New Army Thread 26th Jan 2015

[satz123]

Morning all - :congratulatory:

[Anjicia]

Morning Satz and all to come.

[shambles70]

Morning comrades...still got those donuts Jackie?

Presentation went REALLY well! Excellent feedback. I was in such a different place to when I did the last one, and it was so obvious to me what a brilliant choice being sober is.

So, the Campral..been on it now since Tuesday, didn't want to comment before because I wanted to give it a chance to work. The blurb that came with it said it takes about a week to work, but I read a lot of reviews that said it seemed to work as soon as it was in the system.

Well, my experience so far has been very positive. It's very subtle, but there is a definite effect. Alcohol thoughts have reduced dramatically..Thursday I got to 4 in the afternoon, and realised that I hadn't thought about al at all. I then made my self think about al, and I might as well have been thinking about a carrot. There was no powerful connection at all. I could think about it dispassionately. Then I thought it might be damping down any emotional connections...so I started to think about moving in with Maria this weekend and I got excited, so that was relieving.

I know it sounds crazy but it feels as though the relationship my brain and al had (that it had become THE most important thing to me) is being healed...which is exactly what Campral is meant to do. I know that this could be quite dangerous ground, by lulling me into a false sense of security, and then being tempted to 'drink normally'...I am 100% clear that I can never drink again, nor do I want to.

The listed side effects..stomach problems, anxiety, nausea, sexual dysfunction, seem to have passed me by..I had a churning stomach the first evening but that was it.

My only niggle is thinking that I am somehow 'avoiding' feeling the urges, that I am copping out by chemically quieting down the cravings, but then I think that there is nothing wrong with making it easier on myself, especially in these early days. If I had a headache, I wouldn't think twice about taking something to ease the symptoms.

I might post about this in the medication section. So far, nothing but praise from me.

[shambles70]

Ta! x

[satz123]

Oh brilliant Shams:yay:
That dispassionate feeling re alcohol I believe comes with time - and possibly in that time relapses can occur.
Excellent that you can fast track it - WELL DONE ! Make this as easy as possible I say.

I did the same with cigarettes & a drug called Zyban for 8 weeks - never looked back.

[roxane]

well done shambles, youre doing well. presentation? fuck, i couldnt walk into a room with one other person in it.

[satz123]

well done shambles, youre doing well. presentation? fuck, i couldnt walk into a room with one other person in it.

Morning Rox!
Me neither on the presentation.
Hate anyone looking at me - morto.
Have done it by phone - but standing up in front of a crowd - NO WAY !!

[JackieClaire]

Morning..............slept the sleep of the innocent............going to get my coffee and read back.

[DreamThinkDo]

Morning Army!

Well done Shams - on so many fronts!

Here's your curried peaches recipe. Boil together 900 g chopped onion, 450 g brown sugar, 1 1/2 cup vinegar (I used brown grape), 1 tablespoon each curry and salt, one teaspoon each mustard powder, fine ginger and turmeric, for 20-30 mins. Add 1,8 kg chopped, peeled peaches, boil 10-15 mins, then add 2 T corn flour mixed with a bit of water, boil for another minute, then bottle in sterilised jars, but you know all about that, and seal.

Had a quick taste: I think it's too sweet, but it could be because it was straight from the pot and the flavours still have to mingle. The other recipe (coming soon, to a lappie near you) uses a lot less sugar - I would use only 400 g next time, depending. The recipe doesn't specify level or heaped spoons, so I used heaped throughout. And the other recipes says to seal when cooled down. By then, I'd sealed this batch. Prolly not a train smash (or so I hope, anyway). Leave to stand for a week or three before you open it.

Right, off for the second batch. I used 8 peaches to make this batch (they're huge, much bigger than a cricket ball) and there are way more peaches here than I have jars for. I'll be in the kit hen, if anybody needs me.

Rox, how's the apple diet coming on?

[roxane]

the apples are still in the bowl.

[JackieClaire]

JC's few thoughts on campral.
Remember its an aid or a tool.............on its own it will not stop you drinking nor would it ever help you try to moderate your drinking........believe me I tried......its prescribed to be used along with abstinence.

Sham's on top of the Campral you have the support of a D&A team, doctor, work colleagues, your GF and of course us bewdiful and lovely and superbly gorgeous people.

Your biggest advantage is you are willing to put the time and work into staying sober from what I can see you're dedicated to staying sober and learning how to enjoy it...........I think your big enough to realise its not a deprivation its just a new chapter in your life..............which will now be a long and mostly happy one now.......

And a big :welldone!: on the presentation.

[satz123]

Have to love yiz and leave yiz and MOVE.
Later gaters :llama:

[roxane]

really really really fucking annoyed.

[satz123]

really really really fucking annoyed.

I'm back - why ??

[roxane]

being forced into being proactive with something im supposed to be reactive and the results not being favourable, causing me to be proactive again in having to make a decision on whether to make an official complaint while still trying to force a positive result from it all.

it was supposed to be simple.