Hi,
I posted the stuff below on the New! Introduce yourself board, but decided to repeat it here so to keep it all together; edited it slightly as well

From New! Introduce yourself board
Hi,

I started TSM last week and have just managed to join the forum (answering the anti-spam question was my obstecle)

I have been drinking socially ever since in college. For years i would have -3 glasses of wine sometimes a cocktail in the evening. And i never realised this is above recommended units or to be frank was bothered abt how much i drink; though this was fine

But because of various personal problems in the last two-three years have started having more in the evening and drinks in the day weekends, even mornings.

I tried a bit to cut down somewhere summer of 2011, then sort of jusr carried on with life and didn't worry abt. my drinking.

But May last year my husband moved out (very sudden decision) leaving me in a bad state with two kids (he sees them and me still,but that causes me even more distress).

Anyway a bit after he left I started seriously trying to cut down. I had known I drink too much for quite a while now, just not wanting to bother abt it. Went to meetings with an alcohol worker, got self help books etc. But so far no luck.
I would go through at least a bottle of wine an evening. On some weekends even two as will be drinking from the morning (not getting drunk, just keeping a constant buzz. A few times even had abt a glass wine in am before going to work as felt so depressed and wanted to cheer up.

I discovered TSM last summer, but no one will prescribe Naltrexone.

This Nov I started seeing a worker in the HNS Substance abuse clinic where I live (in the UK). Finaly last week managed to persuade them to let me try TSM and got a prescription for the naltrexone.

So that's it. I know just hopeit works!

-----------------

Now some new stuff:
Firstly: I live in the UK and so use UK units; 1UK unit is less than one USA unit (by UK standard 1unit=10 ml pure alcohol; by USA standard 1unit=17.7 ml pure alcohol)

I started TSM 17.1.2013 on 25 ml Nal; felt horrid in the beginning (absolutely zonked out) not only in the evening after taking the Nal but the next morning as well! Scept three days as simply coudn't afford to be out of it for various reasons. But it got better. Last Monday (28.1.13) went up to 50 ml. And not too bad side effects, except for Wed. I think because had some drinks in the day before taking it..

Anyway, so far can't see a dramatic decrease in units.
But am going to carry on and keep hoping. I've read loads of posts and realise it's not a mirracle cure and might take some time.

I won't put my units in now as have to get diary and compute weekly units, but will do it hopefully over the weekend.

As I'm sure you've read elsewhere, it's an "encouraging" sign that you felt like crap the first few days, as it means your body responds to Naltrexone. Of course, if side-effects like that never went away, Naltrexone would be no better than Antabuse and most people (myself included) would just stop taking it and resume normal drinking patterns. From reading here, I've learned Nal is not a "magic cure" in the sense that most people actually have to use some willpower. In your case, you sound like a pretty "tough mama" as they say here in the states, so I bet you could muster enough hootzpah each week to make goals, even if the goals seems a bit timid. For example, the first two weeks I started, I made the goal that, "I will drink whatever, but I will wait thirty minutes between my first vodka shot and my second." I figured if I had enough meager discipline to wait an hour after taking a pill, I could at least wait another 30 minutes after slamming another drink (I used to warm up with a quick half-pint of vodka on an empty stomach, which pretty much crushed my impulse control). This itself made a huge difference, as I often didn't feel the urge for a second drink thirty minutes later.

Tonight, I'm venturing into my first social event since starting TSM, a "trivia night" at my kids' school. Last year at this event, I slammed a half pint of vodka before we left, then proceeded to have two double rum and cokes before I ate, then two after. Needless to say, I was useless at trivia. Durrrrrrrrrr. Tonight, my meager goal is to not drink beforehand, and to avoid the open bar and instead head to the "beer garden." There's almost no way conceivable I will be getting drunk (or even buzzed, I imagine) with Naltrexone and beer alone -- I might not even finish three beers, even if I "go for it." Without the endorphin rush, I guess I'm not as into drinking as I've told myself all these years!

Anyway, keep up the good work. I'm very encouraged by the process so far. I've drank less in the past month than any month since I was 19 years old -- 1/2 a glass of wine in the past 8 days, and that I didn't even enjoy.

Hi again,

Haven't posted for a while.
Really need encouragement. So far TSM is not working; my units are not going down and last week was a disaster!
Last week was home 4 of the 5 working days with snow and my daughter ill. Each of them had drinnks in the day. Also Sat and Su (which i ususally do anyway). This is what i want to stop as a first goal; i mean drinking throughout the day when not at work. But don't seem to be able to! Usually wake up feeling really down and want to feel better and here we go!

Anyway, here is a table with my units both in UK and USA standard

Week Units (UK) Units (USA)

21.1.13-27.1.13 81.75 46
28.1.13-3.2.13 91.95 51.8
4.2.13-10.2.13 126.8 71


So is there any hope here?

Hello

Maybe I shouldn't be posting here .. as I've not even got my Nal prescription yet (!) ... but I just wanted to say I wish you luck..and and hang in there ... I'm in the UK too and have had to order the Nal from internet ...

If anything ... reading your post has helped me cos I'm not alone .. (single Mum one son) ... so hope I can offer wee bit encouragement to you ... reading lots of other posts ... we should both be hopeful

Can I ask ... did you start with the 12.5 mg for 2 days?? Was the side effects just bad tiredness?

Really hope things improve for you very soon Lorraine

Hi Loraine,

I was meant to started with 25 mg a day for a week. I started Jan 17. The first day abt an hour after taking it felt rally really irritable, then after having some drinks felt exhausted. Next day ex was around (snow and his day with kids, but couldn't take them. So scept it. I sceot it a few more days, see below. I went to 50 mg on the 28.1.13.

