Crapulous is a perfectly cromulent word.

Progress Update
Pre-TSM: 77-90 units USA

Week 1: 9,4,5,5,3,3,3 (Total: 32u)
Week 2: 3,6,6,7,4,AF,5 (Total: 31u)
Week 3: 7,7,7,5,6,AF,3 (Total: 35u)
Week 4: 4,3,6,4,AF,AF,8 (Total: 25u)

The AF days were easy with zero craving. I stayed away from the liquor until last night. (perhaps the result of alcohol deprivation syndrome?) No hangover today, just feeling a little crapulous. I'm surprised that I was able to keep liquor in the house for a full week without drinking any of it until last night. I plan to drink a couple beers tonight with family and get back on track. (No more liquor) It's still amazing that I feel so much control over my drinking on most days and then have a couple of days where I drink through any chemical resistance Nal offers. Someone tipped me off to read Crown86 thread. I have not read it all yet, but I know how it ends and I am hoping that my progress will mirror his three month cure. Good luck to you all.

Progress Update
Pre-TSM: 77-90 units USA

Week 1: 9,4,5,5,3,3,3 (Total: 32u)
Week 2: 3,6,6,7,4,AF,5 (Total: 31u)
Week 3: 7,7,7,5,6,AF,3 (Total: 35u)
Week 4: 4,3,6,4,AF,AF,8 (Total: 25u) MO: 31
Week 5: 3,4,4,2,3,AF,6 (Total: 22u)
Week 6: 4,3,3,3,3,AF,AF (Total: 16u)

On track to declare myself "cured" in three months, although in more clinical jargon I'm already in "Early Full Remission". AF days were without craving and stopping at three units seems to be becoming routine. In the past, I had never been able to stop drinking after having had a couple. The compulsion would kick-in with every dose of disinhibition and it was impossible to consider sobering up before going to bed. This turn-around feels like normal drinking to me. And Vodka is now a thing of the past! This a.m. I am on the fence about whether to drink tonight or not. I feel like the dreaded "alcohol deprivation syndrome" must be avoided and therefore I should drink. But then I think: this could be some "stinking thinking" attempt to rationalize a return to habit rather than a response to any craving.
I am feeling confident about the approaching holidays.

So happy to see your great progress! Looking forward to seeing how the holidays went for you. Ha ha I've done the opposite as you (ditched wine for vodka for the time being). I'm not really loving it so it'll be interesting to see what it's like when I get back to my normal environ.
Happy New Year!

I have not been able to sign on to this site for some time and I had to create a new account. But I have been following every new entry. My success has been miraculous and I have felt somewhat sheepish in touting it while others appear to struggle. But everyone need to be aware of the great variability in therapeutic response to Nal.
I have gained complete control of my drinking (so far) after ten weeks. I did not bother recording my units for at least a week or so (I have had to reconstructed my units for a number of days; it just did not seem important to obsessively count when I was in complete control). However, my last week was easy to record with Six AF days in a row! I have not been intoxicated since I don't know when (since starting TSM?). My last Six AF days were effortless--zero craving! I wish everyone would have my experience with TSM.
We all have our pet theories about what works for us when ultimately its often a pharmacological thing beyond will power. My own experiments included chewing the Nal, drinking routinely to satisfaction to avoid alcohol deprivation syndrome, switching from vodka to beer, consciously siding with the will to control when on the fence about having another. Nothing ground breaking here. The most amazing thing is that progress has been so gradual that in looking back the process now seems to have been effortless. "Just take Nal one hour before drinking." And nothing else matters.
Some wonder about the possible characteristics of responders... I can only described a few characteristics here:
I'm fifty-seven yrs old
Male
Gradually lost control of my drinking over past Ten years (especially past two).
Tried to quit many times a year; best success was perhaps 30 days (once or twice in ten years)
No AA
Never lost job
No DWI
Neurological issues were just begining-- stammering when sober after heavy drinking bout. (no problem now)
No obvious social impairment with others
Hx of occasional black-outs and brown outs.
Night drinker only/mostly drank alone/ but also with others
In past year, I was secretly gulping 1/2 pint of vodka at once to get started (sudden endorphin dose?)
Always primed myself before any party or social outing.

When the drama is over, there is no more struggle to report in the great fight. I will continue to monitor everyone's experience here. I'll declare myself cured later.

Progress Update
Pre-TSM: 77-90 units USA

Week 1: 9,4,5,5,3,3,3 (Total: 32u)
Week 2: 3,6,6,7,4,AF,5 (Total: 31u)
Week 3: 7,7,7,5,6,AF,3 (Total: 35u)
Week 4: 4,3,6,4,AF,AF,8 (Total: 25u) MO: av. 31u
Week 5: 3,4,4,2,3,AF,6 (Total: 22u)
Week 6: 4,3,3,3,3,AF,AF (Total: 16u)
Week 7: 6,AF,5,4,6,AF,6 (Total: 27u)
Week 8: AF,AF,8,5,AF,7, 3 (Total: 23) MO: av. 22u
Week 9: 3,5,5,6,3,?,? (>22u)
Week 10: 5,6,AF, AF, AF,AF,AF, (AF) (Total: 11u)

To everyone's success.

