I started TSM on May 31, 2015 with 25mg for two days and then upped the dose to 50mg. I had a little dizziness at the beginning but nothing too bad. I introduced myself under "Needy Newbie". The first week my alcohol consumption was down by almost 2/3rds. I was ecstatic! Unfortunately, week two did not follow suit. I knew deep down it was too good to be true, but the optimist in me had my fingers crossed!

I stopped tracking my units because I was so disheartened and depressed by the numbers going up so dramatically. I started again this week. I know it is important. I also know that I have expected the pill to be magic and have not worked at some of the changes I need to make. I read on a post here that the nal can't knock the glass of wine out of your hand and I need to remember that.

My side effects...ick! I guess I have to say I just feel "unwell" taking the nal. At first I had a little dizziness but nothing too bad. Then the heavy perspiring started, usually within an hour or two of taking the nal. It only lasts about five to ten minutes, but it is worse than any hot flash I have ever had. I am 62 and have not had to deal with those in years. I cannot find hot flashes listed as a side effect of Nal anywhere, so hopefully I am the only lucky one. I have had lots of headaches since starting TSM. They are minor headaches but I dislike starting out the day like that. I also feel very lethargic and do not have the energy I used to have. I love to cook and I have not even had the desire for that. I have had bouts of anxiety, waking up in the morning or the middle of the night with an incredible scared feeling. I am a little crankier than usual, I think, but not to the extent that anyone has mentioned it. Maybe it is worse than I think and my husband is afraid to mention it!

I have not shared my journey with TSM with anyone. I just feel it is better this way for the time being. I feel lonely and scared, though. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the information and support here. I have much reading to do as I find references to things on posts I do not understand, and I want to learn from everyone's experiences.

My goal for now is to start having one alcohol free day per week, and obviously cut down the number of drinks per week.

Weeks 1, 2 - 15, 50 AF/0
Weeks 3-11 not tracking AF/0
Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19- 25 AF/1, 18 AF/1,18 AF/1, 21 AF/1, 20 A/F 0, 20 A/F 0, 13 A/F 3, 16 A/F 1
Week 20, 21 - 28 A/F 0, 4 A/F 6[/size]

Great that you have started your progress thread Dee - and yes it is nice that we are all in this together and can share. I am so sorry that your SE's are still so bad - that is really weird about the hot flushes but at least they do not last long eh ? Having been through them twice and now they have started up again, I totally empathise !! They started up again !!!! I have just realised what I said! I know that I had them in the nights when I slept, after drinking but am also getting them again in the day time now - I just thought it was an age thing and them coming back - but maybe it is the Nal - I had not even thought of that! Hhmm - I will watch them and the timing and see .... but do not think it is the Nal because I had one the other morning at work and had not had a Nal for 2 days !

I am glad that you are tracking your units again - it really is so important ! Even if it high - at least then you have somewhere to go ! And down the road can look back and see how well you are doing. The goal of an AF day a week is good - I found those hard initially but now manage a couple most weeks !! Baby steps.

Hugs, Maggie x

Hey Deena!
Thanks for checking in and sharing your progress with us. It seems that we are one day apart on TSM from the day we started. That's pretty cool. I can totally relate with the first week drinking being very low and then it skyrocketing. I did my weekly progress yesterday and although I did track week two, I stated that I felt like a dog with their tail between their legs coming and sharing my numbers. I realized it's silly though. For me, I am doing much better, and it seems like this is just the normal cycle for TSM and nal. I wouldn't get too down about it and I'm sure we will both start to see improvement in the weeks to come. Like you have seen from my side effects thread, I am experiencing some uncomfortable side effects as well, but I have much hope for those to dissipate as I have seen they have for many other members that came before us! I didn't really realize it before, but I am definitely experiencing the hot flashes too. It's quite annoying, I am in Arizona and always turning down the A/C which is not conducive to keeping my electric bill down, but hey, things could be worse. Glad you decided to start tracking this week again, as it is very important for you and everyone else.
I hope you have a "better" week this week and when I say that, I just mean creating more hope within yourself and trusting the process!!

Look forward to more updates!
Carli

Oh wait, I just saw that we weren't one day apart. Sorry, I just wanted to correct my mistake. I don't know why I thought that (LOL), but it doesn't change that I am still excited to travel this journey with you and everyone else.

Hugs,
Carli

good luck Deena! sounds like you have some great goals for yourself.

----

It is interesting, Maggie and Carli, that you have been having some temperature issues, too. I guess there is no way to truly tell if they are nal related but whether they are or not, they are annoying.

In terms of side effects, the headachy feeling seems to be a bit better. I seem anxious and cranky, though. I mentioned elsewhere last week that it must not be too bad because my husband hadn't mentioned it, but this weekend he did. He asked what was going on because I am so short-tempered. We had an argument, which we rarely do, and I know that I would probably have reacted differently if not feeling so out of sorts. I was tempted to tell him about the nal, but truly feel it is better for now to keep it to myself.

Maggie, thank you for encouraging me to start tracking my drinks again. I think I did quite well this week with 25 drinks and my first alcohol free day since February! The cravings are strong, though, that hasn't changed, and having a drink feels the same to me as it ever did.

Thanks, Jaba and zontar, Carli! Your support means more than I can say. I feel so alone keeping this secret and your presence here is a tremendous help.

Dee - sorry that you are feeling cranky - I had a bout of that and hubs and I argued a week or so ago - very unusual for us too- I am not sure if it was the Nal - I have noticed that I am not sleeping well and am not sure if that is the Nal - I used to sleep so well but cannot remember if this started when I started the Nal or if I wasn't sleeping well before that. I am glad that your intake is down though - that is great news. I know that I tend to get cranky if I have had a few AF days ..... have you considered telling your husband about the Nal? I think he would be pleased to know that you were trying to do something about the AL and that way could cut you some slack if you are out of sorts. Just a thought anyway ...

Hugs, Maggie x

Maggie, my husband is wonderfully supportive and I have considered telling him, especially since the argument on Friday. My gut instinct is to keep this to myself for now, though. My fear is that if he tries to be too helpful or get too involved, it will stress me, I will become even crankier, and I will give up. I also want to do this without him feeling like he has to change any of his behaviors. He does drink, but never more than a couple of drinks and not daily. Not sharing this with him is tough for me, as we are very close and I do not usually keep anything from him. I am hopeful that this anxious, cranky feeling I have is one of the side effects of nal that will go away with time.

I have also noticed that I am not as quick as I was pre-nal. I have always been funny and had a quick wit and I feel much duller now. Has anyone else noticed that?

I laughed at this Deena - I am not quick or funny anyway! Except when I have been drinking and then think I am hilarious !! So cannot respond to that particular thing - I do think that you need to talk to your hubs about it, but that is just me - if you do not usually keep stuff from him, he might be hurt when he finds out eventually. I know what you mean though about him being too helpful if he knows - but maybe you can reassure him that things are carry on as usual - but that you were dubious about telling him because of the way that he would react?

Hugs, Maggie x