Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

[missyabby1]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Good on you for being able to enjoy the taste of a beer Smurph and stop at one. Lots of people (in my humble opionion ) are perhaps not so advanced in their quest for sobriety and may not be able to stop there, whether on "bac" or not.

I find it really difficult to come from a place where people are so desperate to be sober to read such posts. Considering many new people enter this forum everyday in total despair, having lost loved ones, family,friends, jobs,self esteem,health,self respect etc etc to not feel your post is unhelpful to say the least. BOLLOCKS doesn't really cut it.

Of course, if you had added, ""in my opinion"", or ""in my case"" people would have the opportunity to decide for themselves, given your short time of sobriety.

Yes, I know, the man hating stuff is going to be trotted out again and your view of me being a half wit (pm) will start the huffing and puffing again but, in my humble opinion,
your post is unfounded and unproven. It is your opinion, in my humble opinion.

Missy

[Murphyx]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

UKBlond, why do you feel the need to use 2 IDs on this forum?

[Road to Recovery]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Murphyx;1078696 wrote: There seems to be a new belief running across the board that moderation isn't possible after the switch. That somehow, occasional drinking will force you to become a full-blown alcie, hopelessly binge drinking as soon as you so much as sniff a beer.

BOLLOCKS!!!!!

I've even seen a couple of posts saying the only people who have really switched are those who are AF.

DOUBLE - BOLLOCKS!!!!! - or a pair of bollocks if you will.

Those of us who moderate after the switch are just kidding ourselves and have yet to find the real switch.

TRIPLE BOLLOCKS!!!!! - I knew a bloke with 3 bollocks. At least he said he had three bollocks. I am not in a position to categorically confirm the claim, but then again why would he say such a thing if it were not true? I digress.

I have no desire to get pissed. The only time, post switch, I did feel the need to get lashed up was when I titrated down too fast. I often (usually) have a beer in the evening (proper ale, not that nasty, gassy lager crap that foreigners drink) and I enjoy the taste immensely. I don't get a buzz from it. I don't drink a second one to try and get a buzz. I don't want a buzz.

HAVING THE OCCASIONAL DRINK AFTER THE SWITCH DOES NOT LEAD TO AN ALCOHOLIC DOWNFALL.

Now I've got that out of my system, you can all return to your usual man-hating drivel.

Playing with fire my friend. I guess you havent explored the entire site and see where many have become AF and then later down the road think they can do what you say you are doing only to eventually end up down the same destructive path - sometimes even worse off. Obviously you dont remember the pain AL caused you or maybe you werent as bad off as so many of us here. Good luck to you - It sounds to me like you had this thing beat and now you are tempting fate.
I also agree with Missabby - you should have went with IMO - you wrote your post in a very factual manor and yes I feel sorry for those that have such a hard time while you make it seem like its no big deal. I do not believe you are a subject matter expert and there is no proof of your claims - IMO

[missyabby1]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Not goth enough dear, but God I love her authenticity and lack of bullshit.

She ain't into following the crowd and I admire that. She's got my vote anytime of the day!

Sorry, just another person who thinks for myself.

[Murphyx]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

LOL, yeah OK 'Miss Abby' I'll play along if you like.

[Murphyx]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

@R2R

RE Bac and moderation: I?m not saying it?s the only way to go. There are many paths to take with baclofen and each one of them will be particular to each individual. Titration and dosage timing and how far you want to go and what to do when you get there are decisions each of us have to make. Some people take 30mg of bac and instantly find they can moderate their drinking to a comfortable level. I think that?s fantastic; they won?t have to worry about all those bothersome SEs and they?ve achieved their own personal nirvana. Others slog through months and months of debilitating SEs and decide to go AF. That works for them and I dance a little jig every time it happens.

Neither of those two paths are the one true one, nor is the path taken by those who have slogged up to the switch and then let their bodies and minds decide what happens next. If they want a drink, they have a drink. That?s what ?normal? people do. Baclofen makes you ?normal? in that respect. You don?t have to sign the pledge and bang the drum for temperance if you don?t want to.

Playing with fire my friend.
Thank you, my friend. But your personal circumstances don?t dictate mine. I repeat:

I have no desire to get pissed. The only time, post switch, I did feel the need to get lashed up was when I titrated down too fast. I often (usually) have a beer in the evening (proper ale, not that nasty, gassy lager crap that foreigners drink) and I enjoy the taste immensely. I don't get a buzz from it. I don't drink a second one to try and get a buzz. I don't want a buzz.

Find your own path people and don't let others try and tell you what it should be.

[tiptronic_ct]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Murphyx;1078696 wrote: There seems to be a new belief running across the board that moderation isn't possible after the switch. That somehow, occasional drinking will force you to become a full-blown alcie, hopelessly binge drinking as soon as you so much as sniff a beer.

BOLLOCKS!!!!!

I've even seen a couple of posts saying the only people who have really switched are those who are AF.

DOUBLE - BOLLOCKS!!!!! - or a pair of bollocks if you will.

