Hi Folks,

Well, at long last, I've started on the Sinclair Method!

I had an appointment with Dr Berkowitz (see Dr Eskapa's thread under 'Sinclair Doctors') on Monday this week (16 March). As I'd had an LFT carried out a few weeks ago, I showed him the results and he also carried out some basic checks (blood pressure, listening to my chest, etc.). He also reviewed a detailed questionnaire that I had been asked to complete prior to the appointment. We discussed at some length why I had become alcohol dependent. My wife was present at the appointment so she was able to take part in the discussion, which was very useful. After approximately one hour, Dr Berkowitz presented me with that all-important piece of paper, namely a prescription for Nalorex (Naltrexone). I was over the moon! He wants to see me again to review progress in approximately one month's time.

My local pharmacist did not have Nalorex in stock but ordered it in very quickly. So, on Wednesday 18 March (two days ago), I took my first 25mg dose. Yesterday, I took my second 25mg dose. Today, I will take my first 50mg dose. As I'm currently drinking every evening, I am taking my Nalorex at approximately 5:00 pm, which disciplines me not to drink before 6:00 pm.

So, I'm on my way. I'll update this thread on a weekly basis (or more often if there's something of particular interest to report). I'm delighted to have joined the others on this forum who are well on the way to controlling their alcohol intake.

V.

Hi Virgil - Congratulations!

You're on your way! It's great that you have the support of your wife and a doctor intelligent enough to understand. I feel SO bad for the others who've had so much trouble with ignorant doctors. I'm lying to my psych, who thinks I'm trying to be abstinent. But whatever it takes at this point to get/keep the prescription is worth it.

I hope you will make great progress, but remember not to judge your experience too early. I've not had the "honeymoon" phase that some have talked about, but I just need to be patient - everyone is different. It may take me much longer to notice a change - (months as opposed to weeks), so I refuse to get discouraged. I need to remember that I should NEVER compare myself to others in terms of TSM, or life in general.

Best of luck, and it's great to hear from you!

Good for you Virgil. Glad you could find a doctor in the UK to prescribe you. I went down the un-recommended getting Nal off of the internet route. Looking forward to updates on your journey.

ashl

Virgil

Congrats on the prescription and doctor visit!

You are on your way, there are only good things ahead. I am now coming up to my second day in a row without a drink- I have not had cravings or had to use any willpower at all- I simply don't feel like one.

Wishing you all the best as you begin the journey.

Thanks, everyone, for your words of support.

V.

Hi Folks,

Well, I've just completed my first week on the Sinclair Method and I don't have a great deal to report at this stage. On the positive side, I have had negligible side-effects from the naltrexone - a tiny bit of nausea and some persistent minor headaches but that's about it. One of the things I have done is to raise my pre-SM consumption figure in my signature below; it used to read 70u/wk but I now realize that a more accurate figure is 85u/wk. So, during Week 1, I have consumed what I would have consumed pre-SM but I can live with that as it's very early days.

As my alcohol consumption over the last week has been 'normal' for me, I have not experienced any cravings but that's hardly surprising. I suspect the cravings, if any, will come at a later stage.

So, until approximately this time next week, it's onwards and upwards.

Good luck everyone!

V.

Hi WTE,

I don't mind your asking at all. I guess your question has arisen because I may be misinterpreting the word 'craving'. What I am trying to say is that I have not yearned for alcohol in the last week because it's been business as usual. In other words, I've not been making any attempts to deny myself alcohol when I've wanted a drink; the desire for a drink is unabated. As I see it, the key issue is being prevented from consuming alcohol that creates the craving; this can be the result of self-discipline or external circumstances.

So, I'm still drinking more than I'm happy with - but that's where the naltrexone comes in. If I continue to take the naltrexone as recommended, my alcohol consumption should reduce given adequate time.

I don't know if I have successfully answered your question.

V.

I find the craving thing difficult to define- as virgil says if we drink when the feeling comes we don't really 'crave' do we?

I have sort of looked at mine as 'How much did I want a drink on that day?' Still difficult to put a weekly total on it, because some days it is high and some days it is barely there- but I do have an overall feeling for it at the end of the week.

yeah
we all asked the same question in the beginning. If I don't resist the urge to drink, how do I know if I have lessened the craving? For starters, welcome! Glad to see you finally got here.

As far as craving, I think I would wait until the desired arrose before I took my Nal and drank. We want that deaire to happen so we can CURE it. I don't mean "crawling up the walls" craving but I would not simply drink to the clock. Let the desire arrise before you start.

Sometimes I don't have any desire at all- but then I see the time, and realise if I don't have one now it will be too late- as in I will be in bed so the time for me sometimes sets of the desire.

This happened yesterday, so I took a Nal and had a drink 40 minutes later. I only had 2 beers, and really wished I hadn't bothered!

Desire and craving can be quite difficult to define for me, and then again a huge part of it is probably only habit, so even more confusion!