D DAY

so Sadie whats your plan now? I've got it right haven't I, you've not got a script. Will you buy online, find a private dr, or back to ARCs again?

Yes I can understand you wanting a drink after the disappointment of not getting a prescription. I would have felt exactly the same. In my case I'd have had one and ended most probably having a 3/4 day binge. Being turned down, would have been a perfect excuse.

You didn't drink though did you? You were able to fight the craving and have added another day alcohol free. I know you probably felt cxxp, but g

/continued

 hey you did it. One of the strategies I was taught was to have two columns, sayIng advantages and disadvantages . It's a bit school like, but when you've done it, look at it daily and remind yourself.

Is there any reason why, say for a month dont drink,during the week, but just drink Saturday night?

Hi Sadie. This is the aspect of TSM that GP'S can't seem to understand that you must drink with the Selincro. But from what TSM ppl are saying is that you will feel different drinking with Selincro.

It seems to me from what you are saying that every minute is a battle for you at the mo. Why wait for the doc to come back to you? Private message joannaC3europe she has details of a reputable online uk pharmacy. Of course still continue to see your doc, but I believe you need help now hon xx

No I didn't drink yesterday. I thought about going out & buying some but once it got to 6pm I decided against it. 

I am considering that until I get the prescription to only drink on Saturday but it would probably mean doing some of it in secret as my husband would straight away worry. I'm going to find it hard again this weekend not having a drop like there is nothing to look forward to again!! I was considering telling my husband I might have a couple of glasses of wine & thats it on Saturday just to see how I feel doing that but I will probably sneak a couple of drinks beforehand because it won't be enough.

I would usually drink Sunday again but I would not do it this week I proved last weekend I got through the whole weekend. I can then tell the doc on Monday I drank on Saturday so I don't trust myself I need the prescription. If I go back saying I made it another weekend I think she will less likely prescribe them.

It helps me to keep sane thinking I could have a few drinks on Saturday - it's what helps keep me sober during the week I even don't crave it during the week knowing I will have it on Saturday. It was the Sunday I was finding it hard to cut out . 

So advantages of drinking & advatatges of not drinking?

xxx

I am struggling to be honest not being able to look forward to my Saturday night drinking. I can abstain all week one I know I can have that. I used to a few years ago drink mybe 4 nights a week - I got it down to 2.

I have spoken to Joanna & I have checked out the UK Pharmacy myself filled out all the information & just at the end spotted they do not deliver to Ireland. They say it is illiegal for me to try & get them to deliver here. I have checked out other places I think one is in the States & they may deliver to Ireland but the price is so high. $95 for 10 pills excluding post.

I would love to have the pills so I could start with them this Saturday. I just want to start the process- its very frustrating !!

xxx

I am going back to the same doctor on Monday coming to see what her decision is on providing me with a prescription but I'm not banking on it. In the meantime I have asked my husband to book an appointment with a Polish clinic to see if they will prescribe.

I would buy online straightaway if I knew a reputuable place that would deliver here.

If the first 2 fail I will keep trying. One way or the other I need to get the medication. xx 

Oh blast that is a great shame. I wonder why they won't deliver to Ireland? xx

It's all down to very strict customs regulations.  The same is true in Holland, Italy, Canada and a few other countries around the world. The chances are very high that the package would be checked and held, then destroyed, by customs - hence no tablets and no chance of a refund from a pharmacy because all orders are subject to potential customs regulations.

The only way to do this to Ireland, is to use an address for delivery in either Northern Ireland or England or Scotland etc and then have then sent on that way.

I know of no reputable online pharmacy that will send to Ireland, period. 

So if I had them delivered to an address in England they could be then sent onto me with no problems?

 

I've certainly known people do that, yes.  They told me that they have repacked them up in a plain envelope and hand-written the address details etc to make it look like personal mail.

I don't know if it would be 100% successful but England to Ireland doesn't seem to be so heavily regulated.

If you should try it, then remember that it might still be subject to random customs checks but the chances of it being pulled out seem to be lower if it is from England to Ireland, rather than India to Ireland. 

