I am doing my first weekly progress report!

I will start out by saying I have a very liberal doctor; he will literally prescribe me anything. I casually joked with him that I wanted diet pills once and he gave me a prescription for them! I might be 5-10 pounds overweight but certainly no reason to have diet pills. On a side note I never filled the script.He ended up giving me a prescription for Nal with a little bit of haggling, AA, counseling etc.

I was surprised when I got a little bit of a look from the pharmacist. She told me that she didn’t even think they carried this stuff. It got worse when I went to pay for it and my debit card came back declined. Now I really was embarrassed, buying Nal and not even having the money? Ahhh. The pharmacist was really giving me some looks. I did have money in the bank; I have no idea why it didn’t go through. My sister paid for it and we went to bank where I paid her back. The pharmacist gave me a severe warning of not to drink while taking it. Okay????

Holy crap. It was $84 Canadian dollars for a two-week supply!

He prescribed me 50 mg of Revia once daily. I proceeded to go home, look as much as I could up on line and then have a full on panic attack when it came time to take it. Eventually, I broke down and took it and I convinced my sister to stay with me for a couple of hours while the panic attack subsided.

I took only 25 mg and was soooooo ill. I could not even stand up, and I continued to be sick all the next day while barely getting through work. The next day was New Years Eve and I had my daughter with me to spend the evening at a friends house, I just could not imagine spending it with her sick on the couch so I opted out of the pill that night and drank quite a bit but not as much as I usually do on New Years. (funny how I seem to think that boozing it up in front of her is fine but being sick isn’t….hmmmm) Regardless I remember all of the evening and felt fine the next day.

Well I have continued to take 25 mg a day for the last five days. It was hard to take the pills in the beginning, even the thought of taking them made me want to throw up. I have had two units per night. A couple of nights I could have easily gone without anything. I have not gone up to 50 mg but I will if it feels like the 25 mg is not working. As long as the 25 mg. is working I will use it and I will also be saving money.

I am going to count a bottle of wine as 8 units based on a glass in my house that I have and will continue to use it as a counting system. I figure I probably drank 56-65 units per week pre., that may or may not include some beers with lunch or some crazy night where I decide to drink 2 bottles, but it is probably an average. Maybe higher.

This week I drank 23 units (10 on New Years Eve and two mimosas the following morning). This week was weird, I was nauseous the entire week and felt slightly stoned each time I took the Nal. I do feel the change when I drink now, it just doesn’t have that kick anymore. I don’t know how long this will last or when I will have to go up to 50 mg. I know that my skin is looking better already. And I am loving sleeping. As a drunk I never had a good nights sleep and woke up early every morning only to start smoking and drinking coffee. Now I could stay in bed all morning. I personally have not had a hard time sleeping at all. Maybe the insomnia will come?

My nausea is starting to wear off…..and so is my patience! I actually start smashing my Blackberry against my steering wheel today when the browser was slow, (I was parked). I envisioned throwing it out the window and driving over it until it was dead. I am assuming I am in this foul mood as I am detoxing to a degree. To go from drinking 8 glasses of wine a night, to two is a big change for my body. I have sworn more in the last two days than I have in my life. I am even swearing as I type this.

Anyways I am trying to stay positive about the future and the help that Nal is giving me in beating my addiction. I am hoping that the Nal continues to do what it’s doing and eventually I have a AF days. I am also taking it easy on myself, lying on the couch watching crap TV shows is allowed right now. Just because I am not getting smashed each night does not mean I have to turn into a Superwoman who suddenly does it all. That will be next week! I really hope this continues to work for me; I am enjoying the clear evenings and hangover free mornings.

Thanks all again for your support.

[quote="Maenads"

I am also taking it easy on myself, lying on the couch watching crap TV shows is allowed right now. Just because I am not getting smashed each night does not mean I have to turn into a Superwoman who suddenly does it all. That will be next week! I really hope this continues to work for me; I am enjoying the clear evenings and hangover free mornings.

Thanks all again for your support.[/quote]

Maenads, that sounds good, take it easy and take it slowly, I am with you all the way!


ART

Hi Maenads and welcome! My SEs were no worse on 50 mg. and were gone within a week so keep at it! As for units here is a good link that I found on this forum -http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccalcoh3.htm
I'm counting in U.S. which seems to be a little lower than Cdn. Play around with it and see what works for you.

Pre TSM 56-65

Week 1 - 23 Units
Week 2 - 19 Units

One bad night where I drank 6 units and had an awful hangover in morning with weird headache. Increased my Nal to 50 mg. after that.

I have found that on Nal. my favorite drink of red wine has become my least favorite. I had some Prosecco and could have drank it like water, worried that fuzzy beer will have the same effect so I have not had any beer since starting. Will try Nal. and beer this weekend at lunch, hopefully don't start gulping it back like water. It will also be my first mid day Nal. and drink experience.

Staying off of board for a bit until I can get my head together and figure this whole thing/method out. Wondering if it will work for me? Can't imagine going back. Dread the thought of having to try yet another medication if it doesn't work out.

16 days with only one hangover feels great.

Trying my best to stay positive.