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Don't give up

Posted , 6 users are following.

rainbow2014
rainbow2014

Hi guys . 

Just wanted to share with you my journey that continues with the Sinclair method ! 

?I've been taking Nalmefene now into my 6th week , almost going into week seven. I have taken half a pill everyday except two days I recall . I must say , for anyone that is about to start this medication , all I will say is ....please do not think this is a miracle pill . I take on board of course , that we are all different and will react differently to this but what I will say first is , please be patient .....

?I feel that it is only during the last week I have started to feel more balanced and normal, able to relax a little more . This change has been very subtle but I must say , my behaviours and thought process has taken a dramatic shift . It's only when I really stop and think about the changes in detail , I see them for what they are . 

?I must say I have not once , drunk a bottle of wine at night and thought I will get up and go to the shop for another !!!! ( This I would do regularly ) 

I may have drunk that whole bottle a few times but never would I do that !! . That's quite a turning point 

Also, I do not think about wanting a drink in the morning , ever !!! I may think about ....now what time do I have to take the pill so I'm able me to drink , but never do I crave a morning drink ! 

?I may well be drinking every night but to be honest , I don't get the cravings !! The first few sips of wine at times taste horrible and I only go on drinking out of habit , when truly , maybe I should go with what my head is saying and have a soft drink as it tastes better 

Basically I just wanted to make it clear to people that may be starting this medication to give it time . I've been on a hell of a journey to get it prescribed and , with luck on Tues will be seeing the doctor at the alcohol centre  to swap from Nalmefene to Naltrexone . It's been a very stressful journey and the fact I haven't been prescribed it with knowledge , confidence and support from my doctor has been hard . I can only thank Joanna from the c3 foundation , support from here plus support and understanding from my immediate family and friends . I do also thank the support I've had from the centre as they honestly have my best interests at heart but must say , nobody professionally has looked further into this other than the info I have printed off for them . I've not even met my Doc . All consultations have been over the phone 

Anyway, sorry , I do have a habit of going on . Basically this is what I would advise and this was the point of my post 

?1  If you suffer very frightening , extreme side effects to Nalmefene ? Please carry on , plus cut the pill in half (even if it says not . It can cause skin irritation possibly ) 

2  Don't be surprised if your drinking levels drastically go down but then creap up again . Just go with it 

3  Recognise your thought patterns ....What are you thinking , doing that you perhaps didn't before and try and go with it 

4  If you are taking Nalmefene then something I have noticed is , 1 hour before a drink is not enough . For me , its two to three . Must say , I really don't feel the urge to drink now at all six weeks down the line , but not after only one hour !!! Leave it at least two 

?5  Go with your gut . I may not want a drink , but then I have one due to habit , it tastes horrible , I feel full and that I don't need anymore but somehow have more still BUT ... the difference is , I feel in control and it's my choice 

?6  I've read all over the place that this may take a few months to make a difference . It seems to be the case for me and as I've said earlier , the thoughts are subtle . I feel happy , normally balanced and positive about the future . I did not feel this way during the first four weeks . Nothing has changed in my life !!! 

?7  If you have read this far down then you must be passionate about helping yourself to curb or stop drinking 

8  Now , I am sounding like one of those funny fb posts !!! 

?9  Cannot leave on a 9 lol 

10  Thanks for reading guys , whoever you are . Stick with it like I am and sending out lots of happy vibes tonight xx

 

5 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Robin2015
    Robin2015 rainbow2014

    Posted

    What a journey and how honest you are. Great to others starting off trying to reduce drinking. Wish you all the best and let us see after one month more....how few drinks per week then? Robin
    • rainbow2014
      rainbow2014 Robin2015

      Posted

      Thanks Robin . I hope to be in the position you would like to see me smile  I will keep in touch . Thanks again , I value your support so much xx
  • Shevardnadze
    Shevardnadze rainbow2014

    Posted

    That’s brilliant, well done so far, very encouraging for others and useful info 👍

    • rainbow2014
      rainbow2014 Shevardnadze

      Posted

      Thank you 

      ?I really hope to help others . I don't have any input to your experience but hey smile 

      Take care x

  • JulieAnne101
    JulieAnne101 rainbow2014

    Posted

    Hi Rainbow

    Hat off to you hon. OH has been following TSM for a year now, our life is so very different

    Keep in touch

    Regards

    JulieAnne x

    • rainbow2014
      rainbow2014 JulieAnne101

      Posted

      That's wonderful news Julia 

      Much love to you . Thanks for your encouragement smile xx

  • sportyfiftysix
    sportyfiftysix rainbow2014

    Posted

    Hi Rainbow,

    Thank you for posting your progress. I am on week 7. Initially it worked very well. My intake dropped from a liter of red wine a night to half a bottle. Then the intake increased again. After a traumatic experience I am now on more than a bottle.

    Sometimes I wonder whether the Sinclair method works for me. 

    I believe that initially one has to avoid all stress, good and bad. 

