TSM - The game changer for me.

I thought I would share where I am with TSM since starting April 4, 2009. While some may not be satisfied with my progress in the sense that I still drink daily, I am so very pleased and consider Nal to be a miracle for me. I have been a daily drinker since college for over 40 years. I was always highly functioning but aware of the direction in which I was going with this. My liver stats began showing wear and tear and I knew I had to do something about it. When I came across Nal and this site, I really couldn't believe what I was reading. I contacted my doctor and she studied up on this and agreed to provide me a script. I explained how this had to be off the record for insurance reasons and she understood and agreed. It was the hardest thing to admit to her that I was such a heavy drinker as no one would have guessed it. I felt so awful in admitting it to her after all the years of her questions regarding elevated SGPT/SGOT. I felt like such a lowlife but she completely understood and was willing to give this a try. Thank God.

Now I have been taking Nal for a year and in this time I have improved by at least 35% in decreased consumption for which I am so grateful. Everything is so different. As stated before, no blackouts, sloppy behaviour, etc. I go to bed earlier, live healthier and I am so happy to report that I just picked up my blood tests and my liver functions are in range for the first time in years! Also, I have lost 11 pounds without trying, as for me another benefit is that I don't eat as much! I just don't have the craving as before for food. I am more like a normal person as I can take it or leave it! My doctor is very pleased and happily wrote me another year's prescription.

I guess I should make a true attempt at breaking the "habit" of daily drinking and that may come this year. For whatever reason, I still desire my happy hour time - but within reason: I drink, get tired and go to bed and read! The results are worth everything to me. I have broken the chains of this progressive disease and have more hope than ever to obtain a truly healthy lifestyle.

For those of you who may not see immediate results (I had no honeymoon), please, please keep the faith and continue to give Nal a chance. I will never again drink without Nal and will always be so grateful to this site and the good Doctor for this opportunity to learn about the Sinclair method. Though the war may not be yet be fully won, many battles have been successfully fought and for that I will be eternally grateful. I encourage each of you not to lose faith but be keenly aware of the small successes.

Houston, I think about you and your courageous and unfaltering attempt to deal with this condition all the while being such a wonderful and caring friend to all on this board. I wish you nothing but complete success and happiness! I hope one day we all can meet and give a hug to those friends we have come to know on this board. What a lifeline!!

Beachin'

Hi Bambeachin, I remember you . ( Alabama ? ) Thanks for your update I'm so glad its working for you .
I remember there was a time you had your doubts . So there you are it takes a good long time when we've been doing it a good long time .
I too have had very extensive period of drinking way less but pretty much every day .
I think you'll probably find you can change this , it does take a bit of a wrench . I can snap out of that but with the effort you probably can too , give it a try at least .

Keep with it . All the best .

Hi BB, we have the same April 4th (2009) start day, and you were one of the first to give me encouragement on my weekly thread. It's great to hear about the progress and improvement you have seen. It is also a good reminder that TSM is changing lives in many ways, from the BAM-three month cure to the one year later I find myself sane. For those who are just beginning or some time in and getting discouraged: keep at it - time will show how your life can change for the best!

Wow -- BB and Elfern: Two old friends on one thread! So nice to hear from you both and so very glad you're both doing well!!

Dear ART, Elfern, Firebird and Lena,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I only hope that through our experiences and successes on different levels we can help the other board members to not lose faith and to see what a miracle Nal can be even when one doesn't declare CURED in every instance. Quality of life is huge - and that is what Nal has given back to me.

To anyone reading this board and teetering on the decision whether to try Nal, go for it! It seemed like such a huge step to take but looking back on it, it was the best gift I have ever given myself. GO FOR IT!


Best wishes to all,

BBeachin

PS. Elfern, I can "hear" your beautiful French accent when you write!

Hi Lena , FB and BamB
OOoooh this is good stuff Bbeachin . As it happens I'm an Englishman but I've had so much
french running through my mind for twenty years it's probably rubbed off on me .
try putting in a few Af's if you can . Its may be a very habitual aspect of drinking that pulls on
us . I can quite esily drinking every day ( 3 or 4 drinks ) and I'm damned if I know why i keep doing it . I just did five Af's in a row no problem . One thiing that might help is when you
think " I don't want this NAL floating round my brain each day ". Take a look at what happened
to old timer / long timer Happy for once . Once you get on the Af's they tend to role .

Good advice, there. Once the AF days started for me, they multiplied like rabbits, and concordantly the units/week.

It's great to see the "original TSM" club, talking on the same thread after a years time and to look back at the changes since then. Life is so different. What will it be in another year's time? One can only wonder.

Bob

EDIT: I just looked at the names on this thread and it's like a reunion.

Bama - so glad you are looking at the positives, like I try to. Thanks for the accolades, I am just trying to pay it forward...and I do believe this method works for most. I rememebr how much the encouragement and support meant to me in the early days. That's all. Not trying to be a martyr - just knowing it works for most.

Happy for you & hope it will click for you, me and others at some point in the future. Who knows! Really - who knows :-)

XO

BB and Elfern: Welcome back! Great to hear from you and of your success stories.

BB: I think you hit on a HUGE point: that progress under TSM may not be absolute. It's very possible that for many of us, we will continue to drink but with reduced numbers and sharply increased clarity and control. Success is relative and to me, you are a huge success. Plus, you will probably see continued improvement for up to 3 years as reported in Eskapa's book via Sinclair.

My best to you (and Elfern)!