Hello everybody,
I just wanted to share that I started Naltrexone yesterday with a huge and generous amount of support from JoannaC3europe .... I knew I wanted to do this and received my prescription a few weeks ago but personal situations have meant I delayed starting. After my initial excitement at making the decision to take this route, the delays caused me much anxiety and I became really nervous that I'd experience awful side effects and so just felt I'd share my first 24+ hours with you and let you know how it's going .....
On Joanna's advice at about 3pm I had a big plate of beans on toast (I usually eat in the evening but was told a snack definitely won't be enough for the first few doses, and I wanted to follow the correct way to the letter!) then at 4pm with a shaking hand I took half a tablet (25mgs) and before I could change my mind, downed it with a pint of water - again following instructions drink plenty of water, then more half hour later! .... I am quite ok drinking water and also prompted by my underlying worry, actually managed to drink a further 2 pints at least .... I had a call booked with Joanna, and at 5.10pm I poured my first drink as I spoke to her, reassuring me all the way! ....
My first glass lasted 1/2 hour - twice as long as usual .... Over the evening I drank around half what I usually would, (my poison of choice is wine) and the last glass that I poured I only took two or three sips of and left the rest! I just didn't know really what to expect and struggle to explain the feeling, but it's almost like watching someone else being you! Like being drunk, but with a clear head!
I enjoy the taste of my drink - I don't set out 'to get drunk' I just find I can't stop once I start - and yet yesterday I did! ....
I didn't sleep particularly well, but don't always anyway and so it's difficult to say Naltrexone caused that - although when awake I did feel just slightly woozy and anxious but nothing serious, and I found I did sweat a lot till quite late (around 7am)
I have just taken my 2nd tablet (have eaten and drunk the water) ... Joanna said any side effects are worst on the first dose, and so I feel less anxious about anything tonight ... moving forward now - I know this can take a good few months, and that some days may not be as good as others - but I have hope now, that I can stop destroying myself, and start to look forward to being healthy again !
It's always much easier when people follow Jopanna's guidance. It isn't complicated, but should be adhered to. Only when people go off and do it their 'special' way, does it tend not to work or side effects are suffered more.
As for not sleeping so well, a good part of that will be down to less alcohol, which slows your brain down. Once the alcohol is taken away, it takes the brain awhile to adjust to it.
Excellent, Kerry! Congratulations on starting your TSM journey!
I expect in the coming weeks your drinking levels will go up and down, but down overall, so if you have a sudden rebound in your drinking, don't let it throw you. It's actually odd if it doesn't happen. Just stick with taking the Nal an hour before you drink and your numbers will drop back down.
I look forward to hearing more about how you're getting along with this!
Yes, Joanna certainly knows what she is talking about! I struggle a bit eating this way but for a short time and long term results it's got to be best to follow all instructions, to go to all the trouble etc to find and get a treatment that has such incredible results seems daft not to!
Yes, I did wonder about that also contributing to sleep issues, thank you - although I've not written much on here, I do read daily and appreciate all your support and advice!
Thank you! Joanna said that too so I'm prepared that that might well happen - it's so helpful (at least for me) to know exactly what might occur right up front - that way I can be prepared and not give up if I feel I've 'fallen at the first hurdle' ... well on the up side already, tonight's first drink has lasted 45 minutes as I do these replies, and I'd normally have got up and filled glass again instead of waiting till I'd finished :-)
I wonder what doing it in ones 'special way' is. I thought you have to take the tablet an hour before drinking? I have been completely compliant but the results have not been as astounding as many here report. They are better than before naltrexone and I'm trying to remain hopeful, but the way you worded that sounded (maybe unintentionally) a little blaming if not so successful. I deeply want this to work.
you can do it Kerry! Robin
'but the way you worded that sounded (maybe unintentionally) a little blaming if not so successful.'
It was intentional, for those that don't follow the guidelines and then complain that it doesn't work. It was not aimed at those that take it as meant, but are finding that it is not so successful.
