The Long Hold Support Group

[[Va...]]

Wow, fast moving today! I haven't had a chance to get on and had to go back several pages to see what I missed lol.

 

Free, I used both gabapentin and lyrica and didn't like either one. Neither seemed to help with much except to make me have amnesia. Hope you get on top of the burning and can start tapering soon.

 

Stella, I hope you stabilize soon. I know it took a long time when my taper when south. Hang in there and it will get better IMO.

 

Deep, I'm so glad to hear you have a plan and can at least move forward in getting where you need to be. I have my fingers crossed that all will go well.

 

MiYu it's great to hear things are better!

 

Heath it's good to hear your cortisol intervention is working!

 

Hi cantfly, BG, rosabell, ATU, tntd, George and all in the group.  Hope most of you are doing well! 

 

I'm very sore from the gym which I expected but other than that, everything is great! --V

Be sure to take a Before pic and we will want to see an After pic, Tell [glow=red,2,300]"COOKIE"[/glow] hi from her new bestie. :smitten:

I don't know about a before pic lol. I've got to get rid of the benzo belly. Cookie sends her love.  --V

[[be...]]

Wow, fast moving today! I haven't had a chance to get on and had to go back several pages to see what I missed lol.

 

Free, I used both gabapentin and lyrica and didn't like either one. Neither seemed to help with much except to make me have amnesia. Hope you get on top of the burning and can start tapering soon.

 

Stella, I hope you stabilize soon. I know it took a long time when my taper when south. Hang in there and it will get better IMO.

 

Deep, I'm so glad to hear you have a plan and can at least move forward in getting where you need to be. I have my fingers crossed that all will go well.

 

MiYu it's great to hear things are better!

 

Heath it's good to hear your cortisol intervention is working!

 

Hi cantfly, BG, rosabell, ATU, tntd, George and all in the group.  Hope most of you are doing well! 

 

I'm very sore from the gym which I expected but other than that, everything is great! --V

Be sure to take a Before pic and we will want to see an After pic, Tell [glow=red,2,300]"COOKIE"[/glow] hi from her new bestie. :smitten:

I don't know about a before pic lol. I've got to get rid of the benzo belly. Cookie sends her love.  --V

Peppermint tea has helped my benzo belly I drink it cold and also walking the stairs each day has done wonders for belly, funny thing about this belly thing, many moons ago I would get the big belly and never thought it was from the Valium, oh such a gift these benzo's, Keep on Giving :smitten:

[[...]]

Good mornink everyone... Yes its very early for me... 9am...

Well so much has been happening overnight here... But as usual you all have each others back...

 

Deep, I hope everything is well with your maths stuff... -am so sorry that im of no help with tablet weight to med dose type maths... I did pm SG asking if he could pls have a quick look, just to be safe... -as usual its probably just another "my bad" thing...

So great to hear you have a good Dr too... makes it so much easier...

 

Rosabel,l as stated, extreemly unlikely u will have any problems at all...

 

Free, such a rotten deal... -you sure have strength... not sure i have asked before, but has your Dr ever mentioned Valproate, or Valpro i think our brand name is... It was one they used for me early on, and ibeleive it works different to the GPN and lyrica... maybe worth a google, maybe not...

Hope hubby is ok too... will catch up on my reading...

 

Miyu, Hi mate, so glad to see u feel a little better... FWIW -some are leaving the GPN till last, or stepping it down behind the benzo as they go... -just info... for me, -while i do feel the GPN changes as i stop n start, they are no biggie, unless i have cut V and then take it away... -then i feel the true V cut... Its yet another med that everyone seems to be so different with...

 

Now i forgot the rest... (am on fone) -so just wishing everyone the best...

 

Thank CT for the GPN info... That's helpful.

I think I'll focus on the V taper, and maybe try a little drop here and there with the GPN , it could be that one gets more symptoms when tampering with both at the same time as you say, so , my next step will be to try a small V drop.

Not quite ready yet..... I'm starting to feel better and want to wait a bit longer this time before I try again, perhaps get more stable , hope to anyway.

 

Hi everyone...... I'm sorry things are so rough for some of you

I hope whatever changes you are making bring better days. I am a convert now of long holds . Can't say I like the length of time I'm having to hold, but , as someone said ( Im Sorry I can't remember who) I don't care how long it takes to get off if I feel stable and can have a bit of a life .

