Bob,

Great to hear about your progress. I keep on reading your reports.

I am very happy that the AF days get more and that the days with few alcohol units per day start to increase.

I think you are on the right way, and I think that you are doing this very well!!

Keep it going!

Congratulations Bob - and thanks for posting this. I think your progress on naltrexone is an answer to the question so many have about taking benzos while practicing TSM. While Dr. E thinks the benzos will hamper the process. . .it seems that may not be the case, after all. This has to be encouraging for those who are taking benzos!

Sorry about all the noises in your head. Is it possible to meditate or get 'into' a meditative/hypnotic CD? While I'm not manic, I do find this practice helps when my mind wants to spin out of control or obsess on something fruitless.

Thanks Nick, elfern, craving, G4M.

Sunday/Monday night I had an even worse night's sleep - waking up again and again, heavily sweating, realistic disturbing colorful dreams, even though I had a full AF day with no Naltrexone on Sunday.

I saw my psychiatrist Monday morning a bit late for my appointment due to a minor traffic accident (I'm OK, they're OK). I explained the night sweats, difficulty in sleeping and vivid disturbing dreams to him. He immediately said that it sounded like withdrawal symptoms and asked me if I had changed anything. Of course I told him I had reduced from 15mg Valium from late March to late May and had subsequently reduced to 5 mg. He immediately said that was too much of a reduction. Of course he checked his notes and saw that I stated I had wanted a reduction. He said fortunately, there is an easy way to identify that it is the Valium. He told me to go back to my previous dosage where I did not have symptoms (10mg/day) and if the symptoms were due to Valium withdrawal, they should go away almost immediately. If the symptoms disappear, he said stabilize at the 10 mg level before going to a lower dosage of 7.5mg as he had originally recommended, not 5mg; halving a Benzo dosage is not doable without unpleasant side effects. Smaller increments over a longer time scale are recommended. So lena and my psychiatrist are right. Benzo withdrawal takes a long time!

Anyway, Monday mid-afternoon after 10 days at the low Valium dosage, I took a second 5 mg Valium for the day to make a total of 10mg for yesterday. I felt so good 30 minutes after taking it, I decided to have another AF day (my 1st consecutive AF day under TSM)! But of course that wasn't the reason I took the second pill. After an enjoyable evening, I went to bed and had a good night's sleep - no sweating, slept many hours at a time, and had vivid neutral dreams. I don't know how long it takes to "stabilize" on 10mg, but I would like to start on 7.5 mg ASAP.

I also clearly see why Valium is used by the medical community for alcohol withdrawal. I felt so content after going back to my old dosage yesterday, I didn't even think about drinking whatsoever. That feeling will go away quickly, so we'll see how it goes with TSM, once I resume after these AF days.

Bob

This all sounds like great news to me, Bob, relatively speaking. So happy to hear it! As my realtor says to me -- after my 8th month of trying to sell my dead dad's condo for a fraction of what he paid for it -- after a few positive showings, "Onwards and upwards!"

Bob, just so you know I have not started my taper of benzo's yet but when I take naltrexone I am having the terrible nightmares and profuse sweating too, again on naltrexone and same dose as always of benzo's. Not sure on my AF days if the it is different really didn't track that! You might be interested!

Thanks "guys" and Nick !

LaBear: lena warned me about accelerated benzo tapering and although I listened to her, I tapered faster than anyone recommended, just to see what would happen with the hope that nothing dramatic would occur. If you are experiencing night sweats and nightmares now, just wait until you taper off the benzos! It makes the Nal side effects seem like a walk-in-the-park. Be careful. Remember though, you can reverse the tapering with one pill in one day, at least it did in my case.

WTE: Are you tapering too? Or are you maintaining the status quo on benzos and experiencing the sweating and nightmares on Nal like LaBear? How are your AF days?

I forgot to say in my last post that my psychiatrist asked me if I was still doing well with Naltrexone, "the way I was taking it", while he was writing a 3 month prescription for it. I had forgotten that I had explained the Sinclair Method to him in March before he prescribes me the Naltrexone. He told me yesterday that I am the only patient he has, that has had a positive response to Naltrexone, possibly because don't take it when I don't drink. He said he'll be especially interested when I see him again in 3 months.

One more observation. I haven't seen anyone posting that they are beginning to dislike drinking as I seem to be observing in myself. Even as I compose this on my second drink, I can tell you that I think I'd rather be drinking pickle juice than beer right now. Alcohol is becoming quite distasteful to me. But I don't see anyone else posting such an experience. Am I the only one?

Bob

Actually, I have read EVERY new post EVERYONE has posted since March 15, 2009. However, I don't remember everything I have read.

Regarding your "not liking to drink", you did not, in fact, answer my question, although you may have not intended to. Yes, the AL always wins in the end. But, does anyone find that our Drink of Choice (DOC) is becoming more repulsive, as I have?

Bob

Bob, in answer to your question, there are times when I hate the wine and am currently bouncing around with either vodka or beer and not sure about that either. So I would have to say that I too have mixed feelings as WTE. WTE your thoughts are mine exactly on either day or nightime drinking.
I would like to say here that I had horrible night sweats last night. I took the Naltrexone and drank as usual and I am on the benzo's and didn't have this problem prior to Naltrexone. I honestly think it is now a side affect of the Naltrexone since my drinking has not lowered to a significant degree per episode. I will be watching this part to see if I can figure some pattern with my AF days also. I honestly can't stand that part of this. I find I mind the heat more in general also. What about you?

Thanks WTE, LaBear, and Nick's PM!

My last post's tone was way too harsh in my opinion. I don't know why, other than the time of day I posted it. I'd like to apologize to everyone for it's harshness.

I had intended yesterday to be another AF day, but I changed my mind mid-afternoon due to cravings. (Took my Naltrexone 1 hour before, of course). The first beer, which used to be refreshing and satisfying pre-Nal, now tastes tolerable at best. Each subsequent beer tastes "less bad" until my 6th beer (my self-imposed limit) which tastes neutral. I only drink now for TSM and AL's anxiolytic properties.

Bob

PS No night sweats or nightmares last night. Go figure.

Yes, very strange about these sweats. I would have thought it was just me if others had not said something. As is I have a thyroid issue and do have problems with sudden temp changes and thought maybe it was that too. Good to know it just may be a side affect that will go away. It was 60ish yesterday and raining and I had the windows open and shorts on lol!