Thanks!

[Growler]

I found this site four weeks ago at the end of my "breakfast" bottle. I read a number of posts while completing bottle two for the day. The reading was so engrossing that I corked number three and continued reading.

The next day I made an appointment to see my doctor. He was happy to prescribe Naltrexone which I've taken daily for the last month.

It works.

That third bottle I drank on the 12th of December was my last drink.

Not sure why I got to the point where I was drinking three bottles of wine a day in lieu of the bottle of bourbon I really preferred as daily nourishment. I just don't seem to have an "off switch" when it comes to drinking. The how is easy; chasing the buzz I never seemed to be able to catch.

There has been only one really hard to deal with event. A dinner we went to where the host served a "flight" of wines. Watching my old friends paraded past on a platter nearly sent me over the edge. But, I was two weeks into sobriety at the time and wasn't about to f++k it up.

While I'm enjoying greater productivity and starting to see some of the health benefits from not drinking, the greatest benefit, I think, is that my wife doesn't have to deal with an unpredictable drunken ass for a husband. People close to me say that I'm much nicer to be around. I've lost four pounds too.

I really thought this was going to be hard. It hasn't been. If your on the fence about quitting, try this program! Its really working for me.

[tawnyfrog]

Thanks!

Wow Growler,

What a wonderful, positive, inspiring post. Thank you.

[buckledown]

Thanks!

Great post and great job...keep up the great work...stay strong..blessings buckle

[AMELIA]

Thanks!

Growler, how inspirational. Thanks for posting that. You sound fab and your relationship with your wife sounds like it is benefiting loads too.
Keep us updated. Good for you.
xx

[Growler]

Thanks!

Today is the week five anniversary. My wife is really supportive and helps any way she can.

I've had a few moments where I started to think that this has been so easy that maybe I don't have a problem. So far, I've been able to back away from the edge, so to speak. The technique that works best for me is to keep super busy doing physically demanding things that make it hard to drink, or even to think about drinking.

Thinking about drinking is dangerous. I can rationalize any number of reasons to have "just one". This seems to be very much like the break-up of a relationship with a person. If you want to end a relationship, you stop going to places where you would see the other person, you stop doing things that make you think about the other person etc.

One more thing, I was tempted not to renew the prescription for Naltrexone after being on it for one month. My wife reminded me that the prescribed course for the medication os at least 90 days. There are very few, if any side effects to this stuff. I'm taking B-12 too. Looking into getting a scrip for the injectable kind of B-12 which is lots more effective.

[TiredofHiding]

Thanks!

What a great post Growler. And an awesome accomplishment. What I have found amazing is that it is easy - this time. I haven't really struggled much, even if its only 5 days now. I feel great.
I think there is just a moment of Aha and you are so ready and willing to believe and the tools are right and it works. I think that's true of smoking as well though I've never had that particular vice - people keep trying and trying and one day it clicks. It happens with weight loss - we can try and try and go up and down and sometimes the time is just right and it clicks.
The secret is we keep trying, and when we fall, get up and try again, until that click. Even if it has taken me 3 years maybe? I felt that click. I feel it still and suddenly it just works.

Glad your wife is with you. My husband has been amazing. I think I have fallen in love with him 100 times over in the last few days.

[jane jane]

Thanks!

Growler, your story sounds so like mine, minus Naltrexone. I'm at 2 weeks AF myself, and feel this is "it" at last!

Your wife sounds like a lovely person who adores you. Why don't you go out and buy her something frivolous and expensive with all that money you're saving from not buying wine? (Just a girlie opinion...we like frivolous expensive things a lot!) And WELCOME. You will find some funny, sharp, and simpatico people here.

[Jacy]

Thanks!

:yay: Good for you Growler.

All the best ODAT

[Growler]

Thanks!

TiredofHiding, JaneJane & Jacy,

Thanks for the kind words. Mrs. Growler has been hinting at some jewelry.....she took me to an airshow today and shock of shocks, one of the vendors asked me if I wanted to go flying. They took me up for a 1/2 hour flight in a little two seater. I haven't flown in fifteen years and it was just like getting back on a bike. She says that I now "owe" her some jewelry. The aircraft sales lady agreed. Looks like I have to deliver.

Halfway through week six and still feeling good.

-G

[Not Happy Hour-Happy Life]

Thanks!

Congratulations, Mr. G!

Definitely owe her... whatever you want to deliver to her, kind sir! Or, better yet, whatever Mrs. G wants! :h

Thanks for sharing about the rationalizing- I've been doing that for the last couple of days. The only thing that's stopped me is the fear that if I have one, I won't stop.

[betty boop]

Thanks!

Oh Growler, can't believe that I have missed such an inspiring story ....... A huge well done for you, Make sure that Mrs G gets the jewellery .....

Love & Hugs, BB xx

[Cinders]

Thanks!

Growler,

I, too, cannot believe I have missed your very inspiring story until today.

Good on you for sticking to the program. Your brain is like all of ours, trying to be tricky on the "have an odd on here and there," when you know there is no off switch once you take one. (At least I don't have an off switch, I am like the Energizer Bunny when it comes to drinking...)

Buy your wife some jewelry.

Keep up the great effort. You are an inspiration.

Cindi

[Suki411]

Thanks!

Growler, you are SO COOL. Mrs. G is one lucky lady. You are such an inspiration. Buy her some jewelry, but keep on flying!!!!

[Croft]

Thanks!

This story is inspiring. I want a story like this.

[Growler]

Thanks!

Now into week seven without a drink. Nearly stopped at the liquor store on a rainy day this past week but didn't. Used to love to drink on rainy days....come to think of it, any kind of day was a good day to drink.

I've lost eight pounds since I stopped drinking. This kind of puts the lie to one of my favorite "truisms" about myself; namely that I was one of those people who couldn't lose weight. I was attributing to metabolism what was clearly due to excessive caloric intake.

I was drinking a bottle of bourbon every two days at least, some days, I could kill a bottle without any trouble. Switching to wine just meant that I drank more volume. A three bottle day was very common. How many calories is that?

No other dietary changes have been made. If anything, I'm eating more sugar. Someone mentioned that alcohol is chemically akin to sugar. Sugar cravings are not uncommon, apparently when one stops drinking.

There are some interesting effects now that I'm nearly two months into sobriety (hate that term BTW). People have flat out told me that the only reason they invite me to parties is because I'm such an entertaining drunk. Absent the drunk part, well, I'm kind of boring.

I sleep much better. I used to have such horrible sleep habits that I was thinking about going to a sleep clinic to see what could be done. Now, sleeping through the night is the rule , not the exception.

Lastly, I truly appreciate all the kind words. They really keep me motivated to do this.