DON'T WAIT TOO LONG TO STABILIZE OR ADJUST YOUR TAPER

[[te...]]

Hi Folks:

 

I decided to stabilize on December 11th at slightly below the .2mg level of Klonopin. My symptoms had become debilitating. My muscles ached all over but particularly in my shoulders. When I get up to urinate at night, I lift one of my arms and lean against the wall to support myself being a bit groggy from my nightly dosage of Trazadone. It became so painful to lift my arm that I had to revert to swinging it several times to get the momentum going upward. I also had frequent double vision and got uncomfortable stomach cramps several times a week. Impending doom thoughts would hit two or three times a week as well. I did great on my 5% a week taper (started April 2016) until about September. I had been eating a strict Paleo diet and I exercised six days a week. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol either. The only other medication I take is 200mg Trazadone at night. I started getting progressively bad symptoms in September. I think part of the reason was that I got very busy with a large project and quit working out and exercising for several months to concentrate on the project. I knew it might affect me but I was obligated to make the project successful. It would have been better had I not done that and stayed on my positive path. I did not relate the increasing symptoms to withdrawal initially. I had read plenty of posts on here but I just didn’t think that was happening to me. I had gone almost symptom free from April until September and when the symptoms started they were subtle at first. I thought I might have thyroid eye disease when I got the double vision and went to see an Ophthalmologist. He said my eyes were fine. Then, my muscle pain got much worse and I thought I might have MS or some other autoimmune disorder. I was going to go get tested when I came to this site and read a bunch more of your posts. I concluded that all these symptoms must have been related to my withdrawal. I vowed to stop my weekly reduction and stabilize until I felt better. I stopped my taper on December 11th. It was frustrating at first. I actually got worse the first few weeks, but I never considered up dosing. After New Year’s, I got back on my Paleo diet and increased my workouts back to six days a week for about an hour a day. Shortly after that my symptoms started to subside. Today is the 3rd week in a row that I have noticed substantial improvements. I would say that my muscle pain was 1/3 to ¼ of what it was several months ago and seems to be getting better weekly. I am hoping that another three or four weeks will allow completely subside and I will be able to begin my taper again. This time, I intend to taper 5% every two weeks (Instead of every week) and to stabilize immediately when I noticed any unusual increase in symptoms. I still have a long way to go, but I am confident I will get there. I would like to “Thank” all of the posters for their contributions because without their advice and counsel I don’t think I would have been able to adjust my taper plan and have confidence it would work. I now have every confidence it will work . I know that I will have some rough weeks in store for me but there is an end in sight. If I had to do anything different, I would not have stopped working out and eating healthy to concentrate on my project. It caused me a lot of unnecessary pain. I feel for everyone doing this because it is very difficult to try and taper of these drugs and have any kind of normal life. No matter how supportive a loved one may be, it is difficult for them to understand how difficult this is as well. That also adds to anxiety and frustration. I don’t like to appear lazy or not carry my weight or live up to my responsibilities. I am slowly getting my brain back and I can see that my gaba receptors will indeed heal themselves if I give them some time and follow a healthy lifestyle.

 

[[ka...]]

Thank you for sharing, it was so beautifully stated! You are so right in knowing that you are not alone in this battle towards healing, but healing is happening. Your words are so encouraging, they will help many to continue to endure and persevere towards the goal of no benzo's and healing. This can be such a lonely trial and yet we are so blessed with a forum of fellow comrades who are exhorting us to press on towards the goal of freedom &  healing. There are so many of us in what i call the 'waiting place', but this waiting place is an active waiting place and we will all stand shoulder to shoulder and help carry each other thru. 

[[Ca...]]

Thanks for that...

Positive and informative...

Best wishes...

[[Ma...]]

I enjoyed reading that. It was thoughtful and I've experienced the same thing. Projects...stopping exercising...WD symptoms out of control...too much sugar

[[Jo...]]

Thankyou, I am getting the muscke thing today.

 

At least in my chest and shoulders.  Its pretty miserable. 

[[Pl...]]

This was a great post... Thank you

[[Tw...]]

I needed to hear this...really, thank you!