Hi All,
I am now almost 6 weeks in. I am still on 25mg and will probably stay here and hope this is enough. I still get intestinal side effects from these and I can't imagine doubling the dose. I probably wouldn't be able to leave my house. It wouldn't be polite to make all those horrible noises out in polite society.
I definitely am having a different relationship with my drinking. I enjoy the wine. I get a buzz. But I don't feel that initial relief feeling I used to get in my first few sips. I often wonder while drinking my first glass if I am even enjoying it. Then second glass kicks in a little intoxication and then I usually don't want more than that. Once I get a little relaxed I feel like that is all I need and I stop. Sometimes I think of having more, but it seems so much easier to stop. I still want some every night. I am an every night drinker. Before I would drink up to a bottle of wine and sometimes martinis if I go out to happy hour. I went to happy hour last night and a martini didn't sound good. I had 3 glasses of wine and then went home. Once home I usually would have poured another, but I didn't even think of it. I also have stopped thinking about having that head start glass before I go out. I feel like I am thinking about alcohol way less.
I still want my wine each night. The difference I am feeling is that I don't feel a need to keep drinking. A friend noticed the other night when we were at another friend's house and all were drinking wine, that after 2 glasses I switched to sparkling water. I didn't even think about it. But she mentioned it to me the next day because she thought that was very unusual for me. I think she may be doing this soon.
I wanted to share my progress because sometimes I have wondered if this is working, and reading others posts has been very helpful.
Keep those updates coming!

That's sounding very good Q, keep it going! Glad to hear you're friend's interest is piqued too, victory is catching it seems. This all bodes well for 6 weeks in!

Yup sounds great! I've been on 12.5 or 25mgs for a year now and it works fine for me. Just keep an eye on it and if the urge gets stronger you may want to up it a bit.

Thanks Ocean & Joe. I keep telling myself this method is a long slow process. So maybe after 6 months if I am not starting to see those AF days happening more often I will then go up to a stronger dose. Maybe the side effects will fade more by then and I can handle it.

I would not go up in dose if you are not seeing AF days by 6 months - I REALLY had to work at getting AF days - and initially used Antabuse to get them. It took me a long time before I could get them more easily - going up in dose is not going to help you get AF days - you have to actively DO something about the drinking - the Nal is not magic - you actually do have to work at it too. See if a couple of other folk will join you in an AF day once a week - that is what a few of us did back when I was in your place - and it helped knowing that others were doing it too plus it gave me someone to be accountable to. (not everyone wants to do that but it helped me).

Yes this is a long slow process for many of us, but you need to hang in there - have faith and patience. We did not get where we are overnight and getting rid of the demon AL is not going to happen overnight either. Hang in there - it will work eventually!

hugs, Maggie

10 weeks in update.
This last week or so I have noticed an increase in the amount I want to drink. I was getting pretty comfortable at 2-3 glasses of wine and suddenly I am back to wanting more. I am hoping this is just the bump that I have seen warning of on this site. I have been able to have a few AF days though. One per week for the last 3 weeks. So, that is an improvement. I have been taking my AF days on one of the two nights I go to the gym after work during the week. When I get home it is later, and I am hungry, and it is easier to skip the drink if I hurry up and eat something. I used to go to the gym at 5:45 in the morning so I could get home to my wine earlier after work. I think it is also a good sign that I have switched those workouts to after work. Not in such a big hurry to get home anymore. I am noticing that my taste buds are changing. I have always been a Chardonnay drinker and in the first month I noticed I had to buy more expensive wine. Suddenly I couldn't stand the taste of the cheap stuff. Now after a few months of this, I am not liking Chardonnay as much anymore and am preferring the lighter tasting wines. Like Pinot Grigio and Rose. I also have noticed some anxiety that I never had. I have been clenching my jaw in my sleep and I have been a bit more moody. But these pills definitely effect my hormones. So that is probably what is causing that.
That is my update for now. I hope the next update will be to tell you my drinks are reducing again.

nice work, Q! sounds like real progress to me. the fact that you're thinking less about AL, not needing to keep drinking, and even having a few AF days is great. I agree with Maggie to not worry about the AF days until it starts to come more easily. the point is you're developing a different relationship with AL and it's becoming less of a big deal to you. good luck and Nal on!

Sounds like you are doing well. As long as do not get discouraged when you go through all the different ups and downs on the TSM journey you will do fine.

QW, if you read through some of the progress threads of others here you will find that everything you have described is pretty common. I would have to go back and read my thread to see exactly when, but at one point, I remember posting about how moody I was. That should pass.

I think you are making progress, too. Just remember it is a bit of a rollercoaster ride.

-Dee

I SO agree with Deena - I remember being moody too - and yes this is truly a rollercoaster ride - so just hang in there - have faith and be patient! It does work - but the journey can be tough! It is easy to get discouraged - as Reboot said, but the thing is to me that there was no alternative so you just keep plodding on!

Hugs, Maggie