View From the Other Side - 5 Year Update

[[La...]]

Wow, what a wonderful, detailed update you've shared with us, SheWhoMust! Thank you SO much for coming back and telling us how you've been. Obviously, I'm in good company here with the others who appreciate that you took the time to do so.

 

I wish you all the best! Thanks again. 

 

Thank you Lapis!  The osteo supplement thread is one I continue to read and I appreciate your contributions there.

 

She

 

Excellent! I've been a bit overwhelmed with other things, so I haven't spent much time posting there. Just too much to deal with right now. But I agree, it's a useful thread to follow.

[[be...]]

She, such a wonderful post and love this "Some of my previous priorities have gone by the wayside.  I don't care too much what people think of me.  I don't need "things" to make me happy..  I am grateful every day for what I have and for my health and my life as it is now." I know that you had a really hard time, and so happy that you are feeling better. Thank you for the quotes you posted on my thread, and I still pull them up now and then. Your posts to others during your time here, so supportive and kind, I will never forget you. Have a wonderful life and love that you and hubby are now just holding hands because it feels good. 💖 Peace and Healing.

[[Sh...]]

She, such a wonderful post and love this "Some of my previous priorities have gone by the wayside.  I don't care too much what people think of me.  I don't need "things" to make me happy..  I am grateful every day for what I have and for my health and my life as it is now." I know that you had a really hard time, and so happy that you are feeling better. Thank you for the quotes you posted on my thread, and I still pull them up now and then. Your posts to others during your time here, so supportive and kind, I will never forget you. Have a wonderful life and love that you and hubby are now just holding hands because it feels good. 💖 Peace and Healing.

 

Thank you Begood!  It is so true that this negative experience offered up some positives at the end.  But that was impossible to see whilst going through it.  During that time, I found your positivity thread so calming, an oasis in the desert.  I still read it from time to time.  Keep up that thread, It is much needed.  Blessings to you Begood!

 

She

[[bo...]]

thxs She! I didn't see it on your signature, so just wondering did you take others meds?

and  how was your sleep?  if you did suffer insomnia when did you recover

[[Sh...]]

thxs She! I didn't see it on your signature, so just wondering did you take others meds?

and  how was your sleep?  if you did suffer insomnia when did you recover

 

Hello Bonty,

 

When my BP and tachycardia became an issue, I was placed on the beta blocker carvidelol.  That helped a great deal, for both issues and also it did take the edge off the anxiety. Not like a true anxiolytic, but it just seemed to take everything down a notch.

 

I quit all my supplements for about 2 years. Afterwards, I tried collagen, bioten, curcumin, coq10 but gave up the biotin and collagen, but continue on the others. I do take a magnesium/ calcium supplement for osteopenia and I tolerate that well. I started back on a kids gummy multivitamin and I tolerate the lower dose well when i couldn't take the adult dises. Also, I could not tolerate the synthetic B vitamins, but found unfortified nutritional yeast chock full of all the B vitamins except for B12, which I did feel helped. The key is UNFORTIFUED, because often synthetic vitamins will be added.

 

As for sleep, that somehow was not a big issue. During acute, my sleep was 6 hours of broken sleep, but that morphed into 7-8 hours of restful sleep, which I still have. I am thankful it was not a big issue as it is for so many.

 

Bonty, i wish you speedy healing wherever you find yourself on this challenging journey.

 

She

[[be...]]

She, such a wonderful post and love this "Some of my previous priorities have gone by the wayside.  I don't care too much what people think of me.  I don't need "things" to make me happy..  I am grateful every day for what I have and for my health and my life as it is now." I know that you had a really hard time, and so happy that you are feeling better. Thank you for the quotes you posted on my thread, and I still pull them up now and then. Your posts to others during your time here, so supportive and kind, I will never forget you. Have a wonderful life and love that you and hubby are now just holding hands because it feels good. 💖 Peace and Healing.

