Hello

I've just started TSM, and found this site yesterday. It's been really interesting reading everyone's stories and getting tips.

I started on Tuesday, with 50mg, as I didn't know you were supposed to start on 25mg. Luckily, I was ok with that. I was very impressed with the result, as I had a friend visit, and we usually get though at least a bottle of wine each, but I only had one small glass, and really didn't want any more. I poured a second one, so that my friend wouldn't feel awkward, but I poured it away at the end of the evening.

Wednesday, I went out with my husband, and we shared a bottle in the restaurant. I had another couple of glasses when we got home, so not so effective as the first time.

I've taken some tonight, and have just poured a glass of wine. I'm looking at it, but concentrating on typing this rather than tasting it, which is a good sign, I hope.

I'm a middle aged woman in the UK, and have been drinking too much for years. It's got worse lately, and most nights I drink a bottle and a half of wine, which is really not good. I thought that the only way forward was to abstain completely, so when I heard of TSM (surfing the net looking for a miracle cure), I couldn't wait to get some Naltrexone and make a start.

As I'm in the UK, I had to order online, and get a private prescription, so didn't get to speak to a doctor, which is why this place is so useful. I've now learned to take it an hour before I have a drink, and a lot more about what to expect. It wasn't cheap, but if it works it will be money well spent.

I'm so pleased I found this forum. I'm sure it will be a great source of help and support on the journey ahead.

Gwen,
Welcome aboard. Know that while the effect of nal are immediately noticeable, from my experience I didn'r necessarily start reducing intake right awy. My behavior and attitude started changing right away. So, if your drinking picks up again don't get discouraged. Everyone here will tell you that.
One again, great to have you onboard.

Hi Gwen,

Another Brit - welcome!!

Have you read Dr Eskapa's book The Cure for Alcoholism? Right, that's enough questions for the moment.

It's great to have you on board.

Best wishes to you!

V.

A very big welcome to the board from me, Gwen

It's lovely to see another UKer here - it means the word is finally getting out more here, by whatever means, as we are quite far behind our US friends in terms of attitude to, and access to Nal, over here (and even over there it can hardly be described as 'great'!!)

Have you read the book btw? Thoroughly recommended if you haven't.

Expect your drinking to return to former levels pretty quickly, or even at times beyond your old habit, those are typical parts of the 'rollercoaster' ride that is TSM that many here have described, but that ultimately, hopefully - and the statistics are GOOD, results in CURE!

I too had that initial drop in drinking, could barely even drink the first few nights, but I soon got over that. But I found it really encouraging that the Nal obviously had such a marked effect on me. This is a powerful medicine on my body, I know that!

I see a private doctor who practices TSM in London. I worked out that the cost of seeing him in the short-term was only a little bit more than having it imported, and in the medium and long-term it will be cheaper to see him and pay for the private prescriptions than order from abroad.

All the best to you on your journey, this is a wonderful, supportive community here

Welcome Gwen!

Read through the posts. Youll find a story that will parallel yours. Many good and bad feelings to come going through TSM. Its working for me and everyone else here. It will work for you too! Your already seeing it.

Remember the formula Nal + Drink + time/patience = cure. You will most likely get discouraged in your journey, we all do, but as long as you remember it takes time, you will be fine. Again Big Welcome!

hapful

Hi Gwen
Welcome to the board...Yes it's great to welcome another UK TSM er. Congratulations on taking the first steps to regaining your choice over alcohol. I am relatively new here to and can relate a lot to your experience thus far, I am starting my 8th week on TSM and am starting to notice some subtle changes in my desire for alcohol already. This message board is a fantastic source of shared information and experience, please use it to the full to ask questions and share your experience, we all share much in common. The other respondents to your initial post are spot on, success on this method is not linear and you are likely to experience jumps in your drinking as well as plateaus (plateaux)?
Do not be discouraged if/when this happens it is simply part of the process. I too have to source my Naltrexone from the internet as I cannot find a sympathetic GP. Anyway, welcome and all the very best, I look forward to reading about your progress. Onwards and upwards!
Benjy

Thanks everyone - what a lovely welcome .

I took some tonight, and have had two (smallish - most of my wine glasses are huge ) glasses of wine, and don't really fancy another. Usually, a Friday night would see me opening the second bottle by ten o'clock, so this is definitely progress.

I take on board the comments about this being a honeymoon period, and I will try not to get discouraged if things don't continue so smoothly.

It does seem too good to be true, but hey, if it works, that's great. I'm not a believer in suffering being good for the soul .

I haven't read the book, apart from the extracts on this site. Is that enough there to go on, do you think, or should I order a copy? It seems straightforward - only drink if you've taken a dose an hour earlier?

On another note, I have a close friend who would benefit from this, I think, and she is an insulin dependent diabetic. Obviously, as such she shouldn't be drinking too much, but given that she does, would she be ok to take Nal? She's a bit scared of it, specially as my supply came with a set of medic-alert cards. I've explained that as far as I can tell that's just in case I need an anaesthetic when I am not in a position to explain that I'm taking them and need a non-opiate type, but she's still uneasy.

Sorry for all the questions. I'm sure I'll have a lot more before I'm in a position to answer other people's.

Hi Gwen,

I would recommend that you order the book. There is an awful lot of background information in the book that I think you will find interesting. It's also reasonably priced. Go for it!

My best.

V.

I absolutely second what Virgil has said - it's only a tenner, and I find it an invaluable source of comfort to have around for a number of reasons, not least that if I ever need to involve my GP or end up in hospital (God forbid) I have a 'hard' copy with plenty of scientific proof documented. Most medical pros won't pay much, if any, attention if you ask them to look up a treatment you are following from information on the internet (rightly or - in this case and others, I believe - wrongly).

Most importantly, it's an excellent read, and will only encourage you in the process (and most of us here do seem to have/have had low points where we needed as much encouragement as possible).

All the best

8

Welcome Gwen from another 'middle aged' ( i do hate that expression) woman. I live in Ireland and am a wine drinker. I have to confess i never bought the book and am 17 weeks in with considerably reduced drinking (bought half). Like you i ordered blind and only found this site when i had awful side effects and was doing more research. This may seem like heresy but the problem with the book and the original research is that is was based on people who drank 35 units (US) per week and we don't know how long they drank for and its easy to get hooked on the time frame within which the research subjects were cured 3-4 months.
With regard to your diabetic friend it might be an idea to post a question to Dr Eskapa on this site he usually responds. As others have said you are experiencing a honey moon. There are people on this site who have continued on from the honey moon but most don't but the fact that you are experiencing it means it has an effect. good luck