So scared...need reassurance, horrible head pressure, pain and bloodshot eyes.

[[tw...]]

Hi, all - I'm starting to freak out and need someone to "talk me off the ledge" so to speak. The pressure in my head is unrelenting. My eyes are BEYOND bloodshot (I look like I've had a stroke) and I've now talked myself into this being due to my brain shutting down/swelling. I am SURE it's just withdrawal, but my red eyes are absolutely alarming. I'm scared.

 

I'm still able to work, although I'm definitely foggy to be sure. I'm 3 weeks off my last dose of Klonopin today.

 

I know i did a fairly fast taper, but I was doing fine with the cuts and haven't had any real issues until now. I'm completely and utterly panicked and it really sucks. I do go to the doctor tomorrow and maybe she can somehow reassure me that everything is fine.

 

I could get through all the rest of this if my eyes would clear up. Honestly, I'm scared to death my brain is totally shutting down, but I'm sure I wouldn't be able to continue to think coherently, work, etc. if that were indeed the case.

[[me...]]

Hi,

 

I also had extremely red (blood red), painful eyes for a long time which were extremely sore and dry, along with  extreme head pressure, severe cog fog, and countless other symptoms.  I was so self conscious about my red eyes that I started wearing dark glasses in stores, etc.  But it was a withdrawal symptom, after all, and it went away in time (a long time for me - months).  Don't ask me exactly when that happened, I'm almost 5 years off and it was a long time ago. 

 

So no, you haven't had a stroke and you're brain isn't shutting down.  It IS withdrawal, and it may be awhile before it all returns to normal.  You're only a few weeks off?  That's very early yet, and hopefully soon things will start getting better for you.

 

[[tw...]]

Thank you, Megan. I think I just needed a "virtual hug", lol. This is all so, so terrible. But we'll all get through. Reassuring words from the people on this board DEFINITELY help. THANK YOU FOR REPLYING.

[[be...]]

Hi Twinkle,

 

Ive had a incredibly similar experience with klonopin withdrawal. I just shared my story on another headache post:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=171804.0

 

It appears to me that klonopin users have it really bad on regards to headaches. But please hang in there, even the worst pain gets better in time.

[[On...]]

I’m also having the exact same symptoms as you and it is reassuring to know that it is just withdrawal...

[[pr...]]

My advice is to take care of yourself.  Slow way down, take a breath, speak truth to yourself, and focus on what you can do in the moment.  When I was at that stage, that was vital.  You have to do what you can in that moment to distract yourself or deal with the symptoms you are dealing with.  Sometimes I took three baths a day because of the muscle or nerve pain.  I listened to audio books because I couldn't watch anything.  I took up juggling.  I sat down with a notebook and made a master plan, and every so often would change, shape, and mold it according to what I could do.  Many mornings, my symptoms were so bad, that if I moved around, my sympathetic nervous system would go haywire.  The morning cortisol wave was so terrible.  So, I scheduled a meditation / lay down and relax time for that slot.  We have to adapt so that it brings some kind of normal.  I know it doesn't feel normal!  But, you can do it!  Maybe try to think of things that you can do, things you enjoy, and things you'd like to learn... guess what I'm trying to say is, by being proactive, it gives you some kind of control.  I still make a tomorrow plan every evening for the next day.  At 11.5 months off, this is still vital for me.  Yes, the symptoms are different, but I still need that hope and plan.  Few other things- I listened to TuneIn comedy at night when it was really bad in the first few months off.  Man, this helped.  Helped me not to take it so seriously, even though I was still in terrible pain.  You can do this, friend.  Dig deep down, see if a plan works for you, and think outside the box.  Praying for you!  And just remember- this is normal.  Normal for your body to act this way in the healing process.  You're going to be ok.

[[...]]

Just hang in there.  You can do this.  The head pressure is rough & I hate the eye stuff.  It will all get a little better over time.