10 mths off Clonazepam any input appreciated

[[Su...]]

No improvement since last post at 7.5 mths.  Worse due to continuing insomnia (2-4 hr sleep). No meds since jump in Oct.  Tried various natural supplements but didn't work. Melatonin ok off and on but started to make me depressed so stopped. Feeling hopeless, nervous wreck. Does one heal with such little rest?

 

Everyday wake with severe burning nerve pain in legs, arms, abdomen & sometimes sweating. Once out of bed and moving around, burning is less intense.  For months, during evening sxs would lessen, but for past few weeks sxs are lasting plus around dinnertime my face & scalp start burning and face gets really red.  Anyone have similar situation and improve?

 

Have not had any windows since jump.  Do evening breaks count as windows?

 

Many early mornings, get relentless looping thoughts that I should go to ER & have blood levels checked as perhaps something is really out of whack? They were checked 3 mths ago through lab.  Showed low potassium & iron, take these supplements off and on because stomach starts hurting and I feel revved up. Do any of you have regular blood work done?

 

Anxiety worse, lasting a lot of the day. Full of fear because of no improvement and worry that I'll lose my sanity. Is this common?

 

Ache all over. Forearms are so thin with muscle wasting, no fat, just lots of veins sticking out. Anyone have the muscle return?

 

Poor vision.  Have eye exam at end of month which requires pupil dilation. Has anyone had this done during withdrawal?

 

Keep trying mindfulness meditation but oddly both it and deep breathing make me anxious but keep trying. Still manage 1/2 hr walk most days but is becoming more difficult because I'm so tired. Has anyone else found mindfulness & deep breathing causing anxiety?

 

Most of us experience our family/friends distancing themselves due to length of recovery.  They either don't understand or believe you plus some get scared as they are struggling with their own issues in this crazy, fast paced world we live in, so I come to BBs for encouragement.

 

Please input to any of the above would be very much appreciated.  Really struggling.

 

Sunny

 

 

 

[[si...]]

Right there with you at 11 months. At least we are not alone.

[[Kl...]]

You've been through a lot.. Give yourself credit for getting off the pills under those circumstances! you will heal!

[[Da...]]

You should start to feel some relief soon, take care of yourself.

[[Si...]]

Just do not take supplements.

Eat healthy, no caff, not too much sugar, no MSG, no alcohol.

You will feel much better soon.

[[bc...]]

My dear Sunny......so sorry you are struggling so....I probably could have written your post.....feel exactly like you do along with a few other symptoms.  Yes, I wondered about the same things you have wondered about and I have no answers, other than I do have monthly blood tests done for my potassium and a few other things.  Have always had to watch my electrolytes.

 

I don`t know what others call `windows`, but for me it is a bit of time when my symptoms are not crippling me, a bit of a break from the intensity and that is not to often, either.

 

I also need to have an eye exam done, but don`t know how that would work with the anxiety and dp being so high and have also wondered how the pupil dilation would affect us...hopefully someone will chime in about that.

 

I also have a hard tine with deep breathing or meditation....I try to do it when I have less severe symptoms and I just can`t seem to keep the other thoughts out and it gives me more anxiety when it is not working for me.  Trying to do that in the midst of high anxiety or panic is just not doing it.  Was never one to do that before benzos, so learning that now is quite difficult for me.

 

We just have to hang on, dear Sunny....We have come thru 10 months already.......we will get thru this, and we WILL HEAL.  It is such a difficult road to travel....a trip that we had not expected to be on, but we just have to continue on this journey till we are totally recovered.  Believe, have faith and we will DO THIS....

 

Sending hugs, much love  and healing thoughts your way.....

[[Si...]]

Have your levels of vitamins checked. Mine were so bad and are part of my chronic fatigue and burning nerves. Don't do a serum level check a more in depth lab like Genova or spectrocill. Good luck.

 

 

[[Su...]]

Thanks for your responses and support everyone.

 

Still wonder if any others BBs have input for some of my questions i.e. eye exam with dilation of pupil?

 

 

[[Be...]]

No improvement since last post at 7.5 mths.  Worse due to continuing insomnia (2-4 hr sleep). No meds since jump in Oct.  Tried various natural supplements but didn't work. Melatonin ok off and on but started to make me depressed so stopped. Feeling hopeless, nervous wreck. Does one heal with such little rest?

 

Everyday wake with severe burning nerve pain in legs, arms, abdomen & sometimes sweating. Once out of bed and moving around, burning is less intense.  For months, during evening sxs would lessen, but for past few weeks sxs are lasting plus around dinnertime my face & scalp start burning and face gets really red.  Anyone have similar situation and improve?

 

Have not had any windows since jump.  Do evening breaks count as windows?

 

Many early mornings, get relentless looping thoughts that I should go to ER & have blood levels checked as perhaps something is really out of whack? They were checked 3 mths ago through lab.  Showed low potassium & iron, take these supplements off and on because stomach starts hurting and I feel revved up. Do any of you have regular blood work done?

 

Anxiety worse, lasting a lot of the day. Full of fear because of no improvement and worry that I'll lose my sanity. Is this common?

 

Ache all over. Forearms are so thin with muscle wasting, no fat, just lots of veins sticking out. Anyone have the muscle return?

 

Poor vision.  Have eye exam at end of month which requires pupil dilation. Has anyone had this done during withdrawal?

 

Keep trying mindfulness meditation but oddly both it and deep breathing make me anxious but keep trying. Still manage 1/2 hr walk most days but is becoming more difficult because I'm so tired. Has anyone else found mindfulness & deep breathing causing anxiety?

 

Most of us experience our family/friends distancing themselves due to length of recovery.  They either don't understand or believe you plus some get scared as they are struggling with their own issues in this crazy, fast paced world we live in, so I come to BBs for encouragement.

