So So Scared

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I have been in a unrentling battle since Sept.  My brain tingles, pressure, brutal headches, and brain zaps.  Was told my limbic system is damaged, not able to fix it.  Everything is so hard.  I haven't had any relief.  My situation seems so hopeless.  I'm so scared I worry for my children, since I'm not able to parent like I used to.  Being in such suffering has impacted me in ways I didn't know were possible.  I wonder if reinstating might be of help.  I just need some relief.  I'm not able to digest food, drive, my hands shake constantly, I feel horribly ill all the time.  Seems like my situation will never improve.

 

In dire need of encouragement.

 

TRY

[[Pl...]]

Who told you your limb if system was damaged?

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Who told you your limb if system was damaged?

 

A doctor I saw.  When I described my symptoms he said it was limbic system damage.  Because my inability to have hunger, odd body temp., head pain, inability to sweat, shortness of breath, inability to gain weight. Etc.

[[Wi...]]

R u still tapering? U seem to be having a very rough time so im curious how long youve been zero benzos or r u still tapering.

[[ke...]]

Benzos work primarily on the limbic system. Any "damage" is purely temporary and self fixing. Don't sweat the details.

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I feel my brain firing, like it just doesn't know how to calm down.  I get cluster headaches, neck pain and tension.  When I stand it's even worse. 

 

Just horrible.

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Been going to countless doctor's.  No answers.  I know it is a waste of time but feel I need to do anything to better this.  Nothing will calm my Limbic System.  I guess no one else has had this issue. 

It's brutal. 

[Guest [We...]]

Nothing will calm my Limbic System.  I guess no one else has had this issue. 

 

That is the main issue of benzo withdrawal. Everyone in this forum has/has had this. 

[[Fi...]]

Who told you your limb if system was damaged?

 

A doctor I saw.  When I described my symptoms he said it was limbic system damage.  Because my inability to have hunger, odd body temp., head pain, inability to sweat, shortness of breath, inability to gain weight. Etc.

 

Pan that diagnosis! (and dump the label) This is what happens to all of us. It is all temporary.

 

I couldn't feel hunger for years - until I was about 4 months off and then it returned like a whole new thing. Lack of feeling hungry alone caused innumerable knock-on problems with blood sugar, hypoglycaemic plunges and anxiety - and was probably the original reason why I went on benzos all those years ago - forgetting to eat misdiagnosed as "anxiety".

 

You have to eat. By rote if necessary. (hunger and appetite are both skewed by benzos and WD). Small amounts regularly - whether you 'want to' or not. Pick small easily-digestible snacky-things (I swear by banana & milk!) and make sure it happens. . And make sure you eat 'enough'. Undereating is 'a thing'. (Google it and see what the symptoms are  )

 

 

This will all clear. Go for it!  :thumbsup:

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Feels like when I do eat it just sits in my stomach like a brick.  Body doesn't get how to digest. 

 

I don't get it.

[[Fi...]]

Feels like when I do eat it just sits in my stomach like a brick.  Body doesn't get how to digest. 

 

I don't get it.

 

I know that's what it feels like - me too, way back - but your digestion will come back "online" if you give it something to do regularly.

 

It needn't be big - in fact, keep it small and regular and make it something easily digestible. Milky, bland food. 

[[Tr...]]

Feels like when I do eat it just sits in my stomach like a brick.  Body doesn't get how to digest. 

 

I don't get it.

 

I know that's what it feels like - me too, way back - but your digestion will come back "online" if you give it something to do regularly.

 

It needn't be big - in fact, keep it small and regular and make it something easily digestible. Milky, bland food. 

 

Thanks Fizzle,

 

I'll give it a try. 

[[Fi...]]

Feels like when I do eat it just sits in my stomach like a brick.  Body doesn't get how to digest. 

 

I don't get it.

 

I know that's what it feels like - me too, way back - but your digestion will come back "online" if you give it something to do regularly.

 

It needn't be big - in fact, keep it small and regular and make it something easily digestible. Milky, bland food. 

 

Thanks Fizzle,

 

I'll give it a try.

 

YW 

 

It will make a HUGE difference over a week or ten days if you have been "under-eating" all along. 

[[of...]]

You will get better.. I was where you are last year. I couldn't  calm down. My mind wouldn't stop feeding my thoughts and i didnt know enough to not give them my energy. I also wasnt able to sweat. My digestive system was screwed up. I'm much much better than i was . I'm almost completely recovered. Do yourself a favor and give your mind something to focus on rather than focusing on fear and thoughts and thinking and worrying. If you give yourself small tasks to do all day and keep an active routine, you will experience relief from symptoms.

 

Dont believe everything you read .. And it would be wise to avoid reading anything that will feed your fear. Its up to you what you chose to feed into your mind

You're the gatekeeper. You have a choice what you let in and its up to you what you chose to block out.

 

A part of the puzzle is gaining some form of awareness towards what you choose to focus on.

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Thanks Off,

 

I think my case is too severe to be resolved.  Something in my brain is definately not working.  When they gave me the dose of Ativan in my IV, without knowing.  First thing I said was I'm hungry, which I thought was odd.  That's when they told me what they had done.  It's weird, I drink tons of water and doesn't seem to hydrate me, the whole thing is just a mess.  I don't know if it's Benzo caused HPA Axis Dsyfunction or I don't know. 

