Went to my first big party since starting tsm last night. It was brill. I had 3.5 glasses of wine in the whole night. Without tsm that would have been 13.5.I just spent most of the night away from my glass. I had a ball, I sang (badly and much to the annoyance of my teenage daughter) I danced, I talked, I laughed but best of all it was all without obsessing about alcohol. I missed the bar closing and spent another hour chating and singing afterwards and it bothered me not. Hubby was working and couldnt come but was amazed when I arrived home at 2.45am sober, he doesnt know about nal and thinks that Ive just finally learned how to drink like a normal person. Teenage daughter was thrilled with the night as she has never been out that late.

Mario,

Congrats on your wedding success!! What a fun way to measure your progress! I can't believe that you haven't told your hubby about nal. That's great. It is hard to be honest about the details if we know it will upset the folks closest to us. I don't want to lie but I completely understand I have an almost teen daughter and it is hard not to embarrass her - even when sober!

Thank you for your support. BTDT

That's such a great story! those are the things I want! Getting closer, but still not where you are yet. your post brings me hope and makes me realize what's happening and why I'm not drunk right now at 2:45 on a friday night. I have a friend in town staying here and i put in several units tonight but started drinking water at 11:00 or so while everyone else kept drinking. normally I would've gone on to black out. I am still the last one awake but at least I can type.

thanks mario

Had a wonderfull time in Rome. Walked for miles and miles. Drink wise was ok, drank more than I would have done here but no drunkeness, blackouts or stupid moments. Had one or two beers with lunch everyday and prior to nal i would have been craving from then on but I was fine untill evening time again. Still way too many units over the four days but still very happy with nal and progress.

How funny? I'm going to Rome next week. I decided to join my hubby on a business trip there. Glad to hear you enjoyed it and had no stupid moments Makes for a better vacation. Take care, BTDT

That's great Mario that you didn't go crazy on your trip. Seems everyone in Rome walks alot and drinks alot so you sound like you were perfectly normal there. Curiously did you take another dose of NAL for the evening or did you feel covered from your lunch dose?

I didnt take another nal because usually we didnt have lunch untill about 2.30pm and we were usaually home for about 12.30am except for one night when we were out late but we didnt have a lunch time drink that day so it wrked out fine.

BTDT, You will have a ball. Open top bus is brilliant for getting around to the different areas and is reasonable. We didnt bother with organising tours to the different things before we went, they were all expensive and when you get there the same ones are outside the places of interest much cheaper. There are long lines in the morning but if you wait untill the afternoon especially to see the Vatican and the Colllisium there are virtually no lines. Its also cooler. Dont miss the Roman Forum at the Collisium- very interesting. One other bit of advice is dont what ever you do eat anywhere along Veneto at Harrys bar. We paid 11 euro for one beer. Crazy and much better food and atmosphere on any of the little side streets off the plazas. Enjoy!

Vacation is a trigger for everybody I think. drinking through the triggers is the idea! Nice work mario. Can't wait till we're both on that list. I think your trip was probably a big step in TSM. I know I had to drink through a major spike in my vacation at the lake, and when I went back there again I drank much less. Seems I was getting over the idea that I had to drink a ton when I got away from town!

Never a dull moment, hubby was admitted to hospital this evening, Im delighted really as now hopefully they will get to the bottom of things. He is very sick and has lost a lot of weight. I was terrified in Rome as he just wasnt right so I was praying that they would bring him into hospital.

The reason Ive poped in here is that a good friend and neighbour who is an alcoholic( it was her sisters wedding I was at last week has been drunk since the wedding. Her hubby was working in another country untill last month and I was keeping an eye on the family. I finally couldnt take anymore after she was taken by ambulance one night passed out and choking on her vomit, her orgins had started to close down and the ambulance people told her sister that she was drinking raw vodka. I phoned him and he came home but she kept drinking and not admitting it and went on a major session this last weekend. She is a great person and a great neighbour. Her hubby came over tonight and said he has had enough and is getting her out of the house tomorrow morning. He is very sad, they have known each other 35 years since they were 15 years old but the kids are very upset watching her drunk. I cant believe this is hapenning and a bit of me is really mad at her as Ive told her about nal a few months ago and even gave her a months suply but she has never taken them and when I told her I knew she was drinking she denied it blankly.

Anyway Ive my own issues tonight but cant get her and the family out of my mind.

Wow Mario that is quite a story. First I hope there is nothing seriously wrong with your husband and that he recovers. Secondly, because of your experiences with AL and NAL you have the knowledge and are in a unique position to help your neighbor more than anyone. The AA folks might say that you should let someone like your neighbor reach their "rock bottom". I have never agreed with this philosophy. Have you talked to her husband about Naltrexone. He is probably angry and upset because he may feel like his wife is weak and if she really cared she wouldn't drink so much. We know different. She can't stop. She's not having fun doing what she is doing. Her brain thinks alcohol is every bit as important as water, air or food and she will stop at nothing to protect her alcohol source just like we've all done in the past. Maybe after this bender is over she may be more receptive to trying TSM. Keep us all posted and my prayers are with your family.