This past week's total is not good: 32.5. My highest yet since starting TSM. However, as many people have said before, I don't think the numbers tell the whole story. For one thing, there was only one night where I had more than 5 units; generally the numbers just crept up because I didn't have an AF days. Only one night was I "drunk" and only one morning was I somewhat hungover (though I still went on a 4 mile hike and enjoyed it, so not massively so). Before TSM, if I had had a 32.5 drink week, that would have meant 3-4 nights of serious boozing, and 3 nasty hangovers that prevented me from doing anything. SO, even though I am not thrilled about the numbers or lack of AF days, I think it's not the end of the world. Additionally, AF days will be naturally coming back now; the only reason that I did not have them is because I was visiting my family and it is unheard of to not drink a cocktail before dinner and wine with dinner. For one, I enjoy the tradition, but also, it would be too much hassle to tell my parents what is going on, regarding drinking. I was also out of nal, as previously mentioned, for three of these drinking days. I'm confident that this week's total is going to be quite a bit lower. Definitely going AF today (with pleasure!) and probably two more days this week (T/R or W/R), as Saturday and Sunday are big social nights (engagement party - not mine ! - and going away party party for a friend).
If I didn't have this forum and the wealth of information contained herein....I think I would have given up on nal and TSM by now. But I really do feel like it's working. Even if I never get better than now...I feel light years more controlled in my drinking than just two months ago. I can and will choose to overdrink sometimes (as of now), but I don't have to be afraid of myself. I can choose my drinking days and occasions and set my own limits. Phew!
EL

Hi EL,

I think you are right on the money when you say, "I feel light years more controlled in my drinking."

Naltrexone for us is not about abstaining - it's about being in control.

The control is what we have lacked for so many years... now we have it we feel normal; like a social drinker.

Opponents of TSM might call us 'functional alcoholics' but I strongly disagree. We are no longer suffering blackouts; we're not white knuckling a 3-month period of abstinence only to end up with a huge binge.

We might not be on the cured list - but we're certainly on the 'in control' list.

Glad you are doing so well,

Andy.

My new mantra: "It keeps getting better". I declared myself cure many weeks ago following three or four months of obviously increasing success and control. Everyone should be reminded that once one declares oneself 'cured', one still progresses (according to the book we can look forward to further extinction for a year or two.) In my assessment, you are well on your way. "It'll keep getting better".

Quick question: Has anyone else felt really nauseous and stomach-achey after drinking on nal? the past three times that I've had more than 2-3 drinks, as soon as the alcohol glow wears off (so maybe 1hr or so after I stop drinking), I start feeling really unwell. I haven't puked, but it feels like I need to. I've also been eating more than usual recently, so I'm willing to temporarily attribute it to that, but I was wondering if anyone else had that nausea while on nal, rather than right after taking it or the next morning.

Hello Ms. Electra!

I am experiencing a precious AF day today. It is the first day of my 14th week participating in TSM.

My tummy has been bothering me ALL DAY! It's not nausea.... not cramping... just sublimely but contantly upset. It reminds me how my stomach feels when I've had way too much coffee. That is the reason I prefer tea. Green tea to be exact.

Also, another commonality we share is the fatigue that sets in. For you it's after the glow of having had two drinks. For me it happens when I've popped a Nal and I am 35-45 minutes in. When I'm just about to pour my first glass of vino and I've got about 15 minutes more to wait-- that's when I get droopy-eyed and all around tired.

I don't know if you experienced the holy grail of this treatment: The Honeymoon period. I keep up with your thread and I don't recollect reading that you had that phase of initial drop in unit intake.

I did not have a honeymoon. In fact, I did not have ONE alcohol free day in the first four weeks in TSM!

However, thank you for bringing up the tummy issues and the fatigue that you are experiencing.

Good to hear that I am not alone,

Ketchikan1

EL you are on your way! Keep it up!

Thanks guys! And Ketch, sorry to disappoint, but I most definitely had the honeymoon period. My first week on nal I had 8.5 drinks due to total lack of interest in alcohol and some SEs that were nasty. Second week intake was a bit higher but still infinitely low. In fact, my numbers have only gone back up steadily every week since the first one on TSM
But I think that's honeymoon territory.
But I also follow your thread

I've also noticed a continued SE of nausea and fatigue. The fatigue isn't nearly as bad as the first couple of weeks on Nal, but it still lingers. I also don't have a definite time in relation to taking the Nal that it occurs but this may be because I don't always take Nal at the same time every day. I just get waves of nausea and fatigue that go away after about 10-15 minutes pretty much throughout the day. It reminds me a lot of when I was pregnant actaully. And, of course, it's better or worse depending on how much I drank the night before.

El, in spite of the numbers, congrats. I completely agree about the relative importance of the control in this as opposed to the totals. I sit here tonight writing this after going out with a buddy to my favorite little pub that has about 32 delicious beer dispensers on the wall, had a great time, drank exactly 2 beers (picked for their flavor and not obsessing on which would be the highest alcohol!), and then came home and had one more and I'm good.

Before, as with your pattern I think, this would have been one of those 3-4 nights of serious boozing, and even if it was a hangover day I would have had a few more just to escape that pit and sleep a little harder. I chose to end the drinking early tonight so I can get some stuff done tomorrow to prepare and have even more fun in another day or two on vacation, and it wasn't even an internal battle...absolutely baffling. I certainly may even overdrink next week, but it really feels like I'm finding choice, instead of riding a wave of those boozing/hangover days that always seemed to be running on their own selfish schedule!

Hip, hip, and hooray for control of drinking destiny...even if we can't control our parental expectations!

PS: Hope you can find a magic tea or something to help with the nausea. I haven't noticed that problem, but I'm sort of an iron gut.

Thanks Catmattress! I also had a very controlled night last night : 2 drinks and though I contemplated a third, it was super easy to say no and go to bed. Baffling indeed!
However, ugh, nal side effects today. I didn't get quite as much sleep as I would have liked (about 7 hours) and I feel quite nauseous. It's almost as though I have a hangover...on TWO drinks!!!!
But anyways, off to re-learn how to ride a bike (yes, you read that right....I don't know how to ride a bike!) and enjoy the sunshine!
EL