Checking in - October 2017

[_serenity_]

Happy October, everyone!

Over at The End Of My Addiction | Forum Discussing Alcohol Medication we have a monthly check-in thread where people can just stop in and say hi, ask questions, and update the board on their goings on. This medication board has been quiet for so long, I thought I would try it over here to see if we could get people talking.

In December of this year I will have been on baclofen for SEVEN years. I can't believe it's been that long. My life has changed for the better in so many ways. Before I started taking baclofen, I was drinking eight beers every night. And that was during a "stable" period. I had been through previous periods in which I drank all day, every day, downing up to a case of beer a day with some vodka or Sambuca thrown in for good measure.

I was so happy to have found this place and its wonderfully supportive members. And back in 2010 anyone in the U.S. could call a doctor in Chicago and get a baclofen prescription over the phone. (Sigh. I miss him.) My friends here helped me every step of the way. I wish it was that easy for "newbies" now to get a bac prescripton.

It took two months from the day I started on baclofen to reach my "switch" to indifference. My switch thread is here: https://www.mywayout.org/community/m...et-switch.html

Since then, my life has vastly improved. I moderated for quite a while but am AF now and feel great.

So! Please check in and tell me what's going on in your life. Feel free to ask questions, share your story, whatever you want. I'd really love to see the medication section go back to being the lively, supportive place it used to be.

[Mom21961]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Hello. I've been meaning to respond to this but haven't had time to write out my story. The short story is that I'm happily sober on Baclofen and have been for awhile. I also am AF as it works better for me that way. I was a 24/7 drinker and couldn't go one day AF. I'm so happpy that it no longer controls me!

[Brigitte.E]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Hi there,

I'm only very new to this site however this is the sort of conversation I had been hoping for. I've had an awful relationship with alcohol over the last 10-12 years and only recently got to the point where I could no longer hide the bottles, bruises or the overwhelming guilt and depressive state that comes with it.

I had been prescribed Lexapro (Escitalopram) for my underlying anxiety years ago, however my partner encouraged me to discontinue it as he didn't believe in pills. My life continued to spiral until drinking put my relationships with my family, friends and my job in jeopardy.

My GP tried me on a number of different antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications (Benzodiazepines; were highly addictive, quick, temporary fix to a long term problem, Valdoxan; I experienced no reduction in symptoms and Mirtazapine; I suffered significant weight gain and was non-compliant with the prescription as a result).

I'm now currently on a therapeutic dose of Lexapro and I have also been started on Campral (Acamprosate). I must admit that I don't feel an overwhelming reduction in cravings with the Campral, however I intend to continue taking it, as every small nudge in the right direction helps.

The only associated side effect I have noted since recommencing both medications is a reduction in appetite. Otherwise, no nasties so far (3 months in).

Today is day 19. I've had some major bumps in the road but I intend on allowing myself to find the esteem and self respect that I lost a long time ago.

All the very best to each and every one of you in your own journey, please feel free to ask questions surrounding my medication and experiences.

-B

[_serenity_]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Welcome [MENTION=24049]Brigitte.E[/MENTION], and congrats on the 19 days! I'm happy to hear the combo of meds is working for you so far. It's wonderful have a doctor who is open to using medications for alcoholism. I have bought a lot of my meds online over the years but now have a PCP who is open to prescribing baclofen.

Please keep us updated on your progress. So glad you're on board with us.

[Brigitte.E]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

I'm so sorry that you didn't have the same openness and support at hand.

I had the luxury of understanding the system and what was available to me. I work in healthcare and I have been so fortunate that my training has provided me with knowledge surrounding pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. The difficulty was, for so long I was in complete denial that I could possibly need such help.

There is no magic pill, no easy road or short-cut. My drinking, no doubt was exacerbated by underlying anxiety and depression, but treatment for that alone was not the answer. I attend drug and alcohol counselling once a week and have a psychiatrist whom I visit every two weeks. I'm constantly working on the underlying demons who try and raise their ugly heads.

It is a collaborative approach and a bumpy old road, but hey, I'm here and I'm walking in a straight line :P

Thank you for your kind words,

-B

[_serenity_]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Hi [MENTION=24049]Brigitte.E[/MENTION],

While I didn't have the medical and social support I needed "in real life" back in 2010, I certainly had it here at MWO. This place was amazing. When I first posted on here, it was so heartening to see how many people were willing to share their experiences. One of the reasons I posted this thread was to hopefully kick-start this forum back into its old liveliness. Oh, how I miss that! There was an argumentative troll who made this place hell for many years, and he he drove way too many people away. I am pretty sure he's been banned now, so there is nowhere but up for this forum to go...

You are, without a doubt, one of the lucky people to have the training, experience and support you do. I hope you stick around here, because so many of us need those words of wisdom and experience.

[SKendall]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Welcome Back. Brigette, you always had that amazing sense of humor.

[Brigitte.E]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

We can ensure that we maintain the positivity, openness and supportive environment that we have here.

There is enough hate in this world!! We have all experienced more than enough to end up where we are. Kindness and compassion doesn't cost a thing.

