Good call on the 28 days reference. Didn't even think of that correlation. Absolutely never got any message. Probably my failure to properly navigate this site. I appreciate the thought though, Barry. Seriously. You've been an inspiration. Had the tag on my door just now when I got home from work! I'll pick it up from the post office tomorrow on lunch break. May wait til Friday night to start as I've read it may make you drink more than normal on your first couple of outings and I can't miss work cause I went on a 30 drink binge. I have confidence that it won't be anti-climatic. The directions I've been given on which paths to take, throughout my life, have been pretty rock solid. I feel strongly this is one of those times. I haven't read of anyone it doesn't work for unless they refuse to take it, have you?

I thought I'd share an update on my journey thus far...night 2. Popped 25mg yesterday at 4pm when I got off of work. Planned on going big and trying to "drink through the Nal", to be completely honest. Stopped and got 2 quarts of grapefruit juice and a fresh handle of Ketel One vodka (my kryptonite). My woman insisted on staying over to make sure I didn't go insane on this stuff. My thought was, cool, I'm supposed to drink more during my first couple of sessions and now I have a ride to work if I'm still drunk when I get up at 6am. Basically, I planned to do 12-16 units US and blame it on the fact I was supposed to drink more my first time on Nal. Interestingly, different result. Poured my first greyhound and a shot. Took a sip of the greyhound, slammed the shot, killed the rest of the greyhound and refilled. Went and sat on the couch to screw around on the computer with my untouched 2nd mixed drink beside me. My buzz from the first 2 units started to kick in, but it was different. Something was missing, but for some strange reason I didn't miss that extra little something. I felt clearer than normal, if that makes any sense at all. My 2nd drink took an hour to finish. I made a third, not cuz I needed or craved it, but more out of habit. That one last me 2 F-ING HOURS!!!! So it's about 9pm. I usually finish my sessions with 2-4 beers from my kegerator. I poured one, remembered I needed to take out the trash,and forgot about the pint until 10:30pm. Ended up taking a few sips off the beer and going to bed. Found the nearly full beer still there this morning. Absolutely unreal!

Tonight is Friday and it's night 2. And it's FRIDAY! I usually do between 15-25 units on Friday night, a good 30 units on Saturday and recover with 10-12 on Sunday so I'm functional at work on Monday. I went ahead and popped 50mg at 4pm tonight. That was perhaps premature as I was pretty loopy for a bit but figured I'd jump right in. Started drinking at 5:20pm. I'm only 3.5 units of vodka in and I just poured a pint of beer. My woman doesn't even know what to think. She wants to believe this is permanent but, as all of you drunks out there know, our loved ones have seen us run good for days, weeks, etc. at a time, only to relapse with an absolute vengeance. I did nearly 6 weeks of white knuckling starting April 2012. One glass of sangria and I was gone. Have drank literally everyday since. Nearly a year. My liver hurts every Monday after my weekend escapades. I hope this isn't some kind of temporary, honeymoon crap but, to quote Generic and his eloquent writing, "if this isn't a f***ing magic pill full of Care Bear tears, I don't know what the **** is". I may finish the pint and pour another. I may not. I could honestly care less at the moment. I'm not chasing "that feeling" or whatever I've been chasing for so many years tonight. Instead, I'm cleaning the house and spending some quality time with my 3 year old.

On a side note, I split that first 50mg pill with my boy at work. He buys a pint after work every night and slams it as soon as he gets home. He hasn't been able to miss a night for years. He could only drink 1/3 of his pint last night but declared today he would never take Nal again because it made him feel depressed this morning. Whatever. He must not be as ready as I am. Thank you all so much for your support. Thus far, it appears my overpriced $500 investment has been worth every cent. I'll start a weekly progress post soon. Have a great weekend folks.

Shawn, that sounds very positive, nearly identical to my first two days (relatively speaking). I wish people didn't make such a big deal about the supposed "honeymoon effect," because it seems to psych people out and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. There are plenty of people whose units did nothing but decrease after the first couple of experiences -- there's nothing that says you can't be one of them, especially since you seem quite sensitive to the drug.

Thought I'd give another update. Mostly to chronicle my thoughts so forgive me if this is a bit long winded. I was worried Saturday would be a spike because of my usual Saturday escapades that inevitably lead into my Sunday morning drinking...leading to my Sunday night drinking, which leads to my brutal hangover Monday morning. I'm in commission only sales and the pool of weekend leads will basically make or break my week, so I need to be sharp Monday morning. I rarely have been for years, yet somehow, I've managed to keep my job and do well.

So Saturday I end up drinking with my woman. I go to Bevmo and get a case of wine because I have a craving for it and it's the 5 cent wine sale. I haven't drunk strictly wine in about 3 years. I always supplement with Ketel One shots. We cracked a white and a red and started about 3:30 pm. I drank the bottle and a glass of hers over 7 hours and went to bed. I tried to supplement a quick shot of vodka after drink #2 and I burnt my tongue so I spit it out. I was honestly dumbfounded how that could be considering I've taken in so so many shots of it every day for years. Sunday we take our daughter to the lake to feed the geese and pick up a case of Corona Light because I have another craving. Drank 4.5 Corona's and called it a night. I did not think about or attempt to supplement with vodka. A Sunday miracle.

Monday I woke up a bit groggy, as I've now discovered I do on Nal some days. but definitely not hungover. It was my most motivated Monday in a long time. Worked 12 hours and picked up a bunch of deals late in the day. Previously I wouldn't have stayed that late because I was consumed with the thought of going home and drinking. There was no urge Monday and I honestly could've and should've made it an AF day. Cynthia was at her place so I decided I'd have a couple. Had a Ketel One greyhound with a half shot refill and a Corona and went to bed. Tonight she's here so 2 Ketel greyhounds and on my 2nd and last glass of white wine to her 2 glasses of wine. No sneaking to my hiding spots to sneak swigs off the vodka bottle. Somewhat normal behavior.

This may sound like a lot of drinking to some folks but I'm down about 75-80% of my average in my first 6 days on Nal and I couldn't be happier. My liver hasn't hurt in days. I am not day drinking or thinking about drinking during the day. I am drinking at a pace and desire for the drink I could live with indefinitely if I had to, but I can't wait to see where this inevitably leads. My goal is and has always been to drink what I want, when I want without being a slave to it.

My side effects have been some pretty bad abdominal cramping, constipation over the first 3 days (but now resolved), feeling loopy about 20-30 minutes after I take it and feeling a bit groggy and out-of-it in the mornings when I first wake up, for a short time. A small price to pay for freedom from complete slavery to the bottle, at least in my opinion. I'd be OK with a lot more side effects to be able to feel this clear and in control of my drinking. Thus far, thank God for TSM.

Week Pre-TSM 108US, No AF
First 6 days on TSM Th 4.5, F 5, Sat 5, S 4.5, M 2.5 T 4... 25.5 thus far. Want to go for an AF day tomorrow to solidify 75-80%. It will be a bit of white-knuckling after 7pm but I think I can handle it if I keep occupied.