Oh, man! That is cruel, that you have to deal w/ the migraines now. Which makes even more impressive the hard, thoughtful work you're putting in w/ TSM, and sorting out the path that is best for you, despite the string of challenges you've had recently. I understand your soul-searching and have no problem w/ your careful planning in advance. Our goals when we start out often change as we go along, in response to what we get from TSM. I sense that you are still feeling your way along and SURE don't want to mess that up...you're taking notes, and you can change your plan, as needed. BTW, I DO think that was very cool that you tested the waters last week w/ the glass of wine, and didn't worry about "breaking" your string of AF days. I agree it's less pressure to have it NOT be "all or nothing", which can be a downside to abstinence. You tested the water and got some useful data and also some confidence!

Thanks for the background info about your dad...you have very vivid memories and knowledge of what is possible, that would certainly color your perception of alcohol, life...everything! I think you're doing great, and thanks for your posts.

Hi everyone,
Still clicking along here on my AF days but I had a surprising bout of cravings this weekend. I went to a matinee movie with my husband on Saturday and afterwards walked by a number of lovely wine bars. It was a beautiful afternoon and my husband mentioned afterwards that those wine bars looked appealing but he didn't want to mention it to me at the time. Then I replied that if I had thought of taking a Nal earlier we could have gone. But in my head I was thinking maybe I could have a glass of wine w/out the Nal....it was pretty tempting....and this is the point where I start getting worried about being too relaxed and might slip up....
Anyway, on Sunday I went to pick up a prescription at Walgreens and I catch the sight of a bottle in the corner of my eye. I look and see a whole aisle of wine at Walgreens(!) My first reaction is cool, I can easily come here when I run out of wine. But then immediately reminded myself, "oh, ya I don't drink wine everyday anymore". And I had to further tell myself that the wine sold at Walgreens is probably not good enough to have given my quest for minimal consumption. Anyway I was a bit taken aback by my initial excitement of seeing wine at Walgreens.
Nevertheless, I plod on sober and each morning I wake up without a hint of a hangover I am indeed happy I got thru another day.

Nal on everyone.

Got thru another AF week and it's been a good month (4 wks) w/ only 1 glass of wine. Experienced more alcohol cravings last night. Was tired; really wanted a glass of wine. Remembered the baclofen and took 10 mg. Not sure if it made any difference but my cravings didn't get worse.

Once thru dinner, I took a long hot bath and started reading "The End of My Addiction" by Olivier Ameison....a cardiologist who beat alcoholism using baclofen. I'm 60 pages in and the book is so far a good read. Anyway, I continue on my journey to figure out how to manage my drinking w/ the right balance of naltrexone and baclofen.

Good for you, facing down those pesky triggers...they're everywhere, they're everywhere!

What else is going on...are you on top of the migraines?

Hi Chrissie! thanks for checking in on me!! How are you doing w/ your day-to-day efforts??

No headaches since that awful migraine last week. Have tapered down the St John's Wort to 300 mg a day such that, when I do get the next migraine, my meds will work (hopefully)

Doing major house cleaning today...know I'll be exhausted at the end. Here's ANOTHER time when a cold, crisp chardonnay would be a wonderful reward....Yes, the triggers are EVERYWHERE!

Hope you are doing well. Thanks again for checking in!

Gott,

No disrespect intended....but a part of your brain seems to be still alive to your alcohol addiction. The Sinclair Method, given it's full course, ELIMINATES the tempters. Once the "Pharmacological Extinction" process has been fulfilled, there is no more temptation, no more desire, no more interest in the demon drink.

You have, very honourably, shown us that being alcohol free is possible. Possible, just like any AA-success individual, manages to become totally abstinent. Go to any AA meeting and they will applaud you.

Here, however, you began TSM. As any AA person will tell you, "Any drunk can stay abstinent for a year...even two".

The whole point of TSM is that, combining drinking with taking the Nal religiously before, will bring you to the point of total freedom, being "cured" from Alcoholism. Your brain will be virtually in the same state that it was before you ever took your first drink.

