The Long Hold Support Group

[[Tr...]]

Twinny just a short hello! I'm doing better. Something you said about us being" spectators in the lives of our children" hit home with me. No matter how heart broken I may get over my son's choices I can't and am not responsible to try to fix him.. As if I could anyway! Anywho, I hope you're feeling better and healing nicely. Sending you lots of love and big hugs!! ❤️

Love you! LST ❤️

[[Tr...]]

Mary, I'm thinking of you. I hope to hear from you soon. I hope your feeling better my dear friend. Sending you love! Talk soon I hope!

Love you,

Trishy🐨❤️

[[Fi...]]

Congrats Final!! I was skimming through quickly and saw you have been victorious against the benzo devil!! Good for you!! So happy for you!! You're an inspiration to the rest of us. 💪

Lots of love,

Trishy❤️🏆🏅💃🎊🎉

 

Thank you Trishy!  I know we will all be victorious against the benzo devil.

 

Also, I'm sorry that you have had some emotional pain involving your son.  Having worked with people who struggle with addiction, I can say that sometimes there are a few slips before recovery clicks in.  It's hard to watch but there is always the opportunity for them to try again.  We just can't carry it for them. 

 

Final healing

[[Tr...]]

Winnie, the engorged breasts is the first I hear of it. I haven’t experienced that but I’m sure it will settle and eventually also go away. This withdrawal process is the most unstable thing but it does get better. Missing periods have happened to most of us here and it’s because of withdrawal so don’t worry too much about that. Ladies (touchwood) I believe I am out of the woods. My last two cycles did not increase my symptoms, infact this month the symptoms seem to be diminishing greatly. I feel like I have entered the 4th stage of healing and only have the tinnitus which bothers me. All other remaining symptoms are diminishing and I hardly get them now. Im a year off the meds. I hope this will be reassurance to you still in the throes of it that we indeed do get better... keep going, your days will get clearer and brighter again, the pain will diminish and you will no longer live this experience 24/7.

[[tr...]]

Winnie, the engorged breasts is the first I hear of it. I haven’t experienced that but I’m sure it will settle and eventually also go away. This withdrawal process is the most unstable thing but it does get better. Missing periods have happened to most of us here and it’s because of withdrawal so don’t worry too much about that. Ladies (touchwood) I believe I am out of the woods. My last two cycles did not increase my symptoms, infact this month the symptoms seem to be diminishing greatly. I feel like I have entered the 4th stage of healing and only have the tinnitus which bothers me. All other remaining symptoms are diminishing and I hardly get them now. Im a year off the meds. I hope this will be reassurance to you still in the throes of it that we indeed do get better... keep going, your days will get clearer and brighter again, the pain will diminish and you will no longer live this experience 24/7.

 

This made me cry today...I'm emotional bc I am in a wave. I'm so happy for you...I needed to hear this. I know I can' t complain bc I had a window of where I was functioning at 70% for almost a month, but the last two weeks the physical symptoms have ramped up again, and old symptoms have revisited. Last night at work was intense and I think the stress has left me feeling rough this morning. Periods are better though still - not awesome but better. Trying to focus on the good/improvements.

 

Stick with us Trying..we need your hope!!

[[Tr...]]

Trina, I’m sorry to hear you are going through a hard time right now. Stress and over exertion can indeed make things worse for us and ramp up symptoms terribly. You will have to be very careful because if you keep pushing you could set yourself back. I know it sucks but easy and slow wins the race with us. This process steals so much from us but it also gives us a great deal. It forces us to prioritize ourselves and once healed I believe this lesson becomes a gift many will never get. We become awakened to how things like money don’t matter, that ones health is ones wealth. I would have never understood this in the way I do now. I hope you will listen to your body and find a way to slow things down a bit. You have been healing non-linearly so this blip will soon pass, as it has passed before... you can do this... and to all the other ladies, please hang in there. We are lucky we know what is wrong with us... we know the meds are doing this to us. We can explain it. So many out there don’t know what’s wrong with them and they are so sick, going to Drs who are making them more sick, eating wrong, over exerting etc. We all know what we need to do to heal... and we will heal.

