I have a doc appt with Dr. Mark Willenbring on Wed, Nov 24. Do a google on the doc and you'll see I'm meeting with someone who is at least somewhat in the know about what's going on in this website. In fact, I found out about him here. I was turned away by several docs until someone mentioned this doc had recently moved to the Twin Cities, MN. I've been on the Sinclair Method starting Sept 10, 2010. To say it's going well is an understatement. I have my life back. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones with the chemistry that just works for this treatment. Can't say it worked immediately. In fact, initially my drinking increased considerably. Was drinking practically everyday when I started off then slowly started to decrease. I'm still not where I want to be but life is different. Decreased from 4-5X per week drinking sessions to 1-3X per week. Also number of drinks decreased from 14-25 per session to 5-10 per session. Maybe for some people it still seems like a lot of alcohol but for me it's changed my life. I have virtually no missed work days and in fact, my husband says I'm a "work-a-holic". I used to take 3-4 days off for "hang over" days. Now: None. Yep, I was lucky enough to have an under the radar job that I could take the hangover days. But, folks here's the thing I'm really trying to wrap my arms around: It's not the drinking days that are changing my life. It's the non-Nal/non-alcohol days that are having their impact. That means the day after the "day-after-drinking" day. I don't know what's going on but it feels like I'm getting a triple expresso shot of endorphins. It's almost scary. The only thing I looked forward to is drinking and partying. If it didn't have to do with that, wasn't too interested. Now, I'm planning...thinking about all the things I once enjoyed doing but lost interest. I'm calm. Peaceful. I love to work. I love to spend time with my family. I put up Christmas decorations because it's fun. Not because it's expected. I'm still working it out and a little confused about this. I don't claim this is "the cure." But, something is definitely different. Wish I was talented enough to explain it. Guess it's practice for my appt with Dr Willenbring and trying to share my experience. I hope it's enough for him to bring the sinclair method to more of the masses. Wish me luck.

Mpls CC what a great story. Your description of your newfound joy in life is really inspiring. It's strange how you don't know what you were missing in life when AL was casting a hazy fog over everything. Keep posting your updates and congratulations on getting your life back.

That's wonderful for you!! Stay peaceful, stay calm, drink in the goodness of life. What to do in your spare time? Be peaceful, & patient, our likes & dis-likes change over the years, it will come when you least expect it.
I wish you MUCH luck with your' Dr.. You truly are one of the fortunate few, some here are having a tough time of it after several months.All the Best
JANE

I had my first appt with Dr. Mark Willenbring. When I asked about nal he didn't turn me away!! I told him everything I'd been through to start my Nal treatment. In short, my primary doc turned me away. The head of the substance abuse center at the university said she couldn't help me (she said it wasn't on their current list of treatment methods) and an addiction counselor said they didn't prescribe meds. I told him I finally got the nal from a foreign pharmacy and have been using via TSM since Sept 10. He was amazed I'd had such a rough time of it but not surprised. He seemed pretty frustrated by the situation. He did however say he thinks the research justifying TSM has been misinterpreted and feels it may be doing more harm than good. I had to disagree with him based on my personal experience. He agreed I was "responding well to nal" and much improved but thinks my goal should be abstinence. In the end, he said he's happy to prescribe the nal. He said, I'm paying him for his advice and based on his expertise that's what he's recommending. He's a pretty amazing guy. He knows the whole substance abuse industry needs to be educated about treatments beyond the typical AA/treatment center routes and he's dedicated to doing this. See his blog at: http://mattsub.blogspot.com His Goal: Transform addiction treatment in America by 2015, building a continuum of care based in science, compassion and common sense. I have another appt in one month.