 

Thank you Begood!  It is so true that this negative experience offered up some positives at the end.  But that was impossible to see whilst going through it.  During that time, I found your positivity thread so calming, an oasis in the desert.  I still read it from time to time.  Keep up that thread, It is much needed.  Blessings to you Begood!

 

She

Thanks She for your thoughtful words, and I will continue with the Words thread for sure. I know it helped many and it helped me also. It is so comforting to see you on the Forum and I know that I am not the only one that has missed you. Have a great day.

[[bo...]]

thxs She! I didn't see it on your signature, so just wondering did you take others meds?

and  how was your sleep?  if you did suffer insomnia when did you recover

 

Hello Bonty,

 

When my BP and tachycardia became an issue, I was placed on the beta blocker carvidelol.  That helped a great deal, for both issues and also it did take the edge off the anxiety. Not like a true anxiolytic, but it just seemed to take everything down a notch.

 

I quit all my supplements for about 2 years. Afterwards, I tried collagen, bioten, curcumin, coq10 but gave up the biotin and collagen, but continue on the others. I do take a magnesium/ calcium supplement for osteopenia and I tolerate that well. I started back on a kids gummy multivitamin and I tolerate the lower dose well when i couldn't take the adult dises. Also, I could not tolerate the synthetic B vitamins, but found unfortified nutritional yeast chock full of all the B vitamins except for B12, which I did feel helped. The key is UNFORTIFUED, because often synthetic vitamins will be added.

 

As for sleep, that somehow was not a big issue. During acute, my sleep was 6 hours of broken sleep, but that morphed into 7-8 hours of restful sleep, which I still have. I am thankful it was not a big issue as it is for so many.

 

Bonty, i wish you speedy healing wherever you find yourself on this challenging journey.

 

She

thank you for your detailed message and  keep feeling awesome

[[Ar...]]

Thank you for all your positive encouragements.  I too, am 5 years and some months out.  I still get on this site occasionally to get encouragement.  At times I feel 100% and then there are times when life events happen and I feel myself going back to how I felt during withdrawal. I know what I need to do to take care of myself.  I always hear something positive when I return to BenzoBuddies.  I wish you all the benefits of healing for you. 

[[Sh...]]

Thank you for all your positive encouragements.  I too, am 5 years and some months out.  I still get on this site occasionally to get encouragement.  At times I feel 100% and then there are times when life events happen and I feel myself going back to how I felt during withdrawal. I know what I need to do to take care of myself.  I always hear something positive when I return to BenzoBuddies.  I wish you all the benefits of healing for you. 

 

Thank you for your kind words Arkansas1122.  Yes, seems as though we are on a very similar timeline.  I have a low tolerance to stress also, which I believe to be as a result of this whole experience.  Wishing you well going forward and hope you are 100% 100% of the time very soon!

 

She

[[ch...]]

Thank you so much for writing your success story

 

I am going through a difficult withdrawal and  at the stage where I cannot believe this is all withdrawal as I see others feeling better, having windows I do no not , just feel worse mosty

 

I was on 4mgs of diazepam for some anxiety I had, and very quickly it made me do ill but was told it was my anxiety and keep taking it, 

 

Well I stopped after 3 months of being really poorly and tapered for 3 months, ending in hospital, who in 3 days had me back to 4mgs after I had reached 2,5mgs,  so I tapered again for 14 months down to zero and here I am at 8.5 months off and looking for some hope that this gets  better , even for those who are struggling badly with symptoms

 

The big ones for me are terror and fear from 5.30am till evening , when it calms a little , this is the really major  one  , the monster one

 

I have really severe tinnitus ,so many sounds and tones , the deep rumbling is the worst as it vibrates through me,  but all of it is so hard as I am almost totally deaf , and this is almost all I hear

 

numbness and prickling in my hands feet and face, that has stuck since tapering and following Macrobid went substantially worse, but the Doctors are not overly worried

 

Extreme fatigue and poor sleep .

