Chrissie,

Judging from your numbers your strategy seems to be working! Congratulations on getting your numbers close to an "in control" range.

I also wanted to say that I think that you are a fantastic member of the site and do a great job of encouraging the rest of us.

Thank you,
Diver

Thanks, Diver, much appreciated. How are you doing these days, what? 12 months in to TSM?

Yes, my various strategies work well when I follow them ...sometimes my "talk" is better than my "walk", but posting here helps me to stay accountable.

Hey Chrissie,
Just checking in and happy to see you are doing so well! 11 units is awesome, as is 4 af days. I find that 3 AFs are not quite enough for me anymore - to feel really good and keep my numbers down 4 AF days a week is the magical number it seems.

Hi Chrissie,
How was the bike ride? What a time of the year for being outside. Most mornings here on the Gulf Coast it is still not too hot especially early on. Used to ride a lot, but that was over 20 years ago. Am enjoying getting back into it so far.

And it is really nice to enjoy something again.

Eight months on TSM...where am I??? A good place, which I will try to describe, as well as illustrate w/ as many Happy Face Emoticons as I can squeeze in here .

Having realized a while back that I was NOT a "rapid responder" (much less able to access the Drive-Thru WIndow Service our boy Valancourt found), my progress HAS continued slowly. The upside is that I've not had the anguish of the roller coaster very much, or felt my personality being transformed: the processs has been been a bit boring, but gentle and there is much to be said for that. At this point, I'm really hoping to be a One Year Cure person, and in fact feel I AM about 2/3'rds of the way there. Still, I sometimes long for the experience described in some posts as "breaking through the clouds" and suddenly not caring about alcohol, and that is not the case. Alcohol is no longer the center of my universe (that is SO cool!!!), but it still IS on my mind, and apathy seems a ways off.

At this point, TSM reminds me very much of being on a diet: Nal gives me enough control that w/ a reasonable amount of effort I can have AF days, & also drink moderately (usually). But I look forward to the days I drink and still manage to tie one on about once a week. "Tying one on" involves lesser amounts than pre-TSM, but the feeling of shame the next day is recognizeable and in fact more easily provoked since Nal gives me more "say" in that occurence: my quality-of-life expectations are much higher now .

All in all, it's been a good ride, no, a GREAT ride and I am so grateful to be where I am now. To take a favorite line from our girl Electra Lou, "if I don't get any better than this, this is GOOD ENOUGH". My life is transformed, and I am so grateful for having found TSM...and this forum...and "all the science I don't understand".

And though I have found another really, really cute Tortoise Picture I could post, I don't want to clog up the World Wide Web, so I'll save it for another time. I must get back to work (and maybe listen to a little Mad Man Across the Water).

Hey! It sounds like lots of progress is being made. It's the little things that make this work!

Hi Chrissie

Congratulations - this is really working for you. Low units and lots of AF days - good for you. Just wanted to thank you for your support. I'm now hoping to give baclofen a try after some blood tests early next week.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers
Sticky

Thanks for the tips on how to plan your AF days. Had one with ease yesterday and today feels like it may be one as well. You have come to be know as my TSM cheerleader! I love to read your posts. Thanks for your input. As my kids say....you rock!

Aw, gee...you are very kind, & I'm so glad I could help.

I was also AF yesterday - what a great way to wake up! - and it occurred to me this morning, AF days are now the stronger part of my TSM program (the other component being moderate drinking days). This really surprised me since as a long time daily drinker, I really resisted AF days, but now one-offs are pretty easy. My next goal is to string a few together, like in a ROW...

Anyway, congrats on your AF...you're doing great!

Your progress is inspiring, congratulations on the AF days! So far I only think about having an af day but that hasn't happened In years. I guess its the Though that counts for now