I had three of my grown children, and my 4 y.o. grandson, over for dinner last night. I generally host dinner parties for friends and/or family several times a year. Everyone who comes likes to drink, and I enjoy sharing and introducing them to good wines - so these get-togethers often become quite lively! Usually my dear S.O. goes to bed quite early, as he gets up at 4 a.m. for work, while I stay up a few more hours to visit and entertain. Usually by the time our guests leave, I'm totally blotto. I'll stack dishes in the sink and make sure perishable food is stashed, but that's about it - and these chores are an excuse for a solitary 'nightcap.' Or two.

Last night there was a different atmosphere, from my perspective. While I still drank wine all evening, I drank it MUCH slower than usual. Altogether, I only had five units, over about 6 hours' time. In the past it would have been twice that much. Easily. The conversation was more subdued - and more genuinely interesting. I didn't say anything to embarrass myself, nor did I become the know it all person who tries to 'fix' everyone that I sometimes turn into when I overdrink. After the guests left, I emptied the dishwasher, and then filled it again. I put everything away, did the dishes, and got the house totally back to normal - most amazing, I actually ENJOYED doing it! Then I went on up to bed, and watched American Idol, which I had taped from earlier in the evening. While cleaning the house and watching TV, I only drank one glass of wine. I remembered everything that was said and done last night clearly this morning. . .and I'm not muddle-headed or shaky, as is usually the case.

This is clearly progress, and I am greatly encouraged.

PROGRESS REPORT BEGINNING WEEK 20:

Lots of triggers this week, and that led to a couple of very heavy drinking days. Otherwise I would have been in the 40's rather than 50's. I find that I also am drinking more on days that J golfs and I'm home alone from early morning till 8 p.m. or later. Probably why I drank so very much when I was single! Had planned to ride with friends on these days, but have had rain, rain, and more rain - and I don't ride in the rain any more.

I wanted to add my chart, but can't get it to upload - help!

Going4- that's fantastic.

Isn't it an amazing feeling when we find ourselves in a social situation acting like 'normal' people?!!

One week later, and I find the result of Naltrexone confusing. There definitely IS an effect, though, and it is overall beneficial.

Disappointingly, I've had a couple of very heavy drinking nights this week - right up to my initial levels. A few nights I drank less, so the overall total is still lower. I note that no matter how much I drink, my cognitive abilities are not as affected, and I don't have the 'pass out/blackout' experiences of before. While I definitely feel the buzz of alcohol, my thinking, motor skills, and memory are distinctly more cohesive than before I started the Naltrexone.

Days after heavy drinking are still not fun - shaky and poor cognitive skills.

My S.O. (who has not jointed this MB) is drinking less now as he did when we started. That would probably be 30 units currently, as opposed to 45 before. This is all promising!

Last night we stayed in (doing that a lot more), and ate supper in front of the TV. We had planned to go out for just one or two drinks, but decided not to - suddenly the group of heavy drinkers we hang with just didn't seem all that appealing at the end of the day. A couple we know but haven't seen in many months - attorney and professor - have invited us to see their new home and spend the night tomorrow, and we're really looking forward to that. Intelligent conversation, and normal levels of alcohol. Imagine that!

The 'normal levels of alcohol' is the primary reason for this post. I only had 4 glasses of wine yesterday, and didn't even feel like pouring one until about 6 p.m. We were in bed by 9:00, and this is the very first day in many months that I have no morning cloudiness of thought or shakiness. I feel wonderful!

Guys, I do believe this stuff is working! Yipee!!!

Sure sounds like it is working and it also sounds like you are right where you are supposed to be.

See you next week.

Sounds like it's working to me

Goin4More,
I know we haven't lost you. I see that avatar popping up all over the place. I like reading about your progress. hint hint

OK, I think I shared this elsewhere. . .but lost this particular thread until SR bumped it up. Thanks!

I'm at the very start of week 4 (yesterday). I drank, on average, my usual number of drinks this last Sat.-Tues. On Wednesday, I decided to go alcohol free if I could. Except for one time last fall when I white-knuckled thru a day (wanted to change courses b/c of my sweet S.O.), I've only done this once this year, when I had a bad case of the flu and couldn't drink anything but good old H20. I honestly didn't know if I could make it through a day without strong cravings. . .and thought if I did crave, I would cave - only with Naltrexone.

Come Wednesday, I not only did not drink anything at all - but I didn't experience any cravings. Cooked supper, watched a movie, went to bed, and slept. Woke up sweating slightly a time or two. . .but went right back to sleep. This is unheard of for the past couple of years!

Yesterday, I again was sweating more than usual - but wasn't emotionally, mentally, or physically distraut. Just had to take a couple of nice relaxing showers. But by 2 p.m. I was strongly craving wine, so took my Nal, and a half hour later poured a glass and sipped it. Yes: sipped. However, it hit me like a ton of bricks! I had three more glasses over the evening, and felt like I'd drunk 10. Came home and didn't feel like drinking any more booze, and switched to water.

Guys, this is amazing stuff! I've long been the one in a group of people who never stops drinking as long as booze is available. I know I still have months of TSM to go before this demon is fully under control -but this is all so encouraging in the meantime!

Oh yes. . .yesterday and today, I feel GREAT.

Well, I'm starting on week 5. Last week was a disappointment, as my drinking level spiked right back up, and I didn't manage any AF days. Oh well, this is a cross-country journey and not just a drive to the store! My darlin' man and I celebrated being together for one full year on Wednesday, and when we went to a little bar we frequent our friends were only too happy to buy us celebratory drinks - and we were only too happy to drink them! Then we decided to invite a bunch of folks over for dinner last night, and this particular group really loves their wine, so there was plenty of that going around.

Think I'll stop trying to plan AF days, and just take each day as it comes.

I love that you & your SO are so on the same page, literally & figuratively speaking! LOL Love your stories. I am starting to reconnect with my heartthrob of the last 3 yrs. Just barely...2 emails & the suggestion of meeting next weekend for something...kinda scary...but diving into cold water is always an adventure.

uuuuuugggghhhhh - I never need an excuse to drink. Has anyone here ever gotten into trouble with the law for drinking & driving?? A taxi drive from Houston to NYC would be cheaper than going thru the ramifications of one isolated DWI...(mine was awhile back, but just chiming in on the subject)

Be careful people...tell your children too. Taxis are cheap! :-)