Those of us who moderate after the switch are just kidding ourselves and have yet to find the real switch.

TRIPLE BOLLOCKS!!!!! - I knew a bloke with 3 bollocks. At least he said he had three bollocks. I am not in a position to categorically confirm the claim, but then again why would he say such a thing if it were not true? I digress.

I have no desire to get pissed. The only time, post switch, I did feel the need to get lashed up was when I titrated down too fast. I often (usually) have a beer in the evening (proper ale, not that nasty, gassy lager crap that foreigners drink) and I enjoy the taste immensely. I don't get a buzz from it. I don't drink a second one to try and get a buzz. I don't want a buzz.

HAVING THE OCCASIONAL DRINK AFTER THE SWITCH DOES NOT LEAD TO AN ALCOHOLIC DOWNFALL.

Now I've got that out of my system, you can all return to your usual man-hating drivel.

A period of abstinence after the switch (say 30 days) is a good thing - it allows you to assess whether you're really there or not. It also allows you to put your "relationship" with alcohol in perspective.

If people want to moderate after that, so be it. Always keeping in mind that moderating does not equate to daily drinking.

In my case, I've opted for abstinence. Several reasons for that decision... I was a complete and utter wreck (an understatement) when I found this place and bac. Having gotten my life back, there is no fucking way I'm going to compromise my chances of long-term success. I also think my brain needed to "rewire" itself - abstinence gives it the opportunity to do just that.

Finally: if we argue that alcoholism is a disease just like diabetes or high BP, we can surely apply the same principles in the treatment thereof - you need a lifestyle change to complement the pharmaceutical component. I all likelihood (guesswork, obviously), one would need to take a higher dose of bac to moderate after the switch, compared to the maintenance dose required by an abstinent individual. Or can a diabetic just go ahead and eat what they want because they can always inject more insulin?

I dunno... if it works for you, it works for you and I wish you well. I am not prepared to take that risk...

[Isolde]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Murphyx;1078696 wrote: There seems to be a new belief running across the board that moderation isn't possible after the switch. That somehow, occasional drinking will force you to become a full-blown alcie, hopelessly binge drinking as soon as you so much as sniff a beer.

BOLLOCKS!!!!!

I've even seen a couple of posts saying the only people who have really switched are those who are AF.

DOUBLE - BOLLOCKS!!!!! - or a pair of bollocks if you will.

Those of us who moderate after the switch are just kidding ourselves and have yet to find the real switch.

TRIPLE BOLLOCKS!!!!! - I knew a bloke with 3 bollocks. At least he said he had three bollocks. I am not in a position to categorically confirm the claim, but then again why would he say such a thing if it were not true? I digress.

I have no desire to get pissed. The only time, post switch, I did feel the need to get lashed up was when I titrated down too fast. I often (usually) have a beer in the evening (proper ale, not that nasty, gassy lager crap that foreigners drink) and I enjoy the taste immensely. I don't get a buzz from it. I don't drink a second one to try and get a buzz. I don't want a buzz.

HAVING THE OCCASIONAL DRINK AFTER THE SWITCH DOES NOT LEAD TO AN ALCOHOLIC DOWNFALL.

Now I've got that out of my system, you can all return to your usual man-hating drivel.

Couldn't agree more with all you've said, Murph. Baclofen takes away the craving and the addictive aspect (and not just of alcohol!). I think it's completely different from other forms of getting sober - it's not like one drink will send someone spiraling back down into the depths of the abyss. Bac gives us the ability to make a choice, which is something we didn't have before.
Moderation isn't for everyone, of course. I know that's something we all agree on. I don't think I'm really given credit for having hit the switch because I still choose (operative word, that) to have a drink on occasion. I could be wrong about that, but in any case, I don't really care. I'm AF a lot more than I'd ever planned on being, due to the indifference.

All that being said, I think Tip has a point about getting a chunk of AF time under our belts after the switch. I didn't drink for a month after hitting my switch, but that wasn't even on purpose! I just didn't want it. But I do think it helped me identify how I feel about alcohol now. It gave me time to reflect.

And considering the nature of public forums, I think we all understand that whatever anyone posts is their own opinion (unless they are stating something as a fact and /or providing scientific evidence, links to studies, etc.). At least, I'd like to believe that we can all use our brains enough to suss that out.

[PbarE]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

tiptronic_ct;1079987 wrote: In my case, I've opted for abstinence. Several reasons for that decision... I was a complete and utter wreck (an understatement) when I found this place and bac. Having gotten my life back, there is no fucking way I'm going to compromise my chances of long-term success. I also think my brain needed to "rewire" itself - abstinence gives it the opportunity to do just that.

Finally: if we argue that alcoholism is a disease just like diabetes or high BP, we can surely apply the same principles in the treatment thereof - you need a lifestyle change to complement the pharmaceutical component. I all likelihood (guesswork, obviously), one would need to take a higher dose of bac to moderate after the switch, compared to the maintenance dose required by an abstinent individual. Or can a diabetic just go ahead and eat what they want because they can always inject more insulin?