I'm always happy to offer advice and support where I can. This has been such a wonderful experience for me so far and I intend entirely to stick around

:love:

[Otter]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

We just picked our olives and took them to the local olive press today. We got back 12 litres of olive oil. Don't ask me how much that is in gallons. We've planted out a lot of vegetables. It's a bit like Green Acres here.

I've been trying to figure out where the heck all this medical research and development etc is leading and why it isn't of more interest to the press. I write occasionally to newspapers, bloggists etc. It's mind boggling to me how no one takes an interest in this. Suppose someone came up with a cure for the common cold or herpes, or jock itch. You'd hear about it on the news, even if it was a hoax. But with alcohol drugs, it's a big empty space. You don't get the time of day, a "thanks, that's interesting" or even a response. It's so frustrating. To me, it's as though the whole world out there has gone brain dead. If someone came up to me and said there was now a cure for , say for instance, influenza, I'd be interested. But people don't even take a interest in this development.

The other thing I find, is that if you speak to a doctor...this is from a true story, by the way... and just happen to mention baclofen, they will respond that they've never heard of it as a treatment for alcoholism and have never prescribed it...ever. Then you say "would you prescribe it", they answer "no, it has side effects". True story... I nearly fell off my chair. I feel as though there's a parallel universe which I've landed myself in. In this universe, unlike the one I was in before, you can't talk to anyone about "very important things", no one is interested in anything except becoming an overnight singing sensation and no one has a clue about anything.

Maybe it's just me.

[empyr3al]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Okay, I'm posting this here...

Grateful to have had my dog for over a week as my ex was burnt out. Got to celebrate his birthday. My perfect dog I worked so hard on

Hard giving him back. Nice of my ex to give me a Kong toy and some peanut butter for my other puppy Sadie (I got her as an eventual replacement). But she is nuts so I've seriously contemplated giving up on her so I don't lapse. Jack tzu mix, so it can jump HIGH and steals everything. Super high energy and doesn't want to be trained.

Anyways, the two dogs don't get along perfectly so they are isolated from each other as Benny just doesn't like the wildness of the puppy. Puppy sleeps in the hall, Benny with me when he is here. Anyways to the point. I am still grateful but its hard to get a text that says you know you won't get to have him forever, eventually we will just keep him. Heart break!!! Seriously hit me hard (its in our sep agreement). No real temptation to drink but it was high risk! I posted to [MENTION=12219]Otter[/MENTION] on theendofmyaddiction about something completely different too spend time and avoid the feeling. I very well could have got in my truck and done what I normally do. Instead I verbalized it too someone who asked "Should I hold your wallet for a while?". (my phone can pay!) I didn't because I do have control, but I think that helped just saying it instead of internalizing it. Severe feeling I haven't had in a while using the anti depressant I'm on Mirtazapine with Gabapentin. I'm prescribed another anti depressant which I haven't decided to take because I've been okay... but this makes me question whether I should or not. Took sheer will power and some CBT for a means to come to grips with the feeling. Feelings are natural and acceptable and there is rationality to the emotion I felt. If it reoccurs or becomes overwhelming I'm going to think about it. I've lived quite nicely and happy for the last little while without any severe stressors which are definite triggers for me. I assume my specialist is addressing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and AL (AUD) as concurrent disorders as that's what the med combo actually seems to be used for. At least thats said in the commentary I found out on bluelight forum if you haven't been on that forum. The combo is applied too me for AL addiction directly. Anyways the optional med is escitalopram (Cipralex) which I've just let sit in the cupboard because why add more.

Anyone with experiences with Cipralex? I've prior had a bad experience but I was in withdrawal from AL so that makes it nearly irrelevant.

I'm still gonna wait and see if something goes bonkers or I can manage this without aids. Comment on Cipralex or CBT methods if anyone has any opinions.

[Mom21961]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

[MENTION=12219]Otter[/MENTION]. I think most people view alcoholism as a character flaw or failure. That’s why people don’t get on board a medical solution. Even some alcoholics don’t believe in medication which blows my mind. Any and all tools in the arsonel should be considered IMO.

[Otter]

Re: Checking in - October 2017

Yes, that's right. I just remember when I was at university, back before fax machines were invented, at lunch with some others in my class, a friend told us about a new invention, the laser disk or CD and that this would revolutionise the music industry. He was an engineer so he explained how a CD would hold so much more information and he explained how it worked. Everyone listened intently and no one doubted what he was saying. Another friend, also at the same table, once told me about Gaia, the sort of new world religion. I listened. I thought it was nonsense but I nodded with appreciation and sort of got what he was meaning to say, in the circumstances.

But, with baclofen, it's a different trip. I went out to dinner with a committee I'm on and I told the woman sitting next to me I'd just spoken at a conference about alcoholism. She didn't say, "oh, that's interesting" or ask me about why I did this or what my talk was about. She said "Are you a recovering alcoholic?". I sat there, with my coke, she with her glass of wine, just dumbfounded. That is the general reaction, unanimously. It's like I'm in a locked room with all the nay-sayers in the world and I can't find a single person who has any interest in this at any level. What the heck is going on?