second night and I'm waffling

[marcel]

Hello all,
I have been reading and appreciating the support abounding on this web sight. It is really wonderful. This is my first post. I got all the supplements, read the book twice, found and saw a doctor who prescribed topamax and finally worked up my nerve to start last night. Now, I really want a glass of wine and more. I didn't sleep well at all last night even though I topped off the calmsforte with a lunesta. Sleep was/is why I drink wine, red, 2 and 1/2 bottles every night until last night. I didn't like being so dependent on the wine and don't, but I have to sleep. Can you folks out there with some experience tell me how bad is it to fall off the wagon for just one night?

[mustdobetter]

second night and I'm waffling

Hi marcel. Welcome and congrats on making it to day 2. Only you can decide/judge how bad it will be for you to make the choice to drink tonight. I can tell you that if you can just make it through another day, it just keeps getting easier.

As for the sleep thing, I too was drinking to fall asleep, amoung other reasons. But I found that the only way I ever fell asleep and stayed asleep was to drink myself to sleep. I would start out with 2 or 3 large martinis and then finish up a bottle of wine. Before the supplements, if I went a night AF, I would either not sleep at all (literally up all night) or I would fall in and out of sleep, with continuous nightmares and weird dreams. I have found that taking the GABA helps me to fall asleep, dreamless. I don't sleep for very long, 5 or 6 hours at the most. But I am hoping that will improve as my body learns how to rest without alcohol.

Good Luck to you. Feel free to keep posting tonight if it helps. There's always someone around to provide support and comfort.

You can do this!

[sri]

second night and I'm waffling

Be patient with yourself. It takes time. I am 33 days AF now but had a terrible time sleeping without wine for the first two weeks, a little longer even. I could only sleep restlessly five to six hours too...but the longer I am AF, the better it is. I didn't think I'd ever be able to sleep without drinking. I started to exercise and that helped too. I took the Calmes Fort for the last month -- didn't take GABA but I hear it helps. Only now do I not need the CF and I can sleep a full seven or eight hours! Be patient. Sleep will come. It takes a while for our bodies and our minds to learn how to do lots of things without all that wine! It will come!

[Breez]

second night and I'm waffling

The beginning is the hardest. You want results now. It's a slow process but trust me it does get easier. Hold off for another day & you'll see how much better you'll feel tomorrow!

[gabby]

second night and I'm waffling

The topa will get you sleepy as you up the dose. But dont get anxious and tirate faster then it says. It will get easier as you go. Just keep goin. You can do it.

[Paddy]

second night and I'm waffling

You can do it Marcel. Just watch it with the topa. Slowly will do. Up the dose slowly.

[marcel]

second night and I'm waffling

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful replies, support and advice. It's like I have finally found a friend/s. I look forward to being able to return the kindness.

[Guest]

second night and I'm waffling

Marcel,
I just started the supps too.....sleep is about the same for me, but I wake-up feeling good! It is getting better....little bit...I mean little bit...each night. I am just grateful for good days. Keep it up....

[Ripley]

second night and I'm waffling

Hi Marcel - good advice above. Welcome. So pleased you are here.

I found the hypno CD's REALLY helped me sleep : I went straight from being a major consumer of new world reds to total sobriety overnight (like you, supps plus 25mg topa, but also hypno CD). When I had tried to do this cold turkey before I was an appalling insomniac... maybe the supps and topa helped with the sleep too, but I have a feeling the CD was the key - I find it SO relaxing. Maybe give it a go? Just my thoughts.

Stick with it Marcel - it WILL get easier and the pride you feel in yourself is its own reward.

Kate (day 16!)

[Serenity]

second night and I'm waffling

Hi Marcel

I am going to start taking the supplements, topa and kudzu when I have some time off work - 2 weeks. Speaking from previous experience - my body response to lack of alcohol was wired and in a frenzy one minute, to over emotional , self analysis, spaced out etc and not being able to sleep at night but tired all day. I also tend to have a lot of emotions I don't know how to deal with like frustration, sadness, regret and lethargy which I normally drink to make them go away!!
It does get much much better - but I haven't taken topa before and a bit worried about the side effects hence taking time off.

Hi Kate - you were helpful to me before coming from the Uk and all that! How long till you got your supplements and kudzu - I am still waiting day 10 and did you say you can get Kudzu in Holland and Barratt?

Thanks
Love S

[nattie]

second night and I'm waffling

hi Serenity
I am in the UK and have just bought Kudzu just now in my lunch hour - 60 x 500mg for ?9.99 I think - I did have to ask where it was though.

x

[Ripley]

second night and I'm waffling

Serenity and Nattie (ha ! knew you were a Brit!)

I have tried Holland & Barrat kudzu (yes I had to ask too), chinese medecine shop kudzu (also known as Ge Gen) and the MWO stuff they sell on line here. I find the latter the best and the most cost effective. The chinese herbalist was a bit full-on and did a big sales pitch about other therapies and herbs whichI didn't want, but maybe I was just unlucky.

However, I am also taking topa and have increased the dose as the MWO topa arrived (about a week I think) so it's not really a clinically sound comparison.

I would say however, that the MWO kudzu is the same strength as that tested in clinical trials as having proven effects. The Holland & Barrett stuff isn't. I was just determined to nail the demon drink for good so ordered the MWO kudzu and made do with the H&B in the meantime. You might find it's just fine for you.

Good luck, K

PS: is there a supp to control verbosity?.. swear I haven't made a post yet of less than a 1000 words

[nattie]

second night and I'm waffling

thanks Kate .....I hadn't realised I was so British .....ha, ha !!!
Will take your advice I think & also order the MYO stuff & make do with Holland & Barrat until it turns up.
How much did you take to start ? Does it make you feel different? Just concerned I don't want to nod off at my desk or the like !

xx

[Ripley]

second night and I'm waffling

I don't really know Nat, I'm taking EVERY damn thing in the book plus doing the hypno so I can't isolate the effects. I haven't felt sleepy during the day, at all I have slept like a BABY at night, right from the word go. At times I have felt very ditzy and got words muddled, but I expect that is the topa. Feel fine today. I have also had weepy emotional moments and the worst PMT last week for months and months, again this could be related, maybe not. Mabe alcohol withdrawal?

Dunno. Overall it has been really fine. A breeze. I am not struggling not to drink. Get a bit of a twinge now and aagain, but once I am over the "no" to the first drink I'm fine, even when I go out.

Taking Kudzu 3 times a day as per the book. I do exactly as it says on the tin...
Good luck Nat - this really works you know - get on board. K x

[mustdobetter]

second night and I'm waffling

Hey Kate, Nattie, and Serenity. I don't mean to butt in, but I recently read that kudzu has a sort of estrogen effect and may be used to aid with symptoms of menopause. That could explain the emotional moments and the bad PMS. I am not a fan of hormones, namely estrogen, which is why I don't take any kind of hormonal birth control. It has a very poor effect on me. I am starting with a light dose of kudzu for this very reason. I am not sure since it is not a hormone, what kind of "estrogen effect" it has. I do know that the very first dose I took - 300 mg - I started my period an hour later. It was 10 days early. No idea if one has anything to do with the other. (scratching my head in confusion)...