    You are right, the 1st few sips taste terrible, but yet I carry on.

    I am really going to try the next week to not go over three quarters. Really hope I can stick to it.

    Have a lovely Sunday

    CK

    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 sportyfiftysix

      Posted

      Hi there sporty

      You are only 7 weeks in hon. Very early days.

      Once your stress is more manageable, try and be mindful, keep your glass out of sight so you have to get up to take a swallow. OH followed this after it was suggested on this forum by the wonderful Gwennie and Joanna.

      It will happen for you. As my OH has said something in his brain began to 'click' . Everybody's journey is different. Keep a drink diary, I know they can be boring but you will see a difference.

      Keep us posted

      Regards

      JulieAnne x

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 JulieAnne101

      Posted

      Good morning to you hunnie Julie - thank you for your comment - soo nice of you.  I agree not to give up.  I am still going strong on my lil bottle of 2 units but now do Monday to Saturday inclusive.  Even my hubster is wondering what is wrong with me lol lol.  He actually got himself a beer at 5pm before dinner yesterday and asked me if he could get me one.  But I didn't even want one and waited until 8pm for my lil ole bottle.  Granted I heard every single tree branch blowing in our horrendous snow storm from 11.30pm until I got up at 6.30am and am kna****ed!!!! lol, but I do have a smile on my face today, and an exceptionally red nose and cheeks because I have just come in from a power walk in the snow before my Sunday lunch.  I never could have done this a couple of years ago without my besties on here. 

      So glad your hubs is still doing so very well - changed both your lives for the better (say hello to him from me).

      And don't forget hun - my steak is medium when you have your next dinner party - and I make a very good trifle - without sherry ha ha ha  smile xx

      Sporty - Julie-Anne is correct in that I do find keeping the alcohol out of vision really does help loads.  When I was realy going for it  tapering wise, that is what I did.  I would put the glass either in a cupboard or leave it in the kitchen whilst I watched TV in another room - or if using my laptop.  An hour would go by and I forgot it!

      Pay no attention to worrying that you have crashed a little - so what - forget yesterday.  Today is a new day and off you go again.  The fact that you are determined will keep you going - it did for me - I did, and still do, think this b****r will not get the better of me! (And yes I have crashed a fair few times).

      I strongly recommend buying the small bottles of wine instead of a large one - more expensive - but buying say 2 would give you 4 units and you can sip slowly and enjoy and feel great in the morning (well if you are lucky enough to sleep).

      Don't despair - we have all been there (that rhymes lol).  Seriously, you are doing great with your determination.  Keep on trucking it is so worth it.

      Take care.

      All the best to my buddies (loads of em) on here and enjoy Sunday xxxx

       

    • rainbow2014
      rainbow2014 sportyfiftysix

      Posted

      Hi Sportyfiftysix

      ?Sorry for my late reply . We are running along the same time re week 7 . I do know what you mean , particularly avoiding stress, good and bad . Infact I would say any type of emotion , but there you have it ! How would that leave us . We would be robots . That's why I'm pinning all my hope on TSM plus trying to be as strong with it as I can . I too have my up and down days but how amazing I feel on the good days . Lets hope we both have more of those . 

      ?Good luck this week with the 3/4 of a bottle . Lets do this together . If you ever want to private message me please do. We can support each other 

      ?Take care and hugs to you xx

    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 gwen45436

      Posted

      Hi Gwen

      Lovely to hear from you. So glad to know you are fighting the good fight and winning!!

      I've hibernated today, knowing my luck I would slip and land on my bum in the snow.

      Yes OH is doing very well he is a different person. It's coming up for a year since he started his TSM journey. I give thanks to Dr Sinclair, Joanna and the people on this forum everyday

      Much love

      JulieAnnex

  • Joanna-SMUKLtd
    Joanna-SMUKLtd rainbow2014

    Posted

    Glad to hear that you are keeping going and well done.  You are getting there.

    Hopefully you managed to get switched across to naltrexone soon.  Let me know how the appointment goes.

    x

    • sportyfiftysix
      sportyfiftysix Joanna-SMUKLtd

      Posted

      Good morning.. Monday

      I am feeling good this morning. Thank you all for the support. I will from now on put the glass out of sight and log the units.

      Can someone please explain to me what the difference is between Nalfamene and Naltrexone.

      I am on Naltima, which I thought was just another form of Naltrexone.

      In my country you do not find any of these medications. Naltima is also imported from South Africa.

      Anybody out there who knows the differences?

      Have a wonderful day.

      Hugs CK

    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd sportyfiftysix

      Posted

      Naltima is a brand of naltrexone, yes.

      Nalmefene is a 'sister' medication of the same opioid-antagonist medications, and it is only available within Europe.

      Keep up the great work.  I am glad that you are doing so well!

    • rainbow2014
      rainbow2014 Joanna-SMUKLtd

      Posted

      Thanks Joanna 

      Yes, it's tomorrow and will let you know 

      ?Hope all good with you and have a great week x

       

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