 

Love , MiYu

 

[[Ca...]]

Good morning Can't Fly hope you have a great day!! 

George, yes thank you, woke from nerve pain in foot, but fixed it quick, actually medication response was real quick... so all is well...

How is your day going?? Hope all is well...?

 

Valley, you inspire, a great example of step by step, where possible...

I assume u dont want me to take your after pic...?

Be well...

[[Ro...]]

Thank you tntd for the answer and cantfly for the reassurance, I'm new to this whole benzo situation, and sometimes I think my fear of what may or may not happen brings on the anxiety!

I worry about everything!!

I do however do a lot of exercise, which I really do feel better after, as well as if I then have sore or stiff muscles I can blame it on that instead of spiralling down and thinking that every little thing I feel is withdrawal!

[[Ge...]]

]George, yes thank you, woke from nerve pain in foot, but fixed it quick, actually medication response was real quick... so all is well...

How is your day going?? Hope all is well...?

 

Glad your foot pain wasn't an all day affair...  Awww I got really discouraged today..  How long am I going to get away with being a disaster at work..IDK  My mind is foggy and my nerves are shot..I am making a lot of mistakes..  and I really can't afford to lose this job.  I think today was a low point because I felt so much better yesterday and then back to the same old stuff today.  This might be the first time I really felt despair.  I took a long walk after I got home and it helped some.  Now I'm tired and I'm going to get ready for bed.  Goodnight 

[[be...]]

]George, yes thank you, woke from nerve pain in foot, but fixed it quick, actually medication response was real quick... so all is well...

How is your day going?? Hope all is well...?

 

Glad your foot pain wasn't an all day affair...  Awww I got really discouraged today..  How long am I going to get away with being a disaster at work..IDK  My mind is foggy and my nerves are shot..I am making a lot of mistakes..  and I really can't afford to lose this job.  I think today was a low point because I felt so much better yesterday and then back to the same old stuff today.  This might be the first time I really felt despair.  I took a long walk after I got home and it helped some.  Now I'm tired and I'm going to get ready for bed.  Goodnight 

Oh George you are doing the best you can, walking is good to clear the thoughts I do it almost every day, I worked my first two tapers and do not know how I did it, well really I had to use gobs of sick time. You are a real Warrior when you have to work. Try to drink some hot chocolate on one of your breaks, I know someone that did that and it helped with work and just generally made them feel better. Stay Strong. One day this will just be a memory.

[[He...]]

Be good, I was just reading over some posts again. I just noticed that you said you were up at 3 am. I hope your sleep gets better. When my sleep is bad, it colors my whole day.

I am doing green tea, Oj, nutbutter, and I also take 3mg melatonin at bed time. I am doing pretty good(about 5 1/2 to 6 hours) with sleep but not what I'd like to get. I'd love to get 7 or 8 hours. But about every 10 days my sleep starts to go really down hill. Then I take 3.75 mg remeron.That usually keeps me going for another 10 days to 2 weeks until I need another Remeron. I guess I can't complain though. Many buddies have much worse sleep problems.

I hope your sleep gets better, Begood and anyone else.

 

MIYU posted something  about controlled released melatonin. That sounds promising. From what I understand, melatonin has no negative effects. Anyone know about that?

 

Heath  

[[be...]]

Be good, I was just reading over some posts again. I just noticed that you said you were up at 3 am. I hope your sleep gets better. When my sleep is bad, it colors my whole day.

I am doing green tea, Oj, nutbutter, and I also take 3mg melatonin at bed time. I am doing pretty good(about 5 1/2 to 6 hours) with sleep but not what I'd like to get. I'd love to get 7 or 8 hours. But about every 10 days my sleep starts to go really down hill. Then I take 3.75 mg remeron.That usually keeps me going for another 10 days to 2 weeks until I need another Remeron. I guess I can't complain though. Many buddies have much worse sleep problems.

I hope your sleep gets better, Begood and anyone else.

 

MIYU posted something  about controlled released melatonin. That sounds promising. From what I understand, melatonin has no negative effects. Anyone know about that?

