FYI this appears to be the appendix for Dr. Eskapa's book.

For what it's worth I came armed well with knowledge and printouts for my doc including a condensed and highlighted verson of the wikipedia page. If anyone would like a copy of it I could hook you up. I think it is a really great pointed summary of tsm and fits on two pages. Not an overwhelming document but pretty complete. In fact it would be great to give to spouses/SOs or anyone you feel like you would like to know about your journey.

Rockola,

I had a similar experience with my GP, she was not receptive at all, and I came well armed too. She had told me she'd see me in a month to see how I am getting on. Tomorrow is one month. I have not made an appointment to meet with her since my habits haven't changed. I guess I'm afraid I'll get the old 'I told you so!'. Then she'd probably start steering me towards AA or something. She is very conventional oriented and was not at all interested in the materials I'd given her. I've decided to just go it on my own for the time being. I am curious to know though if she ever got around to reading them or paid a visit to this website....

Good luck!
petal

I posted this with my progress but feel as though it belongs here.

This was my second visit after last week was my first....


"Listen,..can you give me 2-3 minutes to describe the method?"

"I'll give you 45 seconds...

I proceed to give her my schpiel(sp) and she goes..."Well I don't believe it"

"You need to take naltrexone daily AND NOT DRINK!"

"But there won't be pharmaceutical extinction without it"

"Look you can come in here and try and tell me whatever and it will flow off my shoulders like rain...ok?

"I'm not trying to make you mad or question you I just think this is some valid research"

"Have you been going to meetings? What other therapy have you been going to? Have you been to CAB (center for alcohol abuse)? There's one in Salem or Lynn,..Which is easier? I guess Lynn....good well then here's the #. Call them and your sponsor do you even have one?"

"I'm also having problems with sleep...could I have some ambien? "

"Absolutely not its a controlled substance...I can't give an alcoholic that...you have blackouts when was the last one 3 months ago? (actually it was about 3 days ago)...you're in tough shape and need to get better....no drinking and take your naltrexone daily...I don't care if you do the Sinclair Method....(HA HA....Then she gives me an ok to follow the Sinclair MEthod! Case closed!). Here's another prescription for Naltrexone as you will run out before I see you next month...OK Take care,...goodbye" "Thanks Doc Have a nice day"

yeh i went in with the eskapa book and a general understanding, thankfully he's an addiction specialist, he ended up giving me campral as well.

but the pharmacist told me to make sure 'i dont drink on this medicine' lol

Hi - I just got my first legit prescription filled for Naltrexone after being on the method for over 6 months. It was easy this time, finally. Thank you Bob & Houtx for your advice somewhere along these threads...I did what you said and it worked. I had tried to get a prescription when I started and after a month of visits to my GP, and a therapsit I was turned down. This time around here is what I did:

Looked for a psychiatrist (per Bob)
Called several places first and specifically asked if the Dr. would prescribe Naltrexone (thank you houtx)
Selected the place that had a receptionsist that was willing to talk to me and help me out (I think it's a reflection on the Dr.)
Went in and told her I had already tried Nal from an online source, it worked for me and I didn't want to try anything else because I knew this worked and I was prone to anxiety & depression and Nal did not add to these at all.
Told her I just wanted it to reduce my cravings
Did not mention TSM at all ( I had gone that route, I won't again)

She was extremely nice and thorough and the only thing she disagreed with was my request to keep it off my insurance. She said, 'Well, yes, you definitely don't want alcohol on there but let's put it under anxiety and general issues and you'll be fine. I prescribe Nal for eating disorders too, but I can't guarantee they won't pick up on that if you go through Insurance."

She told me to come back in next month to make sure there were no issues and after that I could just call her when I wanted a refill.

So, my insurance paid for the appt and I paid for the Nal on my own. It's worth it and i'm so excited to finally have medication that I can just go 5 minutes from my house to pick up.

I hope this helps someone else. Believe me, I went through a lot to get to this point....call around and tell them what you want/what your expectations are. It worked for me.

My husband and I go back to see the doc in less than 2 mo. he wants to make sure we're ok and I'm ok with that. I know he really cares. I'm hoping he read the book and I plan on having him come to this site to read the cure list. I can get angry with all of this with the world looking at us as though we are second class citizens (I hide my AL very well in public, or maybe not who knows) but I think it would be like them finding a cure for lung cancer and saying just go home and stop smoking, you'll be ok, not, so we do what they say as long as we are able to keep moving forward to freedom. I just know that there will be a time when someone like us needs help with AL they'll come across this old time board and say how archaic were those times!