[[tr...]]

Trying:

 

FYI ladies..period lasted only 3 days this month. Intense then nothing. And so the debate of pre menopausal vs benzo recovery in my head. And does it even matter? Nope. lol.

 

Sometimes you just have to say "Whatever.....". 

[Guest [...]]

OMG!!

 

Mine was really only 3 days too (with a little bit the next two days)! I just finished at it was shear torture!!

 

I had so much back pain and bladder pain - burning, then I lost the feeling of how to pee - yes literally!

 

Anyway, held taper, and then got tested for a UTI - no UTI, I chalking it up to pelvic floor dysfunction and tight muscles!

 

Sorry Trina that it sucked, don't worry, even before I used these drugs for such a short time, my period would fluctuate between 3 days one month, then 5 days the next - it could swing like that for years (I'm 49).

 

I've recently read how estrogen really wrecks havoc on the brain - its a neurotransmitter - so this is why I literally go crazy when I have my period!

 

I think I'm going to have to hold whenever I have my period, that completely sucks as, it will take longer!

 

Periods done and I slept 9 hours and didn't wake up screaming in pain!

 

Man, I sure hope this lessens up a bit!

 

I also realized that during my period, I'm not going to eat any high glutamate foods - they would add fuel to the fire, so no milk, nuts, red meats etc.

 

Thanks for all the support - I certainly wouldn't make it through this without you girls!

 

I just wish I could get out for some PT to help fix this tailbone pain and pelvic floor issue, but we have a lot of that UK variant here in my area!

 

I'm happy for some sanity for a few days!

 

WinnieDog   

[[ho...]]

Has anyone gotten their hormones checked?? I contracted covid in November, and I can't believe what I am feeling. So many symptoms. I feel like a completely different person. It's very scary. Lots and lots of fear and deep dark thoughts. My period has been going for about 2 weeks not, and it's not even my period yet. I just got back from getting my hormones tested, so I guess we will see what it says.I need something to make this easier for me. I really really am hopeful that I could get on birth control or something to help with my mental stuff, if my hormones show a huge change. Any thoughts???

[Guest [...]]

I'm so sorry that you are suffering, and that you had to endure covid, but glad that you made it through.

 

Did they give you antibiotics when you had covid?

 

I'm not sure, but I and my Dr thinks I had covid last March the week that the entire world shut down.

I was given antibiotics and I haven't been the same since, it was shear panic and anxiety out of no where and I can't eat the same foods are take the same meds etc.

 

This is what led me to zopiclone, in the first place, then Ativan when I had weird HR increases.

 

I got my hormones checked in Sept and my progesterone could be higher and my testosterone was non-existent.

However, this was before I was given versed at a colonoscopy, now I'm dealing with the fallout from that while still trying to get off.

 

Estrogen is a neurotransmitter, so I try not to eat high glutamate foods during my period and ovulation.

 

Hope your tests come back ok, I'm so sorry that you are suffering!!

 

Winnie

[[ho...]]

Thank you for the reply! I'm so sorry you are struggling as well. I was doing fairly well before I got covid. Just a few symptoms left. I never got lung issues or breathing problems with covid. My first symptoms were Panic attacks out of no where, my sleep started to decline, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and just feeling like a completely different person, and so so much fear. Chemical fear. Shaikiness. I still don't have my appetite at almost 3 months post covid. I've lost weight that I couldn't afford to lose. This is all worse than acute. I can't even believe this. I just hope and pray that things resolve quickly. My mind seems to take over and I can't control thinking that this is it for me. My heart is broken. I just want my life back. Everyone tells me it will go away and get better, and I can say that I have seen improvements, just not quite where I would hope to be.

