New here and starting Topa and with a question

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Sorry everyone - I have been AWOL - lots of stuff going on in my life, but all good. I still haven't had a Guinness though - Go me. the amazing thing is I haven't even wanted one.

Mimi - gosh, what a lot of stuff for you to go through in such a short space of time. No wonder you turned to drink. As for it being more information than we wanted to know - I often think it helps to get it out, plus here is a safe place to just let vent! so anytime you feel the need - just let it go - we all have at various times. Usually we are here more often than we have been recently - but I will try to do better! So - have you got your Topa yet? It really does work for me, and for airam as well. Let us know when you get it - the most important thing I think I can say is follow the titration schedule in the book - and don't worry if you still feel the need to drink - for me it took ages (weeks) before the urge to drink went away. for others, it kicks in very soon. My pharmacist said in studies it took about 6 weeks, titrating up for the cravings to go away - it is subtle though and it works in odd ways - I found I didn't want soda - or anything in aluminium cans. (I only drink one soda a day now).

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me or ask on here. someone will help.... I wish you all the best.

DYD - are things still going well for you too? Are you still on your three or have you gone down any more? Are you feeling good on the three? that is great when you think what you were up to..... And where is BK these days? And Bruun? Airam - how are you? What dosage are you up to? Girl - how about you? Come on everybody - check in and talk to us!!

Love and hugs, Sun XX

[Bruunhilde]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hello everyone,

Awol also here, my pc broke so I'm not sure I'll be online for a long time. I am using my work pc right now and I think it's dangerous.

Anyways, good for you Mimi, that's a heck of a bunch of trials. Maybe you prayed for tolerance or something. Hang in there.

Sun, somehow I relate to the failures more than the successes. I drank almost two bottles of wine last night, and I'm horrified. Tomorrow I have a presentation to a bunch of managers, and a bit of travel, so I'm all the more stressed by the indulgence. My house is a mess, my yard is a mess, my mind is filled with gloom and doom.

I AM NOT doing this again tonight. Thanks for your encouragement. Good to see you doing well Sun and others who are abstaining from the Guiness and from overdoing it. I don't know why all of a sudden I had this huge tolerance for the AL and went for it. Crazy.

Sending positive thoughts your way~

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Aaawwwww Bruun - hang in there my friend - hugs to you and keep thinking positive. You will get there in the end - reach out to us whenever you need to - we are here for you. :l:l:l:l

Love, Sun XX

[Barbara1234]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Is anyone taking campral with success? I go for a while, then want to drink. Maybe I should be on something else.

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Ummm - Barbara - look back through here for a few pages - i think someone here was talking about it....... and welcome to the thread!!!!

Hugs, sun X

[doyourdream]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hey Sun,

I am keeping in the 3 unit range. I had 3.9 units on Friday night when I went out for dinner which included a pint of ale.

I feel good about where I am at and keeping at 3 is easy because I'm afraid to drink more! But 3 is really fine. And I don't feel deprived.

Barbara, I haven't read about anyone taking Campral on this thread. What are your experiences with it? I have been very happy with the progress I have been making on Naltrexone. Topamax didn't work for me but has been helpful for others, as Sun mentioned.

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi DYD - I would feel good on the 3 unit too - like when i was having the 2 Guinness a night - it was fine with me, but then I started creeping up - so that was why I decided to stop - if I could have stayed at the 2, I would have been fine - but because of the Nal, you are staying there which is wonderful - you have the best of both worlds as far as I can see! That is really good, I am so pleased for you. I think you have what most folk here would really like!!

Have a great day today!

Hugs, Sun X

[mimi911]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hey everyone,

Been a few days since I've checked in. I am doing well and haven't had a drink since last thursday although it feels like it has been a lot longer than that.

My topomax hasn't arived yet and could take up to a month. Looking forward to getting it but most concerned that my hair will get thin if I take it. One of the side affects I've read about. Vanity runs deep.

Hang in there everyone and keep taking one step at a time.

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Well done on the no drinking Mimi - if it is any consolation, my hair didn't thin on the Topa....although I know some here did have that problem. Go you though for being AF since Thursday - all on your own I think that is awesome!!

hugs, sun X

[doyourdream]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hey Sun,

My goal is to feel ambivalent about drinking. That is, if I want a drink, I can have one but that I don't feel like I have to/want to drink every night - which is where I am now.

