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    Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

    Well what's up, everyone?

    Been pretty quiet 'round these parts. My mother was here for the day last week, so that was fun. Nice to see her, but we met at school and she was here for 5 hours. School's not that big... so even with lunch it was a lot of walking around aimlessly and, well, after 5 hours that gets a little old. Oh well.

    Really not all that much to report, which is why I've been so quiet. Had a nice weekend watching hockey and hanging out, and even going to dinner with my ol' drinking buddy for a belated birthday--which was a week ago, now? Holy f*ck, where is my life going this quickly? Whatever. Still exercising 4 days/week, and still sober--just over 3 weeks now--and completely off bac, again, as of today. I don't care what anyone has to say about that, honestly. I'm just reporting what's what.

    Did a 20/mg drop every 3 days, from about 120mg/day when I started coming down, and down to 20mg yesterday morning and cold turkey from there today. For the record, that seems to be "safe," in that there were no seizures or other withdrawal weirdness. But it is quick--and there's plenty of dark thoughts that come out of nowhere at you, so if you're interested in your own mental health, I'd say go slower. I haven't been sleeping all that well these past few weeks, and yesterday evening I got really tired while watching hockey here at home, and went to bed immediately after--at 8pm. Not sure how many times I woke up, but I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep all that well, even though I slept a long time. Woke up at 6 this morning and have been up since.

    Tried to continue working on this thing I'm writing, and suddenly got a headache and really panicky. You can read into that what you will--bac withdrawal? Maybe. Anyway, it was bad enough that I took 1/2 an Ativan, and I haven't touched that in at least 2 weeks. It's already helping.

    The other thing is a difficulty in finding anything to enjoy. Hockey isn't even really doing it--though this series isn't as nail-biting as the last one. Last week I was on edge, cheering my little heart out and scaring the crap out of the cats here at home, and really into it. It was exhausting. This time around I'm kind of like whatever, so if that's my mental/emotional state or just the difference in the games themselves, I'm not sure. Writing sucks, but it always sucks, and I basically feel like I've forgotten how to do it. But at the same time, I am doing it, so that's a positive.

    I've even lost interest in chasing women for the most part. Hot bartender seems to be fired, though that's not confirmed. Haven't really been to the bar this past week, and I mentioned to the bartender that I missed her, and she's certainly noticed my absence, but I can't really bring myself to hang out there for too long anymore these days. My heart's not in it. One of the friend's from back home called Friday night, all wasted after a birthday party, and got started with phone sex before I really had a chance to tell her I wasn't going to participate. But even telling her that didn't really stop her, probably because of the aforementioned wasted nature of her evening, until she flipped a 180, as drunk folks do, and hung up on me. Only to text the word "finished" 5 minutes later. Which is great, right? I'd hate to stand between someone and their big O. And of course my exGF also called last week, in the middle of the night, driving home when she shouldn't've been driving, and had all kinds of things to say. Oddly, though, they were more nice things than shitty things, and she was apparently in a "missing me" place instead of a "hating me" place. Haven't heard that from her in a while. Anyway I stayed on the phone all the way until she was in bed, and wished her a good night, and I think she got a pretty decent night's sleep without really worrying about anything--which is exactly what I wanted, and why I waited until the following afternoon to text her, and I'm paraphrasing here, "bitch you need to knock it off with that drinking and driving shit."

    But none of this is doing anything for me. And that, in my amateur opinion, is the combination of still-new sobriety and titrating off bac. So ya'll will know what to expect if you do this crap at home. It's not the most fun. But my legs feel worlds better. I'm confident that in the coming weeks I'll be sleeping better. And mood should (should!?) start improving, I think, if I'm remembering past sobriety correctly. Though to be fair that last one involved going up on bac, not coming off. This oughta be interesting.

