Hello! Just have to say how grateful I am for this forum. Thanks to all of those who have shared because your stories have really helped me and kept me going when I needed some motivation.

I'm almost 3 weeks in and finally sat down and calculated my units today. I had to look up how to count them using Wikipedia. I'd been keeping track on a calendar of how many drinks per day. It made me feel really good to see the progress.

I am a female in my mid-forties. Liked to party in my 20's and 30's and found myself really ramping it up once I hit my 40's. Got to the point in this last year and a half where I was blacking out 3-4 days a week and almost lost a relationship (had lost other relationships due to this). I could consume a bottle and a half of wine and several beers a night or a 6 pack of beer and half a bottle of wine. I've never been one for an "eye opener", but I certainly opened that fridge immediately upon getting home after work and just couldn't stop myself once I started. Lots of lost evenings and embarrassing behaviors that I was told I did the following day.

Went to a week of AA meetings about a year ago and quit. Just not my thing. Glad it works for some, but I found it so patriarchal, cult-like and at the end of the week an older man who ran the meetings at that location came up and put his arms around me in a way that made me so uncomfortable (YUCK!). The whole thing was so depressing, but again, I applaud those who find success and happiness

The whole thing was so depressing, but again, I applaud find success and happiness using that model. I knew that there had to be some scientific answer for this vs. just talking about it.

I've followed the drugs that have been said to help with problem drinking and actually tried Acamprosate several years ago through a Dr. (worthless for me, especially trying to remember to take 3 pills, 3 times a day) and Topomax, that I got online (made me feel so ill, so I quit). I actually called a treatment center to see if I could get Vivitrol...they never called me back and I am SO grateful they didn't because I wouldn't have discovered TSM!!!

In looking at Nal online, I came across Dr. Eskapa's book, also bought Claudia Christian's book and the same day I ordered the books, I bought Nal online through River Pharmacy. 9 days later (Nov. 5, 2013) my pills arrived. Took the pill and had 2 glasses of wine an hour later. The first glass lasted almost 2 hours as I cooked a meal (amazing). I took the whole 50 mg the first time (should have started at 25), which made me feel pretty "stoned". It was a little scary, but I had faith and had read on this forum that the side effects were not abnormal in the beginning.

Now I see my units decreasing and I guess I am a very lucky "early responder", although I know I may hit some bumps before I hopefully reach the "cure" stage. I did have an evening in the last week where I imbibed too much and became acqainted with the "Nal-Over" (ugh! no fun at all!) , but I see that overall I am doing so much better than before.

After reading Claudia Christian's book, I looked her up online and made a small donation to her film project, One Little Pill. She sent me an email to thank me for my donation and I wrote her a brief email about my history. We corresponded back and forth and I was actually fortunate enough to recently meet her (we were going to be in the same town and she asked if I'd like to meet and talk about my experience with TSM). So part of my story may end up in the film she is making. Meeting her was a wonderful gift and that experience has given me so much enthusiasm and excitement to know that I am finally on to what will help me.

I feel that in a short time I have found some very real freedom from the state of mind I was in several months ago. At that time, I did not want to carry on and was so enormously depressed I actually had a plan to take myself out. I had lost both my parents in the last 2 years and had spent 6 months without work (company downsized). That is when my drinking really escalated and when I became extremely depressed about any kind of healthy or happy future (the alcohol was chemically causing such nervousness, fear, sleeplessness and despair). In this short time I've been on TSM, I have actually felt really good for the first time in a VERY, VERY long time


For now I am really excited and I'll just focus on that.

Also, I just wanted to add that I recently ordered more NAL (Revia) via Goldpharma and received my order (I'm in the US) in 8 days. Just don't want to find myself out of pills and wanted to try Revia vs. Nodict to see if there was a difference. The ordering process was easy and the pills came from Spain directly to my mailbox.

Thank you for listening and I wish you all much success!!!

Pre-TSM - up to 130 units a week

Week 1 - 67 units, 1 AF
Week 2 - 34 units, 3 AF
Week 3 (5 days in) 22 units, 2 AF

That's great news/progress Sirius keep up the great work , congrats !!!

Wow. That's impressive.

One note of warning: some people have a "honeymoon" followed by an increase in consumption before the true extinction begins. Don't freak out if you're one of them, okay?

You may just be a rapid responder, though. Some people break the chain very quickly once the actual addictive process is short-circuited. I hope that's you.

Good luck, and please stay in touch. We need more success stories here. The people who post the most are the people having problems, which gives a misleading impression to newbies.

Oh -- and welcome.

Hi Sirius and welcome,

What a great start with a number of AF days. So glad to hear about your early success. Especially given what a rough couple of years you've had. Many of us have been at the brink of very dark thoughts and actions; for me Nal has provided the hope that keeps me looking toward the light

Keep posting!

- Sheryl

Thank you to Melissa, Jokerman and Writeratlarge. I appreciate the positive feedback! Yes, I do worry about having a setback at some point (especially with all the holidays that are soon coming up), but just knowing that others have had that experience and just kept at it is really helpful. Wishing you all the best for your progress!! Thanks again!

Wow, your numbers are great. Welcome aboard.

Hi sirius,
Just want to say Hi and welcome. I'm really glad that you found TSM. It sounds like you're off to a flying start...good for you. You deserve some happiness after all you've been through. Keep posting...it's always good to hear how other people are doing.
Ruth.

Thank you, Ruthy and Sideeffect2!

Welcome Sirius,

I'm glad you are having such a great start. I am in this for the long haul.

My quick 10 month summary.

I have went from averaging over 120 units per week, drinking 18 plus daily, and blacking out most days to averaging under 60 per week, and blacking out only once a month.

I still plan on following protocol and hope to be closer to 30 per week after I hit my one year in January. I may be a long way from being cured, but I am much happier now than where I was a year ago. Still taking my Nal and I see no reason why I will ever quit.

Keep us posted.

Thank you, Christopher!

Congrats on your progress as well. That is a huge difference in your numbers

I see no reason to ever quit Nal as well!

All the best to you!