 

Lots more but these really make me suffer and wondered did you have any of these and did they ease down eventually

 

I am so glad to read how well you are doing ,and will pay heed to the information about non fortified nutritional yeast as I think mine is fortified,

 

I have some whole food vitamins which I hope are ok to take , I am so worn down and know I need building up some how

 

I am 75 and feel too old to have to go through this but I have no choice as the drug made me ill so could not stay on it and was not given it until I was almost 73, 

 

Any advice or hope for recovery would be so welcome and keep me going whilst in the dark trenches of 8.5 months free

 

Thank you once again for the hope that there is a future and we do heal

 

Jen

[[Sh...]]

Hi ChinChuck

 

WOW you have already come a long way by getting off the valium.  That is quite an accomplishment all by itself.  I'm sorry you are suffering so badly at 8 months out.  The fact that you took a low dose for a relative short time shows how uniquely erratic each and every experience can be.

 

I had all the symptoms you mentioned except the tinnitus and also suffered badly with them during my acute period.  I did often think about and search for something else that could be causing my misery. I had trips to the ER, many doctor visits, and blood and diagnostic work ups with nothing found.  So eventually I came to a place of acceptance that it was all withdrawal and set about distracting myself as best I could.  At around 8 months, things began to lighten up and I started a slow but steady improvement.  It took 4+ years before I felt fully healed.  Reading about where you are now, how you are suffering, YES I was there once too.

 

There is no magic bullet we can take to reverse things.  There was nothing specific that I did that I could point to and say AHA, now that was the answer, let me do more of that!  I just got up every day to face it again, lived as healthfully as I could under the circumstances, distracted myself as much as possible, tried to be gentle with myself, and hung on for the ride.    As for age, I am in that retired senior age group too, so you are not alone.  The only thing worse than going through this at age 75 would be going through it at age 80. 

 

ChinChuck, if you believe that other things might be contributing to your suffering, by all means, have them checked out, if only for your peace of mind. But please have hope that you can heal, you can regain your quality of life, you can have many healthier and happier years ahead of you. It happened for me and it will happen for you too.  Live each moment, each hour, each day the best you can, knowing that time will come.

 

I a sending you lovely thoughts for hope and healing and strength to continue your journey.

 

She

 

 

[[ch...]]

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful response,

 

I do worry how long this will take at my age. It is such a high price to pay for a visit to the Doctors

 

The drug didn't even help me, at least not after the first very few tablets and then not much

 

I take heart that you have recovered so well and that at 2 years off you felt well enough to write a success story

 

and hope that I will feel substantially better by then .

 

For now I am still struggling so badly and doing all I can to eat healthily , and exercise

 

I am struggling a great deal with distraction, but hope that if  I recover further that it will become easier

 

May I ask how old you were when coming of this drug or is that not a question to ask a lady , Apologies if so

 

Just I need that hope that even older people can do this too

 

I do not know or understand why I have been hit so hard but I have

 

I have seem the Doctor about the numbness and prickling which has not abated for so many months now, starting during my taper, , They seem unconcerned and the blood test came back normal

 

I am very restricted about visiting a hospital because of my age and living in a hot spot area of the UK in partial lock down so will have to keep the faith that this is withdrawal and I will heal in the end

 

I am so glad you have your life back and I long to do the same,  ,

 

Lovely that you remain holding hands with your husband too

 

Thank you soo much for replying 

 

Jen

[[be...]]

Hi She

 

I remember you from puddings. I haven’t been on off topic in ages. I think it’s the best section. I’m so happy to hear you are doing well. Do you have any issues with insomnia? I’ll admit I read the first two pages and skipped here. I seem to be doing very well but sleep problems do occur from time to time. Best wishes,

 

Betsy❤️

[[Sh...]]

Hi She

 

I remember you from puddings. I haven’t been on off topic in ages. I think it’s the best section. I’m so happy to hear you are doing well. Do you have any issues with insomnia? I’ll admit I read the first two pages and skipped here. I seem to be doing very well but sleep problems do occur from time to time. Best wishes,

 

Betsy❤️

 

Hi Betsy!