I dunno... if it works for you, it works for you and I wish you well. I am not prepared to take that risk...

I agree wholeheartedly.

Bac helps fix the biological aspect of the disease of addiction. It allows the frontal lobe of my brain to weigh in and be a part of the decsion making process.

Bac does not address the psychological aspects of my addiction - all the fears and unhealthy emotions which drove me to drink and drug in the first place. As part of my journey, I am addressing those with a vengenance.

We are genetically pre-disposed to addiction. Bac does not change that, to my knowledge (although if someone has evidence to the contrary, I would welcome it) Bac put us back to square one, the same position we were in before we ever had our first drink.

So armed with knowledge of my genetic pre-dispostion, and my experience of what happens when I drink and drug, why would I want to take the risk of moderalt drinking?

But to those that do, I tip my stetson and wish you the best of luck. If ya'll can drink moderately over an extended period of time, I will gladly re-think my position on this matter.

[bleep]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Bit of drama on your thread I see Murph.

I agree 100% with Murphy. Baclofen has given me the ability to drink like a normal person, and I am extremely grateful. Some people choose to abstain, some don't, the point here is that everyone is suddenly, for the first time, given a choice.

This is Murphy's thread. He doesn't have to preface every comment he makes in it with IMO. It was obvious he wasn't laying out a papal decree, but was stating his opinion, to me. In my opinion. What a lot of fluff over nothing really, I think.

Tip, my lifestyle has changed, it is unrecognisable now compared to a couple of months ago. I actually look quite healthy now, for the first time in years. People comment to me on it.

[Guest]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

I'm just not interested in alcohol. I have 18 AF days in my signature, but I have had one mouthful of alcohol this week. I'm not adjusting the signature yet for the following reason;

I got nothing from that drink, it was one mouthful because that mouthful didn't give me anything at all. It was tasteless, and buzzless. Infact it was a waste of time. Stopped at that and haven't touched the remainder since. Oh yes I've wanted to get drunk for the release, to get off my head, relieve some emotional frustrations and that's why I bought the booze in the first place. Then I found I couldn't drink it, couldn't see the point and felt no affect. I know it was only 1 mouthfull, and it was only 2.8% vol but in the past that was enough to set me off. This time nothing.

So will probably alter my signature when I get some more weeks under my belt, but I've no doubt it will be 100% without alcohol. In the meantime I can recognise the thoughts and feelings driving drinking ideas, working on them with my counsellor. Plan is that I sort that out over the next 12 months so when I come off Baclofen, I've also removed the psychological triggers.

Considering the trouble alcohol has caused me over the years, plus the fact it does nothing positive for my personality - and never has, it makes a lot of sense for me to simply not bother.

[missyabby1]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Look bac at my posts Murph if you honestly think I am someone else. i find that really offensive. Desperate? Look mate all I am saying is that you are newly "sober".

There are a lot of people on this forum who are far longer sober not using bac.

As I have kept saying, I use Campral , same effect. Total indifference to alcohol for two months. BUT the indifference is tempered with emotive drinking.

If you are going to keep dismissing people well I can't be bothered with it anymore. Look at the thread someone started asking "how long have you been sober taking baclofen". Was waiting for the so called thousands on this forum to reply. Look at the number of people who replied. I take F......g Campral and I can't see the bloody difference . I certainly admit to not being totally sober all the time but the bac people seem to have a major difficulty with this fact or admitting it, til just recently.

I am so over all this. I'm tired of this bloody bac reverence .....it was the same as the "sinclair method" years ago. Yes it may be the "true" way out of alcoholism, and I hope it is. But shit mate lets wait til the jury decides....not you and a handful of gurus starting the next "coming".

By the way I still adore your humour and have laughed so much at your posts but talk to me when you can still have one beer a night because of a bloody pill. My brain loves Campral, and I think it is similar to bac in that in works on the GABA receptors. But hey I am sure that loop or some one will come along and correct me on that if I am wrong.

Missy.......and I am a brunette and an aussie

[Guest]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Murphyx;1079944 wrote: UKBlond, why do you feel the need to use 2 IDs on this forum?

Only just seen this looking for why Missyabby was so upset.

Very funny. I only have one ID thank you very much, have no need to hide behind anyone else.

[missyabby1]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

Bleep I totally disagree with your comments.............only because this is an open forum with desperate people seeking answers. They read these posts. I just can't get over people giving false hope . What works for some does not work for everyone....I think this forum has established that.

I don't care whose thread this is......stating so called "facts" can be dangerous to vulnerable people.

I would not dare give false hope to people as "fact" as Murph has done. I just don't have the so called knowlege after a month or two of so called sobriety.

And I am sure Murph can stick up for himself, not like a lot of new people who come here looking for sobriety and , at least, some humbleness.

[Murphy's Imagination]

Murph’s Baclofen (or should that be BacloFUN) diary

It's ok I created a profile especially for Murphy :H