Wow Happy! You sound like you might be the next to be added to THE CURED list!

Welcome AmyGrace! I am also a chard gal. I had dental work done the same week I started and was told the novacaine was fine, just as others have stated. I was one of the ones who started on 25mg. but had severe side effects, so I cut that in half and worked my way up to 50mg. It took me a good week plus to get acclimated, but I think it affected me more than most people on this board. If it weren't for the encouragement here, I may have stopped the Nal with the side effects I experienced the first few days. But they do go away if you have them, so don't despair. But I would try the 25 mg first as others have said. Try not to worry about your weight so much now. I think I would just concentrate on the tsm and deal with the other stuff later. I also have anxiety and take Buspirone for it. I haven't noticed any problems with my anxiety since starting. Although I was also taking benzo's which does slow down the tsm process, so I weaned myself off of those. Anyway good luck to you as you start this process. There is lot's of support to be found here.

Welcome AmyGrace!

My favorite drink is beer (margaritas are fun too), but I've also had my share of wine over the years. I think the most important thing is to drink some sort of alcohol while on Nal, and to do it often if possible. Frequency is much more important than quantity. Binge drinkers have more of a challenge with this, but TSM works for them as well - some have reached the CURED list! Ideally, you should replicate the most common scenarios, so your brain is blocked from endorphins during your typical drinking patterns. Maybe this is a stupid idea, but if you want to try something weaker without giving up the wine, how about diluting it a bit with some type of diet soda - kind of like a wine spritzer? I've done that in the past while trying to 'cool it' during a long day of drinking, where wine was the only alcohol available.

Glad you're ready to join us! Best of luck getting started, and don't be a stranger now that you're no longer just lurking!

Hi AmyGrace,

I am new here too and related a lot to what you wrote. I too can drink 2 bottles of wine a day, at weekends sometimes it was 3! I started drinking again a couple of weeks ago after 6 1/2 months of abstinence using AA. But I felt miserable the whole time and wanted to drink every day! I decided to try TSM with the hope it will work for me and I can live my life without being obsessed with drinking. The depression too, some days after drinking the night before I felt really low, for me it was related to the alcohol as it went away on its own when I didn't drink for those months. Unfortunately the craving and obsession didn't.

I took my first dose of Nal last night, 25 mg as recommended by others on here and I'm glad I did as it affected me quite strongly. I understand it will go away after a while, so I am happy to keep trying.

Glad you took the plunge from lurking to joining!

Thanks everybody----

Nick- good advice about dosage. Will do...

Hapful- Love the line about the water temp changing here.. Will remember that for sure!

LaBear- Thanks for the PM. I will definitely be cutting back on amount when I start the Nal. ( For that matter, I should just be cutting back anyway!!....)

8- It will be great to follow stories of recent starters together. I know Smiley just started. Can you remind me who else just started? So many posters, I'm losing track..

Tom- Thanks for the encouragement! I am so happy for you in your recent success. So great! I need to make myself exercise even if I feel crappy from the stupid wine

WTE<~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Waving back. Never knew that squiggly thing was even on the keyboard!! Fun to read about your visit w/ Christy. Are you going to the Conference in Oct? My hubby and I are actually thinking of going. I've always wanted to see Santa Barbara!

Hi Happy-- So glad you are doing so well. I was laughing about the stuff about your husband. He sounds like a great laid-back guy I hope my levels drop immediately too..

Calikime- Hey I have an Alpha Stim too!! ( I think I read you have one in an earlier post). We'll have to chat about that. I don't use it regularly but I want to...

Kris- Great idea about the spritzer. Will try that... Thanks..

Smiley- So glad you started too! i had been reading your posts. I don't have my dentist appt until next Thursday, but I wish I could start tonight. It will be great to share new-starting experiences. I hope you are feeling ok today..

Here's to our success!!