Oooh, I like that idea. I too am going to try for a 4 AFs over the next seven days. My 'week' starts on a Tuesday (today in Aus time) and I am not going to drink tonight.

And as I am not drinking, I will think of you also not drinking. A companion in spirit (ha!) on the road to regaining our health, wealth and self-respect.

Good for you JMS. The no drink Mon to Thurs thing is working for me too. I've done it 4 weeks in a row now, and I'm starting to find that I'm not really loving my Sunday glass of vino anymore....so that might go too. It's a bit too early to say, but it seems almost as if the less alcohol I have the less I want.

Ruthy,

How great to hear that news. I too can see the Sunday activity hopefully going away, although it is a little early to tell. Keep up the great work. Let's go 5 for 7. If we were hitting for that percentage in major league baseball we'd be making $50mm a year!

I'm wondering if anyone has had or heard of an extended period of withdrawal from NAL. The last two weeks I have gone AF Monday thru Thursday (this week included) and I have had a headache each one of those days. I did drink on both of the weekends. Today it actually felt like I had a hangover. Sometimes Advil will take it away, and sometimes it won't. Today it didn't work at all.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the 4 AF days in a row. And it is getting easier with each passing week. I was just hoping that I would feel better physically on my AF days. Any feedback would be appreciated.

K3510,

Yes, it's nice to have a sister in arms, especially one halfway around the world! It's great to be pulling for each other. Here's to another 4 for 7 week!

Oh, JMS. I failed! I did not go AF Mon-Thurs. I wanted to but...

But, there is always next week. This week has too many social occasions. Next week will be a vastly different proposition. A lifelong dream of mine is about to be fulfilled. It will involve early mornings, lots of exercise, extensive training and some buckets of money. I am getting a horse! It is my reward to myself for starting TSM. She arrives on Saturday. She will have a rest on Sunday and on Monday we will start our life together.

Having a horse brings up a lot of issues from my childhood - neglect, cruelty etc - many of which actually directly relate to my love of horses. So I am hoping this horse will help me heal from many of those abuses; abuses which are implicated in my drinking as an adult.

So, next week I shall join you in a 4/7 week. And hopefully the week after that and the week after that.....

Best of luck.

Some people get headaches as a side effect of nal, but I haven't heard of side effects on no-nal days. I can't find any info on withdrawal from naltrexone being problematic, but six days and six headaches is rather suggestive.

Remind me what dose you're on. You had to kick it up, right?

Is it possible that you have a chronic headache and the alcohol (not the nal) is killing it?

Well, today marks my third week in a row where I've gone 4 for 7 with 4 AF days in a row! Wow. I haven't done that since the summer of 2012. It does appear that each passing week is getting easier. I'm still thinking about drinking in the sense that the thought is popping into my head as randomly as before. However, it I stop to think what it would look and feel like to actually drink, it seems to make me pause and really consider if I want to go down that road. The pleasure (if there is any) that I get from drinking is diminishing as each week goes by. It is now actually like work to drink.

So what is different and what is working? The obvious one is sticking to the golden rule with religious fervor. That has made a huge difference. Increasing my dosage for a period (first to 62.5 MG and then to 75 MG) for a period of roughly two months also appears to have made a difference. I think that helped squelch the intermittent reinforcement tha tI was engaging in. I am back down to 50 MG, and that appears to be adequate. The other step I’ve taken is with my schedule. I have altered it in a way where I simply don’t have the time or opportunity to drink Monday through Thursday. As time goes by I am hoping that the thoughts begin to decrease and continue to weaken as a result of the change in behavior as well as with help of NAL.

I am more convinced now than ever that I have to actively work towards having AF days. It is not going to magically happen for me. I don't think that I am going to suddenly wake up one morning and not think about drinking. I have to actively manage this and over time it will happen. That is my belief.

Physically I am feeling much better on this Monday morning. The headaches have diminished over the last two days. It will be interesting to see if they get worse as I rack up the AF days this week. My goal this week is to have 5 AF days (Monday through Thursday and Sunday). Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and support. I will report back later in the week. Have a great week!

I'm so glad that you're doing so well. Good luck with 5AF days this week

Well, I didn't make the five AF days, but I did make the four AF days in a row for the third straight week. And my totals are down once again. Not what I had hoped for, but I am still making progress each week and I am very grateful for that. I was hoping to go AF on Sunday and instead just had a few drinks. That made for a much easier Monday. As I have said before, each passing week seems to be getting easier and the desire continues to wane. My hope is this continues and in another few months I won't have any desire at all to drink. The AF days during the week are becoming more and more enjoyable and I am feeling better with each passing week. I'm even starting to lose some weight.

This weekend is going to be a big test. My wife and I are going on a church sponsored marriage retreat in the mountains. And it is supposed to rain all weekend. Yikes! I'll let you know how that goes next week. Best of luck to everyone.

Congratz!