Daily dosing record - beatle

[ignominious]

Daily dosing record - beatle

I was referring to the previous schedule and just wanted to add my voice to the symphony. If you have well and truly taken the advice on board and assimilated it then my words were redundant. Steady intake every 24 hour period plus an successful effort to increase every 3 or 4 days or so.

Tweaking can be useful for sure. But tweaking implies that you have a method in place. I think the window for tweaking, to find the easiest path for you, has past. It hasn't and doesn't seem to work for you. Steady doses, regular increases will.

I think listening to your body is important but yours has a dominating timbre. Maybe time to listen to the 'switch' calling. This stuff is not poison. ODs are rare and so far not fatal. Caveat: there's always a first time and I'm worried about appearing so strident in my advice!

If you follow this advice, titrating up to 5-600 in the next couple of months and it doesn't work, you will be the first person (out of not so many) that I've witnessed for whom baclofen is not successful. It will be depressing for you but at least you will know. The same goes for all of us that believe the unbelievable.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Daily dosing record - beatle

lo0p is an anomaly. :H

I couldn't listen to my body, either. It just kept telling me to drink. Or that I shouldn't keep taking bac.
So I listened to Ig and others.
When I knew that I was taking too much, I went down, and then went bac up again. In spite of the fact that many were encouraging me to just get on with it! It made it easier when I did that.

Tweaking is for low doses! (imho) At high doses it's hard enough to remember what, how much and when. Or even whether or not you've taken them.

Steady, consistent, looking for the switch, not waiting for it. That is some of the advice I received here that helped. And when I couldn't think enough to count 16 pills and figure out how to take them bleep spelled it out for me. And lo0p made me laugh.
And my friends from all over the world rooted for me.

You are most assuredly not among those that bac won't help. Period.
You are not an anomaly.
Your side effects and your experience are not a function of your mind making this difficult for you. Or your body betraying you. The beast is a frightful foe. Bac is stronger and so are you.

:ls
K

[beatle]

Daily dosing record - beatle

So, after using at least 4-5 hours trying to write/finish an update post full of random rambling, I fell asleep and hit my head on the keyboard, and abracadabra!

But guess what! I had the good sense to save it a few minutes earlier (a nifty trick I devised after losing posts a couple hundred times previously).

So, here is the post, which doesn't get to the point, which was about dosing. (And one of the reasons this post took so long is that in addition to my 19-second attention span problem, I kept going back to the tiration thread to figure out how to formulate my questions on protocol.)

So, forget the questions about dosing, here is the unedited, uncensored, version (now let's see if I can keep my paws off it once it hits the press:H).

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

thank you all for the advice and moral support. I'm taking it all in. I will try to be stronger.

Today I followed the new schedule systematically, second day in a row. (Edit: oops, 10mg short.)

I feel much more normal tonight (as I did last night at this time), and have a sense that the body is stabilizing.

Most SEs are a little more tolerable now, or at least I feel that way mentally-- partly because I was so thoroughly forewarned and prepared by others who tread(ed?) before me. I don't really know how to compare the SEs to earlier, but not having kept track of nor documented the SEs, they seem to be at a lower level but more constant -- probably a function of the new schedule, which is at lower doses more often (as per the Bleep Protocol).

Ok, I know that made little sense, but I can't spend another 45 minutes on it. In situations like this, a beer used to help me focus. But alas, that doesn't seem to help anymore.

I often have little lightning, tiny-veiny shocks and twitches in hands and around lips. Sometimes little jerky movements with hands. Sort of spastic. Also terrible insomnia and extreme somnolence during the day (but not the kind you have from not sleeping enough-- just from looking at the computer screen too long). Somnolence is not a problem for me when I am moving around. The spaciness of bac can be disconcerting, which means that ...what?... I don't know.

Pause: this must sound terrifying to newbies, and I surely would have thrown in the towel if I read this at the start of my journey -- if I hadn't heard ahead of time about the experiences of others on this site who were in similar places in life and then got free from their disease so they could move on to real life. We're not talking AF here. We're talking indifference. We're talking not spending the rest of your life trying to stay sober. I want that (and need it) so badly that I will tolerate these SEs. Oh, and by the way, many people hardly have any SEs.