[Guest [...]]

Hopeful:

 

I'm so glad that you didn't have to take antibiotics!!

 

My special cardiologist I'm seeing, just told me last week that viruses and antibiotics can wreak havoc on your immune system!

 

So I would say that time will help!

 

If you're still not getting better than reach out to your Dr for access to some of the specialists that are researching long haulers, there may be a lot of help there.

 

What has been seen in a lot of the long haul covid patients is that their HR increases by a lot from sitting to standing.

Lie down for 5 min. take your HR, then stand up and take your HR for 1, 5, 10 min. this is called a poor man's tilt table test, my specialist is having me do this for a week to see the results.

 

If after 10 min you see a sustained HR increase of over 30 bpm, then you should talk to your DR to get an apt with a special cardiologist that deals with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)/Dystautonomia.

 

Some of the symptoms that you describe are symptoms of people with POTS, panic, physiological anxiety, shakiness, difficult periods etc.

 

I don't have the links at the moment to covid and POTS/Dysautonomia, just google it, lots of research being done on it now! I can find them if you need them etc.

 

If you do have sustained HR after doing that test, then increase your salt intake and wear compression stockings, and rest, but please don't worry, POTS/Dysautonomia is treatable and things won't always be this bad!

 

If none of the above applies to you, I'm sure that it will take time for your system to calm down.

 

Take care,

Winnie

[Guest [...]]

I'm sure that you don't have to worry about this, but in case it is relevant, I found some recent studies.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7729277/#:~:text=In%20recovered%20patients%2C%20post%2Dacute,postural%20tachycardia%20syndrome%20(POTS).

 

https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/21/1/e63

 

Winnie

 

 

[[tr...]]

Just a reminder as a mod ...covid discussions are best kept to the covid discussion thread in the "general health and well being thread".

 

But feel free to keep discussing our hormones!

[Guest [...]]

Oh, of course Trina!

 

My bad!

Just trying to be helpful, but yes, need to keep focused on the topic of the group!

 

On that note, one thing I've noticed is that I get really bad migraine type headaches just before my period starts and for a few days after.

Has anyone else found this?

What is the cure for this, I can't take any pain meds, so it's been really difficult to get through this period, I'm totally non-functional when it happens!

 

Winnie :'(

[[ki...]]

Trying!! I am so happy to hear you’re doing so well. Makes my heart glad. ❤️💓❤️

 

We all know symptoms wax and wane, but boy is it hard to convince ourselves of that when in the thick of it. I’m in a bit of a wave myself. Hit hard two days ago, let up yesterday, then hit again this afternoon. At the moment it feels like it’s letting up, here’s hoping it’s on its last legs.

 

Someone mentioned breast engorgement... I’ve had what feels like swollen, full breasts mostly right before my period. I’m not sure if it’s the same, but thought I’d toss in my experience. I definitely feel like pain is more intense in withdrawal. I think I’m more likely to hyper focus on it which doesn’t help anything either.

 

Unrelated, but I thought I’d ask here... has anyone added a multivitamin while in withdrawal? I decided to add a prenatal (not trying to get pregnant, btw), what have been your experiences? I’ve been taking the vitamin since January 28th. I don’t think it’s hurting, but not sure. I would think if it were contributing to my current wave, symptoms would’ve started a lot sooner than 19 days later, but then nothing in benzo withdrawal is set in stone. (I’m also at .94 mg V and gradually switched from 2x daily to 1x daily dosing from December to January so those could be a factor.) I’m also right around ovulation so that’s a factor too. Maybe I’m just thinking too much.  :laugh:

[[Tr...]]

Congrats Final!! I was skimming through quickly and saw you have been victorious against the benzo devil!! Good for you!! So happy for you!! You're an inspiration to the rest of us. 💪

Lots of love,

Trishy❤️🏆🏅💃🎊🎉

 

Thank you Trishy!  I know we will all be victorious against the benzo devil.

