Hey Snap

I'm really loving your daily up-dates.

Hmm, looks like you are out of your honeymoon, but the good news is you had one which means you are likely to reach success (or at least that was the rule of thumb with naltrexone).

There will be times when you drink back at old levels - I was lucky in that I never went back to old levels BUT old levels to me were very high, 30 units in ONE session, but I did have peaks in my drinking whilst following TSM. I too was scared BUT I saw that as my addicted brain doubting, so I decided I was drinking through new triggers, and also that taking the tablet wasn't going to do me any harm so might as well carry on.

My feelings are if you are going to drink anyway, nal or no nal then you might as well give yourself a chance of a cure at the end of it.

I also noticed that cure times do vary massively, mine was 6 months but because I halved my intake so dramatically and so consistently right from the start, I considered myself a 'fastish' responder. Very fast responders are fixed in a few weeks.

Keep going, you didn't get your alcohol habit overnight, so it won't disappear overnight either.

Thanks UK Blonde - it was your posts in MWO which first directed me to TSM in the first place - just wish I'd asked a few questions earlier!

Well - day 17 and yes my drinking has crept up compared to week one, but realistically, I shouldn't be too upset as my intake is still half of what it has been every night in recent years.

I had a work event in London last week which started at midday with Champagne, wine flowing throughout the meal and finished at 7pm - that's 7 hours of drinking time with lots of drinking companions around me. I had 7 drinks that day - which is probably a third of what I would normally drink at an event like that. After a couple of glasses of wine, I simply didn't fancy any more. Towards the end of the event, my last glass of wine lasted ages - I just couldn't be bothered to drink it.

Again, in the evenings, I haven't wildly craved a drink, but started to really fancy a glass of wine with dinner so have taken a pill. Usually after 3 or 4 drinks I just don't fancy any more. I'm also not tolerant of drinking yukky stuff just for the kick. In the past, I would drink really cheap, nasty tasting wine, just so that I could get a quick buzz. Now I only enjoy wine that tastes good - I suppose because I'm liking the taste but not getting any kicks out of it. TSM could get expensive for me at £4 per tablet plus a snobbery for good wine!!

Sheesh, us alchies are so impatient.

This in itself is more than enough for now. From the way you were sounding I thought you were back up to your usual levels. TSM takes 6-12 months (Ok with naltx not nalf) to be successful..........what is it we used to say?

nal + alcohol + patience = success

Yeah, seriously, it's only your second week. You can't expect to be all cured yet. Give it time to work!

Perfect snapdragon, don't hide your addiction from the nal. Well done and even journaled. ...Applause.

Sounds like you're off to a good start Snapdragon!

nal + alcohol + patience = success

I am rubbish at the patience bit

Snapdragon, I was updating myself on your post and came across the one where your consumption increased and then didn't see a post from you for a day or two. I started to panic that you had given up and then was relieved to read that you are still plugging along. Girl, don't scare me like that. I know that we want to be the quick responders and get discouraged when our consumption increases, but believe me, it's better to stick with it... I'm glad to see that you are. I wish you continued success even if it doesn't come as quickly as we'd like. Hugs, keek

Thanks for your encouragement everyone! I know, I know patience is a virtue - I just don't seem to have! Keke you won't get rid of me that easily!! I just ordered my second prescription of Selincro for a whopping £216 - if that isn't commitment I don't know what is. Just think how many new pairs of shoes and matching handbags I could have for that!

My drinking is still at least half pre-TSM levels. I had 30 last week and have already had 25 this week with two days to go so expect it to be about the same. I was always exceeding 58 to 60 before I began Selincro.

I am really noticing that I don't crave a drink maddeningly all afternoon like I used to. I don't even think about having a drink - and I believe that is because taking the Selincro has taken away the nail biting argument that used to plague my attempts at AF in the past. Right now it is 5pm and I don't really feel much like a drink. However, I know that once I start cooking - as usual - I will really feel like having a couple of glasses of wine. Part of me wonders if I should just force myself to have an AF day. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard - I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't be climbing the walls as i was in the past. But then another part of me wonders whether I should just keep up the TSM process, if I feel like a drink - have one. Just make sure I pop a pill an hour before.

Before starting TSM I was intrigued to know why people would drink alcohol still if you don't get the buzz and this is an interesting thing for me. I still get a dizzy drunk feeling in my stomach after drinking, but it's like my head is completely detached from the process. This takes away the pleasure and the feeling like you want to keep on drinking more and more.

Another massive bonus is that I don't get that 'drunk attitude' any more. I'm sure my hubbie has noticed this as it has always been a bone of contention in our marriage. Two glasses of wine pre-TSM and I would turn into the bitch from hell. Now, alcohol doesn't seem to have any affect on my mood. In fact I think it now creates a personality lobotomy - it's as much as I can manage to say something interesting, let alone antagonistic!

Anyway - keep on plugging all. This is my last attempt at getting sober, so I guarantee I'm staying the course for 6 months minimum. You won't be getting rid of me of these threads before the end of April 2015 so the more to join this party the merrier - welcome all

Good for you and glad we will be in this together cause I am now giving it 7 months at least as I have a supply of Nal for that amount of time!

It's funny how we say we are going to give it so much time like it's a lot of work. Really we can work on ourselves in the meantime and hey we get to DRINK with no white knuckling it so how hard is it really for us????