O, another aside: If you had a disease (and alcoholism is classified as disease by just about every impressive-sounding official body there is in the world), and the doctors told you there is no cure, or treatment, except dealing with your issues (as if that is unique to the disease), following these steps in this pamphlet, going to these meetings and giving up your soul (ok, that last part was slightly slanted) -- would you meekly leave the doctor's office and follow their advice, accepting that there was no cure, despite this illness being so rampant all over the world...? Or would you take a pill that most likely would not kill you (whereas the disease was killing you quickly already), and, depending on how you use it it would have side effects, possibly extreme, but... you would live! (Or at least have the opportunity to) and you would be trading this...

...did I mention the SE of losing a train of thought? Or the ability to communicate?


Oh, yes, I will become articulate, perhaps even eloquent, again -- after I go fearlessly into that dark night (or at least not gently into it), and come out on the other side... something like that.

Ne/Neva Eva;1067347 wrote: lo0p is an anomaly. :H K

I meant to mention that.

[bleep]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Great stuff beatle, keep it up. Success will be yours.

The electric shocks are a common SE, not even that unpleasant, unless you happen to be holding a glass of nice wine at the time!

I also save long posts halfway through, it's come in handy a few times.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Your post is similar to all of the things you write: Cogent, coherent and eloquent. Not unusual that your mind can't see that.

I'm spending a good deal of my time (?!) reading over my old posts, starting from the beginning. The only ones that are meaningless (in my very humble opinion) are the ones I wrote when I was afraid I was going to be blasted/censored/humiliated. Or I worried what newbies would think.
There are some other posts that I think are disingenous. Those are the ones that I wrote after lengthy off-the-forum chats where I worked out what was going on for me. Better to bring it here, and have everyone weigh in.

beatle, any newbie worth their salt is reading ALL the posts. Ours is a cautionary tale. It's sad but true. In some ways. But there will be many, many women who have to follow our path. Lots of them will give up because they couldn't/wouldn't/didn't find support.

Your side effects are not unusual, even for people who take much less time, or find the switch at much lower doses. I think people take comfort from knowing that there are others who experience them. I know I do. Even now.
It's scary. No getting around it. More so if one is alone. Or internalizing the struggle rather than sharing the burden.

Irritates the hell out of me that you don't think you are strong. ha. seriously??? Get over yourself. You write better than most of the people around here, myself included, and you have the mental/physical fortitude that dwarfs even the genetic anomalies. Keep taking the god damn pills. Go up or down. But go public. The women who follow need to hear from us.

[bleep]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Ne/Neva Eva;1067493 wrote: Your post is similar to all of the things you write: Cogent, coherent and eloquent. Not unusual that your mind can't see that.

...

Irritates the hell out of me that you don't think you are strong. ha. seriously??? Get over yourself. You write better than most of the people around here, myself included, and you have the mental/physical fortitude that dwarfs even the genetic anomalies. Keep taking the god damn pills. Go up or down. But go public. The women who follow need to hear from us.

beatle, the word you were looking for is trod.

I agree with what Ne said (you need to pick one neva / ne, and run with it!) (quoted above), except the guys will probably benefit as well.

It wouldn't surprise me, even though you have been taking baclofen for so long, to see some of the more "normal" SE's coming through, now that you have adopted a steady dosage schedule. Don't be surprised by them.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Daily dosing record - beatle

I pick Ne.

[Lo0p]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Hey...Anomalies can be good things...:blush:

I always knew there was something really wrong the titration speed. Then after 1 1/2 years of watching everybody I was positive. But I never had the guts to say anything to anyone except in private.

I don't think I'm quite the anomaly everyone thinks I am when they look at how fast I dosed up (can't even call it a titration because it simply was not). Maybe a little bit anomalous (re: lack of SE's), but not as much as we all think.

I'll fill in my post on the titration thread soon. Finally fixing my car this morning, work/weather has been holding me up. I could just find the one I made a little while ago that spells it ALL but I can't remember where I put it.

:anyone:

It's quite recent.

Edit: it was on bleep's thread. Where the hell did that go dude?

[LadyLush]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Beatle, All,

Touche! Blink told me how to copy quotes but for the moment forgot how!

Beatle, your intelligence overwhelms me and then you throw in the humor; a perfect combination. I might have given up if I were not here...Are the side effects worth it? I know now, ABSOLUTELY...
There is no other way out for me and I am becoming part of a miracle as I speak!
Hitting your head on the keyboard......I fell out of my chair convincing myself I was not tired last night...what can I say?
YAY, another injury and for once it is not alcohol related:yougo:

On the serious side my old addiction counselor is listening! He will be on this site incognito if not already. He leads several AA groups and counsels 3 rehabilitation clinics in the Metroplex. He is very intrigued with us and/or Baclofen. The intelligent banter from all of you will get us on the map!