Welcome, Mimi. I didn't experience hair loss on Topa but did have other SE that I couldn't deal with. I hope it works well for you.

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Good Morning DYD - it seems to be just thee and me here these days - where has everybody gone?? So - how are you doing? still on your three? do you want to go down to 2 or are you happy with the 3? Hope you are well with it ..........WHERE IS EVERYONE ?? LOL

Mimi - have you got the Topa yet?

Nothing much going on my end......

hugs to all, Love, Sun XXX

[bkyogagurl]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hi everyone... so sorry I haven't been around.
I have had so much to do at my house. My sprinkler system needed
to be repaired deseparately so I took on the feat myself. It took a few
days to complete so I was out from dawn til dust working on it but
I did get it fixed.

Great job Sun on AF!!! I haven't done so well. I go thru my bouts.

Good job DYD too. Any weird side effects on Nal for you? I have read numerous other posts but would like to hear from you about it.

As for me, I am just kinda going with the flow. If I feel like drinking I drink, if I don't, I don't. I have been drinking to much on a few days but seem to be ok with taking a day off. I am thinking the Lexopro is helping because I think I drink when I am stressed. I have generally been more happy and able to handle situations more calmly.

hugs to all,
BK

[sunshinedaisies]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Okay - confession time - I have had two Guinness tonight. It was planned. Premeditated. Thought out. Deliberate. I really enjoyed them. Have had some very stressful days - Hubs saw the Guinness in the fridge and obviously knowing what is going on right now (nothing to do with him) said "you are getting stressed aren't you?". Yes, I am. But I am fine if I can just have the two. I always have been fine if I can stick to two.

BK - so good to see you girl!!! Sorry re your sprinkler system - but wonderful that you fixed it yourself - you sound like a girl after my own heart! I will research and do my own stuff if I can! So well done. Is Lexapro an AD? Is it used for helping AL? I am pleased that you seem to be doing well. I like your comment about going with the flow. That is what I am doing tonight. It is good to see you here - DYD and I were having our own party here with help from mimi!!

Hugs to you all,

love, Sun XX

[airam]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

Hello everyone,
I haven t read any posts. I m so sorry. I really miss my friends here.
I really hope you all are ok. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. I will never ever forget your kindness. I wish sometime I would be back full time to this site.

I posted in UK Naltrexone thread and I want to paste that post here.
I m still taking Topa and I m also taking Naltrexone. That combo is working very well for me.

This is what I posted in the other thread:

-------------------

UK, I m very glad for you. I m also having excelent results with Nal. I haven t posted about them because I m always thinking this is just a honeymoon phase that will end.
I have had several AF days. And that IS really something for me.
I had a few alcohol free days a year ago while taking Topa. The onle AF days in many years until now.
I m still taking Topa, a very little dose. Only 25 mg. I m also not taking Nal full dose. Only 25mg too.
The days I drink, I drink from 2 to 4 units most days. A LOT less than before (I used to drink more than 100 units a week).
I hope this never ends.
I have to add that I finally found a good therapist. Maybe this fact has something to do. She prescribed me 10 mg fluoxetine (half the dose I used to take), but most importantly, she truly listens to me. I have to give her some credit here. BUT (a big but), I haven t told her I drink. Still, I think this way is better. Some therapists tend to attribute everything to alcohol, even when it is not. I don t know how she would take it.

The whole medication package:
25 mg Nal
25 mg Topiramate
10 mg fluoxetine
.125 mg Xanax the days I don t drink (half a .25 tablet)
is making wonders to me and I m very happy.


-------------------------

I m happy. I hope I could absolutely stop drinking, but for now, this is a marvellous achievement.

Love you my friends.

[mimi911]

New here and starting Topa and with a question

waiting for my topamax. it could take a month before it gets here since i ordered it online. I am trying not to drink even very moderately because I have a very over sensitive concience and I hate feeling guilty.
I will be alone the next few days and am worried about giving in. Would love for the topa to magically get here tomorrow. That would give me an incentive to "not drink".

I need to go back and read all of your posts. Take care everyone and I will check in tomorrow.