Howdy,

I've been updating progress in the Introduction section (post is called "5th day Nal noob checking in") so I thought I'd finally move on over here.

I just started week six and continue to be amazed. I am a TSM advocate, but I am also going to a wellness MD and some addiction counseling for some structure and guidance. None of that is required to succeed with Nal and the protocol of course. I am taking supplements to help the brain heal as the neurotransmitters start to fire again unaided by alcohol, along with making strides with nutrition and exercise. I take a vitamin D/K supplement, a clinical Omega 3 tablet and a clinical probiotic supplement. I learned that besides the brain, the gut has a ton of neurotransmitters. Who knew? Anyway, the center of my wellness protocol is of course Naltrexone. Without this I'd still be the binging drunk doing push-ups and choking down oatmeal with a hangover thinking I am doing my body good - totally obsessed with self improvement as long as it didn't mean I had to quit drinking. I am also a long time in-and-out-of-AA guy (now recovering from AA) and I'm starting to form strong resentments at the whole movement and the years I spent spinning around in uncomfortable patterns of futility. This is not really the forum for that conversation though.

Here are the numbers so far:

Pre Nal: 25+ year heavy drinker, binger, hider.
55-60 drinks per week for the past few years.

I use "Rethinking Drinking" online calculator.

Week 1: 50.4
Week 2: 24.2
Week 3: 22.6
Week 4: 12.6, 2xAF
Week 5: 3.9, 5xAF

I was taking to my counselor about my experience so far and it occurred to me that this exact five week progression would be viewed as utter failure in AA. I would have three days sober, and cleaning ashtrays outside meetings as the terminal "new guy" who just can't get it. To hell with that. I feel the best I have felt in years physically, mentally, and with a strange wonderful feeling of hope and impending good. So far this experience is affecting me like nothing I have ever experienced in my long battle with alcohol. And I have battled.

Good luck. Hang in there.

Cheers!

@triplab

Great progress within a short period of time! Don't mind what other people believe and say. You are on the road to something great that they can't possible fathom anyways: To be cured!

Applause!

GOOD !!

Ok, here we go. First real bump in the road. Mid week six. Last week I went 5xAF, 3.9 total drinks, and feeling confident coming down from 60/wk seven weeks ago. Over the weekend though I started drinking on purpose while watching the World Series and football, and it has
progressed each night. It doesn't feel the same as pre-Nal, but as I read someone else describe it - it doesn't feel bad either. My hope is that this is another necessary event toward extinction. Maybe my old habit is getting desperate and taking a few last swings at me. Because it's late Monday night where I am and I have no reason to be drinking, but I did. And then I smoked a little weed to put the brakes on at five. These are the kind of decisions I felt I was gaining control over. Perhaps I am rushing things or expectations too high.

Week 6 so far...

10/23 - AF
10/24 - AF
10/25- 2.4
10/26 - 3.6
10/27 - 4.7

Cheers!

Hi triplab

I'm starting wk4 and I initially dropped from 70 pre TSM. To circa 50 in my first 3 weeks. However I have stayed there since. You will see my progress posted later today.

I have been following your progress with some awe as you are doing so well, I wouldn't worry if there are some bumps along the journey, your progress speaks for it's self.

My experience to date is that my drinking is certainly down regards to pre TSM, however drinking doesn't feel bad (it's a little blander than before I started TSM) but I am able to stop earlier in the evenings now, not least because I get much more tired than I use to.

The question is how much effort one puts in to either reduce number of drinks per session or force AF days. I know I could do both but from what I've read it's Not Necessary.

Certainly AF days in my case are not coming naturally at the moment.

You are doing so much more than just TSM that must be all good.

So as Ive read here a thousand times, give yourself a break my friend you are closer than you may think to that wonderful moment you can call "CURED"

Very informative posts triplab, thanks, and way to go on your progress!!

Very nice triplab. Excellent execution. You have a great handle on what's happening, be patient. Remember.... you have to drink for the extinction process to work. It's encouraged rather than imposing af days when the nal hasn't had enough time to work. Stay the course, let the nal do its thing. You will behold a miracle. Applause!

That is a real thing. They're called "extinction bursts" in the lingo. Some people found their consumption above pre-TSM levels, from a combination of the burst and finally having permission to drink.

They pass.

This board may be sparsely populated at times, but folks seems to be there when you need them. I think of it like a community of folks who want to win the lottery and share stories about it. One you actually win the lottery though, do you really stay in the 'want to win the lottery' group besides checking in to offer occasional good will? Maybe that's not the best analogy lol. Anyway, thanks a ton for the replies and encouragement @ thistime2014, all41, plantpr0 and melissa1928.

So last night as I wrote above, I was convinced I was in full free fall to skid row having 3, 4, and then 5 drinks on successive nights. Looks kind of silly in retrospect coming from 10 drinks daily pre-Nal, but it is what it is. And the feeling was real. I did feel kinda spacey and uncomfortable all day today too. Also felt very anxious and just not right. Maybe a Nal-over? Certainly not enough quantity last night for a full blown zombie walk today, but noticeable and unlike a typical hangover. Tonight I had the idea to have a few beers to take the edge off, but in the back of my mind I knew it really wouldn't since I took my Nal in the afternoon. But that hardly matters. So off I went to go get food for the family (this is where I usually start my evening binges), and I grabbed a 24 oz road beer at the local and was off. It didnt really flow like I thought it would. When I stopped to get the food, there is a BevMo in the same lot, so after little thought I went in and got a nice $5 12-ounce Belgian brew. I sipped it for awhile and finished it off. I then went back to the other beer I didn't finish and it tasted vile. I tossed it more than half full. And that is the extent of my boozing tonight. One good beer and a few sips of a crappy one. Much better. As I write this, I am headed off to bed clear headed and in a better state of mind.

Tracking Week 6

Thurs - AF
Fri - AF
Sat - 2.4
Sun - 3.6
Mon - 4.7
Tues - 2.3