I wish I had all of you in my pocket with all your knowledge and yes Beatle, eloquence!

I love reading your posts

Lady

[redhead77]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Hey Beatle. This is kind off the titration topic, but I've been wondering what supps you take. I'm a supplement junkie too, and was wondering what you're on. If you can find the time, would you post your supps and schedule?

[beatle]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Hi redhead, I used to get asked that all the time when I was on Holistic exclusively (well, general, too). I never came here to meds, as a fervent anti-meds person. It was only by chance (i believe it was more than that, but...) that I found baclofen and the meds forum here (or vice-versa, actually). The rest is history (or herstory).

As for the supps, I feel like I have spent the last 5 years educating myself and wish I had used that time to earn some kind of nutritional degree. I considered it many times, but never acted on it, thanks to my cloudy al brain and complete inability to do anything attitude (I was also severely depressed).

If you want to find out anything about just about anything supps/nutritional/herbal oriented, I've probably spouted off about it in Holistic Healing. Not saying it's worth anything... just saying.

I based a lot of my supps regime on "Seven Weeks to Sobriety" (that means 7 years in beatle's life -- kind of like dog years). I like detailed explanations for everything -- and that you get in "Seven Weeks"! My kind of book, for sure.

The other "bible" I have used is "Nutritional Healing" by Balch and Balch, You have an ailment/sickness/disease? They have the supps/herbs and other non-med advice for it. Not only that, you have some symptoms? look them up and they will provide you with the problem. Very handy.

Wow, that was a mouthful. (I'm trying not to edit these day, as you might have noticed.)

I wrote this recently in a PM to another MWOer.

My supps regime keeps changing, partly based on what I read/hear about, and partly based on convenience (which supps are available, wherever I happen to be, what I've run out of (e.g. I was taking one True Calm every morning with the aminos, but I ran out, so now I take extra taurine and GABA. -- two main ingredients in True Calm.) You get the picture.

So this is my current regime (which will no doubt change within 10 days):

Morning (soon after getting up -- at least 1/2 hour before breakfast):
big all-day amino shot:
– L-glutamine 5-6gr (powder form dissolved in water)
– free-form amino blend
– Taurine 1,000mg
– NAC 1,200mg
– Acetyl Carnitine 500mg
– GABA 750mg (MWO)


Vites: after lunch (should do twice a day, but never happens):
– Mulit vite (I use Raw One for Women-- no plug here. just raw food vites are better imo.)
– Chromium Picolinate (220mcg)
– B Complex (I use Vitamin Code Raw B-Complex)
– Enzymes
– Evening Primrose Oil (1,300 mg)
– Phosphatidyl Choline (max strength, forgot what it is because I ran out... typical)

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Herstory. That's awesome.
Just sayin' that of course it's worth something... You know what you know!

hmmmm. All those supps. hmmmm. still seeking indifference. hmmmm. I know you know where I'm going. And I know you think I'm way off my mark. BUT. hmmmm just sayin'

[redhead77]

Daily dosing record - beatle

That's funny Ne. Get a load of what I take:

Coenzyme Q 10-100mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid-200mg
Acetyl L Carnitine-500mg
Fish Oil-4 grams
Milk Thistle-175 mg x2
Multivitamin
B Complex
Niacin-250mg (flush form)
Borage Oil-1300 mg
Vitamin D3-2000 IUs
Resveratrol-250mg
SAM-e 1200 mg
Lecithin (when I think of it)
Vitamin C-1000 mg
Chromium and cinammon combo to help combat elevated insulin levels

I also have 5 HTP and phosphatidyl serine but haven't been taking them. I haven't been taking L glut because it gives me GI issues. I know it's supposed to be great for us but....you wouldn't want to be around me. My kids mention moving :H
I have both Prescription for Nutritional Healing and Seven Weeks. Good books. Also, I love, love Dr Perricone's stuff on antiaging. Glad to have met someone else who believes in this stuff.

[bleep]

Daily dosing record - beatle

Do you eat food as well red?

[redhead77]

Daily dosing record - beatle

LMAO Bleep. Sometimes