Abstinence Challenge

[StuckinLA]

Abstinence Challenge

Oh and a couple more things: congrats on the 18 days, skull that rocks!

I know the relative merits of NA beer are hotly debated on this thread, but I stumbled upon Clausthaler, which almost tastes like an actual pilsner. Far and away my new go-to if it's available.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Awesome, Stuck. Thanks for the info, and the encouraging words.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 19 AF.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 20 AF.

[flyer]

Abstinence Challenge

Kindly got some Antabuse of a lovely member and will be starting maybe tomorrow. I fell like s**t today and am self medicating with benzo's to keep the panic at bay. I'm coming of a 3 week bender.

Excited

[StuckinLA]

Abstinence Challenge

:welcome: to the 'party'! It's like a party anyway, sort of, like maybe that part towards the end at about 3 am, when there's those same 5 dudes standing around the empty keg. But aside from that, it's awesome.

[flyer]

Abstinence Challenge

Thanks Stuck. I gonna take a pill tonight. I' so excited. I truly believe that the feeling of having the drug in my system will ore or less kill most of my cravings. I always have Bac to fall back on to help with cravings. My stomach is absolutely red raw today. I boozed on all sorts of cheap booze the last few weeks.

Nerves were absolutely wrecked. Don't know what I'd have down without the benzo's.

[StuckinLA]

Abstinence Challenge

If feel remiss if I didn't say this: careful with the pills. I successfully (more or less) managed the panic and insomnia with those right after stopping drinking. But weaned my way off of them pretty quickly--and put up with a fair amount of anxiety in order to do so. And am using my dwindling reserves VERY occasionally to deal with panic that's still around every once in a while.

All of that to say that you can self medicate with those pretty well for a week or so, but you really don't want to get hooked on them.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

What Stuck said.

Also, Flyer-- when was your last drink? If there's still alcohol in your system when you take Antabuse it can be very bad, even deadly.

Be sure your system is alcohol free (at the very very least 24 hours, maybe more like 36 or 48 if possible) when you take your first Antabuse, and be advised that Antabuse does not do anything to take away cravings-- you may still crave alcohol while on Antabuse, but it's really important to not give in and ever mix the two. Like, life or death important. There's been horror stories of drinkers not being able to stand the cravings and drinking while on AB that end up in the ER or worse.

You may even want to go so far as to make sure to buy alcohol-free mouthwash, toiletries etc. cuz even those can be unpleasant while on AB.

Not to scare you, AB can be a great tool, just make sure you know the deal.

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Day 21 AF. 3 weeks sober, wowie zowie...

[flyer]

Abstinence Challenge

Stuck... I've previous with benzo's so know the score. They're gone now. It was just for the last couple of days.

Skull... I gave myself just under 2 days. I fell fine this morning. Felt great popping that pill last night. 200mg twice a week will keep me from even testing the waters. I'll see how I go with cravings but if I do start I'll pop a pill and I'll just have to wait another week

II not hardcore enough to drink on ANtabuse.... F**k that

[joanna_d]

Abstinence Challenge

i think i always did just under two days af before starting antabus. after taking it it's a whole different story. but i guess you're familiar with the details.
ow, that feels like a safe zone, when you've taken that first pill, doesn't it? i'd never take it again, cause for me it turned out into severe danger zone and also heavy se's, but it sure can be a nice safe guard.

i'm thinking about this thread on a regular basis. it's calling me, like a siren
had some af days already, and they feel quite good. (well of course they do, you dummie)
still reluctant to committing myself to extensive af time though.

cheers for you guys. Skull.
and flowers for you, Stuck. i'm in awe, so much af time without baclofen.

[flyer]

Abstinence Challenge

Well 1 day AF

I feel like I'm cheating but I don't care. If this is the way its gotta be then so be it. People say you still crave. Maybe so in a few weeks or months time, but I find it hard to crave in these early stages when I know its a waste of my mental thinking as I can't drink even if I want to.

I did really need a break though. I feel really run down. A week or two AF and I should be right as rain.

Quick question.... I have absolutely no intention of testing the waters with Antabuse. What would general advice be on the minimum amount to cover myself? Say 200mg 2-3 times per week?

[StuckinLA]

Abstinence Challenge

Flyer - cool, throwing it out there just in case. You sound good. Hang in there.

Jo (and everybody else) - thank you so much. :l

[skullbabyland]

Abstinence Challenge

Great job Flyer, sounds like you know what ya gotta do and you're doing it! Good luck on these first few days/weeks getting out of the fog. It can be a rollercoaster but it's worth it when things start to even out.

Joanna, thanks for the kind words. Hope you decide to rock some AF days soon... it's really worth it.

Best to all. Day 23 AF for me.