cabin), so I was curious how starting this process out would be outside of my home. Monday night we had a big bbq and I drank noticeably slower and did something I normally never would do; brought water to the table to drink with dinner. Towards the end of the night I did something else I would never do, poured out half a beer. Later in the night I thought I should keep drinking to follow the method and had a final beer while still level headed. I gotta say, the experience from the first night leaves me feeling really excited while still trying to be realistic about the whole process that I am going to go through. Tuesday and wednesday nights were social dinners as well and each night I found myself drinking one less beer than the previous night. Thursday I didn't feel inclined to drink at all so I gave it a rest. I think this is the first time since my early 20's that I did not drink without feeling like I was "forcing" myself to do that. Friday night was another big social dinner. Lots of beers, mixed drinks, fish, steak, salads etc. I had a shot of whisky and a handful of beers. After the first three drinks I felt a little zonked out and at the end of the night I was just tired.

Overall- I am definitely not reacting to alcohol the way I used to. I felt a like a stoner complaining about his pipe , "It's not smoking right", cause each beer I drank did not give me the high I was used to instead I felt the fullness in my stomach and a spacy tiredness.

I am going to only have access to the computer once a week for the rest of the summer but I will post weekly updates and try to include some of my thoughts/experiences.

Pre TSM 50-80 units a week, daily drinking with binging on weekends
Mon 6/20: ~6
Tue 6/21: 5
Wen 6/22: 4
Thur6/23: 0
Fri 6/24: 6
Sat 6/25: 4

A fantastic start, Phil!!

My experience was quite similar and I naively thought that I was "cured" after a week or so. I couldn't believe how quickly I could take or leave alcohol. That's called "the honeymoon" and it almost assuredly won't last. Soon you will be drinking at closer to old levels, but do not despair: virtually no one on this board has had a big honeymoon only to conclude that TSM does not work.

Congratulations. Now strap yourself in for the roller coaster.

I have been on the road for the last two weeks so haven't been taking note of my consumption. I realize I need to in order to be able to gauge my progress, but I am just happy overall that I have a restrained desire to consume alcohol. The last two weeks I have had 2-3 AF days ( I used to have maybe 1 or 2 a month) and on average had 5 units of beer on the nights I did drink. Only concerns so far is the drastically reduced appetite for food I am experiencing while/morning after Nal. Hopefully this will fade a way or I will just need to have more AF days per week.

Last night I tried to drink down two 24 ouncers of strong craft brew. Pre-TSM this is what I would put down on a "normal" night, i.e. not binging. I got through the first 3/4 of the first bottle just fine, was a little turned off by it being warmed when I finished it. I opened the second bottle and took a slug and was overcome by a wave of nausea. It was a feeling similar to times I knew I had drank beyond my bodies capacity, like if I were to do a shot after drinking way too much already. Nick, I am definitely feeling like I could take or leave alcohol right now. The 3 AF days I had this last week came with no planning or discomfort. I feel like keeping the AF days in my weekly schedule will be key to achieving extinction sooner rather than returning to the daily drinking schedule I had pre-TSM.

This is great news. Your title says it all. You are well on your way to extinction. Congratulations!

Ah yes the wave of nausea, I know it well But looking forward to AF days and not being obsessed with drinking...all great signs phil!
EL

Welcome Phil

You are off to a great start & as Nick said, the honeymoon bodes well for long term success. Be prepared for the roller coaster ride though!

Cheers
Sticky

Thanks everyone for your comments.
I have spent the last 3 days alone watching a friends property out in the woods. Just me and some dogs, goats and chickens doing some maintenance on the cabin here. I have fallen into a minor depression over the last couple of days and I think its just a reaction to the last couple months of running nonstop with no breaks and lots of stress. Normally in this situation; depressed, no schedule, alone, equals lots of drinking. I did drink 7 units two nights and AF one of the other days. This is a remarkable improvement because before Nal I would have drank 15+ the first night and then started drinking throughout the days following. Overall my numbers are the highest this week so far in my Naltrexone treatment, so I am guessing the "honeymoon" is wearing off. Im aware that my numbers may reach pre-TSM levels as far as units per night but I am going to keep doing at least 2 AF days a week. At this point I feel like it will be no problem doing a couple AF days a week.

Is there anyone out there that went from daily drinking to a couple AF days a week with no problem?

Anyways I have noticed my hangover is more pronounced at lower units. The most I have drank in one night so far is ~8 units which pre-TSM binging for me was around ~18+ units. Having pretty crappy hangovers at 7-8 units now is a bit of a deterrent to returning to the higher binging levels. My appetite stills seems a little screwed up, I haven't been eating as much the evenings I take NAL and there is a slight effect the following day... Hopefully this will go away, cause I love to eat!

I am really looking forward to next semester in school having my drinking more in check. I am studying environmental engineering and have been taking all my upper division coursework. Even though I did well I know I hindered myself from all the drinking and self induced stress.

I wish everyone the best, keep following the golden rule! Keep exploring new ways to express your growing freedom from Alcohol!!

Best,
Phil

My only advice is that you avoid the ADS (alc. deprivation syndrome). It tends to make you snap back and drink more than usual. But trying AF days is important, we are often surprised how easy they can be. Go for it but don't beat yourself up if you decide to pop a Nal and have a drink. You are on your way, it will happen for you. It just takes time.