Hi All - I joined on 12/1/10 which was the same day I took my first dose of NAL at 25mg. I took 25 mg. the next day as well and then jumped to 50 mg. where I've stayed since 12/1. I drink daily. I read the book first and got my NAL from River Pharmacy. Here is my progress thus far.

Before NAL I drank daily starting around 4:30 but some days it would be one bottle of wine and some days it would be nearly two bottles. On those nearly two bottle days I got drunk and did things I regretted...a lot. When I started NAL my drinking consumption went down to no more than one bottle of wine and most days less for the first week. Then, the honeymoon phase was over and I jumped right back to one to one and half bottles of wine each day. However, I noticed a difference right away. I don't have strong cravings, I forget to start at 4:30 and have gone as late as 6:00 before I've had my first drink, and I don't get drunk......most nights I don't even get buzzed.

I'll keep posting. I want to join the ranks of the cured and I believe that TSM works.

Pre TSM - 60-70 units at 5 oz. per unit

Week 1 - 45 units
Week 2 - 54 units
Week 3 - 48 units
Week 4 - 55 units

Thanks. Cindy.

Your progress sounds similar to mine, except that I was a 3 bottles a night drinker. My first weeks I dipped down to 1-1/2 bottles and then jumped back up to 2-3 bottles several nights a week (I was so disappointed). But with greatly diminished cravings and much slower consumption. Buckle in for the long haul and keep celebrating the small successes

Hey Cindy, welcome to this forum! It sounds like you're a good responder to Nal. Keep at it.

Hi Tambo and St. Jude - Thanks for the encouragement.

Cindy.

Hi Cindy,

Welcome to the board and well done on completing the first 4 weeks of TSM. Your numbers pattern looks a little similar to mine for the first month and it looks like you are responding well. Buckle in for the long haul, there will be ups and downs but you will start to see small and steady changes which will make it all worthwhile. Keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Cindy,

Same thing happened to me when I first started ... I had an initial drop the first few days, then went back to my "normal" levels for a while.

A few people experienced a nice, steady downward trend from day one. But many more of us have had wild ups and downs. BUT, if you track your numbers over time you will most likely see an overall trend downward, even of you have spikes here and there. Its counterintuitive, but all part of the process.

Keep tracking, posting and asking questions ... you'll find a very supportive community here!

YG

Hi Susie and Yoga Girl - Thanks for the support. It was frustrating to see my spike in intake, but last night I was back down again. I'll keep posting and you do the same. Your stories are my inspiration.

Cindy.

Hi All - I'm still pounding the wine so far. Today I have a headache from drinking last night, but I didn't drink anymore than my usual these days which is about 8 units.

Yesterday was an interesting day with my drinking. I usually start around 4:30, particulary on a Friday night and drink a bit more than I do during the week. I didn't start until 6:30, but I still drank my usual. Maybe that is why I am hungover today. I did notice that the project I was working on at work was more important than going home to drink wine. I also noticed that I didn't really care if I went home to drink wine. Lately my start time with wine is moving back to later and later in the evening, but once I start I still drink the same. I don't get drunk though, which is probably refreshing for my family. I also don't get mean anymore which is probably comforting to my family.

I am nearing the end of my sixth week. I haven't seen any real progress with a decrease in units which is frustrating, but I'll just keep taking Nal+Al and hope for the best.

Half glass

Hi there, HG!

I read that you were feeling a little discouraged in a few other threads, and I just wanted to give you some encouragement. This is a long and bumpy road. Many of us had an initial small decrease in units, then a big spike in Week 5. I don't know why, but this is very common. In my experience, and many others, a big spike is followed by several weeks of lower units . Almost like your subconscious is trying hard to overcome the drug, not getting the reinforcement it expects, thus pushing you further along toward more control.

So don't despair! Just stick with the program and try not to overthink it (this from the queen of overthinking! ) Just keep doing what you are doing, always follow the rules (Nal one hour before drinking.)

Take care - YG

I second what yogagirl said, don't worry about ups and downs too much inside of three months. Each drinking session is an extinction session. That said, you get just as much extinction from drinking 5,6, or 7 units as you do from 8 so when you're able apply a little effort just don't get too hung up on it early and dont beat yourself up you're doing fine.