Hey Ketch - Yes, you will find that you can get drunker on less alcohol with Nal use. However, you will also find times where you can't get drunk at all on Nal. All part of the roller coaster ride we are on.

Thanks Ready! I do, indeed, have a lot of energy. And I want to conquer my alcoholism. Won't stop until I do.

I am getting ready to perform again starting mid-May. I am an emcee at Alaska's #1 tourist attraction. I'll perform in front of thousands of people this summer. I see by looking at other forum member's unit charts that by the eighth or ninth week there is seemingly a major downtake in consumption.

I can only hope!

I am a month in and I went to the doctor yesterday to get refills. I have lost 7 pounds and my blood pressure is in the normal range. Not so when I went to her a month ago. 180 over 123. Today it was 117 over 83. Of course, I am taking blood pressure medication now.

She also prescribed me ambien because my sleep pattern HAS NO PATTERN! I loathe tossing and turning, my mind racing.

When will I experience more AF days and normal sleep sessions?

Great progress! It's hard to predict when you'll experience more AF days. As you can see from my signature I started this journey as one of the heaviest drinkers on this forum, and I had AF days almost immediately. Other folks who drank a lot less found it took them much longer to be able to go AF for a day. My advice would be to not compare yourself to others in terms of expectations, and celebrate each success and victory as they come. I found that while it was relatively easy to go AF, on the days I did drink after my NAL honeymoon (5-6 weeks) it was not too hard to put down 3 bottles of wine like I used to. That really disappointed me at the time, but looking back now those days seems like they were a hundred years ago.

That's great advice, Jude. Count my blessings, track progress and pat myself on the back with each and every centimeter of progress.

I am proud of myself today. I actually hiked after working an eight hour shift. This is not normal. My holding pattern goes like this: Work, return home, drink to oblivion, over eat, black out, pass out, repeat. I am on the spin cycle in the washing machine of oblivion.

Then today. Well, I feel great today. Lighter. Quicker on my toes. So I grabbed my beloved pomeranian Ripley and headed out the door for a two and a half mile walk. It was lovely!!

This reminds me of what a doctor told me at an inpatient rehabilitation facility where I was once a patient. He said, "You can't think your way to new behavior, insead you must behave your way into new thinking." I think it's kinda true. In other words, if I continue to push myself out the door and excercise, walk, explore, etc. I am replacing drinking with new, better behaviors.

I am also pleased to announce that today is my fourth AF day this month. Couldn't be happier with this definite progress. Bye, bye alcoholism! One sip at a time....

Awesome! Replacing boozing time with healthy behaviors will definitely speed up your pace to regaining control.

My best,

Nick

Boy, this sure is a rollercoaster ride.

Yesterday I had an AF day. Today I overslept and high-tailed it to the restaurant early in the morning. I made it on time and opened shop at 5:30 am. It feels weird NOT to be hungover. Furthermore, when I am hungover, which is typical, I am probably overcompensating with energy. I almost flow more easily throughout the day. I genuinely feel and act happier when buzzing around hungover. Which is fine because I am not performing yet, I am merely waiting tables at a cute cafe. I can go on auto-pilot at this job even if the place fills up and the pace gets busy....

Today I worked and there was a definite edge to my attitude. I wasn't as bubbly or smiley or effervescent. Is this normal? When will I feel better when I am not experiencing the effects of alcohol, either during the drinking session or the day after? When does the energy even out? Is there such a thing as an even keel so early on in treatment? I wonder where that term came from.."Even Keel"... Again I am irritable and emotional.

When does normal begin to feel normal?

I knew at 9:00 am that I was going to drink tonight. Got off at 1:30 pm and an hour later, here I am consuming wine.

I just was not prepared for the ups and downs. Not that I'm deviating from the golden rule. No way. I'm in the fifth week. I am not going anywhere but through.

Hope you guys are having a better day than I am!

Ketch - You are doing just fine. What you are going through is part of the TSM process. It's a lot of ups and downs for weeks and weeks. Then, it evens out. You will no longer be out of control. After that, you start to apply a little effort beyond taking the Nal pill + Al and things really start to change. In any case, you are right on track. Just keep taking your Nal+Al and beyond that right now you don't have to do much else. Just track your units, post often, take the Nal and drink to your pleasure (without hurting yourself or anyone else). Right now your goal is extinction.

Thanks HG.

Criminy.

Weeks and weeks, eh? Okay. I'll buckle in now for the bumpy ride. I am tracking my consumption somewhat. I drink pinot grigio out of a normal-sized beverage glass. I fill nearly all the way to the top. And I have been polishing off a 1.5 litre bottle at every drinking session. The alcohol content is 13.0%. I have no idea how many units this is. Plus, I drink to absolute black and/or pass out nightly.

I've researched the unit scale, I think it might be 15 units, but math is not at all my strong suit.

Thanks for your advise! Have a great weekend!

K.

Your total is calculated: 19.5u UK
or 11u USA

Try this calculator:

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccalcoh3.htm

Hi Ketch - I count one bottle of wine (750ml or .75 liter) as 5 units and I drink French Pinot Noir which can range from 12.5 to 13% alcohol. I would say your daily units on a 1.5 liter bottle of Pinot Grigio would be 10 to 11 units. So, I agree with digetic. You are not consuming 15 units a day unless you are drinking more than the 1.5 liter bottle. Hope that helps. By the way, the weeks and weeks go by really fast as long as no one takes your wine away!