 

Heath  

Oh Heath, I usually get up at 4 am, just have for a long time, but I sleep that is the best, I just got up this morning early because I was just ready, and had some power naps, I am good, thanks for your thoughts.

[[Va...]]

Good morning Can't Fly hope you have a great day!! 

George, yes thank you, woke from nerve pain in foot, but fixed it quick, actually medication response was real quick... so all is well...

How is your day going?? Hope all is well...?

 

Valley, you inspire, a great example of step by step, where possible...

I assume u dont want me to take your after pic...?

Be well...

LOL. I think you already posted the after pics. 

[[Va...]]

]George, yes thank you, woke from nerve pain in foot, but fixed it quick, actually medication response was real quick... so all is well...

How is your day going?? Hope all is well...?

 

Glad your foot pain wasn't an all day affair...  Awww I got really discouraged today..  How long am I going to get away with being a disaster at work..IDK  My mind is foggy and my nerves are shot..I am making a lot of mistakes..  and I really can't afford to lose this job.  I think today was a low point because I felt so much better yesterday and then back to the same old stuff today.  This might be the first time I really felt despair.  I took a long walk after I got home and it helped some.  Now I'm tired and I'm going to get ready for bed.  Goodnight 

Working is a huge accomplishment. You should be proud! I know how tough it is but I am self employed so I can be flexible and it really helps. I've found it to be the best distraction there is.  --V

[[Va...]]

Be good, I was just reading over some posts again. I just noticed that you said you were up at 3 am. I hope your sleep gets better. When my sleep is bad, it colors my whole day.

I am doing green tea, Oj, nutbutter, and I also take 3mg melatonin at bed time. I am doing pretty good(about 5 1/2 to 6 hours) with sleep but not what I'd like to get. I'd love to get 7 or 8 hours. But about every 10 days my sleep starts to go really down hill. Then I take 3.75 mg remeron.That usually keeps me going for another 10 days to 2 weeks until I need another Remeron. I guess I can't complain though. Many buddies have much worse sleep problems.

I hope your sleep gets better, Begood and anyone else.

 

MIYU posted something  about controlled released melatonin. That sounds promising. From what I understand, melatonin has no negative effects. Anyone know about that?

 

Heath  

Oh Heath, I usually get up at 4 am, just have for a long time, but I sleep that is the best, I just got up this morning early because I was just ready, and had some power naps, I am good, thanks for your thoughts.

I wake up at exactly 3:30 AM every morning but somehow manage to fall asleep again.  Sounds like it isn't be common amongst us.  --V

[[He...]]

Hi guys, just thought I'd stick my head in and say hi....I'm with free, still not feeling well at all, not knowing when and how to figure the tapering ambien out yet....our governor has put in some new guidelines on addiction meds, and it sound like it is going to affect what the doctors and pharmacists may or may not do.  I'm praying it doesn't affect my being able to long taper.  will  have to see I guess, it goes into effect in April.  I know it is a very good thing, but scary for us that are still tapering....

 

Glad people are feeling somewhat better, It is so good to read that....entertaining as well, this is a crazy group....love and hugs to all of you. 

Love that dog, C!      Stella bee

 

 

 

 

Whoa, Stella bee.

I live in the USA too. I'm n California. What state do you live in?I'm a bit freaked out when you say your governor is setting new guidelines on addictive meds. I also hope they let us continue our slow tapers. I will probably need another 12-18 months to taper nice and easy.

 

Hope you get your ambien taper figured out soon. Esoecially if any guide lines mess up our long holds!

 

Heath  

[[He...]]

  Heath,  I googled it and it seems it can interact with the lisinopril I'm on for high blood pressure.  It can cause edema etc. so naturally I am so scared now to try it.  I still might get up my courage but it seems everything I try go south for me.  Never know what can happen with these meds but I know Lyrica has a bad reputation now and I think some class action suits.  I wouldn't take it regularly though but just so darned scared of meds now its ridiculous.

 

I just saw this post from you Free..... Seems like lyrics may not be the best thing for you if it has interactions. Gabapentin is a weaker med. of the same type... Have you googled to see if there are interactions with Gabpentin? Maybe it would be a better choice if your doctor agrees?