For me the side effects are the irritability and feeling exhausted not just in the evening but the morning after in the beginning. But by now this seems to have gone.

Here is a table with my records:

Time period units UK Units USA Notes
17.1.13-20.1.13 65.5 36.9 25 ml, but didn’t take it on 18.1.13
21.1.13-27.1.13 81.75 46.1 25 ml nal, but didn’t take it on 21.1.13 and 26.1.13
28.1.13-3.2.13 91.95 51.8 50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 2.2.13 and 3.2.13
4.2.13-10.2.13 126.8 71 50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 10.2.13
11.2.13-17.2.13

-
I managed to get it on the NHS by going to a centre specialising in substance abuse and convincing the psychiatris to let me try TSM. I had brought all my research with me and basically tried to show him am suitable for it etc.
But apparently I was the first patient he'd given it to.

There is also a private clinic in London that will do it: www.wimpoleaesthetics.co.uk

Best of luvk to you as well.

Hi Alice

Thanks for your reply and the info ... not got my prescription yet and its been held up ... but goldpharma now sending me 28 pills instead of 14 for the same £27 ... so thats pretty decent of them .. hope they arrive soon

OOooo the side effects do sound a bit yuk .. mind you I'd rather be tired and irritable than nauseous and throwing up??!! Glad to know that it was just temporary ....yes? Were you sick at all??

Good on you for getting your research and doing on NHS ... I couldn't face my GP .. too embarrassed and dont want on my medical records .. hence why I'#ve ordered on internet - but bit expensive .. hey if it works will be worth it.

Maybe cos I'm new ... i'm having bit of trouble udnerstanding your units consumed .. and I've just realised our UK units are different from our US friends? is that right? Hope your day going well today and hang in there Lorraine

Hi,

First for the unts:yes UK and US units are different. 1 UK unit = 0.564 US units. And other countries have other standards.
I post both in UK and US as many people on this site are from the US.

My chart with units in previous post is not too clear (it is really badly formated); I have repeated it again at the end of this one.

The side effectes have more or less diminished a lot. I have been sick twice with it after having dinner. But then i didn't really feel hungry and felt sickly even while eating, so probably shouldn't have. This was on a couple of the firts few days.

I know what you mean abt medical record, but I sort of wanted the help and i don't really think i am an alcoholic. It's more that i drink way above recommended limits and definitely for the wrong reasons (e.g to cope with stressful situations, when depressed etc.) Also on weekends and when not at work i can have drinks throughout the day and noticed after husband left it was getting worse. I don't really get drunk, just sort of influenecd; can't afford to as have the kids. Anyway i will find it difficult to afford the Naltrexone buying from the internet.
I now get prescriptions for 14 50 ml pills at the time. But i bought this Prepaid Prescription Certificate which cost £104 for a year and covers all the prescriptions for this year. So that is pretty good financially.

Well next week is half term and i am taking 2 days off work, so will have to really really try to not drink in the day. But not sure how I'll manage; haven't been able to do this for ages no (i.e. be at home and not drink).

Also ex is taking the kids for two nights to Scotland to visit his side of the family and i really don't want him to but i know i can't stop him. So will have to cope. But again it means difficult time in terms of drinking

Hope you get your pills soon and side effects are not too bad.

Hpw old is your son? I have an 11 year old girl and 7 year old boy.




Week units UK Units USA Notes
17.1.13-20.1.13 65.5 36.9 25 ml Nal, but didn’t take it on 18.1.13
21.1.13-27.1.13 81.75 46.1 25 ml nal, but didn’t take it on 21.1.13 and 26.1.13
28.1.13-3.2.13 91.95 51.8 50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 2.2.13 and 3.2.13
4.2.13-10.2.13 126.8 71 50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 10.2.13

God;
it's messed up my units table again. It looks fine until i submit the post....

I'll try this: the stuff in [] in each row corresponds to the text in the same [] in the next rows. So the text in firts [] is the week, text in second [] the units UK etc. Also note the firrst time period 17.1.13-20.1.13 is only four days. I did this as wanted to count my week Mo to Su

[Week] [units UK][units US][Notes]
[17.1.13-20.1.13] [65.5] [36.9] [25 ml, but didn’t take it on 18.1.13]
[21.1.13-27.1.13] [81.75] [46.1] [25 ml nal, but didn’t take it on 21.1.13 and 26.1.13]
[28.1.13-3.2.13] [91.95] [51.8] [50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 2.2.13 and 3.2.13]
[4.2.13-10.2.13 ] [126.8] [71] [50 ml Nal, but didn’t take it 10.2.13]

Hi Alice

hope you doing ok today ... I'm really pleased ... first night on Nal (25) last night went well .. little side effect .. maybe slightly flushed and wee bit irritable .. not sure .. only 2 small glasses of wine ... drank much slower slept well and feel great this morning! Hooray

Really hope it keeps on like this (trying not to be too over excited cos I know may just be honeymoon!)

We're just finishing our half term holiday here - my son is 8 and a wee star .. he's a really good boy and I'm very lucky. His Dad takes him every second weekend and once through the week and we get on pretty well now = although marriage ended due to his depression .. and guess what ... his drinking! He went AA for nearly 3 years .. but back on booze now - he seems to be doink ok and he's a good dad so I'm pretty lucky. I know you will miss your kids next week but maybe you can treat yourself to some time to do something nice yourself .. its hard on your own.

Anyhow ... have a good weekend ... take care Lorraine

Dear Lorraine,

Hope it is still going OK for you with the the Nal. Stay positive..

My ex has kids for dinner Fridays and my son stays now for a sleepover Fridays. My daughter so far has not stayed over night.