 

 

 

Was told I'm too damaged to heal.

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Having unbearable headaches, and super sick.  Need a break.

[[tw...]]

Forcing myself to drink Ensure's every few hours, and making sure I consumed at least 1,200 calories had me recovering from at least the "not wanting to eat" phase (after losing 25 lbs in 4.5 weeks) and I felt more normal. (and hungry, and could taste food, and smell it, etc.) But it was a good 3-5 days of me thinking I was literally going to starve to death and was dying. (and ZERO sleep!!!) It was good and terrible.

 

Make yourself eat, and your body will start to recover...it's not permanent!

[[Tr...]]

Forcing myself to drink Ensure's every few hours, and making sure I consumed at least 1,200 calories had me recovering from at least the "not wanting to eat" phase (after losing 25 lbs in 4.5 weeks) and I felt more normal. (and hungry, and could taste food, and smell it, etc.) But it was a good 3-5 days of me thinking I was literally going to starve to death and was dying. (and ZERO sleep!!!) It was good and terrible.

 

Make yourself eat, and your body will start to recover...it's not permanent!

 

Thank you for the reassurance.  Thank you.

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It's getting worse I have constant air hunger,  feels like I'm being smothered from the inside.  Too weak to walk, bp dropping, unable to absorb nutrients.  Feels like my body is shutting down.  So Scared.  My children. 

[[Tr...]]

You will get better.. I was where you are last year. I couldn't  calm down. My mind wouldn't stop feeding my thoughts and i didnt know enough to not give them my energy. I also wasnt able to sweat. My digestive system was screwed up. I'm much much better than i was . I'm almost completely recovered. Do yourself a favor and give your mind something to focus on rather than focusing on fear and thoughts and thinking and worrying. If you give yourself small tasks to do all day and keep an active routine, you will experience relief from symptoms.

 

Dont believe everything you read .. And it would be wise to avoid reading anything that will feed your fear. Its up to you what you chose to feed into your mind

You're the gatekeeper. You have a choice what you let in and its up to you what you chose to block out.

 

A part of the puzzle is gaining some form of awareness towards what you choose to focus on.

 

I needed to re-read this today.  I really need to try and keep these things in mind. 

Thx

 

[[tw...]]

I hope you are doing better today. I've totally been where you are, and the air hunger is what did me in this last time. I hope you are improving! You are going to be okay. I hope very soon this will all just be a distant memory for you!

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Twinkle, i really needed this.  It's been so hard.  Had to go to ER last night, so thin labored breathing, it was bad.

 

 

TRY

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What is happening, now?. Family forced me to go to the ER.  My weight and breathing among other things is out of control.  They gave me IV hydration, and ashamed to say IV  Ativan.  I was so scared, wanted to run.  Too weak and thin to even walk..  I felt so scared.  Within 30 minutes I was a totally different person.  I was ME.  Talking, eating, no pain, and present.  I know everytime they give me anything in the ER will end up hurting me more.  But, things have gotten to such a dangerous level my family had to do something out of desperation.  I tried to tell them that it's only making it worse.  I've been able to eat more. I was literally not eating for days, not intentionally depriving myself of food.  It's like my body just doesn't know the hunger and digestion process anymore.  I really don't understand it.  How does your body forget how to do those things?  It's so bizarre.  Very Scary.

[[ke...]]

I believe a sedating and appetite stimulating AD like remeron might help you like it helped me.

[[Bf...]]

Feels like when I do eat it just sits in my stomach like a brick.  Body doesn't get how to digest. 

 

I don't get it.

 

Everything you are describing is totally well, normal, as screwy as that sounds. Unfortunately a lot of docs (not all) don't have an in-depth understanding of benzos and what long-term use or withdrawal encompass. I myself have the digestive issues, the headaches, the shakes, pain, insomnia, etc. etc. etc. But I'm really, really lucky because I have training and knowledge that keeps me grounded. Talking to and hopefully helping people such as yourself is one way I cope. So the bad news... benzo withdrawals can last a really long time and it all depends on the frequency and duration of the use. The good news... you WILL feel better, but it's going to take a while. My own doctor warned me that given my use, I could be facing a year or more of withdrawals. This is one of the things that prompted me to seek out support. I'm going to need it for the long haul. As for your brain, the damage is specifically with the GABAA receptors, a part of the limbic system. But as someone else mentioned, I never felt that labels or getting too deeply wrapped in the details to be very helpful. But so you know, damage to the GABAA receptors will impact a significant portion of body functions. Fortunately the brain is amazing and does a fantastic job of healing itself. The key is time. Benzo withdrawal is like a hangover that can last for months (as you're experiencing) or more. I compare it to a hangover in that the only thing that will "fix" it, is time (of course I've never had a hangover quite this bad!). But that doesn't mean you have to just grin and bear it. This forum and many other websites (benzowithdrawalhelp.com is a great site) can offer you assistance with developing coping skills that will ease your suffering. You'll find tricks and skills that can be tailored to your personality and will help you get through. Just hang in there and be kind to yourself and your body. Don't give up. You are not alone.