 

Also, I'm sorry that you have had some emotional pain involving your son.  Having worked with people who struggle with addiction, I can say that sometimes there are a few slips before recovery clicks in.  It's hard to watch but there is always the opportunity for them to try again.  We just can't carry it for them. 

 

Final healing

😘❤️

[[Tr...]]

Morning lhsger's,

I see it's been quiet around here. I hope everyone is hanging in there. Missing my old buddies around here. Hope you're all ok. ❤️

 

Shout out to MARY! I hope you're ok down there in Texas. I've been watching the news and it sounds just awful!!  I hope you and Tim have power. I'm very worried about you. Please pm me when you can I want to know that you're alright.

😘❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏

Trishy 🐨

 

 

[[Ol...]]

omg MARY! Thinking about you and hoping everything is ok with you. Check in when you can.

[[va...]]

Mary I was just reading news about Texas. Hoping you're safe with husband and dog. Take care.

[[va...]]

Good morning LHSG hoping everyone has a better day.

I have 3 weeks left before l get my cast off not much l can do at the moment so doing a bit of binge watching TV programs.It has been a very long winter as we have been in lockdown for months with no end in sight.Have to say it really isn't good for anyone's mental health.Awe well what can you do this too shall pass.l will post next week sometime.Sending you all my love and willing you on.love and hugs Stut.X

 

Love to you too. Take care of that wrist Stut 😘

[[va...]]

Good morning LHSG hoping everyone has a better day.

Morning twiny glad the wee man is keeping you on your toes l think you need to be kept occupied.Sorry to hear the pots etc has increased just don't cut too much honey and also work on calming the anxiety which l believe will elevate a lot of the symptoms.Do you do breathing exercises etc? Don't allow those catastrophic thoughts to run riot.These are difficult times for everyone so we have to take this one day at a time and do the best we can.

The fam are doing well and keeping as healthy as possible.l got a lighter cast on yesterday so hopefully l can move about a little more.No option but to rest and binge watch TV just finished The Fall which l enjoyed.l can't write very often hopefully l will drop in next week for a catch up.Keep your chin up.love you my lST X

Morning Val l am sorry to read you are in a wave.l really hope that it does pass however it does take a very long time.l believe it will.l know it is so damn soul destroying but you will get there.The depression for me lifted after holding for about 5 months have to say it dipped in again at times however it didn't last long.l wish you could get treatment for your pain no doubt the pain and depression are going hand in hand.Hang in there honey you will turn a corner.look after yourself and your beautiful daughter.love you X

Morning everyone else quiet here l really hope everyone is doing ok.Thinking of you all.Sending my love.X

Oh my twinny how I miss you and your wise words. I'm afraid I'm not doing well at all. My son is drinking again and I'm so heartbroken, beyond words heartbroken😭😭 I have become so attached to my youngest grandson and everytime I look at him my heart aches an ache that is indescribable. I almost feel like it could kill me. My dil says she is leaving him and I hope she does but it's so heart wrenching bc his boys love him. And twinny my grandson's will be growing up without their father living with them😭😭😭 I honestly don't know where to put all this pain. I thought wd was bad well nothing quite compares to the agony I'm going though right now. It makes wd feel like a walk in the park.

I'm so sorry to unload all that but I just don't know where to put all this pain.😭

 

I so hope you're feeling better and healing quickly. Please stay safe and don't push yourself.

Love you lots! LST 😘❤️

Trishy I'm so sorry for your family's pain. I hope your son sees a light that makes him get the strings to get out of that situation. There's not much I can say but I'm sending you a big hug I'm sure your grandson is so happy with his grandma and he feels loved and protected by you and everything will be okay for him.

[[Tr...]]