 

Of course I remember you too, mostly from the Puddings thread.  But also your courageous journey off meds, your bold move away from problematic family, and your love of dogs, training and showing them.  No Betsy, I did not have to much of a problem with insomnia.  In the early days of acute, my sleep was broken and not restful, but I was able to average 4-6 hours.  As healing progressed, that pretty much went away.  Now I sleep soundly for 8 hours for the most part.  Sometimes I have a wakeful night here and there, but not very often.  Hope your insomnia goes away too.

 

She

[[be...]]

Hi She

 

I remember you from puddings. I haven’t been on off topic in ages. I think it’s the best section. I’m so happy to hear you are doing well. Do you have any issues with insomnia? I’ll admit I read the first two pages and skipped here. I seem to be doing very well but sleep problems do occur from time to time. Best wishes,

 

Betsy❤️

 

Hi Betsy!

 

Of course I remember you too, mostly from the Puddings thread.  But also your courageous journey off meds, your bold move away from problematic family, and your love of dogs, training and showing them.  No Betsy, I did not have to much of a problem with insomnia.  In the early days of acute, my sleep was broken and not restful, but I was able to average 4-6 hours.  As healing progressed, that pretty much went away.  Now I sleep soundly for 8 hours for the most part.  Sometimes I have a wakeful night here and there, but not very often.  Hope your insomnia goes away too.

 

She

 

Hi She

 

My sleep problems is not a major thing but it waxes and wanes. For example last night I slept ten hours straight but the night before I was up a lot. Night wake ups. You have an excellent memory as you remember my move from Connecticut to Ohio. Some of my family still manage to bother me from 600 miles away. They never understood the benzo problem just either that I must be an addict or more annoying just stop taking 10 mg klonopin cold turkey and I’ll be fine, which is why this forum has been such a life saver for me. They really are buddies. I’m glad you are sleeping well I’m delighted 😀. I should get back on off topic as I love that section it’s such a great break from the benzo problems. But I’ve been very busy working (thank God I can) and of course you remember that the rest of the time I’m out training with my friends or showing. Poor Morgan my dog had a bad shoulder injury so we spent the last three months at PT which has been a life saver. Thank goodness for pet insurance. Keep doing what you are doing you’re an inspiration for everyone l ❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾

[[Mi...]]

Thank you SheWhoMust

 

Congratulations on how far you have come, and thank you for your great very helpful story.

 

I really like how you make mention of food intolerances and when that went away, along with when you were able to partake in an alcoholic beverage. I never was a big drinker, but a glass of wine, or a cocktail at a party would be nice. This would only be about 3 or 4 times a year anyway. Not like I'm a socialite. Lol

 

I'm 15 months drug free and have been out of the most horrible part of withdrawal for about 5 months. I survived the storm and life is mostly normal now. At this point I'm just managing some fatigue that is only really bothersome about once a week, and some slight slight vertigo on occasion but ever so slight, and I get a really bad headache (definitely from withdrawal) once or twice a month. .. and my ears still ring. But, it's quite faint. I hardly notice it. I really only don't like the ringing of the ears because it's just a reminder that my vestibular system isn't fully healed.

 

I am petrified to drink alcohol. I don't want to further down regulate my already fragile gaba receptors. Even Baylissa Frederick says in her book "Recovery and Renewal" to wait 6 months AFTER being 100% healed. I think I'll wait until year 2 to even try a drink.

