My first day

[corky]

Hi All,
Today is my first day here. I found the site yesterday and wish I had found it a long time ago. I've been abusing alcohol for 20 years. I'm hoping I finally found the place to get help. I have asked Drs. before if there was a supplement to help me stop craving alcohol. They say no. Just antabuse. I'm excited and hopeful this will put me on the right track. I have a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter who have put up with a lot from me, especially in the last year. I would love to regain their respect and trust in me. I visited AA two separate times, but didn't attend for more than 5 days at a time. I found it very depressing. Especially when some would say they had been attending for 15 and 18 years. It works for some, I know. Not for me. You all sound so up, happy and encouraging. It makes me feel better to read how some of you have felt as I have for certain alcohol related behaviors. Like you, I never intend to get drunk. I hide what I drink, have been caught several times (it is so humiliating and shameful). I'm sick of myself, of making excuses for myself and have lost several friends along the way and recently. I haven't quit yet, want to, but scared of withdrawal. Also need to find a Dr. that I can talk to and trust and who will embrace MWO.

[lushy]

My first day

Hi Corky,

There most certainly are supplements that can help with your cravings, so I suggest reading the book if you have not already and consider trying the hypno CDs. They work wonders for me and others here. This is a truly wonderful group of people ready and willing to support you! Best of luck!:welcome:

[Cinders]

My first day

Corky,

:welcome:

Please don't think it is "easy," it is not. However, it is much better than the sad and dreary picture often painted at AA. (I too, went to AA meetings and got scared off, I am naturally a pretty sunny, happy person and these guys really SCARED me.)

But, with dedication and lots of work, you can improve. A lot!!!!! You can regain the trust of your family and friends. You can regain your own self-respect (much more important than anything else, actually) and your life and health will improve.

Please read the book. It is a very good starting point. RJ wrote it for people with "problem drinking" issues, so many of us cannot go the moderation route, however, it still applies.

Start there, look at the supplementation recommendations. There are some addendums added, you can access those from the home page. The supplements help greatly. Withdrawal was a breeze for me when I really followed the supplementation carefully.

However, read the link on alcohol withdrawal to make sure you do not need to call a Dr. for help. If you do, CALL A DOCTOR. So many people are afraid to and I do not understand why. I did. He was very helpful.

Anyway, enough rambling. Glad you are with us, I hope you stay with us and I hope you find your way out!!

Cindi

[Blondie_grrrl]

My first day

Hey Corky
I am brand new too -- day 1 of Topamax and day 4 of supplements. I concur with two of Cindi's points, above: 1) find yourself a good, trustworthy doc who will listen and be open to ideas. Mine is fabulous -- he uses a blend of Eastern and Western medical approaches, so he was intruiged by the MWO program. 2) I wish I could say that I popped that first supplement and *zap* the urge disappeared, but alas it ain't so. I think this is going to be a tough beast for me to wrestle. So let's wrestle together, along with the great folks on this site. Good luck to you -- you deserve to be healthy!

[julie001]

My first day

Welcome Corky and Blondie,

I agree the book is a great place to start. I've read it several times. I tried taking the vitamins, but a lot of them just don't agree with me. I've been taking Topamax for about two and a half weeks. I'm still drinking, but I've noticed that I've slowed down (a few glasses of wine last me several hours), and I am drinking less, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will help me get a handle on the overdrinking. MWO is a tremendously supportive community. Corky, your doctor sounds fantastic. I've been in doctor transition for the last six months. I ordered Topa online from River Pharmacy. Just wanted to welcome both of you. It's so helpful to have others to communicate with who understand and empathize with everything that you are experiencing. I look forward to hearing from you again. Good luck.

Julie

[Finding My Self]

My first day

Welcome Corky and Blondie - Yup, it's all been said by these great guys. I too, tried AA and got scared.... Found here and got unscared! The support is fabulous - USE IT!!

Have a look at the ODAT thread? (One day at a time...) The only thing we've got is today and that's manageable....We all know that's an AA thing too, but that's just ok coz it's really true!! Booze or not it's a very good adage! I couldn't face 'forever' or even a month but if I really disciplined myself to think of something else NOW when those feelings came up to bite me I got through the days.....124 of them to date!! (If that scares you like it scares me don't be; they're only ODATs!!!!! And the change after 30 days was worth it all; suddenly I got me back!)

Good luck to you and read and read and post and post...

Love FMF xx

[Flip]

My first day

Welcome Corky and Blondie.

I am 10 months sober and I can't recommend MWO highly enough. (Dog, I sound like an idiot!) I took a bit from here and a bit from there, and also got a great Dr. She got me onto Naltrexone at first and then Campral to ease the cravings and Campral is the one that worked for me. There's lots of posts about this in the "drugs" section here.

If you really want to do this you can. You are in control of your life, no one else.

[paula]

My first day

Welcome corky and Blondie,
Stick around you will get lots of support and advice.
Best wishes Paula.xx

[corky]

My first day

Thank you for all the support. Today will be my first AF day. Say a prayer I make it! ODAT and the serenity prayer are the positives I took from AA and will use it. Ordered the book, kadzu and CD's. Looking for a MD. Am hoping to find someone interested in holistic approach like yours, Blondie. It is a very tough beast to wrestle and glad to have a partner and support group to share with.

[Blondie_grrrl]

My first day

Hey all! Thank you heartily for the warm welcome. I feel like a fool bragging like this but I did not have wine last night. How 'but that for an accomplishment! :H I can't say I won't drink tonight, but I can say I didn't drink last night.

Corky: I think about docs (and therapists) like jeans: you really can't just buy them off the rack and go with the first pair you see. You've got to try them on, see if they fit you. If they don't fit well, you shouldn't buy them. A bad "fit" with a doc doesn't make them good or bad, just not quite right for you. Ask around! Good luck, hope you're able to find someone.

[KateH1]

My first day

Welcome Corky,

Well..you are here now and everything you need to gain sobriety is right here. Seeing your Doc is a great idea, but I would encourage you to read "The Book", My Way Out before you go, so that you will understand how this program works. It will also help you tremendously, while you are waiting for your appointment.

Good luck and keep coming back!
Kate

[jessie]

My first day

Hi Corky and Blondie,
Very welcome to you both - you will feel accepted here. I use Antabuse but sooner or later I will have to let go of that crutch to. When I know an occassion is coming up I cut out the Antabuse ( so stupid hey) but I can honestly say that I'm getting better and better - my doc says I'm both a quick forgetter and a slow learner but I've been struggling for a year now.
Jessie

[betty boop]

My first day

Corrky & Blondie, Hows it going????

Check in and let us know ....

[trixietrack]

My first day

welcome to MWO blondie and corky.
hope you stick around it's a long journey but there is much to learn and share
trix

[corky]

My first day

Blondie - That is a great way to look at docs. I did make it on Thurs. AF. I was proud of myself, but don't think I would have succeeded if I didn't have all of you to report back to. It was really hard early evening, but I made it. Didn't stay AF last night. Decided not to try because I don't have all the tools at hand yet and don't want this to be such a punishment that I am discouraged before I start. I was all by myself last night, which is rare, so read the book and drank some wine "slowly". enjoying the potential freedom from this alcoholic prison very soon. Just ordered the Topomax online and printed out the list of suppliments to purchase today or tomorrow. I plan to start on Monday and am excited about it. Thanks for everyones encouragements.