Amazing progress digetic! You must be a super responder. I'm interested in seeing your craving levels as more time goes by.

Previously posted to CURED LIST thread.

Pre-TSM: 77-90 units USA
Week 1: 9,4,5,5,3,3,3 (Total: 32u)
Week 2: 3,6,6,7,4,AF,5 (Total: 31u)+1
Week 3: 7,7,7,5,6,AF,3 (Total: 35u)+1
Week 4: 4,3,6,4,AF,AF,8 (Total: 25u)+2 MO: 31u
Week 5: 3,4,4,2,3,AF,6 (Total: 22u)+1
Week 6: 4,3,3,3,3,AF,AF (Total: 16u)+2
Week 7: 6,AF,5,4,6,AF,6 (Total: 27u)+2
Week 8: AF,AF,8,5,AF,7, 3(first week I did not have A on hand at all times). (Total: 23) +3 MO: 22u
Week 9: 3,5,5,6,3,?,? (>22u)
Week 10: 5,6,AF, AF, AF,AF,AF, (Total: 11u)+5
Week 11: AF,3,6,AF,3,AF,AF (Total: 11u)+3
Week 12: AF,AF,6,8,3,AF,AF (Total: 17u) +4 Mo: 15.25u
Week 13: 7,3,6,6,AF,AF,AF,3, (Total: 25u)+3
Week 14: AF,4,4,8,AF,AF,AF (Total: 16u)+4
Week 15: AF,6,6,3,AF,AF,3(Total: 18) +3
Week 16: AF,5,4,6,5,AF,AF (Total: 20) +5 MO: 19
Week 17: 4,4,4,3,AF,AF,AF, (Total: 15u)+3
Week 18: AF,4,4,3,AF.AF.4 (Total: 15u)+3
Week 19: AF,AF,3,AF,3,Af,AF, (Total: 6u) +5

After almost five months of TSM, I’m calling it here (What to call it?): “CURED”, “UNDER CONTROL”, “IN REMISSION”, “SAFELY DRINKING”, “UNDER THE LIMIT”, “AT THE HELM”. I have had a remarkable response to NAL and it keeps getting better. I have never bounced off my pre-TSM levels since starting. I have no real concerns of going backward at this point. I have become indifferent to Alcohol. I can stop drinking at a party and not feel compelled to have “just one more”. I did not think my cravings could go below what I had previously called “ZERO”. I guess ‘zero’ is a relative term? Not desiring a drink is zero; not even thinking about it is below zero. Noticing that I have just driven past the liquor store without wanting anything is zero; not noticing that I have just driven past the liquor store, is below zero craving. Having alcohol in the house and not drinking it is zero; not having a supply and not actively planning a trip to the store must be below zero.
My mood has improved considerably; I had not noticed just how unhappy I was in the daily whipsaw of compulsion and control—a constant irritation. I am sleeping better than ever. I had accepted that being knocked out with alcohol was the closest thing I could get to a good night sleep.
Three drinks per occasion are sufficient to me now and Alcohol-Free days come easily. Cold water is now a satisfying replacement on many evenings. When I drink, I still enjoy it. I just don’t need it. I could contentedly remain at this stage of TSM the rest of my life, but I suspect that my continued practice of Nal + Alc will further extinguish even this, and that’s also perfectly fine with me. (At this rate my Nal supply will last a year).

The touted miracle of NAL and its ‘too good to be true’ aspect causes suspicion of its lasting effects. It is easy to associate this scientific miracle with the one in “Flowers for Algernon”, or in “Awakenings”. The underbelly of the miraculous is the tragic fall into the same brute and unsatisfying reality from which one had somehow escaped—e.g., the cure stops working and we are doomed to return to our original sufferings. When some of the pioneers on these message boards confessed, one by one, to choosing to go off the Nal and drink, I was reminded of the devious nature of the beast. Mythically considered: Perhaps we are returned to an innocence of Eden before the fall, but even though we may no longer crave forbidden fruit, we may nevertheless feel the curious temptation to choose it. But isn’t it wonderful to have the ability to choose freely………..the renewed opportunity to choose wisely this time?
Good luck to you all. A beacon of hope shines upon this community. Nal on!!

Congratulations digetic!! I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. For me the biggest thing is one that you mentioned: not even thinking about alcohol! Best wishes going forward and be sure to drop by from time to time.

Hello digetic,

Thank you for your diligent posts and story. I pray my journey will match yours. Very inspirational. It is very valuable to have your story documented here.

Digetic - That is great! We who are behind you appreciate this post as you know from being where we are at one time. Glad to hear you are doing so well and thanks for sticking around and telling us of your cure.