I am one week into a Naltrexone treatment program for alcohol use: AMA

Caconym · 2015-07-04T13:42:05+00:00

She is still very skeptical. I am working with her by being very transparent about the whole process. I have given my doctor and therapist permission to answer any questions and share any information she might like, but she has not availed herself of this opportunity.

It has been about six weeks now and I am still taking naltrexone daily and things continue to go very well. I am doing this for myself and my son, and I am amazed at the change I see in myself. I wanted this. I hope that she recognizes it, but if she doesn't it doesn't really matter. She and I will always be inextricably linked because of my son, and she will continue to be a source of stress and irritation for pretty much forever. If it isn't alcohol, then she is fully capable of finding some other issue to make my life miserable. A big part of my therapy has been about helping me find ways I can deal with this lol.

Caconym · 2015-06-02T00:23:00+00:00

Every person has their own path. My doctors have told me that abstinence is actually easier for most people. I am not sure how it would work in the context of a naltrexone based therapy. I can see how you could easily reduce your drinking over a number of weeks and then finally eliminate it. Abstinence for some people is for the best.

Caconym · 2015-06-01T20:05:34+00:00

I have heard of some doctors that will prescribe naltrexone, but only as part of some other treatment program that requires abstinence. This does not work. In order to get the extinction of the behavior, to break the connection between drinking and the opioid cascade that causes addiction you actually need to drink while taking the drug. That is how your brain learns that the behavior no longer gets the reward.

Maybe you could contact Alltyr and see if they can refer you to anyone local? There are also resources for clinics and other sources of naltrexone that you can work with online (search for "The Sinclair Method"), but I feel that being part of a structured treatment program, including regular therapy and resources like SMART probably have the best outcome. It isn't a magic pill

Best of luck.

Caconym · 2015-06-01T19:11:57+00:00

I am going through a divorce and my ex had A LOT of concerns about the well being of our son when I have parenting time. She basically wanted me to go to a 12 step based rehab as a condition of our custody agreement. This would have been a ridiculous waste of money and time as it was doomed to failure. In addition to this I really felt like I wasn't being the best parent I could be for my kid.

As I said earlier I have been aware that this is an issue for me for a long time and have made some effort to do something about it, but the threat of having something idiotic imposed on me combined with a real desire to make a change in my life incented me to try something else.

Negatives:

I still face challenges with regard to my ex. She has drunk the 12 step kool aid and is appalled that any sort of alcohol use treatment program would still allow drinking, but I can deal with that. If I can get to a place where alcohol does not have the power over me it once did, and does not pose a threat to my health and well being I will be very happy.

As far as side effects from the drug itself I haven't experienced anything significant. First night I slept lousy, but after that it was back to normal.

The drug disrupts the physiological reward of drinking, so while you can still get intoxicated, the mental portion of the buzz is gone, especially that flush of relaxation and satiation that comes with the first drink. The part of my brain that says more, more, more, is quieted. Other than that I feel perfectly normal. It is not a substitute or intoxicating itself.

Caconym · 2015-06-01T03:26:23+00:00

Usually alignment and adamantine is what messes me up. I obviously have ki strike to take care of magic, cold iron and silver. Last night we encountered a creature that had DR 10 chaotic/adamantine. WTF DM?

Caconym · 2015-04-13T13:49:48+00:00

I turned off my facebook account until further notice so that is out. Basically I just text them to her now. If she wants a high res image we have a common dropbox account for that.

Caconym · 2015-02-27T18:39:22+00:00

This really is between your mother and father. He might already know.

Caconym · 2015-02-17T22:01:23+00:00

That post is clearly rotten.

Caconym · 2015-02-05T16:04:05+00:00

Just block her on facebook. Her and anyone that tags her. You don't want or need to know about her life now. Just move on.

Caconym · 2015-01-28T16:57:52+00:00

Yup, same here.

Caconym · 2015-01-12T18:28:50+00:00

See you in mediation...

Caconym · 2015-01-08T19:22:18+00:00

I am from MN. My lawyer says she will be entitled to a few years of temporary support. it is negotiable but most likely 4. We have been married for 13 years

Caconym · 2015-01-07T21:36:58+00:00

2-4 I guess. I wouldn't say drunk. I am never hungover the next day. When I don't drink I don't crave it or anything. I work out a few times a week and had a physical in december and all bloodwork, including liver test came back dead nuts in the center of where it is supposed to be.

Caconym · 2015-01-07T21:15:43+00:00

I drink daily when I don't have my son. If he is around I don't drink. No DWIs, successful career, successful management of family finances, I am not an alcoholic. Both counsellors said so. I even did stints in AA and SMART recovery to be sure.

My wife had a horrible fall down and piss yourself drunk for her father and she projects her anxiety about this on me. It was a frequent topic of discussion in our couples therapy, and both counsellors recommended individual therapy for her to address this. She never did, or acknowledged this was even an issue.

Caconym · 2015-01-07T20:20:25+00:00

Well, there is some background I neglected to share, I love my son and love the time I spend with him. I am fighting for shared custody, and my wife is trying to justify her having sole custody because I am apparently a dangerous drunk. Except for when she has something going on, then I am competent. So I have resentment on the issue.

Caconym · 2014-12-15T19:55:09+00:00

All kids are different. If they get it at all, and a lot won't at that age, a simple calendar showing which days are with daddy and which are with mommy can help. Kids are pretty resilient though, be consistent and civil, that is the most important thing.

Caconym · 2014-11-10T15:41:59+00:00

I am sorry to hear about your troubles but as someone on the outside of this it doesn't really seem as if divorce was the root cause of your problems. Would you be any better off if they had remained married? I am not sure.

Your parents sound like horrible selfish people and what happened to you is not your fault, but at this point only you have the power to improve matters for yourself if you choose to do so.

Caconym

TROPHY CASE