Take care Free, love, MiYu 

 

Oh boy, Freeme, with those interactions, and maybe side effects, I agree that lyrica may not be the drug for you. But I'm not a dr. Just make sure that whatever doc you are working with knows every med that you are taking so you don't get interactions. ( I sonetimes even look up the drugs myself to see if there are interactions or side effects that might do me in.) It's a sad state , but after my doc got me dependent on diazepam, I just find it so hard to trust doctors. Pretty sad huh?

 

Heath

[[fr...]]

  Thanks all,  George, hope you feel better today.  I so well know how you feel.  Yes, my Drs. all know the meds I'm on but this Dr. gave me samples of LYrica.  She does know my meds but I still checked and it had a moderate interaction.  Not awful but still gives me pause.  I don't trust Drs. anymore esp. about the benzo fiasco.  They put me on, insisted I stay on and now to think the gov't might step in and try to yank it out from under us when we are so sick is in human.  Anyway, hope all have the best day possible.  I also wake very early.  The only relief I get is sleep and I don't get much either. I'm thankful I can sleep at all though.  Bles s you all. 

[[de...]]

good morning all

 

I got back from the doctor yesterday and after a long talk he said lets just go up 1/4 mgs for now and see if that helps..he said theres no reason to go back to 4mg of k if you dont need to..so that will put me at 3mgs..he said just take the .87gms of k and up it to .130 equal to the other 3 and that would make it 3 mgs..

 

hes such a nice and good doctor i have been seeing him for yrs..he told me to stop reading and listening to the negative posts on fb.he said alot of times the mind will then have you thinking you are having those symptoms from the benzo brain..he said read positive things..and go and look at yourself in the mirror every morning and tell yourself you will be well and you will be ok..he said you have to stop thinking about all the bad others are going through..cause it can make it happen to you..the mind is a very powerful thing..i know he is right..and hes just a md not a specialist or therapist..but a wise man..he has had to updose other patients before trying to get off of benzos and said if upping slowly they have never had any problems so he told me to stop worrying about it..its different than adding a different med that the body is not use too

 

he also said we will talk next month and see if there are any changes at all and if so then we would consider going a bit higher..but he said i should feel better from this amount in some way..

since i have been at this same dose..taking more should work faster..and he said you have to realize that the reason everyone is so different is because they have other issues..be it stressors, health conditions, mind set, so many things that it makes everyone different..

 

will be back later have to eat..i weighed 123.6 lbs yesterday...i am doing the happy dance..he also said he wanted me walking stores more cause what people experience when they go in a store and feel strange is actually anxiety from being in a closed in store and so many people in there..and i just have to push through that and not let the anxiety win..and if i am tired then sit down..he said take the wheelchair in and walk as long as i can but dont over do and then sit down and let terrie push me..

 

he said that when you lose weight and get weak..as many of us do here...you have to gain the weight back and be stable at the weight then your body can work on getting stronger cause its trying to maintain the weight gain..thats why its so hard to rebuild the strength i once had..something he said doesnt happen over night but will in time..how much time no one knows..but the more you work at it the faster it happens..

 

well off to eat..and will check on everyone in a bit

 

hugs to everyone here..and hope some of this helped or made sense..if any of you have questions you cant get answers from your doctor from let me know and i will write them down and ask him next month

 

deep

[[Va...]]

good morning all

 

I got back from the doctor yesterday and after a long talk he said lets just go up 1/4 mgs for now and see if that helps..he said theres no reason to go back to 4mg of k if you dont need to..so that will put me at 3mgs..he said just take the .87gms of k and up it to .130 equal to the other 3 and that would make it 3 mgs..

 

hes such a nice and good doctor i have been seeing him for yrs..he told me to stop reading and listening to the negative posts on fb.he said alot of times the mind will then have you thinking you are having those symptoms from the benzo brain..he said read positive things..and go and look at yourself in the mirror every morning and tell yourself you will be well and you will be ok..he said you have to stop thinking about all the bad others are going through..cause it can make it happen to you..the mind is a very powerful thing..i know he is right..and hes just a md not a specialist or therapist..but a wise man..he has had to updose other patients before trying to get off of benzos and said if upping slowly they have never had any problems so he told me to stop worrying about it..its different than adding a different med that the body is not use too

 

he also said we will talk next month and see if there are any changes at all and if so then we would consider going a bit higher..but he said i should feel better from this amount in some way..

since i have been at this same dose..taking more should work faster..and he said you have to realize that the reason everyone is so different is because they have other issues..be it stressors, health conditions, mind set, so many things that it makes everyone different..

