Hey EOB it sounds like you are doing great!

That trip to Napa sounds like a blast. I'm a little jealous. Me and my wife plan to do that trip one day ourselves. When I think of Napa I still think of that movie "Sideways". Wasn't that movie hilarious? A trip like that I would be more focused on the amazing food then the wine. If someone asks why you aren't drinking more just tell them you are "full".

A few years back I took a business trip to Denver with about 10 fellow employees. I felt like I was taken hostage. I had no control over my day and night! At the end of the business day I just wanted to work out, take a quick shower and relax but the director had pre-dinner drinks scheduled at 4:45pm, along with drinks at dinner then post dinner drinks which would last until 1am. By day three I was wiped out so I faked being sick (which wasn't far from the truth ) and skipped going out with the group for a few days. That didn't earn me brownie points with the boss but I didn't care. I was worried I would get drunk and make a fool of myself. I wasn't on Nal then and I was still reeling from the death of my wife. I knew on this trip there was one person who drank more then I did. Every time we went out for drink I made sure he was at least 3-4 ahead of me. Unfortunately for him he was the person every one remembers getting "stupid" drunk and not me.

By the way, I must say people in Denver are very friendly! I went out to happy hour to a few places for a few hours and talked to more strangers there then I ever have anywhere else. The trip to Flying Dog brewery was the highlight of the trip.

Isn't there one person that doesn't drink or drinks very little you can buddy up with and make a break from the group? Maybe do some other excursions other then drinking? That way when you hook up with the drinking group later they won't notice how much you are drinking. I hope you find a strategy that works.

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Good luck EOB. In week 14 I stopped for the first time in over 20 years!!! getting a buzz from alcohol. Mind you it doesn't happen every time but in week 18 is becoming more frequent. My drink count is still stuck but from other posts this may take some time.

Take care

David

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I like that: "Cyber Hugs To All.." Yeppers.... definitely!!!!!!!!!!! Very definitely.

You are doing much better!!! Keep us posted, won't you??????

Pretty please,

Ketchikan1

Hey EOB -- 9 weeks is way too soon to give up. Only a lucky minority see vast changes in that time frame. If you look at the compilation on the "cured" list it shows that most took longer. If you can, give it at least a year before you decide on a different plan.

It's so easy to be discouraged because drinking too much makes us feel like dirt the next day -- it's a depressant, after all. But you can make it!

Are you keeping a close count of your drinks?

Hello EOB nice to hear from you. I am a little confused from your post. Did you stop Nal because you thought it was causing the pain in your wrist or that you simply thought it wasn't working or both? If it was the pain in your wrist did you go on any other "meds" like a statin which in some people causes pain in the joints? At nearly age 46 I have been having weird pains all over my body even before I even started Nal. Isn't it fun getting older?

I myself have wondered if Nal is working but in the opinion of my wife she has stated she has seen huge changes. No longer am I not slurring my words at the end of the night not making any sense. Many times I am handing over my last drink to her telling her " I have had enough". Also, we haven't had once in the last 23 weeks one of those "stupid arguments" many married people have when drinking. I will take these as small victories and will keep plowing ahead.

On occasion on Nal I am having waves of nausea that last a few minutes which has been slowing me down. I take this as another sign the Nal is working.

Recently, Me and my wife went to Mexico for 10 days and I like to thank this program for allowing us to have one of the nicest vacations ( drunken incident free! ) I have had in many, many years! Almost every day I was up at 8am walking on the beach after breakfast. Even one day on an excursion to Xcaret I didn't bring my Nal ( not thinking there would be alcohol there - duh ) only to notice they had corona on draft which is a personal favorite. After spending all day in the park ( which we recommend to anyone who goes down there ) we went to a show where I ended up having five beers. As soon as we got back to the hotel I popped a Nal and went to dinner, had a few more drinks and was fine the rest of the night.

It seems patients is a must on this program and try not to compare yourself who has been cured in a short period.

Hope to see more of your posts.

EoB, sometimes going off nal shows us just how much it was working. Hang in there - it's a long ride. But please do take your nal

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EOB, I am sitting here in a "state of shock" since my wife went on Nal for the first time tonight and at .25 quit after two drinks. My wife is almost 49. This has never happened to her in her life. This isn't a placebo! She was dying to party tonight but went to bed after not being able to get a buzz. TSM has worked almost too well. She feels kind of sad that she couldn't go crazy. This system works - only if she wants to continue. I will leave it up to her. I am not going to be some TSM, "born again type" and try and force it on her. One has to "want it".

I truly believe the exercise will help. For some weird reason I am kind of almost get a "high" from exercising. I almost never want to miss a work out.

I am at a point I just want to be "fixed". No pills, no therapy, NO AA. Just sheer will power and I move on. FOR ME, this doesn't seem to be the case and MAYBE never will be.