 

I can really relate to your story because I too had the vestibular issues bad. I woke up with the room spinning a few times. Of course I was told it was BPPV (one of the vestibular disorders). You know all crystal and otilith related. I'm very knowledgeable of BPPV. I've read bookS on it. I've done the Epley blah blah. I also had the 24/7 boaty feeling too. I had someone here on BB tell me that BPPV and benzo withdrawal are 2 different things. Well, that could be partially true. But, I know for a FACT with my own experience that my vestibular issues are from the benzo tolerance and withdrawal. I know this because I never had vestibular issues prior to benzos, and after being off of the drug for 9 months the 24/7 boaty feeling finally stopped. Do I think BPPV exists along with other vestibular disorders? Well yeah, but I think benzos effect the vestibular system and make a person prone to it. I had all the tests, brain MRI etc. (all normal), and I saw specialists too. No one caught that it was the benzo. I figured it out on my own. And, my goodness there are 700 pages plus here on BB with those dealing with balance and ear ringing from benzos. Obviously benzos seriously effect our vestibular systems.

 

My question to you is: did you ever have tinnitus (ears ringing) ?? If so, did it go away? And when did it go away?

 

Thanks for you story. You definitely helped me. I too believe we feel "healed", but then in 2 or 3 years we feel "really healed". And yes, the wisdom & strength gained from this experience is like a super power, a "special gift" that benefits us in life from here on out.

-- Miss Fortitude

[[Sh...]]

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful response,

 

I do worry how long this will take at my age. It is such a high price to pay for a visit to the Doctors

 

The drug didn't even help me, at least not after the first very few tablets and then not much

 

I take heart that you have recovered so well and that at 2 years off you felt well enough to write a success story

 

and hope that I will feel substantially better by then .

 

For now I am still struggling so badly and doing all I can to eat healthily , and exercise

 

I am struggling a great deal with distraction, but hope that if  I recover further that it will become easier

 

May I ask how old you were when coming of this drug or is that not a question to ask a lady , Apologies if so

 

Just I need that hope that even older people can do this too

 

I do not know or understand why I have been hit so hard but I have

 

I have seem the Doctor about the numbness and prickling which has not abated for so many months now, starting during my taper, , They seem unconcerned and the blood test came back normal

 

I am very restricted about visiting a hospital because of my age and living in a hot spot area of the UK in partial lock down so will have to keep the faith that this is withdrawal and I will heal in the end

 

I am so glad you have your life back and I long to do the same,  ,

 

Lovely that you remain holding hands with your husband too

 

Thank you soo much for replying 

 

Jen

 

Hi again ChinChuck!

 

Thank you so much for your kind words.  You sound like you're doing everything under your control to heal.  You sound strong and brave despite all your struggles.  Give yourself credit for how far you've come.  As for age, I spent all of my 60's fighting this fight and just now in my 7th decade am I feeling healed.  Although I am a bit behind you in age, there have been many 70+ buddies on here also going through this misery.  From my observations and reading widely around the forum, its not always a matter of age.  I have seen some quite young under 30's and 40's who have had horrible journeys off benzos.  Yes, those of us who are older might have challenges that we have to face with healing, just as we would have with any medical condition.  But we also often have more resolve, more life experiences facing challenges.  Press on ChinChuck!  Hopefull you will turn a big corner before too long.

 

She

[[Sh...]]

Hi She

 

I remember you from puddings. I haven’t been on off topic in ages. I think it’s the best section. I’m so happy to hear you are doing well. Do you have any issues with insomnia? I’ll admit I read the first two pages and skipped here. I seem to be doing very well but sleep problems do occur from time to time. Best wishes,

 

Betsy❤️

 

Hi Betsy!

 

Of course I remember you too, mostly from the Puddings thread.  But also your courageous journey off meds, your bold move away from problematic family, and your love of dogs, training and showing them.  No Betsy, I did not have to much of a problem with insomnia.  In the early days of acute, my sleep was broken and not restful, but I was able to average 4-6 hours.  As healing progressed, that pretty much went away.  Now I sleep soundly for 8 hours for the most part.  Sometimes I have a wakeful night here and there, but not very often.  Hope your insomnia goes away too.

