Does anyone feel physcially sick in a wave? Flulike almost.

[[Er...]]

I'm really sorry that I'm blowing up this board this week but I'm in a bad wave after having a lot of 80%-90% days.

 

I don't know how to really explain it. But when I'm in a wave, I just feel bad.  I can't really pinpoint WHY I feel bad or what it is but it's a physical illness feeling.  It's almost like when you're sick with a flu.  Tired, some head pressure, a slight headache, some muscle/nerve tingling, general malaise, some nausea, cog fog, and muscle weakness.

 

This is in addition to the anxiety and muscle twitches I have.  I just feel like crap when I'm in any kind of wave regardless of the main symptom..  Not mentally necessarily, just physically ill.  I just want to lay down and relax because everything else takes effort and just totally wears me out.

[[Be...]]

I'm in a bad wave right now to buddy. To answer your question yes I do feel sick like a flu like symptoms right now. It sucks especially on top of feeling like I am jumping out of my skin and my mind is going to break at any moment. We will be fine though just distract yourself as much as possible and meditate.

 

Drink lots of water too

[[Da...]]

I also have felt this way and I'm in a wave right now too. About a week ago i really thought i have the flu or something. I never found out what was happening. Right now i just feel nervous and like I'm going crazy, which i have actually believed everyday since this ordeal started. We should just give it some time and hope we feel better.

[[Da...]]

Also don't worry about how many times you post man, I'm glad to answer anything that is on another persons mind. Just post as much as you want to.

[[Be...]]

Yeh post on here like a mad man sometimes blowing up the board !

[[Se...]]

Yes.  This is the notorious "benzo flu" that people talk about.  Was my worst symptom from month 2 to month 16, like a cross between jet lag and the flu and a hangover from hell.  They call it "general malaise".  Felt like death warmed over, all day, every day.  Back then I didn't have any windows - not until month 22/23.

 

Acupuncture helped me when I went back to our local Daytox at month 16 and got auricular acupuncture, 4 times a week for 6 weeks (free here in Vancouver through Creekside Daytox at Surrey Memorial Hospital).  On the 2nd treatment, it simply went away and really never has come back.

 

So I'd really recommend acupuncture, it helped me tremendously.

 

Sorry you are feeling so unwell.  It does get better, I promise.  You aren't making this up - it isn't all in your head.  This is how withdrawal goes for many of us.  So many symptoms, feeling so unwell.  I spent a lot of time in bed that first 16 months, shuffling from the bed to the couch, shockingly ill.

 

At 38 months off, I can honestly say it was worth every single bit of suffering.  I'm getting my life back.  It was a great gift to come off these poisons, the best gift I could have ever given myself.

 

Ginger tea helped me too.  I bought GingerAid (herbal tea) and grated fresh ginger into it.  Helped settle my tummy.  That and yogic (diaphragmmatic breathing) to help "tone" your vagal or master nerve that has so many GABA receptors and controls so many bodily processes.

 

 

Ali

[[Er...]]

Thank you all!

 

SeekingSanity  I had never heard of breathing like that and I just tried it.  Holy crap!  It actually made me feel better for a little bit.  Very interesting and THANK YOU for that.  I'm going to have to keep trying the diaphragm breathing.

[[Ma...]]

its not always like this in a wave. I have hysterical waves, too.. with physical power but "mental illness" 

But I know what you are talking about. I use to say these are the days when an armor has rollen over me

Those days are the hardest for me to accept. Because it feels like I would never be healthy again, exhausted to death..

 

chin up! I hope it gets better.

[[Gr...]]

I'm in a wave too - I've had that this week. Noticed it more for some reason. Feeling nasty ill. Had a little window this morning a few hours after an adrenaline surge and then sunk back into this 'general malaise'. That term doesn't really cut it but yeh like flu with hot flushes and things. Oh i want to have a moan.

 

Don't stop posting! I get a lot of support and reassurance from the identification.

 

Sometimes I feel like I'm saying 'yeh I got that', as if i have everything...but I actually do...so it's a good reminder of just how tough this is and to give myself a break. Not that I always managed it. Been in tears a few times today. Good to let em go sometimes.

[[Ma...]]

can you relate that heat (summer) brings such flu-waves with it?

This summer I hate the sun. Whenever its sunshine out there I feel sick.

[[so...]]

Eric,

 

I hate that general DEATHLY ILL feeling.  I cry all the way through it.  It is so yucky.  That overall malaise feeling you just can't pinpoint.

 

Sofa

[[Se...]]

Okay, so glad it helped.

