LOL to the Enterprise comment.

Yes, hangovers on naltrexone are worse than they otherwise would be from my experience. BUT, this is especially true when first starting the drug. Your body will adapt to it and the side effects all diminish after a week or so for almost everybody. When your body gets used to the nal, the hangover effect will not be as bad.

Before starting naltrexone I had a hangover on virtually every Sunday. I still get them now, 10 weeks in, but they are not as bad because I'm usually drinking less on the nal. So overall, the hangover experience is better on the nal than it was before. It will get better, you'll see.

Thanks for the reply Nick.

Today I feel a thousand times better than the previous 2 drinking episodes.

Last night, I cooked spegetti for everyone. Fed everyone, kids and all, including myself. I knew we were going out to a sports bar to play pool. So I waited til after I ate, then took the Nal. I already had a headache throughout the better part of the day, so I cant say I had much of any sides from taking the nal to start.

Hour and a half later, we are at the bar. Weve met up with our friends and I start my pool sharking. (Longest games Ive ever played lol, no one could get a ball in.) It was an odd night. I ended up drinking what is probably equivalent to 6 full strength beers. 3 beers 9% and 2 beers at 3.2% al. Anyway throughout the night, I didnt feel much like talking to people. Normally I would be carrying on coversations with anyone in my path. My wife says I would get too "chatty". It was like I was a voyeur, content to just watch people.

Outside, smoking a cig, I person came up to me and started up a conversation. I didnt feel like talking much and found myself having a hard time really paying attention to what he was saying. What I noticed was....this guy is acting like I normally would be acting pre TSM. Just chatting it up with anyone. Im going to go out on a limb here and say that I seriously doubt he will remember me let alone the conversation we had.

I left my wife at the table, our friends had already left for the evening, we didnt want to lose our spot because it was becoming quite crowded. The venue was a bit younger crowd, which made very interesting scenery. Moving along, the person that "chatted" me up outside, kept me longer than I expected to be...so arriving back at the table, my wife wasnt too pleased that I took so long and accused me of probably being "chatty" with someone while I was smoking lol. I tried to explain the odd sensations that I was having...to no avail (Never keep a lady waiting!!!!)

I found that at times I chose to drink water vs the beer in front of me. I noticed that the beer really affected me alot faster and more even. I was fine just leaving with what we had consumed. I didnt race to finish my current beer to order another when the bar tender yelled "Last Call".

On the way to the car, a less fortunate person came up to us, started the conversation with hey nice car. It startled me because he came up from behind. For some reason I got really really mad....I yelled at him to get away, I dont have any money, and yes it is a nice car. (about to lose it actually) I found myself, looking at myself as I yelled at this poor buggar. Thinking why am I reacting like this?

Anyway he sauntered off fast.

Upon arrival at home, I asked my wife, who was preparing for bed, to pour me a half a splash of wine in the glass that I brought her. She said "Im not drinking any wine" I said, I probably wont either. So she poured a small amount in a glass. Had a sip and thought hmmm not what I really want.

I kept the glass anyway, wife goes to bed, and....I stay up a bit later listening to music on the Ipod. Normally this would entail a huge glass of wine, maybe 2 and passing out on the floor. Instead, the small amount of wine I had didnt go beyond one sip....but I did fall asleep in the chair outside on the deck.

Today I do not have that horrible hungover feeling that I had the previous 2 times. Getting used to the side affects now? I feel a tiny bit spacey, but not at all like before. However, I did have a hell of a time getting myself out of bed. I just sat there, thinking I should get up, but thinking I didnt get enough sleep.

Sorry to be so long winded, but Id like to look back at this for my own tracking purposes. Just from what happend in the above, I would call a huge victory for myself, and if this was the farthest that TSM took me....I would take it. I know its a long road....I sure hope this isnt the beginning of what they call the honeymoon period. Because its still a bit rough at this point, but huge, HUGE improvement to pre TSM.

A sincere thanks to all who have gone before me and continue to come back and help others.

hapful
(did I leave anything out? lol)

First of all, your threads are highly entertaining so never apologize for the long posts. I, personally, love the details. In the unlikely event people don't like it, they don't have to read it.

Your experiences are just like mine, including the pool and the observations of others while drinking on nal and yes, "the honeymoon." Your immediate decrease in drinking is almost certainly temporary because it takes more time (months) to extinguish your habit. But the side-effects you are having are a good indicator that the nal is having a positive effect on you. For my first week or two I had NO INTEREST in drinking. It didn't last long and as the nal side-effects wore off, I was back to drinking as I did pre-TSM, or close to it.