Kitsu in Nov I tried Vitamin b9 which is folate because my bloods came back showing I’m low and it revved me up. I couldn’t believe it... I didn’t even tell my Dr because I knew he would think I’m making this up so I just stopped taking it after 1 dose. I’ve however managed to slowly increase my vitamin D to 4000 units and I’m taking 24mg chelafer iron supplement that I’ve also managed to increase from 15mg recently. I’m low on both... I’ve also been taking vitamin B1 but I’ve realised I can’t just stop it so I have been slowly reducing it and I’m almost done. I’m comfortable to continue taking the iron and vitamin d because I’m low on them but I’ll stay away from everything else. I do feel that my tolerance to vitamins is increasing which is positive... I’d recommend you take only those vitamins you are low on and start with very low dosage to test the waters...

[[Tr...]]

Good morning LHSG hoping everyone has a better day.

Morning twiny glad the wee man is keeping you on your toes l think you need to be kept occupied.Sorry to hear the pots etc has increased just don't cut too much honey and also work on calming the anxiety which l believe will elevate a lot of the symptoms.Do you do breathing exercises etc? Don't allow those catastrophic thoughts to run riot.These are difficult times for everyone so we have to take this one day at a time and do the best we can.

The fam are doing well and keeping as healthy as possible.l got a lighter cast on yesterday so hopefully l can move about a little more.No option but to rest and binge watch TV just finished The Fall which l enjoyed.l can't write very often hopefully l will drop in next week for a catch up.Keep your chin up.love you my lST X

Morning Val l am sorry to read you are in a wave.l really hope that it does pass however it does take a very long time.l believe it will.l know it is so damn soul destroying but you will get there.The depression for me lifted after holding for about 5 months have to say it dipped in again at times however it didn't last long.l wish you could get treatment for your pain no doubt the pain and depression are going hand in hand.Hang in there honey you will turn a corner.look after yourself and your beautiful daughter.love you X

Morning everyone else quiet here l really hope everyone is doing ok.Thinking of you all.Sending my love.X

Oh my twinny how I miss you and your wise words. I'm afraid I'm not doing well at all. My son is drinking again and I'm so heartbroken, beyond words heartbroken😭😭 I have become so attached to my youngest grandson and everytime I look at him my heart aches an ache that is indescribable. I almost feel like it could kill me. My dil says she is leaving him and I hope she does but it's so heart wrenching bc his boys love him. And twinny my grandson's will be growing up without their father living with them😭😭😭 I honestly don't know where to put all this pain. I thought wd was bad well nothing quite compares to the agony I'm going though right now. It makes wd feel like a walk in the park.

I'm so sorry to unload all that but I just don't know where to put all this pain.😭

 

I so hope you're feeling better and healing quickly. Please stay safe and don't push yourself.

Love you lots! LST 😘❤️

Trishy I'm so sorry for your family's pain. I hope your son sees a light that makes him get the strings to get out of that situation. There's not much I can say but I'm sending you a big hug I'm sure your grandson is so happy with his grandma and he feels loved and protected by you and everything will be okay for him.

Thank you V for your kind words means a lot. Sending you a big hug right back. I hope you and your daughter are doing ok. The virus has just taken such a toll on all of us mentally if not physically as well. 😔

You take care my friend and stay safe.

Be well,

Trishy❤️

[[Ma...]]

Mary I was just reading news about Texas. Hoping you're safe with husband and dog. Take care.

 

Thank s you Val   power is back on but water still has to be boiled.  Grocery stores are trying to restock but they were almost empty.  Some people had no power, busted water pipes, bad water, no food or gas.  It really has been a nightmare.  I am afraid when they are finally able to start doing door checks, they are going to find a lot of elderly people dead.    It was so cold in here Vali, I have never been so cold, for so long .  As ugly as it was for me and Tim, it was so much worse for others  :'( .  Thank you for caring  :smitten:  Please take care of your beautiful daughter and kitty, love you!!  Mary 🙋🏼🙋🏼😘😘🙏🙏😷😷😷♥️😷