Another mod gave me mod powers because I was currently active on the board and none of the classic-era mods were still regulars.

This doesn't have a whole lot to do with my cure any more.

Melissa1928 I just wanted to say thanks and keep up the good work both here and on your blog. Wow, I can tell from you're story that you were "highly motivated", and also that you were are frustrated that so much of it didn't have to happen. I had such a hard time finding my way to TSM, and at this point I'm just hoping that it will work for me. I somehow managed to escape the DUIs but it all came crashing down in my accident where I was left a hair's breath from death. I hope I'm in your shoes in six months or so.

Hi Melissa - what an inspiration your story is for everyone on this site! Thank you

I've had a quick read of your blog, but couldn't really see you journey from Day one to week five and being cured.

How quickly did this happen? Did you cut down your drinking each week and then decide you just didn't want anymore?

I'm intrigued - apologies if you have written this down someone - if so, could you post a link.

Hmm, what did I do with that old journal? I'm not sure. It's around here somewhere.

It was gradual -- quick, but gradual. I had an extinction burst some time in the second week, but it wasn't bad. I just quietly stopped drinking because I no longer wanted to drink.

Also, folks, it has been about a year now. I know this because I was half-cured last Halloween; I remember forcing an AF day so that I could take the little guy trick-or-treating. This Halloween I was all cured, so the idea of forcibly abstaining no longer even makes sense.

Thanks Melissa - I feel that I'm going the same way. In just a week, drinking has lost it's appeal. After two glasses of wine I haven't been feeling like anymore, so fingers crossed I will follow your path.

Just out of interest, do you ever drink alcohol at all now - or are you completely AF?

Snap xxx

It's been months. I don't think of myself as a teetotaler, but it fits pretty well. It just isn't part of my normal life.

I would probably take nal and drink if I went to a party or something. I don't go to a lot of parties.

I wish it worked that way for everyone. I can definitely tell the difference on Nal after an hour, kind of spacey, and when I take that fist drink I sure as heck don't get the buzz. I also think differently, less manic, if that makes sense. Don't know if that's a good response or not, but I can definitely tell that something is happening, and I have been drinking less in my 1st week.

Yesterday I read the re-read the wikipedia entry for naltrexone. In terms of early and quick responders, the section on pharmocogenetics is really interesting. Recent studies have identified genetic links associated with strong naltrexone efficacy, specifically for alcoholics. That's encouraging. I can only hope that 10-20 years from now treatment will have crawled out of the dark ages.

Melissa you should keep blogging, good stuff, and we need encouragement from other people's success. Just thought I'd throw that out there

I'm glad you enjoy it. I'm kinda busy with some non-TSM stuff at the moment, but I'm not taking the blog down. I expect to get back to it some day.

Magda and I have done some research on genetic markers. #1 on the list of things that should be way more widely known is that the notorious 118G is a great marker in men but a complete null-op in women. You know how some studies say nal is the bee's knees and others say it has little effect? They're not sorting their subjects beforehand, and of course it does have little effect in the larger population.

It's amazing that some of this stuff is well-established, yet it can't penetrate treatment because it's so hard to punch through AA dogma.

Ruthy Wrote:



Remember that quote? There should be a thread on great quotes from the board archives

I'm wondering Melissa, did your sleep patterns continue to change after you called cured? Is it any better a year into it? My sleeping has been really rough for the past few years and that's one of the things I'd really REALLY like to see improve.

I dunno. I'm still not a champion sleeper, but then I never have been. I guess it's okay -- I sleep decently most nights, although I wake up earlier than I'd like.

I can live with it. It beats being a drunk.