    Anyway, cravings are still mostly nonexistent. Very occasionally my eye will land on the Jameson bottle behind the bar and it'll look pretty good, but otherwise nothing. And like I mentioned a few posts back, I seem to be collecting booze around the house, against my will. There are a few beers leftover from the liquor store run after that disastrous party, and on my birthday there was that pint of bourbon gift that's now in the cupboard. But the sun goes down and I'm more than happy to be drinking water, or club soda, or cranberry juice, or even decaf coffee. More than anything, I credit keeping my health in the forefront of my mind, as well as goals for this summer. Goals that, well, aren't being met all that easily, but at least they're being worked towards. (God, way to use the passive voice there, Stuck, you freaking idiot.) Here: at least I'm
    working towards those goals, however slowly.

    Hope ya'll are well. MWO's yet another victim of my not really being into anything these days, but also I'm just devoting my computer time and energy towards writing elsewhere. I am thinking about y'all, though. Hope you're well. :l

    Comment


      Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

      Good to hear from you Stuck. Sounds like things are working out pretty well. Thanks for checking in.

      Comment


        Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

        StuckinLA,

        Kudos to you for your sober time. I'm glad your legs are feeling better too!

        Comment


          Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

          StuckinLA;1514878 wrote: Well what's up, everyone?

          Been pretty quiet 'round these parts. My mother was here for the day last week, so that was fun. Nice to see her, but we met at school and she was here for 5 hours. School's not that big... so even with lunch it was a lot of walking around aimlessly and, well, after 5 hours that gets a little old. Oh well.

          Really not all that much to report, which is why I've been so quiet. Had a nice weekend watching hockey and hanging out, and even going to dinner with my ol' drinking buddy for a belated birthday--which was a week ago, now? Holy f*ck, where is my life going this quickly? Whatever. Still exercising 4 days/week, and still sober--just over 3 weeks now--and completely off bac, again, as of today. I don't care what anyone has to say about that, honestly. I'm just reporting what's what.

          Did a 20/mg drop every 3 days, from about 120mg/day when I started coming down, and down to 20mg yesterday morning and cold turkey from there today. For the record, that seems to be "safe," in that there were no seizures or other withdrawal weirdness. But it is quick--and there's plenty of dark thoughts that come out of nowhere at you, so if you're interested in your own mental health, I'd say go slower. I haven't been sleeping all that well these past few weeks, and yesterday evening I got really tired while watching hockey here at home, and went to bed immediately after--at 8pm. Not sure how many times I woke up, but I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep all that well, even though I slept a long time. Woke up at 6 this morning and have been up since.

          Tried to continue working on this thing I'm writing, and suddenly got a headache and really panicky. You can read into that what you will--bac withdrawal? Maybe. Anyway, it was bad enough that I took 1/2 an Ativan, and I haven't touched that in at least 2 weeks. It's already helping.

          The other thing is a difficulty in finding anything to enjoy. Hockey isn't even really doing it--though this series isn't as nail-biting as the last one. Last week I was on edge, cheering my little heart out and scaring the crap out of the cats here at home, and really into it. It was exhausting. This time around I'm kind of like whatever, so if that's my mental/emotional state or just the difference in the games themselves, I'm not sure. Writing sucks, but it always sucks, and I basically feel like I've forgotten how to do it. But at the same time, I am doing it, so that's a positive.

          I've even lost interest in chasing women for the most part. Hot bartender seems to be fired, though that's not confirmed. Haven't really been to the bar this past week, and I mentioned to the bartender that I missed her, and she's certainly noticed my absence, but I can't really bring myself to hang out there for too long anymore these days. My heart's not in it. One of the friend's from back home called Friday night, all wasted after a birthday party, and got started with phone sex before I really had a chance to tell her I wasn't going to participate. But even telling her that didn't really stop her, probably because of the aforementioned wasted nature of her evening, until she flipped a 180, as drunk folks do, and hung up on me. Only to text the word "finished" 5 minutes later. Which is great, right? I'd hate to stand between someone and their big O. And of course my exGF also called last week, in the middle of the night, driving home when she shouldn't've been driving, and had all kinds of things to say. Oddly, though, they were more nice things than shitty things, and she was apparently in a "missing me" place instead of a "hating me" place. Haven't heard that from her in a while. Anyway I stayed on the phone all the way until she was in bed, and wished her a good night, and I think she got a pretty decent night's sleep without really worrying about anything--which is exactly what I wanted, and why I waited until the following afternoon to text her, and I'm paraphrasing here, "bitch you need to knock it off with that drinking and driving shit."

