You are welcome! As I said before, my only regret is that I won't be seeing Eddie Haskell's face every day for much longer. (When I was a kid growing up in Boston I used to watch Leave it to Beaver at 730 every morning before going to school.)

Unfortunately, I lent the book out to a non-believer, family-friend physician (trying to convert the non-believers, one mind at a time). I just remember the book discussed the outcome of a follow-up study of those who were cured by TSM and virtually none of them relapsed one year later. They were basically divided between abstainers and social drinkers who had a few per week within safe levels. It stood out in my mind because it was the first time I had ever read of any type of addict not having a high relapse rate, regardless of the type of treatment they received.

Bob!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!! You are doing absolutely fantastic and are a true inspiration! I cannot wait to get to where you are right now! I have the support of my husband but I sense that he still looks at me and debates that this method isn't working. I have had more AF days while on TSM so that has to speak for something.

Anyway...I don't want to hijack your thread, I just wanted to let you know that I am proud of you!!!!!!

ps. had another AF day yesterday but no nightsweats......I don't get it!

Thanks, all!!!

I'm not ready to declare victory yet... but notice I am now deliberately using the word "yet". Success, if it is already not here now, is inevitable.

Today, I encountered a trigger that I didn't even know existed. Although, I had planned to be AF this whole week, I discussed the surprise trigger with my wife and we decided it would be best to take some Naltrexone and have a a beer or two to extinguish that trigger. What's great about tonight's conversation is that if she had said "wait until Monday", I would have waited with no second thoughts. The trigger was that feeble! Anyway, I took my Naltrexone tonight, waited the obligatory 1 hour, then had two Guinness' in the last 2 hours and I called it quits for the night. Other than the trigger, this is how normal people drink. It's like it was years ago for me before the alcoholism set in. Naltrexone has reversed most of my addiction. Occasional "triggers" are going to pop up, just like SpringerRider said they would, and we will proceed to extinguish each of these stragglers as they come along.

Bob

Tearing up over this, Bob - pretty unbelievable...sniff/wipe away the tears...SOOOO happy for & inspired by you. There is hope yet!!

I am upping my doseage to 75 mgs tonight. I must have "big, fat opioids" LOL and thinking 30+ years of progressive drinking that got me to this point...maybe the extra umph will nudge me into the success zone. Holding hands w/ G4M on this aspect...

Congrats to you & keeping fingers crossed for the rest of us. There is so much more positive than negative here. It's great how far we've come & the incredible support. I am soooooooo happy for you, muh man!! Keep posting - I want to hear every moment of your life and how great you feel. Loving it!! :-)

Thanks, houtx!

Yes, there is hope. I never saw this control coming. Desire for drinking fell, then spiked, then no cravings for over a week. The minor craving last night, I could have easily ignored. Those who arrived at this point in the treatment before me have said that it was like a switch flipping and that is what it's feels like to me.

I had the 2 Guinness' last night, just like I planned. I seemed to be satisfied with that amount, although if there were more in the fridge at the time, I may have wanted more... I really don't know. I do know I didn't get any more, which is just as good.

I am no longer afraid of saying what my plan is for the day. I feel that it is going to happen. My addiction is no longer driving. My conscious mind is now in control. Today will be an AF day. And tomorrow, will be an "extinction day", if I get to the store which I may or may not. We'll see.

Bob

Bob - just reading this now - I'm so happy for you!

Congratulations - I have been following your struggles silently, but wanted to pipe in and say I am so very, very happy to read this. It is strange that at this point we are afraid to shout victory or do not trust the signs. I feel the same way. No matter what your levels are pre-sinclair this addiction makes us so so used to failure, so poised to backslide after a number of AF days that we ourselves no longer trust the victories - we expect them to be brief. I think your 2 guinness night is a very, very good sign though. For me, AF days were followed by going back to high numbers, not onesies or twosies...very hopeful for you.

WOW! Just think, you were ready to throw in the towel on this at one point b/c Dr. E. thought the benzo's would hinder your progress - yet your success has come faster than many others. I'm so glad you didn't quit!

I'm right behind you, friend. The alcohol has definitely lost its much of its grip on me, and is much less appealing. I think I'm gonna be able to get some AF days in the next week or so without any problem. Bit by bit, we're reclaiming our lives!

Bob,
Wow and congratulations!!!! Not really caring whether you drink or not has to be an amazing place to be. Your progress is so inspirational!

Thanks for the hope.

This is all very encouraging to me! I am in week 15 with no real changes yet, but reading your success gives me hope!! I know my "corner" has got to be coming along here soon.

Feelin the luv, bro! Sooooooooo encouraged - keep us informed of every little detail. You rock!