 

She

 

Hi She

 

My sleep problems is not a major thing but it waxes and wanes. For example last night I slept ten hours straight but the night before I was up a lot. Night wake ups. You have an excellent memory as you remember my move from Connecticut to Ohio. Some of my family still manage to bother me from 600 miles away. They never understood the benzo problem just either that I must be an addict or more annoying just stop taking 10 mg klonopin cold turkey and I’ll be fine, which is why this forum has been such a life saver for me. They really are buddies. I’m glad you are sleeping well I’m delighted 😀. I should get back on off topic as I love that section it’s such a great break from the benzo problems. But I’ve been very busy working (thank God I can) and of course you remember that the rest of the time I’m out training with my friends or showing. Poor Morgan my dog had a bad shoulder injury so we spent the last three months at PT which has been a life saver. Thank goodness for pet insurance. Keep doing what you are doing you’re an inspiration for everyone l ❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾

 

Thank you for your kind words Betsy.  You too are an inspiration in your own journey!  Lets just keep on keeping on and look forward to a drug free life!

 

She

[[Sh...]]

Thank you SheWhoMust

 

Congratulations on how far you have come, and thank you for your great very helpful story.

 

I really like how you make mention of food intolerances and when that went away, along with when you were able to partake in an alcoholic beverage. I never was a big drinker, but a glass of wine, or a cocktail at a party would be nice. This would only be about 3 or 4 times a year anyway. Not like I'm a socialite. Lol

 

I'm 15 months drug free and have been out of the most horrible part of withdrawal for about 5 months. I survived the storm and life is mostly normal now. At this point I'm just managing some fatigue that is only really bothersome about once a week, and some slight slight vertigo on occasion but ever so slight, and I get a really bad headache (definitely from withdrawal) once or twice a month. .. and my ears still ring. But, it's quite faint. I hardly notice it. I really only don't like the ringing of the ears because it's just a reminder that my vestibular system isn't fully healed.

 

I am petrified to drink alcohol. I don't want to further down regulate my already fragile gaba receptors. Even Baylissa Frederick says in her book "Recovery and Renewal" to wait 6 months AFTER being 100% healed. I think I'll wait until year 2 to even try a drink.

 

I can really relate to your story because I too had the vestibular issues bad. I woke up with the room spinning a few times. Of course I was told it was BPPV (one of the vestibular disorders). You know all crystal and otilith related. I'm very knowledgeable of BPPV. I've read bookS on it. I've done the Epley blah blah. I also had the 24/7 boaty feeling too. I had someone here on BB tell me that BPPV and benzo withdrawal are 2 different things. Well, that could be partially true. But, I know for a FACT with my own experience that my vestibular issues are from the benzo tolerance and withdrawal. I know this because I never had vestibular issues prior to benzos, and after being off of the drug for 9 months the 24/7 boaty feeling finally stopped. Do I think BPPV exists along with other vestibular disorders? Well yeah, but I think benzos effect the vestibular system and make a person prone to it. I had all the tests, brain MRI etc. (all normal), and I saw specialists too. No one caught that it was the benzo. I figured it out on my own. And, my goodness there are 700 pages plus here on BB with those dealing with balance and ear ringing from benzos. Obviously benzos seriously effect our vestibular systems.

 

My question to you is: did you ever have tinnitus (ears ringing) ?? If so, did it go away? And when did it go away?

 

Thanks for you story. You definitely helped me. I too believe we feel "healed", but then in 2 or 3 years we feel "really healed". And yes, the wisdom & strength gained from this experience is like a super power, a "special gift" that benefits us in life from here on out.

-- Miss Fortitude

 

Hello MIss Fortitude.  Love your screen name!  Congrats on being drug free and that the worst of acute is behind you.  Whoo boy can I relate to the balance thing.  Like you, it was my worst symptom.  But thankfully that's behind me now and I'm back to baseline.  Although my baseline always has had some balance issues, like you, and I still do although now  its very manageable and minimal.

 

No thankfully, I was not plagued with tinnitus except for a very faint buzz for a couple of months in acute.  All gone now.