          But none of this is doing anything for me. And that, in my amateur opinion, is the combination of still-new sobriety and titrating off bac. So ya'll will know what to expect if you do this crap at home. It's not the most fun. But my legs feel worlds better. I'm confident that in the coming weeks I'll be sleeping better. And mood should (should!?) start improving, I think, if I'm remembering past sobriety correctly. Though to be fair that last one involved going up on bac, not coming off. This oughta be interesting.

          Anyway, cravings are still mostly nonexistent. Very occasionally my eye will land on the Jameson bottle behind the bar and it'll look pretty good, but otherwise nothing. And like I mentioned a few posts back, I seem to be collecting booze around the house, against my will. There are a few beers leftover from the liquor store run after that disastrous party, and on my birthday there was that pint of bourbon gift that's now in the cupboard. But the sun goes down and I'm more than happy to be drinking water, or club soda, or cranberry juice, or even decaf coffee. More than anything, I credit keeping my health in the forefront of my mind, as well as goals for this summer. Goals that, well, aren't being met all that easily, but at least they're being worked towards. (God, way to use the passive voice there, Stuck, you freaking idiot.) Here: at least I'm
          working towards those goals, however slowly.

          Hope ya'll are well. MWO's yet another victim of my not really being into anything these days, but also I'm just devoting my computer time and energy towards writing elsewhere. I am thinking about y'all, though. Hope you're well. :l
          Thanks for posting over in my new thread, Stuck, with advice and encouragement. Thought I'd chime in here and say good on you for keeping with the writing even though feeling pretty passionless at the moment- I know from experience how tough that can be. Discipline is definitely a writer's best weapon... and lol about the "passive voice", I take it you've read "the Elements of Style"?

          And actually, I wanted to recommend, if you haven't read it, "The War of Art" by Stephen Pressing... very very motivational, inspiring, and helpful in a very plain, no-bullshit style.. a very helpful book if you're tackling any project, which it sounds like you are.

          If you don't mind my asking, why are you going off bac altogether? If you've written that already, link?

          Good luck shaking off the remaining SE's and getting your passion back (for women, hockey, writing... all respectable pursuits

          Comment


            Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

            skullbabyland;1515064 wrote: If you don't mind my asking, why are you going off bac altogether?
            Leg pain. It's a pretty rare SE, but it sucks A LOT.

            Comment


              Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

              Ooohhh... sorry to hear that. Yeah the SE's from bac seem to range wildly, and are unfortunately are dealbreakers in some cases... Good luck Stuck...

              Comment


                Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                30 days sober. In some circles they give you a monetarily-valueless coin for that shit.

                Comment


                  Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

                  That is a huge accomplishment. Huge. Not just because (for the record) you are doing it sans baclofen. It is a remarkable commitment to trying out the whole other world that includes senses, and emotions, and other stuff like that.

                  Really happy for you, La. And excited, too.

                  Rock on.
                  :h

                  Comment


                    Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                    StuckinLA;1517872 wrote: 30 days sober. In some circles they give you a monetarily-valueless coin for that shit.

                    :goodjob:

                    That post made my day! Don't worry if you are having lingering SEs from coming off Bac quickly or if you are just in the doldrums. I m only assuming this might be happening fron previous post. Maybe it neither and you are feeling really happy.

                    (Edit on June 11): wtf was I saying in that last line "Maybe it neither and you are feeling really happy"
                    . I am baffled by the line and I am tempted to delete the post but I still want you to know I am happy for the AF thing but I do get the issues with the doldrums.

