Pressmetilihurt

Day 2. I had to debate whether to take it. I am sad. Wish it wasn't so hard.

AnvilheadII

it WILL get easier....just stay sober......no matter what. then there is nothing to fight......

Dee74

It won't always be this hard, and you won't be so sad Press.

A s long as you make a commitment to recovery, and you follow it through with action, I believe growth and change are assured

D

August252015

Hey Press- thinking of you. IME, Antabuse became an automatic daily tool to supplement my recovery and that was a great thing. I took it the first 90 days, so that kind of "took care of" the option of drinking for me, supplementing my fundamental decision to quit.

Glad you are back and on day 2/3 - at the beginning, I just needed to get through each day until they started to seem to build up. You can do this. And we're here.

Make today another day sober. You can do it.

DontRemember

Just out of curiosity( I have that a lot) do doctors also offer other suggestions/additions for a sobriety 'plan' when they prescribe something like antabuse?

Forward12

It depends on your doctor. Some may refer you to an addiction therapist or perhaps a rehab center, some don't do anything.
It's best to be proactive going into the doctor's office and speak to them about your alcoholism, and work out a plan with them that they see fit. Some may not prescribe anything and will want your therapist to do so. It all varies.

DontRemember

Interesting... I was just curious,but maybe knowing that will help someone communicate with their doctor better. I'm 40+ and remember my uncle being on antabuse(I think) when I was a kid. You'd think they'd dial in a bit more on alcoholism. Hell..even googling antabuse, the number 1 thing that comes up is "How long until I can drink after taking antabuse"..Big pharma!

August252015

My experience:
My psych firmly, consistently and with absolute confidence said I needed to go to AA. That was what she had seen work best with most of her clients over the years- when that program became primary.

Her other suggestions and additions? Antabuse and campral at first, to deal with physical issues, then Ativan to address underlying anxiety that was obvious when the alcohol had enough time out of my system. Also, lamictal as a maintenance drug though I had stopped showing ANY signs of BPD. It's been 2 years this Wed that I'm sober and we've added and adjusted doses, and drugs (including Paxil and sleeping pills) along the way. ALL MEDS are supplemental to my devoted AA program.

What else? Exercise, sleep, thinking carefully at returning to the restaurant world at 5 mo sober (I did it successfully), encouraging my work starting in early year 2 leading an industry recovery group. We also focus on relationships- and my decision making about what would be good v bad choices....

I'm sure there's more because she is my non-program expert who (now every 3 mo, originally every 3 weeks) supports and augments my recovery plan.

I take advantage of ALL help I can get or am offered!

entropy1964

Just because someone is a Dr. doesn't mean they are actually good at it. Or a good 'healer'. I believe we all have to be our own healthcare advocates when it comes to our general health.

The important thing is: Do you feel that YOU know what to do with respect to recovery?

Great job on getting back on the antibuse!

wastedpotential

When my sis started med school she would go on and on about how doctors are just throwing prescriptions at people and not fixing anything. Shes out of school and officially a doc, she bought into the cult shes nothing but a drug pusher now.

daredevil

DR, my very close friend is an ER attending at a big hospital; he sends me a text once a week reminding me to stay sober. He once described to me in vivid detail what dying from alcoholism is like (e.g., people with end-stage liver disease, kidney failure, etc.). And explained how not uncommonly he sees said people. Scared the living hell out of me. But no doctor I've ever been to has suggested much of value but the one I see regularly is amenable to medication-assisted therapy.

Forward12

Antabuse has been around for a long time, I believe since the 50's, and still is arguably the most effective medication for alcoholism because of it's serious side effects if someone chooses to be stupid on it.
Docs are there to help and the bashing from others is unwarranted. (this is a general statement) GP's must have a knowledge of countless conditions, and alcoholism is very small number of the population.
You will get referred to a specialist for any health concern as that is their job, with alcoholism, there are addiction therapists, inpatient or outpatient rehab, and perhaps other options.
If someone prefers a non-medical approach, or in tandem with it, there is AA, SMART, Lifering, self help books, this forum, the options for recovery are endless!
The problem with any of these is sticking to them. Most of us drunks think we are greater than anything and don't need to comply with anyone or anything, which leads to more drinking.
August's post is a great example of how staying in close contact with your docs, and having solid recovery plan will lead to freedom from the bottle.

markinny

trying to get a med out of my g.p. is like pulling teeth. he's even anti-vitamin unless you're really low on something. but I've known other drs. who couldn't wait to whip out the script pad. they can really vary.

Antabuse went very badly for me a long time ago....back in the late 80's when I was around 30 but that was because I wasn't ready to quit. not even close. I would try it again today if I felt the need. the only reason it happened to begin with was because of being pressured by a g.f. she really wanted to help me so offered setting up an appt. for me with her dr. so I went along with it. it would be almost another 30 yrs. before I would seriously try to get sober again. so many tried to help me and I never wanted to help myself. nothing is really going to work until you're ready and I really mean READY to stop......but that's pretty obvious.

DontRemember

Yeah..This would have been very early 80's when my uncle was taking it. He'd get violently ill if he drank. I wasn't around him too much growing up(wonder why?),but I could tell when he was 'off' his meds and drinking again. I watched him drink nail polish remover once when I was about 6. Ironically, he had been sober for about 6-7yrs and passed away in his sleep when he was my age. I'm sure his previous lifestyle did him no favors though.

Hawkeye13

Sorry you are sad press--
Remember it takes you some time to get out of the doldrums when you've relapsed before, so be patient and look after yourself.

Have you thought about some additional therapy to get at what seems to keep triggering you?

As always, wishing you the best--