Hey Guys,

As someone who has never really tracked numbers...I think in hindsight I would've....It helps give incentive...

I hope to be an example for those that don't track numbers of which there are a few of us here....but I am stagnant and think if I tracked numbers I would be farther along after 9 months.....

Tonight relatively sober but I have to sneak drinks so that makes it more difficult to track craving etc...

Smoked a little bit. Definitely helped me to drink less but ultimately I had about 8 units over 8 hours....got a little buzz....a lot more high but not crazy high....now am not high and drinking my probably eighth unit......

Good luck Sammy. Everyone here is ultra cool,...My Best, Jim

thanks Sammy. Yeah part of that week worked out well. that woman I was thinking blew me off started texting me the other day that she'd love to see me. Good news. She came by my work and stopped to talk to me today and we're supposed to get together again next week. excited. and the control comes in handy. keep us in the loop on your progress

Good Lord, I am awful at keeping y'all posted. But, here comes some upbeat news...I am currently on week 14, and have had one AF day per week for several weeks now. Prior to Nal, I was having an AF day maybe once every 3-4 months, and drinking close to 1 - 1 1/2 bottles of wine per night. Not a pretty sight. And now, not only am I fairly easily choosing to have AF days, but some of the nights I do drink are crazilyy low--WTF!?!? Sipping on one glass of wine ALL NIGHT? This has happened 4 or 5 times within the last few weeks as well. Mind you, it hasn't been every night, but far more than in the past.

Now, I'm too cautious to say that this is the beginning of the end, but it sure as hell is a nice TASTE of the beginning of the end. I have gone out to dinner a couple of times and opted not to drink (UNHEARD of, er , in my adult lifetime...). Amazingly, it really and truly felt effortless, like I'd passed on a cup of coffee or dessert. I feel this deepening sense of relief that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm a newbie, really, and plan to stick with TSM for a year to see how it goes, but I am just so happy with myself and this method for the past few weeks. Upticks be damned, weeks 11-14 are going to be my life-preserver on this rocky ride. If I can simply remember how great these weeks have been, I think I can stay optimistic through this process.

your story sounds great, sammy! i'm wondering if you ever up'd to 50mg. i'm a newbie and feeling good at 25mg for now. on my first attempt i took 50 on day one and got so sick i didn't try again for three months. anyone out there gone the whole way on 25? i don't know if it makes a difference or not but i weigh 110 lbs. thanks, cindi

Hi y'all, one quick update, one quick question and one quick answer (to another question from a previous poster). Update: Another effortless AF day on Monday. I was hoping to keep it going for Tues. and Wed., at least, but ( ) drank on Tuesday. The WORST of this is I COMPLETELY forgot to take my Nal....thought I took it, went over to a friend's and had 4 glasses of wine, arrived home to see the pill sitting on the counter right next to the glass of water. If I hadn't been so ridiculously wasted, I would've cried. On the plus side, pre-Nal, 4 glasses would've been nothing to me.

So, now for the question: How far did I set myself back forgetting the pill???? Has anyone done this before? Did you notice increases in drinking or desires? Am I really just freaking out for no reason???

And an answer for Cindi: I started on 12.5 for a week or two, 25 for about a month, 37.5 for just a few days, and noticing no side effects, went up to 50. As someone who was panicking about the side effects the first week, I'm pleased to say I don't feel much now after taking to pill except some irritability. However, this may well be attributed to the fact that I take the pill around 6 pm, right around the time my two young kids are fighting and screaming at the dining table Anyway, try going up to 37.5 and see how you feel. Good luck!

oops...sorry. Forgot to add that I'm on week 15; 26 units, 1 AF. Almost, almost to half my pre-tsm units.

I wouldnt imagine its put you back far if at all, that said it wouldnt be good to make a habit of it. If you have a look at Bens posts he went without nal for a week and while he drank hugely during that week from once he started back on nal it had immediate effect again and he went back to units similar to what he had just prior to that week. So I wouldnt overthink it.

thanks, sammy and keep up the good work! i'm going to take your advice and stay on 25mg for awhile and then bump up. first week has been good. i decided to stop taking my klonopin for sleeping the same day i started nal. i was down to minimal amounts, but am still going through benzo withdrawal, so i'm not sure i'm getting a true read on how i feel from the nal i think i'll stay here until i feel normal again. sometimes i worry about the experiment on in my brain. but before i was worried about the damage i KNEW i was doing to my brain. cindi

Sammy, I just had to respond to one comment .... feeling ridiculously wasted on four glasses of wine. I felt that way the other night too, and felt terrible the next day. Pre-Nal, 4 glasses of wine would have been NOTHING!

Exactly, Yogagirl! Four glasses of wine used to just barely get me going. Tonight, I went over to a friend's house that, pre-tsm, would've meant countless glasses of wine, drunk dialing, and (just once, but one time too many) me flirting with her teenage son and his friends (they called me cougar as I stumbled out the door ).
Tonight, same friend's home: two glasses of wine, good times, home to bed.