Thanks Jaba - I had NO idea what to say ! That was interesting reading about the brain and the alcohol and seizures !

Hugs, Maggie x

I am not saying that his issue is seizures or rum fit, but it is something to be concerned about especially when taking the nal. I think he would want to be under the supervision of a doctor, for his situation is a little more complicated, or maybe it isn't. But I would rather him be safe than sorry.

I just have never seen anyone or heard of anyone having a slight seizure (or whatever he has) drinking 6 beer...it is just odd and scary (but I scare pretty easy).

It is scary to watch someone have seizures when you're not accustomed to it. I have witnessed numerous seizures when Mr. ND was intoxicated. It's quite common for people with TBI to have epilepsy as a long-term sequela, but I don't believe the brain activity in his case indicates epilepsy. His seem to occur only after extreme emotional upset and almost never when he's not drinking. The reason I don't drink is because my anti-depressant, when combined with alcohol, can lower your seizure threshold. I've never had one, and I'd like to keep it that way.

So I have to wonder, since you're an older person, if you're taking any maintenance medications of any kind, and if so, have you talked to your doctor or pharmacist about the interaction with heavy alcohol use?

Nodoormat,

I am glad you chimed in for I am puzzled, and little upset. His age is unknown at this time, for he might have started drinking at an early age.

I am not sure if what he had was a seizure, but it is an odd reaction, and what is TBI? I am tired and was unable to sleep to see if he/or anyone else would post.

I know that he hasn't started TSM yet, but with symptoms of something else going on (which may be nothing at all) scares me. I just want his transition into TSM as smooth as it possible can.

Jaba

never mind Traumatic Brain Injury

My husband has/had seizures, but is not an epileptic. He only has seizures while he is asleep and very stressed out and fatigued. He was listed as unknown seizure disorder; however, the insurance company (health and life) list him as an epileptic, for he is on the medicine for them (high stress job and always burning the candle at both ends). They told him he could go off the medicine once his life isn't stressful... like that will ever happen with an extreme type a personality!

Oops! I think I misread Clarion's response to mean that Tbear had been drinking for 50 years, so I was assuming that he or she was hopefully at least 60 (that's an unwarranted assumption, of course!). Given that, I know lots of people are on some kind of maintenance med by that age, or maybe it's just my ca-raz-ay family! Evidently, I am quite tired too and not reading well. I need to go to bed! Apologies for any offense I may have caused.

Sorry to hear he has to deal with that. I'm hoping that since Depakote seems to be helping Mr. ND a lot with his headaches, combined with the drinking at moderate levels these days, will mean that he can get off the Dilantin. I don't believe the 3 a day he has to take are doing anything besides putting him at risk for side effects.

I'm not even type A, and I totally get where your husband is coming from. I feel like my life is one big ball of stress without a break for about a year and a half, and it was never very easy before that either! As one of my coworkers says about his crazy life, "Life is good if you don't weaken."

Thanks for the good article Jaba. They are not seizures like you are thinking. I am completely coherant. It more like a ovewhelming flood of emotions. I can feel them coming on when I reach a point of intoxication. I think it is more psycological than anythinig. I fear getting out of control. It's more like muscle spasms. It looks like a seizure to those around but I know it's not. I am 51, so I've been a binge drinker for 25 to 30 years. I have not had a binge since September 12. I've been doing well on the Reduction program. My problem is that drinking is always in the forfront of my mind. That is what I was hoping the Nal would help with. Thank you so much for taking the time and talking to me. I'm a woman by the way....LOL.

Is it possible that these problems are related to neurological damage that happens with binge drinking? I am glad that you found help with this. I find it very important not to have any wine at home. Ginger tea is something that I now use when I am stressed at home.

Nal has completely changed my life - I never imagined that I could be without my glass of wine when I come home. I am still working on limiting drinking in social situation. Yesterday, for the first time after starting Nal, I had a glass of wine at home (after taking Nal, of course) without there being a social occasion. This was a leftover from a party over the weekend. I decided to drink it slowly in a nice wine glass. My kids were totally surprised to see me with wine in hand at home. In the past, I would hide it from them - but yesterday, I decided not to. I had that one glass and happily did not desire another.

Nal on!

TBear,

I am so sorry for the gender mis-identity and age. I am the same age and a female, and I can get anxiety and a rush without alcohol...it is that "time" in my life.

I know that you can have a petit seizure and still be awake and coherent, and seizures can cause a flood emotion; however, I also know that a lot of alcoholics, or people that have an issues with intake, have anxiety disorders (I do and it is hard to turn off). It maybe what could be happening to you, especially since you get that adrenaline rush (which can cause anxiety...think about a car accident and how you feel).

You might want to look into alcohol deprivation, for it has been a month since you drank. TSM will help you gain control with your drinking, but you have to drink. Naltrexone can help with the cravings of alcohol; however, it isn't what TSM is about. Nal. alone (without TSM) is proven to have a low success rate, but it can help.

When I first started on the NAL., I had no desire to drink and I had to force myself those first couple of days, so I do know that it does squelch your desire. I just do not know how it will work long term. The good news is that you can drink on the nal (as long as you wait an hour) and it will help you.

I wanted to warn you of the honeymoon period if you do decide to go forward with TSM. The honeymoon period can last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Your intake will be down for that period of time, and you will feel in control. Then your intake will go back up (which can be scary). Not everyones intake goes up (a few lucky people), but most do. I look at it like your brain is fighting to feel that "ah" moment again, and wants you to keep on drinking to get it, but it never comes.

If you do decide to go forward, please think about coming here and starting a progress page, for it can help others and it will help you.
If you decide to take the nal. without using TSM, please start a progress page as well, for we have had been people in your situation or using AA, posting here and hoping for an answer; we really do not know what to tell them.

I am so for the lengthy response (I am a chatterbox), but I am here to help. This is a great forum, and we are open to which ever method you decide to go forward with, and we will encourage you every step of the way.

Jaba