 

Please input to any of the above would be very much appreciated.  Really struggling.

 

Sunny

 

Sunny,

 

I experience many of the same symptoms at seven and a half months.

 

My sleep is OK but interrupted by slightest noise, or pain when changing positions. I would say that periods of rest with eyes closed is the best antidote to not being able to sleep. It will carry you until you can sleep well.

 

The occasional sweating sounds like metabolism dysregulation, which is common enough in withdrawal. If you are perimenopausal or menopausal that can add to the burning, sweating, anxiety equation.

 

Nerve and muscle pain is extraordinarily difficult to deal with. I posted on the nerve and muscle pain group what I try. Neuromuscular therapy has worked best, and it also calms the nervous system. You might want to look into it.

 

My anxiety has increased too and I'd really like it to quit already. Health anxiety is high as well. If you want to have blood tests, then you can get this done through a regular doctor vs. ER. If you were told you need iron and potassium, it's important you take these. I am anemic and need iron. I didn't take any for longest time because I feared stomach upset. But there are types that are easy on the stomach and much better absorbed than what the doctors usually suggest. I take Opti-Ferin C with no problem, and I'm very sensitive. I get regular blood work. I am tired of giving it and have told my doc to just stop and do only essential tests.

 

Meditation can increase anxiety depending on how it's done. Mindfulness meditation can be adjusted to account for your physical distress. You might bring your awareness to phenomena around you (sounds, vibration, breeze, etc.) then back to the breath when the sound stops, for instance. It's still training the mind. When doing anything, do it with attention. These things might shift the focus from how you feel to just being in the moment without being over ridden with anxiety. On that note, any bit of relief is welcomed. So reduced symptoms in the evening would be a small window. Call it what you will.

 

I've wasted away as well. I'm doing what I can to eat healthy, and enough food. I have to count calories. I use an online app to enter what I eat. What more can I do? Once we are through this, we can focus on regaining muscle and tone.

 

Yesterday I felt like I was losing my mind. I guess I'm not. But the ongoing onslaught makes me despair. I understand.

 

I've had pupil dilation and had no problem. If you feel anxious, it's probably the anticipation. It's somewhat stressful but in itself the drops don't cause issues.

 

I hope this helps. Hang in there.

 

Bennie

[[Su...]]

Thank you Bennie for your detailed response.  I really appreciate it and hope it may help others reading this thread as well.

 

Sunny

[[Si...]]

I didn't see big improvements until around month 19. I wasn't sleeping for days at a time and now I sleep pretty well. Haven't missed a night since December 2015. I did start taking a vit D prescription. So I don't know how much that helped or not.

[[sl...]]

Dear sunny, my heart breaks for you and all the rest who suffer like us.  Sleep loss is still a major problem for me, but I will give you some hope by telling you that I saw an improvment in it starting about 15 days ago.  I went for sleeping 0-2 hours to 4-5 hours; however, last night was very rough and I now fear that my much needed window has ended.

 

I cling to the stories of a few on this forum for the hope I need.  I look to siggy, niners, nomne, and the stories of galea, eli111, mimimagic and others.  Without them, I'm sure I would have lost my mind by now.  I pray that we are healed and well sometime in our second year!

[[Su...]]

Thanks Siggy and sleepless.

 

Another 2hr night last night.  Starting to get chills, I think due to the tiredness.  Is this something others experience?

 

Tried a nap this afternoon as I'm so exhausted.  Drop off for a few minutes but then come to with anxiety, and drop down in energy like I won't be able to move and burning.  Is this a toxic nap?

 

Becoming regular around 4pm face getting really red, hot and burning.  Anyone else have this?

[[Si...]]

Hi sunny, yes it was pretty common for me. The insomnia would cause me to be cold one minute and then burning hot next. I even brought a jacket to work during the summer. I live in Georgia and it gets really hot here. I never could even attempt a nap when I was in the thick of it. It sounds like s toxic nap to me though. Usually not very refreshing and you feel worse after. Hope you get some rest tonight.

[[sl...]]

Sunny,

 

I've not had a single nap in 16 months.  I'm jolted right away- so relentless and I miss napping as I used to nap every day before this hell.

My skin burns daily.  Right now I'm having it in my face and arms. Do you get muscle spasms/twitching?

 

 

Siggy,  how much healed are you these days?  Hopefully close to normal?

[[Be...]]

You are gonna be ok. Normal wd symptoms.

Had vision checked last year and just a few days ago. All ok. Didn't do the dialation but that hVe a digital way of doing it.

 

16 months out and struggling still. Hopping for a turning point rather soon.

 

You will get better with time

[[Si...]]

Sunny,

 

I've not had a single nap in 16 months.  I'm jolted right away- so relentless and I miss napping as I used to nap every day before this hell.

My skin burns daily.  Right now I'm having it in my face and arms. Do you get muscle spasms/twitching?

 

 

Siggy,  how much healed are you these days?  Hopefully close to normal?

 

Yeah, mostly normal now. Very occasionally minor waves, but not too bad when they hit now. Sorry you're still having problems. Most improvement I had was around month 18-19.

[[Su...]]

SIGGY & BENZOFREE.  Thank you for your input.  I hope I improve soon.  Had another bad night (3 hrs) and sxs are worse today because of it.

 

SLEEPLESS, I get the odd twitch but not spasms unless I try to do extra exercise and I mean very mild exercise (standing on my toes and dropping feet down again a few times).  Muscles/joints are very achy and worse when I have such little sleep.  It I can get 4 hrs I'm not as achy.  Burning lasting most of the day especially in lower legs, forearms and around dinner face starts up.