Do you take it every day you drink and not take it on the days you do not drink?
I so far drink every day and take it every day (without fail by the letter) but honestly I don't really feel like blaming anyone with aud whatever they do. There's enough blame out there already.
No one is blaming anyone for AUD. It is because it is unlikely to work if you don't follow the guidelines and then some people wonder why it doesn't work. That is my last post on the matter.
A lot of people post that TSM is not working for them and get terrible side effects. They then stop taking the tablets. However more often than not, they've not followed the instructions, they don't wait after taking the tablet, basically ignoring the advice given to them.
By by thinking they know best, it's not going to work for them. It's not rocket science to take any form of medication by following the instructions that come with all medications.
To be fair, several people have been given the wrong information by whoever has prescribed them.
Insomnia is a common complaint in AUD sufferers, but it maybe down to your bodys reaction to less alcohol.
You might even right but they must be in a pretty chaotic/ desperate state to be behaving in this way (not waiting an hour) and I wonder how many do this? If many, (actually even if only a few) then this needs to be thought about in thinking about how to help those who for whatever reason are struggling even with initial compliance. Surely we want to help them too?
Compliance is not my problem- I'm still really hoping this will work for me.
But it's so devastatingly sad that people can't stick to this. That's all I'm saying. I find it heart breaking.
I was referring to the fact that several people have posted it's not working. Then they post they take it even when not drinking.
I know this post is not about campral, but using it as an example.
Its the same with campral, again posts that say it's not working then further posts that they've had a few drinks.
I am not saying you've been taking it wrongly, but many have been. Neither am I blaming anyone who has AUD. "special way" I imagine is RHGB politely saying they think they know best and don't follow the instructions properly!
My apologies RHGB if I misunderstood your phrase 'special way'
I would like to publicise this treatment if it works. If it works I find it utterly shocking that it is so not known. But working out whether or not it works includes thinking about those for whom it has not worked well for. If people don't follow instructions we need to understand why. I have followed instructions and I'm still drinking too much and also less than I was. I want to understand the outcomes for everyone.
It tends to vary considerably and it's hard to say why, Secondslong. My best guess is it boils down to genetics. Some reach their goals in a few months, while some (like me) take 6-12 months. As long as you're seeing a reduction in your drinking, then it's working.
Are you recording your drinks every day?
Keep doing what you are doing secondslong, if your drinking has reduced you are moving forward, maybe not as fast as you would like but nevertheless forward.We are all different and progress at different rates. Best of luck with this and well done for sticking with TSM
Excellent Kerry that you have got to grips with starting TSM , if you follow all Joanna's sound advice you should be fine.As others have said you may at some point have a rebound in your drinking which is quite usual.It happened to me in the first few weeks and i was a bit annoyed with myself but it didnt take long for me to realise that I wasnt failing and it was just part if the process.
Sending you very best wishes for this amazing journey 😊
Sometimes, we can do everything we possibly can, explain, and discuss and educate, but human nature being what it is, some people just will not follow the instructions, period.
With compliance for example, we can provide the importance of it, why it's vital, and tools to make things easier (setting an alarm on a phone perhaps) and yet some people will just not follow through on the action part of it.
That's just the way it is, sadly. On the good side though, the seed has been set and I have people contact me who have tried TSM before and they know they didn't do it right and maybe stopped after a few weeks of tablets, so they ask for help to get it right this time. Hopefully, they do.
Hi Joanne
The old saying "you can take the horse, to water, but you can't make it drink" springs to mind.
This is exactly the point I was trying to make to secondslong and I think RHGB was also. I think that was what he meant by 'special way'.
It must be very frustrating to spend a lot of time explaining how TSM works. I get the impression that some people think all they have to do is swallow a tablet and hey presto, it's a green light for them to drink exactly as they did before.
Whilst I've not used TSM myself, as you say, human nature being what it is, there will always be those who think they know best and don't comply with instructions. In other words
Nothing worthwile in life is easy, and my understanding is that TSM requires compliance and mindful drinking for it to work successfully.