Hello,
I'm excited and anxious to begin taking Nal and using TSM this evening. I found this site early in July, did much research, found a doctor to prescribe Nal, and I've been holding it until today. My stats: I'm a 55 yr. old married female, always in good health. I went through a 5 year period of abstinence through AA in 1992. After my second divorce, I regressed back into a pattern of drinking and the volume has slowly increased over the past 6 years. I retired 9 months ago, finding myself increasingly bored, depressed and of course, drinking more. I wanted to gain control again.

I waited until today because ironically, my husband and I traveled last week to Napa (wine country), then attended a wedding in San Francisco. I wanted to be at 'home base' to experience this new transition for the first time. Unfortunately, during my travels, I also came down with a case of shingles. Side note: those of you 50+ should look into the vaccine. This virus is pretty serious. Five days into it and I'm beginning to get some relief via meds and some home remedies!

I will begin Nal this evening and keep track of my progress on this site....thank you for all the support and good information.

LEV


Pre TSM: avg. 65u/wk.

Posting mainly for my own purpose of 'journaling'. Yesterday was a particularly low day. Coming back from a week vacation where I came down with shingles. Yesterday was my husband's birthday, and he had a bad day at work, and didn't come home til late from a business dinner. I'm still suffering with pain and fatigue from shingles. My daughter is insensitive and I got turned down for a job.

I had planned to begin Nal, and was anxious all day. I took 25 mg at 4:15, waited an hour, then popped open a beer. I began to feel a little 'high' even before I drank the first beer; and while it didn't taste great, I had no trouble getting thru it, then another. As the night went on, I became more depressed and opened up a bottle of white wine. I also made sure to eat, so I wasn't consuming the wine as quickly as I normally would. Two glasses later, my husband came home and we talked. He's really supportive, but was agitated when I told him I don't like the way I feel when I drink. He's a big beer drinker and is unaware of my Nal and TSM approach.

I'm thankful for this site as an outlet to talk, and receive support.

Lev,

Welcome to the forum and congrats on starting the TSM journey.

Journaling is a great way to reflect on TSM and a good outlet for frustrations. I find it very helpful as well.

I'd ramp up your NAL to 50mg and see how you feel. There is very little, if any, evidence that 25mg of NAL gives us the proper protection for TSM to work. The only reason to start with 25mg is if the side effects are too much for you to handle and you need to ramp up the dose to let your body adjust.

The biggest bit of advice I can give is to be patient. TSM takes time to work -- it seems like ages. The first couple months can be the most frustrating because it can feel like it isn't working, especially when your drinking levels are up where yours and mine were pre-TSM. Once those levels drop below 30u/week, it feels like someone flipped a switch (about 4 months out for me). This is when you start to really feel like TSM is working.

Good luck and keep posting!

Q

Thanks for the note, Q. I took another 25 mg last night before opening my bottle of red wine (which I normally finish before the night is over). I have not experienced any of the side effects (yet) that others talk about with Nal. I also did not finish the bottle, but I'm not sure if it's the Nal (unlikely), or the fact that I'm still suffering with shingles and am generally under the weather. Either way, I'm happy for the current results.

Your words [TSM takes time to work -- it seems like ages] are ringing profoundly with me this morning. I must keep in mind that this is, in fact, a journey and to look at the big picture and stop focusing on each episode.

Please tell me what your craving numbers represent; and thanks again for the support.

Lev

Started Nal: August 6, 2012
Pre TSM: avg. 65u/wk.

I like the subject title of your post here, Lev. I have felt the same way, with a lot of hope for the Nal to work. I'm about two weeks ahead of you in my own "journey". Q's comments I think are right-on....there seems to be a lot of wisdom in his (?) words and experience. My experience with my beer has been similar to yours with the wine. For me now, once I've had three (full 18 oz pints) I have trouble getting through the 4th....and that's only after close to 3 weeks now on the Nal!

Sorry about your shingles condition. I've had it once....and hope to never have it again! I'll have to look into the vaccine.....

As for the booze, keep listening to people like Q.....hang in there and keep on keeping on, in your own personal Naltrexone/TSM journey! Think of all the years you have been drinking....and now imagine all of that time being reversed in 3-6-8-10...so what if it takes a year! It's a movement in the right direction, with a very hopeful and bright future don't you think?

Take care.
Dab

First full week is considered a success, but didn't take Nal everyday with alcohol. I continue to credit (or blame) my decreased consumption recently on the shingles virus, which is also diminishing...slowly.

I know it's important to take Nal everytime I drink, but I'm also curious if it works on a cumulative basis?

Lev



Pre-TSM: 65 u/week
First week: 53 u, no AF days, 2 days no Nal.

Hi Lev, NO naltrexone does not work on a cumulative system. So you will have to get into the good habit of taking it every darned time you even think you will drink. Once you make a little effort it will become a habit. Keep a tablet in your purse just in case you're out for lunch or dinner and tempted to have a drink you didn't expect you would.

Good luck and don't become discouraged - this system will work for you. Just watch for the little signs that you don't really feel like a drink and when they come grab them and have an alcohol free day - listening to these little subtle messages are the way you can push a bit when you feel no progress.

Thanks, Revert, for the response and information. Yes, I will have to carry some Nal in my purse! I seem to be doing a little better, but don't want to fall into a false sense of security. I do feel better, and a bit more empowered having the Nal.

Lev

Pre-TSM: 65 u/week
First week: 53 u, no AF days, 2 days no Nal.
Week 2: 50 u, no AF days, 3 days no Nal.

The shingles virus is still lingering, leaving me with skin sensitivity and chronic itching on my stomach and lower back. However, I am feeling better. This past week I had a vodka drink which was the first time in many months. I went on to consume several more glasses of wine......yuck.

Pre-TSM: 65 u/week
First week: 53 u, no AF days, 2 days no Nal.
Week 2: 50 u, no AF days, 3 days no Nal.
Week 3: 50 u, no AF days.

Lev, if I am reading your signature correctly, you are having 0 alcohol free days per week, which means you are drinking every day. And 2 or 3 of those drinking days you are not taking any Nal, is that correct??? I hope not, because of course you must know that in order for TSM to really work it's magic (the extinction process) you have to take the Nal at least an hour before--EACH and EVERY time that you drink alcohol.

Please correct me if I'm mistaken in reading your signature.
Thanks! Take care.