 

I looked up an old post of mine that explains a bit more about this type of symptom and what may cause it in withdrawal.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

---------------------

 

Here is the information on toning your vagus nerve from another post earlier this year.  Hope this helps!  It was in response to someone asking about air hunger but this master nerve actually ennervates the stomach as well and wreaks havoc when compromised and is responsible for a lot of the "benzo flu" symptoms many of us have:

 

I have an inkling that this "air hunger" or inability to breathe normally isn't due to muscle rigidity or tightness, nor is it due to hyperventilation, but it is more likely due to a compromised vagus nerve due to the GABA receptor down regulation.

 

The diaphragm is connected to the vagus nerve by way of the phrenic nerve.  The vagal nerve is instrumental in facilitating proper breathing and regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. This nerve is populated with masses of GABA receptors; if our GABA system is compromised, our vagal nerve function is in turn compromised, and so is our ability to breathe and calm ourselves.

 

"The vagus nerve is known as the "wandering nerve" because it has multiple branches that diverge from two "stems" rooted in the cerebellum and brainstem that wander to the lowest viscera of your abdomen, touching your heart and most of your major organs along the way.  As commander in chief for your body, this nerve is command central for your parasympathetic nervous system.  It is geared to slow you down like the brakes on your car, and uses neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and GABA to literally lower heart rate, blood pressure and help your heart and organs slow down, particularly under stress."

 

Obviously, as our GABA receptors heal in withdrawal, our ability to breathe and to "relax" normally heals too.

 

There are some things that you CAN do to help this happen - yin yoga and learning pranic or diaphragmatic breathing techniques (deep breathing) can help support and stimulate your vagal nerve.  It also delivers a host of other benefits, including pain reduction and stress reduction.

 

If you are interested in learning more about this, I heartily recommend a few of these articles, they are easy and interesting reading:

 

- Psychology Today, "The Neurobiology of Grace Under Pressure",  honestly SO worth the read as your vagus nerve has more GABA receptors than any other part of your body outside of your brain:

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201302/the-neurobiology-grace-under-pressure

 

- www.gingergarner.com/tag/yogic-breathing/

 

Hope this helps.  Balancing the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems in benzo/z-drug withdrawal is difficult to say the least.  But remember, practising these techniques helps strengthen the neural connections and "neurons that fire together, wire together".  Practise is key.  Everything you can do to strengthen these connections while GABA receptors are healing and coming back on line can only help your body cope with the stress inherent in withdrawal.

 

And a shout out to acupuncture - if you've read any of my posts, you'll see that I am a raving fan.

 

I really hope this helps you understand a bit more about how this important nerve affects so many systems in our healing from benzo/z-drug withdrawal.  There is hope as the GABA receptors heal.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

 

Ali

[[Er...]]

can you relate that heat (summer) brings such flu-waves with it?

This summer I hate the sun. Whenever its sunshine out there I feel sick.

 

I can't answer that unfortunately.  I'm in the Desert Southwest in the states so it's been over 100 degrees here for a long time and even our winters are warm and sunny.

[[Ma...]]

can you relate that heat (summer) brings such flu-waves with it?

This summer I hate the sun. Whenever its sunshine out there I feel sick.

 

I can't answer that unfortunately.  I'm in the Desert Southwest in the states so it's been over 100 degrees here for a long time and even our winters are warm and sunny.

 

okey, then you will never see me there!!! At the moment I should rather travel to Sweden or other countries of North Europe where summers are like spring... its funny never thought that I would pray for rain and cold.

[[Er...]]

Okay, so glad it helped.

 

I looked up an old post of mine that explains a bit more about this type of symptom and what may cause it in withdrawal.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

---------------------

 

Here is the information on toning your vagus nerve from another post earlier this year.  Hope this helps!  It was in response to someone asking about air hunger but this master nerve actually ennervates the stomach as well and wreaks havoc when compromised and is responsible for a lot of the "benzo flu" symptoms many of us have:

 

I have an inkling that this "air hunger" or inability to breathe normally isn't due to muscle rigidity or tightness, nor is it due to hyperventilation, but it is more likely due to a compromised vagus nerve due to the GABA receptor down regulation.

 

The diaphragm is connected to the vagus nerve by way of the phrenic nerve.  The vagal nerve is instrumental in facilitating proper breathing and regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. This nerve is populated with masses of GABA receptors; if our GABA system is compromised, our vagal nerve function is in turn compromised, and so is our ability to breathe and calm ourselves.

 

"The vagus nerve is known as the "wandering nerve" because it has multiple branches that diverge from two "stems" rooted in the cerebellum and brainstem that wander to the lowest viscera of your abdomen, touching your heart and most of your major organs along the way.  As commander in chief for your body, this nerve is command central for your parasympathetic nervous system.  It is geared to slow you down like the brakes on your car, and uses neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and GABA to literally lower heart rate, blood pressure and help your heart and organs slow down, particularly under stress."

 

Obviously, as our GABA receptors heal in withdrawal, our ability to breathe and to "relax" normally heals too.

