I am starting this thread mainly to document my own journey, as my input so far has been all over the board. I am going to duplicate some of my own observations and experiences over the past 4 weeks and then continue.

Start date November 24. I have been following the Nal 1 hour before drinking faithfully for 4 weeks. Sorry Lo0p but I have not YET recorded my numbers but they have remained consistent for the past 4 weeks. These are pretty good approximates in U.S. units.

Week 1 - 38
Week 2 - 40
Week 3 - 44
Week 4 - 44

The first 6 days I took 1/2 the regular dosage. My experience with the woozy and "a little off balance" feeling had me a little nervous about going full dose but once I did, everything was perfectly fine - no more SEs at that time.

3 weeks into my program, I wrote about having black out/ grey outs on only (to my recollection) about 1.5 litres of wine. Definitely more than I normally consume on a daily basis but, as far as I am concerned, not enough to have caused that in the past. So, I am putting it down to the Nal and alcohol combined. I did get feedback from others that they have experienced the same.

This past week I have continued to drink 6-7 glasses of wine per evening but have been experiencing really brutal headaches daily. This, again, is not something that I would normally experience with my regular drinking so am thinking that it is likely the Nal/alcohol combo.

Tomorrow is day 7 on the fourth week so I will begin to record my numbers for a more accurate measure of my journey.

Happy New Year!

Well, I finally made it to the sunny south - although it's a rainy day for starting off the New Year. No hangover for me today

I started counting my units last week as promised, not sure if my numbers went down because I was more conscious of my intake but they are down. Pretty incredible considering it was Christmas and I packed up my house to move and packed up to head south, etc. Usually those would have all been stressors or excuses. Maybe counting helps consumption?

My headaches continued for a week and then seemed to disappear. Now, my hands are itchy. They've been itchy for a week now. I know I know, money is coming to me LOL! If anyone else has experienced itchy hands, please let me know. I would find it unusual for the SE to start a month in but can't think of anything else I am doing differently.

I can't change the past - all I can do is look forward to a better me in the future. Cheers to a fantastic 2010!

No need to apologize C. Although there was a kernel of truth to what I said and the irony is what made me write it, I really was just pulling your leg. When all is said and done this time, right now, is about you. I'd just hate to see you look back a couple of months from now and regret that you didn't keep track. I'm just glad you're now a month into it and on your way.

I've heard the same statement from several people about SE's: "a little nervous about going full dose but once I did, everything was perfectly fine - no more SEs at that time." Switching to the full dose is when the SE's abated? You are not alone on that one.

I'll be following with interest! -E

It's hard to believe that I'm 6 weeks into it. My numbers went up again last week and I feel them creeping up on a regular basis. In fact, it isn't like I'm noticing anything different at all other than the fact that I have to wait 1 hour before drinking and am much more conscious of drinking now.

I haven't been measuring my drinks but am recording based on the number of glasses I am pouring. Any feedback on that?

I still wake up in the morning mostly feeling like perhaps I drank too much AGAIN last night and wondering when this cycle will end. Nal gives me hope at the very least and a chance for a cure at the very most!

Like you, I just count glasses (or bottles, on the occasions it is beer). I never drink (nor drank) any more or less based on % alcohol - if it was a bottle of wine, I'd finish it. Period.

As to progress, more than one person reported just sort of turning a corner one day - almost by surprise. Hang in there. You are learning new habits, and the number of drinks is just one aspect. Much of the work is subterranean. As an example, I could not conceive of an AF day - just not possible - until week 16. When it happened it was not planned, it just popped into my head that very day to try it.

I have to say that this week would concern me greatly if it wasn't for this board. I know that I have read in a number of different posts that there is often a spike in one's drinking at about this time. Woah was there ever. It was like wine was water this week. I have to report that there was no increase in the affect of alcohol, no headaches, no "bad" incidences, just a whole heap of consumption. I have also read that this may last for a week or two so the next few weeks will tell.

I am encouraged that I am following the pattern of many so I would have to assume (know what they say about that!) that the Nal is working. Odd that there would be an increase in drinking though. I will not question it, just go with the flow and try not to be too hard on myself. Tomorrow is another day. Nal as always.

We have described the increase on this board as an "extinction burst." Naltrexone is successfully blocking the endorphin rush that your body is used to getting from drinking pre-TSM. Our theory is that your body subconsciously wants the rush and therefore reaches for another drink more frequently, hence the increase. Once your body realizes that the rush isn't forthcoming, the increase subsides. It's like a bird that has been rewarded with a food pellet each time it presses a lever. Take away the food and the bird will push the lever feverishly, trying to get that reward. After a while of no reward, the bird stops hitting the lever. Same principle.

Hang in there. Our shared experience suggests naltrexone is working for you. And yes, naltrexone makes my hangovers ten times worse also.

Yeah, ouch, I've got one of those naltrexone-enhanced hangovers today. Worse headache and nausea than normal, and from less alcohol. I'm really spacey and stupid.

Week 8 not over yet but numbers still up there. I woke up this morning feeling frustrated as I have done so many days over the years. It would be nice to be able to stay awake later than 10 pm. I've started the habit of dozing on the couch again after dinner until bedtime. Drinking just sucks the life out of me. It would be really nice to stay up late, to go to a movie that isn't a matinee , to read a book in bed and get through more than 1 page, or to just be NORMAL.

Keeping the faith but it's a long row to hoe.

Week 9 - A tiny edge down in numbers is better than a tiny edge up! Last night I had only 4 drinks. That is a big deal to me. I thought, what if I could have only four a day? That would be 28 a week! What a huge difference that would make. I'm not sure why I had only 4 drinks but I did TSM completely different yesterday. I wanted to have a beer in the afternoon so I took 25 mg of Nal knowing that I would have a few drinks in the evening. I took 25 mg at 12:30 and had 1 beer at 2:00. Then I took another 25 mg. of Nal at 6:00 while I had a glass of wine. I didn't get home until 7:00 immediately poured a glass of wine and then another - by 8:30 I had had enough. No conscious effort, just didn't want anymore. I have no idea what caused it. I hope this happens more frequently. I wonder if it has anything to do with the two 1/2 doses of Nal, the fact that I didn't have a normal daily pattern, coming home a little later??