 

will be back later have to eat..i weighed 123.6 lbs yesterday...i am doing the happy dance..he also said he wanted me walking stores more cause what people experience when they go in a store and feel strange is actually anxiety from being in a closed in store and so many people in there..and i just have to push through that and not let the anxiety win..and if i am tired then sit down..he said take the wheelchair in and walk as long as i can but dont over do and then sit down and let terrie push me..

 

he said that when you lose weight and get weak..as many of us do here...you have to gain the weight back and be stable at the weight then your body can work on getting stronger cause its trying to maintain the weight gain..thats why its so hard to rebuild the strength i once had..something he said doesnt happen over night but will in time..how much time no one knows..but the more you work at it the faster it happens..

 

well off to eat..and will check on everyone in a bit

 

hugs to everyone here..and hope some of this helped or made sense..if any of you have questions you cant get answers from your doctor from let me know and i will write them down and ask him next month

 

deep

Your doctor sounds great deep! I believe he is right. I think you're in the path forward and will be able to beat this once and for all.  --V

[[...]]

Deep, you are so fortunate to have such a wonderful Doctor.... Where are you located?!

I very much hope your small updose will set you right.... You are In good hands.

 

I'm feeling much more stable , tough today I've got the weak legs again.... Ugh..... It's annoying cause it stops me from walking, I do anyway , but slow and not far. I know excercise would help my health so much , but my body just won't do it yet.

Apparantly weak legs is a neuralgic issue... So nervous system destabilization I reckon from the WDs . Patience patience .....

 

Love to a ll , MiYu 

 

I read somewhere once, that , if you were to create a sentence with only the first and last letters of each word being correct , people could make sense of it .....haha...... Good for us benzo brains and auto corrects! 

[[Ge...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

[[be...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

Hi George, sorry you are having anxiety, and hopefully splitting dose will help, nothing ventured nothing gained, Hang in there and Stay Strong, we are all here for you. :smitten:

[[Ge...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

Hi George, sorry you are having anxiety, and hopefully splitting dose will help, nothing ventured nothing gained, Hang in there and Stay Strong, we are all here for you. :smitten:

 

Thanks BG!  Hope you are doing well tonight 

[[Ca...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

Hey there George... sorry things are a bit hairy atm, so hope it improves as you try a change..

I just wanted to mention that when i split my V, I had a little what BG calls "blip"... -nothing too bad, but for me, it was there, and as someone had pre warned me of the possibility, i recognised it and it wasnt a problem at all...  -I am certainly not trying to discourage you, Just it helped me to know and recognise... And that was a 50/50 split, so depending, you may feel nothing at all.. -or hopefully feel even better!!!

Best wishes,

And Hi to ALL...

 

[[be...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

Hi George, sorry you are having anxiety, and hopefully splitting dose will help, nothing ventured nothing gained, Hang in there and Stay Strong, we are all here for you. :smitten:

 

Thanks BG!  Hope you are doing well tonight 

Doing well, thanks

[[be...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

Hey there George... sorry things are a bit hairy atm, so hope it improves as you try a change..

I just wanted to mention that when i split my V, I had a little what BG calls "blip"... -nothing too bad, but for me, it was there, and as someone had pre warned me of the possibility, i recognised it and it wasnt a problem at all...  -I am certainly not trying to discourage you, Just it helped me to know and recognise... And that was a 50/50 split, so depending, you may feel nothing at all.. -or hopefully feel even better!!!

Best wishes,

And Hi to ALL...

Hi.

[[ga...]]

thanks for all the encouragement you guys.. It means a lot to me.  Today was another anxiety filled day.  Im gong to try taking part of my dose during the day instead of all at night, even though I dont think valium is all that great for anxiety..  It's worth a try.

 

Hi George. I did find that dosing more often reduced my symptoms. I have heard others say so, too, so it could work for you.