Not doing so well today. Upped my dose to 25mgs and managed to drink more cuz I wanted that old familiar buzz and it just wasn't going to happen. Was feeling sorry for myself about my Fibro which I thought may have been misdiagnosed until I figured out that the continuing headaches are probably related. The weather here changed from a three year drought which really kept it at bay, but now that the rain is back, I am suffering a bit and can't take the Vicodin. It could be much worse, so I'm going to try to stick with the 25mgs and see where it takes me. If the the pain is worse than having a hangover twice a week, I just might throw in the towel. I'm scheduling a doctors appointment to see if I can get something compatible with Nal. Though, I dont want to tell him Im on the Nal for fear he might discontinue all meds. I've read that muscle relaxants or something like Valium can help. I might talk to him about medical marihuana, but have had some scary experiences with it in the past. I'm told they grow it for a variety of maladies, so going to a shop and getting a personalized Rx is worth persuing. I will be staying with my son for the next 10 or so days and will hopefully not go overboard on the drink. I'm planning on another 25 tonight even if I don't drink as I'm having a hard time with the SE's and just want to push through the acclimating. Take Care, Keek

Just checking in.... It's been an ok month and I've been managing to limit the drinks to 3 per occasion with a minimal amount of Nal. However, I jacked my back up last week and have been on painkillers since. Fortunately I hadn't had any Nal for a few days prior, but I did find that my normal RX wasn't working as well. I'm back to just ibuprofen and am concerned with drinking without the Nal this coming weekend because I drank last night and even though I stayed at 3, I can see that ugly demon showing its face again. I suppose I can not drink since it doesn't seem to be that much fun anymore anyhow. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes, but still need to be aware that falling back into old patterns is very easy and maybe a little white knuckling is called for.

Ps. Sorry for my absence as I have been traveling and have not made this a priority. Keek

Keek, if you don't stop drinking without naltrexone, this is never going to work. It just isn't.

Why do you keep doing this? Are you hoping to sustain some kind of half-cured state where you get the drunkenness without the problems?

This must be difficult. You need painkillers, so don't take naltrexone . . . but with TSM, that means you don't drink. You aren't cured, so you've still got cravings. That sucks. No question about it. Total suckage.

Seems to me that you're kinda stuck with it, though. You don't want to screw up the cure, do you? That'll just leave you in this position again some day, the next time you could use some pain meds.

Nal+Drinking+Patience= Success anything other than that and you will not get to the Cured list EVER!
This is such a simple thing to do.We cannot express this enough to you to just follow the Golden Rule!
I am sure many people that it never worked for did just what you are doing and that is just sad.
If you are on Pain meds then can you just take those and just not drink? I know when I had a herniated disc and finally
had to have surgery I was on big pain meds and never really cared much about drinking cause I was looped on pills.
I know this sounds tough but c'mon girl we are all rooting for you and hoping you will be a successful TSM'r in time.
I know for me I am in an alcohol hell and I want off this Horror Ride so much!!!

OK take care and hope your back gets better really soon!