I can relate to the mood thing. When I take my meds I feel really angry sometimes and have the tendency to snap at others, especially my husband. It usually only lasts for about the first few hours. Glad to hear that things are going well.
GA

As I've posted elsewhere, I think you are learning to live without booze - eventually you should find you deal with life a lot better and the crabbiness just isn't there at much. It's all part of the journey so be prepared for personality changes!

Week 17 so far. S0, S0, M0, T7, W14, T0 Total=21, AF=4

Wednesday night wet meeting. (I can't wait until June 1st. These weekly meetings come to an end with these guys once the fund raising event occurs.) I know I could choose not to drink when with them, but I'm still not cured yet, and do like to drink with these guys when we are together.

Not sure on the actual amount. I did not keep track and we were ordering longneck buckets. More than 12, less than 18. On an empty stomach between 5pm and 10pm and felt like crap Thursday. I just can't recover like I could pre-TSM.

Thursday night AF, and going for a Friday AF tonight.

Hilarious. I know how you feel here. If I'm around my drinking buddies, I'm gonna get loaded, I'm gonna enjoy it, but these days I'd rather be at home with just a few drinks and an early bedtime.

I have some grad school buddies coming in to town this weekend. This is a big test for me. It'll be the first time I put myself into my old environment in kinda a while. Wish me luck!

Hi Chris

Its great to see how you are getting on ... 4 AFs this week! Get you!!

Know what you mean about the drinking buddies ... there's one of my friends I can't even speak to on the phone without reaching for the wine! Needless to say, I'm not chatting to her so much at the moment!

Enjoying your progress ... how's the gym going? Lorraine

Started TSM 4 months ago. My units continue to generally be going down. I'm happy with that, and plan on continuing to try and reduce my units, and continue the treatment. I still have some cravings, but those are going down. I still have sessions where I drink way too many, but they are lessening. I still live in an environment loaded with temptation and drinking events, but it doesn't seem like it is as big as problem as it once was.

First 6 weeks average 94 units per week.
Second 6 weeks average 69 units per week.
Third 6 weeks average 45 units per week.

Week 17 Results S0, S0, M0, T7, W14, T0, F11 Total=32, AF=4 (Only made it to the gym Monday/Tuesday. I need to get in there more often. Gym days tend to be AF days.)

Didn't get my AF day Friday like I hoped. Left work, made it home AF. No booze for the ride home. I was tempted a bit but didn't. Then left home without filling the my 52oz macho mug. Left with wife and youngest to go to a soccer game, still looking like an AF evening. Then at the soccer game/tournament, I spied several parents walking around with a big plastic cup full of beer. It's been awhile since I have been to this venue. I knew they served beer, but I didn't expect to see quarts of beer. That looked good, but still thinking I'm going to pass. It only took 1 other dad/mom to say, "Hey, we're going to grab one of those beers, you 2 want one." My wife surprised me and said sure, so of course I gave in at that point. (Detour back to parking lot to take my Nal at the last minute. No 1hr wait. Better than nothing I guess, but a situation I really try and avoid. 1hr minimum is a must, as I def. can tell it doesn't work so well taking it like I just did.) Drank that beer, 32oz, and only that one. Had zero for the 40 minute ride home. I did have a few more at home, by myself. Maybe just because I'm not cured yet, and maybe because I didn't wait the hour, but I still felt like a few more at home. So 4 beers, but actually 11 units do to size/potency.

Saturday, took Nal early. Back to soccer park, 32oz there. Then an outdoor graduation party, close friends, free beer. I definitely feel like I drank too many, but did not get incoherent/blackout. I did drink too much to drive, and wife drove home, but I remember everything. I would say I was still "in control" but probably 2 or 3 from being out of control. 18 total for Saturday between 2pm-11pm.

Sunday, oldest daughters graduation. AF prior to graduation and AF after graduation. Went to an Irish restaurant bar and grill afterwards. Not only did I not drink, but my in-laws didn't drink. It sure helps your dinner check when you and your guests don't add the 3 or 4 beverages to an already expensive dinner. (And without TSM, I'm sure I would have had a few slugs of vodka before and after graduation, and beers with dinner and at home afterwards.)

So huge success to be 100% sober for my first borns high school graduation.

My graphs below show the end of Week 17 (32 units so far) and beginning of week 18 (18 units so far).

Week 18 so far. S18, S,0, M8, T5 Total=31 AF=1

Congratulations Christopher! And well done to your daughter too ... you must be really proud!

My god ... your units really have taken a tumble when you look back at the first few weeks averages ... Great progress!!

I had a bit of a spike couple of weeks ago when old friend came to stay from Australia .. but seem to have put it behind me... seems like there will be occasions where we're more tempted ... but like you say - compared to past consumption ... what a huge improvement.

Here's to an AF stretch for us both this week ... see you at the gym Lorraine

Week 18 so far. S18, S,0, M8, T5, W9, T2 Total=42 AF=1

Last 2 days been pretty rotten days at work and financially at home. Been a bit depressed. I gave in to the weakness to drink to drown my sorrows Wednesday. I did drink 9 and really forced myself to finish 9, and did not enjoy them and felt guilty.

Same thing yesterday, however, I had 12 purchased after work and was ready to force a few down, but really couldn't get passed 1.5 units. So, the nal was triumphant over my weak depressed decision to drink. I think that is pretty cool. Chalk another 1 up for the Nal.

I'm still a LONG way from cured, but still happy on my progress. I keep trying to decide what I really want from TSM. What are my final goals before someday actually saying I am cured? I need to work on this list.

MY LIST, a work in progress.

1. No drinking and driving.
2. No blackouts.
3. No drinking alone.
4. Craves are gone.
5. Control

(The next one I am not sure about putting a number on. Obviously the smaller the better with ZERO definitely being cured. )
6. Units below 30/week consistently?

Hey Amigo,

Good to see you trucking along. Every time I see that "no vodka since 3-10-13" line in your tag, I smile. Not that a sip of vodka would undo any of your progress, but to see you ignoring your former kryptonite is awesome. Mine was always whiskey, but if I was a little loaded, I could guzzle most of a bottle of your clear Russian counterpart

I love your list, and I have confidence that you are gonna check all that sh*t off before too long. Keep it up buddy

Work has been crazy. Out of town and rarely in office where I typically read and post. Last 2 weeks, Memorial weekend thru Sat. 8th. were very spikey and high. Sunday - Today, not much boozing. Just a few Wed. Stuck to golden rule. Will post and update units hopefully this weekend. In summary bad 2-3 week run, but feeling really good this week and should have at least 3 maybe 5 af days.

Later.