 

As for alcohol, I am similar to you in that I do not drink that much anyway.  I do love to have 2-3 glasses of wine on special occasions, but not regularly.  However, now that summer is here, I do love to float about in my pool with an icy cold glass of sauvignon blanc and I am so happy I can do so again.  I did wait until between year 2-3 to start trying wine again.  At first, my tolerance was low and I would experience some mild return of symptoms.  But year 3-4, even that went away entirely.  You are wise to wait for now to reintroduce alcohol, but I'm sure you will be able to when the time is right.

 

Stay the course Miss Fortitude.  You are doing everything right.  You will get there.  Sending you lovely thoughts for healing.

 

She

[[ch...]]

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful response,

 

I do worry how long this will take at my age. It is such a high price to pay for a visit to the Doctors

 

The drug didn't even help me, at least not after the first very few tablets and then not much

 

I take heart that you have recovered so well and that at 2 years off you felt well enough to write a success story

 

and hope that I will feel substantially better by then

 

 

 

 

Thank you once again for replying

 

I do hope I can recover as you have . I feel so beaten at the moment as nothing is abating as yet

 

I long to be back to being well again

 

Almost 9 months off seems an eternity not to be showing any improvement ,  and like many others my head runs to all sorts or reasons for why I am suffering to this degree

 

Oh what a day it will be when I can sleep again and wake in calm to a day I look forward to

 

I don't know how you were at this point,  but am so glad you have your life back and so deeply regret I took anything from the Doctors

 

The price is massive,

 

I also think it not possible for this to all be withdrawal , It is so hard to believe that it isn't  just something wrong with this old brain and body

 

Hard to believe this is happening  at all

 

Thank you once again for your response, 

 

Trying hard to get through a day at a time

 

Jen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

For now I am still struggling so badly and doing all I can to eat healthily , and exercise

 

I am struggling a great deal with distraction, but hope that if  I recover further that it will become easier

 

May I ask how old you were when coming of this drug or is that not a question to ask a lady , Apologies if so

 

Just I need that hope that even older people can do this too

 

I do not know or understand why I have been hit so hard but I have

 

I have seem the Doctor about the numbness and prickling which has not abated for so many months now, starting during my taper, , They seem unconcerned and the blood test came back normal

 

I am very restricted about visiting a hospital because of my age and living in a hot spot area of the UK in partial lock down so will have to keep the faith that this is withdrawal and I will heal in the end

 

I am so glad you have your life back and I long to do the same,  ,

 

Lovely that you remain holding hands with your husband too

 

Thank you soo much for replying 

 

Jen

 

Hi again ChinChuck!

 

Thank you so much for your kind words.  You sound like you're doing everything under your control to heal.  You sound strong and brave despite all your struggles.  Give yourself credit for how far you've come.  As for age, I spent all of my 60's fighting this fight and just now in my 7th decade am I feeling healed.  Although I am a bit behind you in age, there have been many 70+ buddies on here also going through this misery.  From my observations and reading widely around the forum, its not always a matter of age.  I have seen some quite young under 30's and 40's who have had horrible journeys off benzos.  Yes, those of us who are older might have challenges that we have to face with healing, just as we would have with any medical condition.  But we also often have more resolve, more life experiences facing challenges.  Press on ChinChuck!  Hopefull you will turn a big corner before too long.

 

She

[[Mi...]]

SheWhoMust

 

Thank you for your reply! You are helping so many with your story! So grateful for you!

 

I forgot to ask. Have you had to have any surgery or dental procedures since you've recovered from benzo withdrawal? If so, what meds did they use? and did you have any setbacks with symptoms?

 

I am scared of Covid like many people are. Mostly because some of the medications they may use to treat Covid may cause a setback for someone who is healing in benzo withdrawal. Hydrocholroquine has serious CNS side effects that are similar to benzo withdrawal. But, I guess that drug isn't been used for Covid as much as it was early on. And, I know this is extreme, but having a coma induced, to be put on a ventilator I'm sure would be quite a set back.

