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Seeking help & support.

Posted , 10 users are following.

roisin62844
roisin62844

Hi

After a few years of my alcohol intake & frequency increasing to daily 1-2 bottles of wine with the support of my husband I decided to seek help.

I made an appointment with my GP at the end of Jan who was very understanding & supportive but didn’t seem to be aware of local resources she referred me to the Trust Community Addiction Unit.

In the meantime I made several failed attempts to have alcohol free days or even to reduce intake.

I had given up smoking 4 yrs ago with the help of patches, and thought wouldn’t it be great if there was an alternative for alcohol which led to me researching and coming across ur site, C3 and TSM.

With hope in my heart and print outs about TSM as well as NHS info I attended the CAU appointment with the Addictions Physian this morning. She was lovely, listened as I cried and shamefully shared my story. When it came to devising a plan for the future, I told her about the TSM which she hadn’t heard off, but had heard of the Selincro drug. She had only one previous client use it a number of years ago, but unfortunately he had experienced a large number of the side effects. She also advised that it is the decision of the GP as to which drugs to prescribe and I would need a further appointment with her. She mentioned two other drugs Campral & Librium as alternatives, but I don’t believe they do the same thing.. rather they lessen the withdrawal side effects from abstinence. My goal at this moment is not abstinence but to take control and reduce  my intake.

From lurking and following threads, I fathomed that to be prescribed  Naltruxone or Selincro one needs to be having counseling (I’ve signed up to a 6 week group session with CAU & a further 1:1 in 2 weeks) and a liver test. I’m due blood tests next Tuesday.

I just can’t help feeling deflated, it took a lot of courage & the support of my wonderful Hubble (who I’m sure must be disappointed in me) to get to today, and to come away with what seems very little progress.. just a further step down the NHS train. I really really want to try the TSM method, I’m just so frightened that I’m going to have an uphill battle to try and achieve this drinking more and more each day. 

So so sorry for wittering on... I just needed to get it of my chest instead of opening the wine bottle!

Based in NI.  

 

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • JulieAnne101
    JulieAnne101 roisin62844

    Posted

    Hi Roisin

    Sorry to hear you are having such a battle on your hands when you can least cope with it.

    My OH eventually bought Naltrexone on private prescription because he was at rock bottom already without having to deal with the NHS and all it's prejudices.

    I'm hoping Joanna a Counsellor who often comes on this forum will be able to tell you the next step to take.

    I would like my OH to go back to the ARC with his drink diary since starting his TSM journey a year ago, but he refuses and continues to buy online

    Keep talking to us

    Regards

    JulieAnne x

    Ps I'm sure your Husband is not disappointed in you. I am not disappointed in my Husband, I am only disappointed in the NHS' response to TSMx

    • roisin62844
      roisin62844 JulieAnne101

      Posted

      Thanku so much for your response JulieAnne. TBH it has given me huge relief that it can be obtained through Private Prescription... I wasn’t aware of that. Do you know how he obtains it?
  • Cisorium
    Cisorium roisin62844

    Posted

    Hi Roisin my drinking is much like yours ive been taking Nalmefene for two weeks my GP hadn't a clue even had to get her book out. It really is worth going back you telling them what you know don't give up. My drinking is down 50% it really dose work. I've done counselling it did help my cravings. Take a short YouTube video with you make them watch. So frustrating making you wait. Let us know how you get on.

    • roisin62844
      roisin62844 Cisorium

      Posted

      Thanku so much for replying Cisorium, I’m nervous for going back to GP as Addiction physician wasn’t keen on recommending & thought I was in a too high risk category for it... and I understand GP takes their recommendation into account. Thou, I’m not sure how addiction Centre can make that call with only having 1 previous client experience.x

    • Cisorium
      Cisorium roisin62844

      Posted

      They haven't a cluethats why it's best you showing the Sinclair method you have rights too don't let them brush you off. I'm 43 sport has been my life but over the last 5 years I hidden drinking bottle of wine everyday problem is it's started to effect my health and my kids have started to make comments. This drug is helping me get back 8n control not the wine. Keep asking.

    • Cisorium
      Cisorium

      Posted

      Sorry for the spelling mistakes typing on the go.
    • roisin62844
      roisin62844 Cisorium

      Posted

      I will Cisorium, I’m having bloods done on tues & will make appointment when results are in so that I meet all the requirements of prescribing the meds. 

  • RHGB
    RHGB roisin62844

    Posted

    Campral is used to make someone ambivalent to alcohol, to get rid of that nagging voice, saying, have a drink. Librium is just a detox medication like diazepam.

    Nalmefene can have some side effects for people, but there are ways of minimising this. Naltrexone has less, but the way NICE has classified it on label, means that it is hard to get prescribed it. You are entitled to be prescribed medication under the NHS, unless anything comes up in your blood tests preventing it (unlikely). You are entitled to see the doctor at CAU and request the medication.

    I didn't use the TSM myself, but Joanna is very clued up on the subject and she can give you hints of minimising the side effects and also point you in the direction of the paperwork to take to CAU, that shows them you have the right under the NHS to see the doctor.

    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 RHGB

      Posted

      Hi RHGB

      How are you. We are very well. A correct a well informed reply as always RHGB

      Regards

      JulieAnne x

    • roisin62844
      roisin62844 RHGB

      Posted

      Thank you so much RHGB for explaining the drugs purpose. X
    • RHGB
      RHGB JulieAnne101

      Posted

      I am well now, had the flu last week and then the inlaws over the weekend, which I needed like a hole in the head.

      Glad to hear things are going well for you.

    • vickylou
      vickylou RHGB

      Posted

      So glad to hear you had a good weekend. Try having two hypo kids plus daughters two dogs, in laws must be easy, surely?!
    • JulieAnne101
      JulieAnne101 vickylou

      Posted

      Hi vickylou,

      Good to hear from you. Yes Hubs is now managing 2 afd a week and is drinking less than 10 units per week which I still find amazing everytime I think about it.

      Hope you and yours are well

      Happy Easter everyone

      JulieAnne x

  • cormac10408
    cormac10408 roisin62844

    Posted

    HI Roisin

    Well done for taking the first step, the first is always the hardest.

    Just remember Rome wasnt built in a day and as the days go by remember you are doing the right thing for your self mentally and physically.

    It sounds like you have a strong support structure in your husband. It is great to be able to talk anonymously to like minded people as well hence why tgis forum is so effective.

    I'm 1 month of it after Two relapses after deciding to quit alcohol  for good finally this new year past, breaking a severe binge drinking habit which would last four or five days a week.

    All the best with everything 

    • roisin62844
      roisin62844 cormac10408

      Posted

      thankyou for sharing Cormac. Do you mind me asking which method u r using?

       

    • cormac10408
      cormac10408 roisin62844

      Posted

      Sorry for the delayed reply roisin. For the first few weeks I was prescribed diazepam for the withdrawal symptoms enabling me to sleep. I then began aa which I found very helpful as I didn't have anyone to relate to. It's empowering to a certain extent realising that I was not the only one and seeing how alcohol has effected other people on the  fact same way regardless of standing. 

      Also I spoke to a priest and confessed all, which reinforced the 'new start' from day one.

      For the symptoms I have started drinking a lot more camomile tea when urges hit, also bought a lavender pillow for sleep.

      when an urge kicks in I tell myself that I am not a victim to alcohol , or anything else for that matter. Take control! 

      Hope this helps 

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