A great thing about drinking on naltrexone is the clarity of thought you have -- as you describe it, it's almost like you are sitting outside of yourself, watching yourself in a movie, re-evaluating how you are when you drink. This happened to me last night. I went to pick up my buddy at his brother in-law's house. His brother in-law and I have almost nothing in common -- he's country, I'm city; he shoots animals for fun, I donate to shelters... But upon my arrival I immediately noticed we have something in common: we're both drunks. He was sitting around a campfire, drinking beer with four other alcoholics (including my best drinking buddy), slurring embarrassing tales of DWIs. On the nal I was clear-headed, thinking to myself, "What a bunch of losers", before reminding myself that I too have a DWI under my belt. Although one guy was talking about how he pulled off two DWIs in one week -- a nice trick that he should have been ashamed of, but thought was funny after 20 Coors... Anyway, I'm no different from them -- I drink too much and say dumb things -- but on naltrexone I'm far more aware of what's going on and less prone to act foolish. That is a great, but infrequently discussed, aspect to TSM: most of us no longer act like idiots when we drink.

Ha! I can almost picture you guys sitting around a fire like that. (I too have had a DUI/DWI) but I was under 18 when it happend.

Before posting here, or even joining I read alot of other peoples threads, including yours Nick. I got alot of insite from them. I particularly keyed in on the "not acting like a fool as much" parts in alot of peoples stories. I for one am grateful for that, because thats one of the main reasons for why I felt so bad the next day. That oh man, I can believe I was on about that, or damn, I did that? and then dwell on it all day or even a few days. Ofcourse that guilt shame thing wears off and we are off to create all new guilt shame spirals to try and forget the last lol.

Anyway, here I am....my wife is off to a "ladies only" thing that theyve been planning for a week or so. I have the kids....my parents are off at some gambling town across the stateline (my parents moved in with us about a year ago). My buddy, who just happens to be husband to one of the "ladies only" who is attending the "ladies only" function called me..."hey so theyre doing that ladies only thing tonight, you want to do somthing?" I ask, like what? "Lets go hit some balls at the range and have some beers after". (Not sure Ive ever typed "ladies only" that much ever in my life)

So here I am all prepared for a non eventful evening, and the thought of beer has entered the equation. Quickly my computer like mind starts calculating.....2 + 2 + Nal + beer =??? I have an answer but at this point its only theory....do I try to prove the theory tonight?

I normally dont like to drink around my parents, mainly because of my antics, but in light of what Im learning and my new friend Nal....Im left wondering if I give it a whirl? I call my Mom, I can hear the slot machines ringing and dinging in the background... after some did you hit anything? can I quit my job yet? (Im actually self employed, hopefully not soon to be a clock puncher anytime soon) conversation I explain what is going on and do you mind if my buddy comes over for some beers later?

"what about the kids?" she asks. I explain that we used to have somewhat of a life previous to them living with us (lots of people would come over) and the kids are familiar with the buddy in question. My Mom knows I am taking Nal and I have explained to her as best I could TSM, she seems to have grasped the concept and only asked that I try to refrain from AL intake during the week.

Heres my plan....eat somthing now...take a Nal, depending on what time he wants to hit some balls and drink after, take the kids with me to the driving range, maybe they can swing some clubs too (probably do better than me), head back home with kids, clubs, beer from the store, somthing to cook on the grill, and buddy in hand.....

My hesitations? I believe myself to have had one of the best drinking nights last night, with minimal hangover today than I have ever had in a very very long time. Do I want to spoil this feeling?

I know I must continue on with TSM...I don't want to have a horrible day tomorrow, seeing as how it is Monday. Anyway, if my buddy still wants to, I think we follow that plan.

My buddy has these wood boards, that you put meat or fish or whatever on then put the board, protien and all on the grill, supposedly makes a good wood flavor or somthing. I was thinking of getting some salmon and doing some of my famous grilling. (probably alert the fire dept down the street first though)

So if anyone hears on the news about 2 idiots burning down a house from thier own grill tomorrow....

That's the nice thing about TSM: "Drink as you always would drink." So consider a BBQ with your buddy "therapy."

Cheers!

Well last night was uneventful in the fact that all we did was sat around on the deck and drank beer. BBQd up some dogs.

I think I drank equivalent of 8 or 9 beers, which is pretty low for me pre TSM.

We started the evening at my house. Buddy came over on our way to hit some balls at the range. I drank 2 beers AL content of 3.2% which is half the normal beer. (the state's liquor laws are very wierd here). Anyway...I wanted to see what my reaction would be to have a beer and than suddenly leave to a place where there was no AL.