 

What a crappy thing for all of us to have Covid lurking around during withdrawal. I actually started a thread here asking if anyone on BB dealt with Covid personally. There were only a few replies of those who experienced it themselves and it was not severe. Most people had replies related to folks they knew who had Covid who were not in benzo withdrawal. All in all, for a forum with 60,000 + members there were not a lot of relplies to my thread about experience with Covid and withdrawal.

 

I am thinking of getting an allergy bracelet that has benzodiazepines on it, and getting it into my medical chart as an allergy next time I see a physician, whenever that will be. I'm also thinking of adding Gentamicin to that bracelet because it can cause permanent vestibular damage. Obviously I'm prone to vestibular issues and I want to protect myself. But....there is a bunch of meds that can effect the vestibular system....what are we supposed to do ? List them all It would be so many!

 

I get tired of living life in fear. I'm recovering so well. Worrying about how not to have set backs and the extra concern of a pandemic takes away the joy of being recovered.

[[So...]]

Did you experience short term memory problems after giving up?

 

[[Sh...]]

SheWhoMust

 

Thank you for your reply! You are helping so many with your story! So grateful for you!

 

I forgot to ask. Have you had to have any surgery or dental procedures since you've recovered from benzo withdrawal? If so, what meds did they use? and did you have any setbacks with symptoms?

 

I am scared of Covid like many people are. Mostly because some of the medications they may use to treat Covid may cause a setback for someone who is healing in benzo withdrawal. Hydrocholroquine has serious CNS side effects that are similar to benzo withdrawal. But, I guess that drug isn't been used for Covid as much as it was early on. And, I know this is extreme, but having a coma induced, to be put on a ventilator I'm sure would be quite a set back.

 

What a crappy thing for all of us to have Covid lurking around during withdrawal. I actually started a thread here asking if anyone on BB dealt with Covid personally. There were only a few replies of those who experienced it themselves and it was not severe. Most people had replies related to folks they knew who had Covid who were not in benzo withdrawal. All in all, for a forum with 60,000 + members there were not a lot of relplies to my thread about experience with Covid and withdrawal.

 

I am thinking of getting an allergy bracelet that has benzodiazepines on it, and getting it into my medical chart as an allergy next time I see a physician, whenever that will be. I'm also thinking of adding Gentamicin to that bracelet because it can cause permanent vestibular damage. Obviously I'm prone to vestibular issues and I want to protect myself. But....there is a bunch of meds that can effect the vestibular system....what are we supposed to do ? List them all It would be so many!

 

I get tired of living life in fear. I'm recovering so well. Worrying about how not to have set backs and the extra concern of a pandemic takes away the joy of being recovered.

 

Hi again Miss Fortitude,

 

Yes, I had two different root canals and crowns after jumping, both between years 1 and 2.  Things went well both times despite my anxieties leading up to them.  I only had lidocaine without epinephrine as a local deadening.  I also had orthodontics using invisalign between my first acute and second, which went well.  No surgeries requiring meds or deeper anesthetic.

 

It is natural for everyone, even those not in benzo withdrawal to have anxieties about covid.  It is a real threat and something to be anxious about.  Those still in acute or still healing often have health anxieties about real and imagined scenarios involving a wide range of things.  It is hard to not let it rule your life as it is reported everywhere you look.  I don't watch the news anymore and that has helped more than anything.  Yes, covid is out there but I don't have to focus on it 24/7.  I find mindless distraction through netflix, jigsaws, reading, quilting, yoga, etc to be a wonderful tool.

 

She

 

 

[[Sh...]]

Did you experience short term memory problems after giving up?

 

Yes, after jumping and during acute my memory was unreliable to say the least.  All behind me now thankfully!  Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you are making progress.  Hang in there.

 

She

[[Mi...]]

Thank you for your time and your replies!