Hi

[[Ca...]]

Hi, 58yr childless widow no family former Senior Software Performance Engineer. I was prescribed Ativan and Ambien in the 1990s by my Primary Care Doctor when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I developed dependency and tolerance and Zoloft was added. In 2006 I was referred to a Psychiatrist whom was unable to taper me using additional poly-drugging, I tapered on my own in 2007 losing 95lbs gained while poly-drugged. 2008 my husband whom was over-prescribed Xanax and Opiates, overdosed and died. My Ativan dose was reinstated at 6MG/day - 2012 hysterectomy I believe from the prescribed drugs, 2015 Zoloft induced Dystonia, 2016 I was so sick and lost all memory (Parkinson disease pill Artane) qualified 1st attempt for SSDI but not my employer of 20+ years DellEMC LTD plan of which I paid into, (DellEMC then let me go in 2018). I was referred to a Psychiatrist whom prescribed more poly-drugs after I was cold cut off the Ativan. I started tapering all poly-drugs Oct 2017 (Dec 2016 Ativan .5*14days was prescribed) and used legal Massachusetts medical marijuana to help offset acute withdrawal symptoms. I lost another 95lbs of poly-drug weight gained. I have hard painful lymph node issues, anomolies, aberrations and incredible waves of illness followed by windows of normalcy. Yet I feel grateful to GOD as I would be dead - today - if I had not realized the prescribed drugs were the root cause of all my illnesses. This December I will be two years prescribed drug free except antibiotics. Facebook groups gave me withdrawal support and advice as Doctors do not know how to properly de-prescribe the drugs they prescribe. I stopped the Cannabis 5 weeks ago to prove to doctors my lymph node swelling is not Cannabis Allergy but still test THC positive. I testified with others to support Massachusetts Benzo Bill at the State House last week and discovered I was not alone. Does anyone else have lymph node issues since stopping Benzos? Does it go away? Thank you!  Rock your day!

[[Ch...]]

Hi CandyO.

 

Sounds like you’ve really been through the medication merry-go-round. Glad you’ve found us for post withdrawal support.

 

Here’s a link to Post-withdrawal Recovery Support and we do have a Protracted subscription that you may join if you wish.

 

Other members replying to your posts need to know where you are in the process, so here’s how to add your benzodiazepine information automatically to your posts: go to Profile, then Forum Profile, write your pertinent info (benzodiazepine, dose, taper history) in the text box and save. Thanks! Let us know if you need help with this.

 

Take care,

Challis 

 

 

The Ashton Manual is a comprehensive and highly regarded free online resource about benzodiazepine use, withdrawal and recovery. If you’re not familiar with it we recommend having a look.