Imagine, going into Walmart, the gas-station, the grocery store--wherever liquor is sold---and not for a second thinking about---not even noticing, the booze, because you are no longer an alcoholic. Alcohol no longer interests you, in any way, whatsoever. No need to even THINK about going tomorrow without taking a drink. Living, as if alcohol has never existed in your life. THAT is what TSM can give to YOU and to everyone else who follows it closely.

Congratulations on your incredible number of AF days! Talk to any old-timer in AA, one who can tell you that its been, 8 thousand, two hundred and sixty days since they took their last drink. Then I will show you someone who has been chained, and a slave to alcohol for the last -- 8 thousand, two hundred and sixty days! That's like living in a lions cage, it in one corner, you in the other. Any day it could charge over and eat you.

Those "Cured" here, thanks to TSM, don't count their AF days anymore. No need, because they are 100% cured and 100% FREE.

Just food for thought. Thanks again for your wonderful inspiration and encouragement here.

Take care.

Hey Dab, Thank you for taking the time to post and for what you had to say. I have to agree w/ you in that I'm more like someone in AA right now and am going thru a phase where alcohol is more often on the brain.

I think I need to introduce more situations of drinking and take my Nal beforehand and hopefully over the course of time it will become less of an issue. Perhaps what I might have done the last couple nights is taken a Nal and then had one drink....I have just been wary of drinking at home on a normal night (it's too close to the habit). And despite the moments of cravings in the evenings, I still wake up clear headed in the morning and feel great (very thankful I did not drink the night before); so if I'm going to be "chained" to something, this ain't half bad.

I have 2 social engagements on Monday and so maybe I will choose one of them for another glass of wine. Maybe election night, Nov 6, will be another good time as I wait to see if Obama's guaranteed access to healthcare sticks or not

The only thing I'm sure of is that this is going to take several months (if not longer) for me. I probably got on my AF run too soon to for TSM to work for me...but then again I got on an AF run which is no easy feat for many of us. And everyday w/out alcohol poisoning my body and killing brain cells is a good day.

Anyway, thanks for following my posts and for the support. Each of us has our own journey and hopefully we will all end up at the same destination.

True, that! At the risk of repeating myself, I think you're doing a great job, in figuring out as you go along what is going to work for you. I think it is not uncommon for people's expectations to change as they get deep into their TSM journey...it affects all of us in some very different ways. Just as there are, what? 15% of people start out w/ abstinence as their goal but then I think 30% end up deciding that is really where they want to be. Not that you have made that decision! But just as it seems that some people commencing TSM after abstinence seem to have a different experience and good results (CuriousOne, Elpee, Eric), it looks like that experience can be helpful. Hmmm...I would say that my own TSM path changed dramatically after just 8 days AF - and maybe that was just timing and it would have happened anyway - but it sure didn't hurt me. It was a confidence-builder, and a way to test the waters re: ADE, which no longer seems to have much grip on me. I'm contemplating another AF week soon...tho things are going very well now w/ moderate drinking, which has always been my goal.

Hi Gotthegene, Thank you for posting on my progress in the past. I was thinking about going the AA route and quitting altogether but my hubby just talked me out of it. I trust you are doing well with the AF. Sometimes, I think it would be easier to just quit rather than work this TSM program. But, here I sit reading, posting and resuming the Nal. This might turn into a lifetime battle, but at least I keep trying. I bet you are feeling very healthy these days. I commend you for doing what works for you. Please keep posting. Thanks! Karen

Thanks Chrissie, Kekede, and all who post and give me encouragement. I need it. I think we all need it!!!!

I think anyone who has the motivation and willpower to do some AF time should definitely do it. Then when it's time to drink again, take the Nal beforehand. Every day w/out alcohol is a gift to your brain and body.

Those of you following my posts will know that I've had some days of cravings lately but I've managed to stay AF. Well yesterday, I had a reminder to stay the course...My son woke me up at 4:30 am telling me he had been sick....I went to his room and there was vomit EVERYWHERE....drapes, carpet, walls, bed, clothes, hamper, dresser....the only place that wasn't tagged was the toilet. As I spent the next 4 hours cleaning (including using a carpet cleaner that my husband rented at 6am), I was so grateful that I wasn't doing this with a hangover; it was nightmarish enough. You never know what life is going to throw at you and to face whatever with a clear head is sooooo much better.

Wishing you all a great weekend.