                    Either way I am happy for you!

                    Comment


                      Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                      Congratulations, LA! 30 days is no small accomplishment... how have you been filling your previous drinking time? Do you use distractions and/or rewards etc?

                      Well done... I haven't done 30 days AF in years, but I know that I will again sooner rather than later.

                      Comment


                        Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                        Ne/Neva Eva;1517950 wrote: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

                        (for the record) you are doing it sans baclofen.
                        For the record, you are correct. Off bac for about 3 weeks now. Leg pain gone, thank the almighty whatever.

                        Also for the record, bac does work, people. I guess I just never really got on board with the whole thing--ironically, after the switch. I mean, the leg pain is a dealbreaker long-term, but as for everything else, I don't know. SEs were minimal, for the most part... Whatever, it is what it is.

                        MaryGoRound;1517958 wrote: :goodjob:

                        That post made my day! Don't worry if you are having lingering SEs from coming off Bac quickly or if you are just in the doldrums.
                        Thanks, Mary. No real lingering SEs, but still sleeping pretty poorly. And night panics still, most nights.

                        Alternating between Benadryl, OTC sleep aids, Gabapentin, and the very occasional 1/2 Ativan for sleep. As for the doldrums, it's more an all-out depression. I've also started on a beta blocker, which I was warned could worsen depression--though I said I was all bright and chipper and whatnot, so as not to contraindicate the beta blocker.

                        Had labs done in the last few weeks, still trying to sort out elevated B/P and heart rate. What caught my attention, though, is that I don't have enough dopamine to even show up on the test. So no wonder I'm not finding pleasure or happiness in anything.

                        skullbabyland;1518028 wrote:
                        how have you been filling your previous drinking time? Do you use distractions and/or rewards etc?
                        Rewards aren't really working--again, with so little dopamine in my system, I couldn't think of a reward I'd even want right now. No joke, nothing makes me happy. So I'm not sure what I'd even reward myself with.

                        So I guess you could say I'm using distractions. But really I've just set up what I think I should be doing day-by-day, and putting one foot in front of the other and doing it. I start working on this article I'm trying to write every morning when I get up (except today, I'm fucking around on MWO and going to make breakfast in a minute). And I work on that for a few hours, even if I don't get anything really done, I sit at the desk. So even if I'm not producing anything, I am working.

                        I ordered groceries and made sure it's all pretty healthy, and lots of fruits and vegetables. I started making homemade oatmeal for breakfast again, like I used to all the time. Then dinner is like a spinach salad with sliced up bell peppers and a sliced apple. That kind of thing. So eating better.

                        I've mentioned elsewhere that I have a couple exercise apps on my phone. One of them sets a weekly goal, and charges money to my credit card if I don't make that goal. So it's set for 4 exercise days a week. I was wasting several hours a day by getting on the bus, going to campus, using the gym, showering there, then taking the bus back home. But I have another phone app that tracks running--it maps the route with GPS, gives elapsed time, distance, pace, etc. Well that app links to the other app, and counts toward my weekly goal, so I've been jogging through the hilly-as-fuck parks behind my apartment and around Dodgers' Stadium in the afternoons. Instead of like 3 hours gone going to the gym, I jog and walk for about 35-40 minutes around here and shower when I get home. I know I suck right now, but I make it about 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 miles in 35 minutes, and trying to work on that.

                        And there's something satisfying about using the same route I used to walk during AL withdrawal panics as my cool-down route now. And at the tail end of it I sprint up a 400ft hill.

                        Trying to read more in the evenings, and taking bubble baths. The one thing I can't really kick is Xbox. Video games are like the junk food of dopamine, and I've been playing at least a couple hours every night, and sometimes in the afternoons, too. Online hockey--so I'm telling myself that it's also kind of social, since I'm talking to people through the headset... but it's not really all that social. I met a guy last night whose online league is looking for a goalie, so I might have myself an online hockey league to be a part of. It makes me want to play real hockey, actually. And I've been telling myself that as soon as I get my license back I'm buying equipment and joining a real-life league.

