Starting naltrexone today

I really hope it works for you too....its soooo hard to battle this condition....alone.  So sad the only help you can find is on a website.

I don't like the things I've been hearing about the UK and their treatment of people in our positions...the US is much better at this.

They used to s*ck at it too...but I've noticed the last 2 years that I have struggled...I have for the most part been treated and cared for in a GOOD way in every institution I have been in...I would say I have been in 5 just in the past year .

They treat me just like a "sick" person and not like a "LOSER"

 

Yep, in the UK, it seems to be, go see your GP. If you are lucky, he will prescribe it once (diazepam), but if you fail (probably because nothing was put in place for when you do come off the alcohol), you get the, 'well there is no point in prescribing it again, it didn't work last time soit won't work this time).

Unless you are absolutley dying (and hospitals don't like you dying because it means lots of paperwork) and about to collapse, they won't treat you at A&E either.

They send you off to a alcohol recovery charity, that won'ts to talk about it, rather than prescribe the necessary medications.

I came off alcohol through diazepam on 8th Jan, I spent threeks trying to get my GP to prescribe Campral, which they said they can't. When I got a copy of the area prescribing committee guidelines and an email from them, saying it is up to the GP, these are guidelines. My GP changed their tune (I say their, because I have two GPs looking after me) and said WON'T.

So, I went to said alcohol recovery charity, who *MAY* give me Campral this Thursday, which will be six weeks abstinent. The NHS guidelines and the makers say, that it should be given as soon as you become abstinent, so that it gets to work immediately and there is no time for temptation to return to the alcohol.

No wonder people come to websites like this, order on the internet, or get private prescriptions, as we don't seem to have anybody in this field that knows anything about alcohol and what is needed to help people. People are just left to find their own solution.

Horribly sad...so many lives could be saved if they would just comply with our wishes....we know our habits and bodies.  If I say I need Naltraxone or I'm going to drink...it would be really nice as a Dr...if you would HELP me...rather than stress me out more which usually pushes most of us back to the drink...feeling helpless and ALONE.

 

There us absolutely no help at all out there,from gps to local alcohol services.All they want is for you to detox (which I don't need) and then to abstain with the help if group therapy......simple as that

Whenever they mention group therapy to me, I just say, I'm not sitting around happy clapping to Kumbaya My Lord. Nor I am I whistling to the tune of "My Sweet Lord".

Then follow up with, why not something like Roger Daltry's "Free Me" from McVicar. Always makes me smile, halts the group therapy idea stone dead.

Kumbaya My Lord!  I love that song.  Funny you know it.

I'm going to be singing that today...my voice is beautiful when I sing that....LOL

I always smile to myself when I hear group therapy and that song with a load of clapping comes into my head. Addaction wanted to take me down that route.

Then my psychiatrist at the stoke rehab hospital (not because I'm mental, the psychiatrist sees you at the end of your treatmnets just to see that you're okay to go it alone and does a cognitive test) suggested it, along with accupuncture.

Now, Jenny (psychiatrist) was nice and as far as psychiatrists go, I really liked her. But it was whoa, no more needles and I don't do group therapy. She said, but it is very relaxing (based on ancient Buddhism), I said, so is six pints of Stella and a couple of whisky chasers, but I won't be having that either.

Whenever I now hear group therapy, Kumbaya my lord tune enters my head and I have to stop my head and shoulders gently swaying from side to side, like someone who has just escaped from a mental institution.

 I found acupuncture really good for anxiety and cravings. Alcohol Advisery used to offer it but stopped as lack of funding!

Acupuncture is for girls and metrosexuals.

I'm more of a bloke's bloke. I'm 6'2" and built like a rugby player, I don't do needles.

There's  a bit of tongue in cheek there and a bit of reality.

ADS on London road, derby still provide it. It did help me with cravings. They put a pod at the back of your ear, which you twist and turn when cravings come on.

take a diazapam first, listen to the music and relax. The longer you've been without alcohol, the easier it is. Only takes about 5 minutes and you don't see the needles. The more you have it, the greater the benefits. Worth a go?

You don't know until you try haha!!

yep I found it helpful too Vickiilou x

RHGB

with your persistence and determination! needles should be a doddle lol!!

Oh, I got used to needles. When I was in hospital, they were taking blood and injecting me so often, they put a cannula in my arm. For those that don't know, it's a permanent needle, with a valve device, so when they want blood or to inject, they just turn the valve. Saves them putting puncture marks everywhere and making you look like a junkie.

If any one is wondering Google cannula and click on images,and you'll see what they look like.

So acupuncture should be a walk in the park! It's a walk in service here. You just turn up at said time.

Yep think a lot of us on here have had the cannula, and it hurts. But acupuncture doesn't go into a vein so it doesn't hurt( like electrolysis doesn't which I was treating people with for 20 plus years!) Which has nothing to do with our disease so sorry for rambling on.

I just want others on this site to try it if given the chance. Though I'm sure it's hard to get in most uk counties now. It's not a cure but it really helps

I don't remember the cannula hurting, just that they had to put a fresh one in every week.

Now, if you want to talk about hurt/shock. Waking up and realising you have a catheter fitted and having a lactulose enema, never, ever, ever again.

Think it hurt a little when they put the cannula in though I've had 3 children so used to having bloods etc.

Yes had a catheter twice in hospital ! but not the other, tho might have had it when trying to give birth to a very large baby! I hope you guys don't think we are boasting as I'm sure rhgb, like me, hope it will make someone think, that dear God, I don't want to go that far, and they do something about their drinking, now x

Agree with you there. Had an eleven pound baby naturally and couldn't sit down for a week! Am not detracting from the problem, just a bit of light relief.

I've always wondered how they put a catheter on a woman, obviously with a man, you have a ready made pipe to stick it up (ouch, it even hurts thinking about it).

The other is horrible, you basically turn over and pillow bite, whilst they pump you with as much fluid as they can. They then tell you to clench your buttocks and hold if for as long as you can, before going to the toilet.

It is a good thing no one got in the way of me when I went, because when the moment arrives, there is no holding it back, it is a race against the seconds to make the pan, I went like a raging bull and anyone in the way, would probably have ended up somewhere down the other end of the corridor.

I referred to the nurse as nurse Ratched after that. She said it would be the same next week. The gastroentologist came round soon after, and I told him it hurt, he asked where and I pointed out to my liver (I did say I can lie well). He said he didn't see any need for that and he would get it stopped immediately, so that was the one and only and shortly after that, I got transferred to another ward.