I told my Doctor

[Mercer]

Well the "Spirit" moved me this morning and I made an appointment with my doctor, called my husband home from work and told them I just had to stop drinking. I hate it and am ashamed.
Both my doctor and husband were awesome! My doctor gave me Campral. Literally gave me a 3 month supply. Said it will take about 5 days to kick in.......so here I go into a life I have longed for.....Being alcohol free.

Any advice?

[jessie]

Mercer, that was a momentous decision for which you'll be grateful all your life. Congratulations and I just know that you've beaten the beast.

[Greg]

Well done!

Campral enabled me to stay totally sober several years ago, and I only drank again because I didn't faithfully follow the proper dosage. I stupidly began to skip doses, even though the medication had helped me deal with my cravings and let me feel more emotionally stable. Even one or two missed doses of Campral can be enough to let cravings for alcohol grow stronger. It does take up to a week to fully kick in but should start helping before then. I found that it did not work if I tried it while still drinking, or after going back to heavy drinking for more than a couple of days in a row.

It apparently CAN keep working if you are unfortunate enough to slip and just have one (or maybe two?) days back on the booze, as long as you keep taking the full dose during that time, so don't just give it up immediately if you do slip. However by far the most effective way of taking it is during total abstinence.

Best wishes to you.

[Miss Behaving]

Well done Mercer!

Dont have any advice on the campral as I haven't tried it myself. But not picking up that first drink is another really good way of not getting drunk!

Best wishes for your speedy recovery!

[Mercer]

I appreciate the replies to my post......See I don't care about alcohol all day....I never drink in public.....but once it was time for bed, I'd drink until I knew once my head hit the pillow I'd be out.

So any suggestions for actually falling asleep with out drinking?
Mercer

[greeneyes]

Mercer! That is awesome! I don't know anything about campral, so I'm at a loss there. But I can say sleep may be elusive for a while. There are things you can try. Lots of people have used lots of things here. I'm afraid whatever you settle on you will have to be patient for the sleep fairy.

Google insomnia and you'll get lots of tips. These are things I've seen others use and some of them I have used. I sleep soundly now so I don't use anything. (I remember how excited I was the first time I slept almost all night)

calms forte
passion flower, kava kava, burdock root, (herbal extracts)
l-tryptophan
l-theanine
chamomile tea
valerian
melatonin
magnesium
warm baths
boring book
meditation

and of course there is over-the-counter sleep stuff

Good luck and congrats on taking steps to get your life back!

[OverIt2007]

Hi Mercer,

First off, Congratulations for talking to your doctor. It also took me big balls to start seeking doctors advice (shit that means I really DO have a problem!) But I have come to the conclusion that Doctors are there to HELP.

As far as sleep, there is a tea called "Sleepy Time" tea. It has a cute little cartoon bear on the front. It really does make me very Sleepy!

Also, Mercer. Its probably the alcohol making you not be able to sleep. Get rid of the booze and perhaps you find yourself getting some wonderful rest in.

Good Luck.

[Winefree]

Hi Mercer. Sleep was a big problem for me too, and still is somewhat. I drink the chamomile tea in the evening, the tension tamer which has some of the herbal ingredients mentioned in the above post. Sleepytime tea also has an Extra version which includes the velarian. That is the last tea I drink in the evening. I also take a velarian tablet before bed.
It doesn't take me as long to get to sleep in the evening and I wake up usually once to go to the bathroom after all the tea, but fall right back to sleep.
It's initially tough getting to sleep in the beginning after quitting AL, but it does get better.
I also used "white noise" in the early stages as well to help lull me to sleep

Best of luck and happy dreams.

Winefree