                        A couple summers ago I was skating every day, and would've probably joined a league had I not moved. And now I can't drive to any rinks. But I should be getting a license soon-ish, and when I do I'll probably pick up where I left off.

                        So that's what I'm doing. Sitting at my desk for 2 or 3 hours in the mornings, trying to eat better, trying to exercise, reading more (even if it's not "productive" reading for my research), playing Xbox, trying to sleep better.

                        It's boring as fuck, lonely, and just numbing most of the time. There's still those 7 beers taking up space in the fridge, and that birthday-present pint of bourbon in the cupboard, and I do try to make it down to the bar most days. If I get up the energy to write more posts, I'll fill you in on the bartender situation--Friday I bought her a pint of gelato, because I go for espresso and gelato at this place up the street she says she always wants to try but never has time. But then had to leave before I had a chance to really talk to her. Soooooo...

                        Until then, hope everyone's well. :l

                        Comment


                          Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                          In case of a relapse baclofen can still offer a cheap and painful way of getting back on track.

                          Congratulations on 30 days AF without the baclofen crutch.

                          Comment


                            Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                            Colin;1518083 wrote: In case of a relapse baclofen can still offer a cheap and painful way of getting back on track.

                            Congratulations on 30 days AF without the baclofen crutch.
                            OK, whoa, hold on there. Normally I'd just say thanks for the congrats, but there're a couple of really troubling things going on in that post there.

                            1) My last go with bac was an attempt at getting back on track. Whatever was going on--and this is addressed more to everyone than just you, Colin--my anxiety, withdrawal, general mental/physical condition were such that I was drinking nearly nonstop, taking benzos, and just panicked all the time, and unable to function at all, and not in a place where going up to my switch dose over a period of weeks was feasible. So while it's worked for others, I'm just not sure that going back on bac is really the answer for me. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

                            2) Isn't the whole project here about how bac IS NOT a crutch? It's not replacement therapy. It is a chemical fix for a chemical imbalance.

                            Maybe I just happen to be one of those fortunate few whose alcoholism can go into spontaneous remission for periods of time? My mom got sober without treatment, AA, drugs, or anything else. I'm not taking credit for it, I just happen to be sober right now.

                            Comment


                              Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                              I'm very glad that the leg pain is gone, La. And very, very glad you've got 30 days.

                              I don't know if this will make you feel a bit better...Having low (including 0) dopamine is a normal value for that test. I won't pretend to understand the mechanics of it all, but we have studied hypertension quite a bit and that particular test...They're looking for increases in the catecholamine values, because those increase the heart rate. Having low values is (in this case) a good thing.

                              The path through the city sounds very, very cool, from this suburban paradise.

                              I hope you get some vavavoom back soon. Or at least a bit of

                              Comment


                                Totally new to forum, sort of new to bac

                                Stuck-

                                Look, the dopamine issue is real. The reason you chose to drink in the past could be your need to quickly increase dopamine. It is hard to tell if Bac actually makes the original dopamine imbalance worse.

                                Drinking for me is like giving myself a shot of dopamine. Unfortunately when I drink I am also giving myself shots of all sorts of other chemicals which really really screw me up.

                                Now, if you no loner drink, there is no dopamine shot and it sucks. I am told by all sorts of people is that it takes TIME for the body to adjust its chemical balance. Time can go by really SLOW.

                                Distraction is a beautiful thing. Who cares if it is X-box, watching useless TV shows, or counting bricks...it is something that makes the time go by.

                                Without dopamine there is a good chance that dread will seep into the equation. In this case, sometimes getting things done helps. Even if there seems to be no pleasure in actually doing the tasks at the time, when you look back at the day there is satisfaction. It has worked for me.

                                Other things you are doing are good...exercise and eating right. Overtime, these build your strength.

                                The other big item is faith. I don't mean faith in god but faith that things will get better.

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