I would wait to see what your doctor says this next appointment though.  If all goes well, then you won't even have the need to risk anything in terms of non-delivery.

Thanks Joanna,

I certainly will wait & see what the doc says on Monday & 

Thanks Joanna,

I certainly will wait to see if the doc prescribes on Monday if not I think I will tell her that I plan on having them to sent to me to show her how much  I want to start this treatment so she knows one way or the other I am doing this

Keep going Sadie! Its a struggle but you will get there. I did not have a first good experience with the tablet. Basically I realise I did not approach it properly. I didn't make sure I had a meal beforehand and didn't click that I needed to wait a full 2 hours....I had an hour in my head. Then although I planned to I didn't have the mindful drinking focus. I would have but a 'friend'came in.....I haven't seen her for ages and avoid being with her where drink is concerned. She just sat there with an empty glass and as usual I caved in and bought her a drink (she is always broke). This then turned into us sharing a bottle.....I'd already had 2 large glasses. I felt awful afterwards and it affected my stomach. Needless to say I am feeling a bit ropey today and so fed up with myself! Ah well it was only the first try so I will bear in mind the pitfalls and hope next time the endorphins kick in with me playing my part re the mindfulness etc.

I am sharing this experience with you because it just emphasises that it is not a magic pill and needs us to do our part. So even when you have the pill it is a journey. Hopefully when I update you again I'll have had better success. Hugs x

Dear  Joanna, Feeling discouraged as just reread you experience and it seems that's from tablet one you reaped the benefit she of Naltrexone.

I did not have a first good experience with the tablet. Basically I realise I did not approach it properly. I didn't make sure I had a meal beforehand and didn't click that I needed to wait a full 2 hours....I had an hour in my head. Then although I planned to I didn't have the mindful drinking focus. I would have but a 'friend'came in.....I haven't seen her for ages and avoid being with her where drink is concerned. She just sat there with an empty glass and as usual I caved in and bought her a drink (she is always broke). This then turned into us sharing a bottle.....I'd already had 2 large glasses. I felt awful afterwards and it affected my stomach. Needless to say I am feeling a bit ropey today and so fed up with myself! Ah well it was only the first try so I will bear in mind the pitfalls and hope next time the endorphins kick in with me playing my part re the mindfulness etc.

Ok so the next tablet I'll be more prepared....hope this makes the difference.

You may well have been more mindful if you had been on your own, Sharon.

Being mindful is a tough new thing to learn, it takes a while to get into the swing of it.  And when you think about it, even normal drinkers lose control every now and then, even when they promised themselves they'd only have a couple.

Everyone reacts differently to the tablet.  Some people respond quickly, others fairly quickly, and yet others take longer.  No-one can predict how things might go for you - so just be compliant, have patience and realise that this is not a magic tablet and can take months to finally be rid of cravings.  During those months, there may be some ups and downs.

In addiction, with Selincro it is 2 hours (naltrexone is 1 hour) so it could be that the medication hadn't quite become fully effective yet.  Coupled with your friend appearing, if your receptors weren't 100% blocked, then some endorphins could still have got through, too.

Chalk it down to expience, eat and drink lots of water, then next time it should be much better.

Thanks I will bear all of this in mind. Reading all of your exeros all over again to get my mindset in the right place. I have Naltrexone so the hour should have been enough. Ah well onwards and upwards.

Sorry to hear that your first experience wasn't what you would off hoped it would be. It was the first though & from what I have been reading it does take time. As of yet I haven't tried it so I can't tell what it will be like. I am plan to do it at home the first few times so I can concentrate on the experience. I am thinking as it took time to build up the addiction it will take to for it to switch back. I am very curious as to what it will feel like to not have the endorphins kick in.

Also a question as I love to eat a few hours after drinking. My usual ritual of binge drinking on a Saturday & then ordering food will I enjoy the food or will  the medication block that pleasure also? 

According to research it should only block alcohol if we use it only when we drink. They do advise eating BEFORE drinking though so it may be a while before routines re establish themselves and the pleasure we get etc. Will update as I go along.