 

There are some things that you CAN do to help this happen - yin yoga and learning pranic or diaphragmatic breathing techniques (deep breathing) can help support and stimulate your vagal nerve.  It also delivers a host of other benefits, including pain reduction and stress reduction.

 

If you are interested in learning more about this, I heartily recommend a few of these articles, they are easy and interesting reading:

 

- Psychology Today, "The Neurobiology of Grace Under Pressure",  honestly SO worth the read as your vagus nerve has more GABA receptors than any other part of your body outside of your brain:

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201302/the-neurobiology-grace-under-pressure

 

- www.gingergarner.com/tag/yogic-breathing/

 

Hope this helps.  Balancing the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems in benzo/z-drug withdrawal is difficult to say the least.  But remember, practising these techniques helps strengthen the neural connections and "neurons that fire together, wire together".  Practise is key.  Everything you can do to strengthen these connections while GABA receptors are healing and coming back on line can only help your body cope with the stress inherent in withdrawal.

 

And a shout out to acupuncture - if you've read any of my posts, you'll see that I am a raving fan.

 

I really hope this helps you understand a bit more about how this important nerve affects so many systems in our healing from benzo/z-drug withdrawal.  There is hope as the GABA receptors heal.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

 

Ali

 

Thank you for that.  I guess that helps explain why sometimes my breathing just seems weird.  Not necessarily that hard, but I have to give just a little more effort to do it.  And also, now that I've done the Yogic breathing for a little bit, maybe that explains why it seems like it's taking even more effort now.  My muscles are tired from trying something new and my nerve is tired as well.  At least that's what I'm hoping.  Thanks again!

[[Be...]]

This explains why my body seems to be forgetting how to breathe properly since I jumped.

 

Thanks seeking sanity

[[Er...]]

can you relate that heat (summer) brings such flu-waves with it?

This summer I hate the sun. Whenever its sunshine out there I feel sick.

 

I can't answer that unfortunately.  I'm in the Desert Southwest in the states so it's been over 100 degrees here for a long time and even our winters are warm and sunny.

 

okey, then you will never see me there!!! At the moment I should rather travel to Sweden or other countries of North Europe where summers are like spring... its funny never thought that I would pray for rain and cold.

 

I would much rather be in those places for sure!

[[Se...]]

Yes, yin yoga is your friend in recovery.  Many people can't do exercise early on but can do 5 minutes here and there of yogic breathing.  Lots of good videos on the internet like Ginger's.

 

The vagus nerve is so critically important and ennervates so many organs.  It has a shockingly high density of GABA receptors.  This is often why people's guts are so messed up in withdrawal.  And breathing.  And even head pain.  And inability to calm down or soothe ourselves.  And explains a lot of blood pressure and heart rhythm issues.  Everything really.

 

The good news is that there are things you can do to help your healing.  And like Eric found, it can often have immediate effect, it is so surprising.

 

In the 3+ years that I've been on these boards in withdrawal and the year prior tapering, I've combed the boards and the internet in an attempt to find solutions and explanations.  The sad part about this forum is that good posts often don't get pinned and information just keeps on "rolling off" the boards, so new people don't get the benefit of all our collective learning.

 

When I have a minute, I try to come back and post a bit on threads where I have some direct experience, like this one.

 

Acupuncture really helped me.  In month 22, it ushered in my first ever waves.  Community acupuncture (google this term + your city) can be found in many major cities for a very small amount, often by donation or a sliding scale.  It was one of the only things that helped me in withdrawal and I was profoundly grateful that our health authority provides it through Daytox free of charge here in our city, it is covered by our provincial health plan.  One more shout out for Creekside Withdrawal Managament Centre at Surrey Memorial for those of you who live in Vancouver, BC.

 

[[Gr...]]

Hey seeking sanity

 

I googled community acupuncture in London UK. Theres a drop in for ear acupuncture for anxiety, depression, addictions. Was that what you did or did you do one to one sessions?

 

How do you think the acupuncture helped? I'm really curious.

[[Se...]]

I did ear acupuncture at Daytox, 4 x a week for 6 weeks at the end of my taper and again at 16 months.  Really helped.

 

I did full body acupuncture at 22 months, ushered in my first windows.  Again, really helped.

 

Both forms are very helpful, imho.  Only thing really that DID help.  Usually community acupuncture is ear acupuncture in a group setting but even then they will sometimes place other needles to help with anxiety or depression or sleep issues.

 

Was a godsend to me.  Every time, it ushered in a new level of healing.

 

Hope this helps you.

 

 

Ali

[[Ja...]]

I think feeling flu like symptoms is quite normal when going through this crapy withdrawal. There are so many different symptoms and variations of intensity from person to person. Hopefully it will just stop soon and give us all some relief.