Basically for the whole hour we were at the driving range, I didnt think of having another beer until all balls in the basket were dispersed everywhere but where I aimed them. There was a big barn out there that I aimed for and didnt hit either.

My buddy asked if I wanted to do some putting...I didnt want to, I was thinking a beer would be better.

We got back home and busted out more beer and lit up the BBQ.

The wives came over after a couple hours from thier ladies only function. Couple more beers flowed and the evening ended.

What I have noticed in the past sessions on Nal is.....
1. I have drinken with out giving much thought to how much I will or would drink.
2. Even if I tried to drink as much in a session as pre TSM, I could not, Ive felt too sick to the stomache.
3 The hangovers, while not having the mental anguish, lasts longer and has more physical affects...stomache and spaciness. Cant seem to wake up at a decent hour either.

Right now I simply can not drink as much as I used to, I get too sick or feel like throwing up.

Today kinda sucked woke up feeling like I was going to puke, dont know if it was the potato salad I ate at 530am this morning, cuz I woke up so hungry, couldnt find anything else to eat...or was it the affects of drinking on Nal?

After reading some posts between members regarding binge drinking and TSM, I have decided that rather than let things fly off into the wind...I would attempt to apply just a little bit of will power and cut myself off at a certain point in the future to avoid next day hangover.

I simply can not stand these hangovers...pre TSM if I had only drinken as much as I am now, I would barely wake up with a hangover, and if I did..it would pass quickly.

Quuestion for the bingers....do these hangovers happen all the time? Do they get better in time?

At this point, I am almost certain I will not have a drink until this weekend. I just cant afford to have a wasted weekday and as it stands the hangovers on Nal are actually just as, if not more disruptive than pre TSM (with exception of this past sunday, was a good day after)

Anyway looking forward to better and better days.

Well Im almost complete with week 1. I think my Nal came last Tuesday and drank on it on Wed.

I was planning to go AF til the weekend, we have a wedding to go to, and I am keeping Nick's wedding adventures in mind when I attend this one. (not to bring back bad memories Nick, but your loss is my gain hopefully on this one lol).

Chicago is in town, and while Im probably younger than most of the true Chicago fans out there, I never the less, like them alot. So Im debating whether to go or not... I am fearing a hangover and day killer tomorrow.

So far Ive had one good day where I snapped out of any hangover pretty fast, however woke up later than I would have liked. I know it says, to drink as you normally do, but Im thinking if I start practicing a bit of will power during sessions I can hopefully limit myself from a hangover next day.

Anyway just thought Id post what I was thinking, so hopefully I can look back and say, man you were a knitwit! And anyone else that may stumble across my ramblings, hopefully it will help them in the future too.

hap

Sorry Nick, I meant that I would try to learn form your experience lol, not your loss. Because I know you learned alot from that episode in question. Probably a huge stepping stone in the way of progress too.

Wow right now it seems Im really caught up in the Hangover thing. Hope that passes.

I am so happy that something good can come out of my wedding fiasco! And like you, I documented the gory details so that I could re-read it and try to learn something from it, the next time I consider tying one on big time. It actually worked for me last week, one out of two nights when I reunited with my best drinking buddy. Am hoping to go one for one this weekend when we have his official welcome home party. The host owns a huge house and people are already making plans to drink a ton and stay over like I did last week. I plan to do the same but with NO HANGOVER because of my light beer diet.

If you read my posts -- and you said you did -- you know that even though we are supposed to "drink as we always drink", a little purposeful moderation during big binges will help prevent a hangover and probably won't interfere with extinction. That's Q's take and I think he might be right.

Ok so my plan of going AF til the weekend is pretty much out the window.

As it turns out my buddy did work on the Manager of "Chicago - The Band"'s house...and they hit it off pretty good. So...that means I get free tickets to go see them.

The venue is an amphitheater style setting, where its basically all lawn. You can bring in your own cooler and layout a blanket or a large towel. Friends who attend there alot always say "wine and cheese at the garden again." Pre TSM for me would be "lots of beer and pissing off people around me by talking to them too much at the garden again."

The tickets come with "premium" parking, so Im already feeling special.

Im still up in the air as to how much I will attempt to drink or not drink tonight. I am still playing with that hangover level. At any rate it will be beer only for me tonight.

Heres hoping for no hangover!

PS a little rumor trivia....I heard from a somewhat reliable source, that when Peter Cetera left the band he also gave up all his royalty rights...since then I heard Chicago has generated near a many many millions in sales over the years. Bummer for him man.