LotusRising: Buspar, Ativan

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

That's good your appendix is gone. I still have mine even though I've had 3 surgeries. My gallbladder is gone.

 

I wonder if you took some tums, or sucked on some peppermint candy if that might help.

 

I bet your kiddos can't wait for that puppy. Springtime will be fun for you🙂

[Frogie]

If you aren't better I'd hold the 2200 dose unless you think you'd feel better. That's a call you have to make because you have to listen to your body.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Just an update to let you know that the abdominal tightening finally let up around 900pm and I decided to hold on that 2200 dose. I had some mild chest and shoulder tightening last night with my 2200 dose, but was able to get some sleep for the most part.
 

I will continue on with the micro taper today and reduce my next dose down.

 

Thank you again for all your support yesterday.  

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Glad you were able to get some relief and some sleep.

 

That sounds like a good plan. Hopefully you’ll feel better today.

 

You’re welcome for the help. Glad I was around.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I just wanted to check on you?

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

I had an okay day. Lots of shortness of breath, but still did a short walk and some yoga. Really tired and sore stomach. Not much appetite. I’ve had some minor tightening for short periods, but otherwise doing ok so went ahead and reduced my 1600. All in all, it was a good day compared to some of the others I’ve had  
 

Fingers crossed for a good night as well. 

 

Thanks for checking in. Hope you found some time to play with your chiweenie today. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Sounds like you had a decent day overall. You were able to take a walk at least. Shortness of breath is a wd symptom unfortunarely, but I hope it goes away for you soon.

 

Glad you felt good enough to do a reduction in your dose.

 

You are getting closer and closer everyday!

 

Fingers are crossed for you!

[LotusRising]

 

@Frogie

 

Since taking my 1600 dose yesterday, I seem to be reacting sooner after I take them. Typically I would react at the 3hr mark when it peaks. But now, anywhere from 30-90 mins after taking it, I am getting abdominal tightening. Then it will fade briefly, only to tighten again at around the 3hr mark, when my dose peaks. And it continues on almost until I need to take my next dose. So I was basically up all night. 
 

Do you think I should be reducing more than my 2200 dose today?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

If you feel like you are up to it I would reduce.

 

What are your doses currently?

 

I think we need to get you micro tapering to get you off this as soon as we can. Hopefully that will take care of the symptoms.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

According to my notes it looks like I’ve been micro tapering since Jan 8. I think we talked about it after the 8th, but then I realized I was already naturally doing it according to what was happening in my body.  I’ve reduced every day since the 8th, except Jan 13, by 1 or 2 doses. I believe the only issue I’ve run into since then was that episode of 24hr abdominal tightening. 
 

These are my current doses
 

0400 .039mg - reduced Jan 15

1000 .039mg - reduced Jan 15

1600 .039mg - reduced Jan 16

2200 .040mg

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Let's reduce the 2200 dose and see how you do tonight. Sound good to you? 

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok, so leave the other ones then?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Yeah leave the rest alone and let's get them all equal again. Depending on how you feel tomorrow you could try decreasing again.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

The tightening only seems to be getting worse. What do you think is happening? It’s like I’m not responding to the reductions. I don’t know how to deal with this - it is now my entire abdomen and into my shoulders and there is no comfortable position. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I really think it's because your body is reacting as you are decreasing your dose and it wants more. So it is "throwing a fit" per se.

 

Did you reduce the 2200 dose so they are now all equal? Let's try holding one day since they are all equal and see what happens.

 

In the meantime, maybe try walking (short walks), Epson salt baths, even a heating pad and stretching might help with the tightening.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

I reduced the 1600 yesterday. The 2200 won’t be until tonight. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Sorry I didn't go up and check your last few messages.

 

Can you get the 2200 dose reduced, then hold for a day and see if that helps at all? 

 

Try some of the things that I suggested in the meantime.

 

 

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Yes. I’ll reduce the 2200. It’s frustrating because it starts to wane a bit and then I have to take my next dose and it amps up again. Feels worse than the last time it happened and I’m worried it will last 24hrs again. So fed up with all of this, but trying to keep my eye on the finish line. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

I know it is very frustrating, but you are closer to the finish line than you were a couple weeks ago and you are not experiencing quite as many symptoms as you were starting out. Hopefully, this one will subside soon.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Just thought I would check on you before I left for the day🙂

 

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

I’m hanging in. Abdominal tightening finally passed yesterday evening and I managed to get a little sleep last night. Still very low mood. Reduced my last dose and holding today before starting to micro taper tomorrow. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Glad to hear it let up and you were able to get some sleep.

 

I hope it continues🙂

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

I had very little tightening today, it was there in my abdomen, but mild and the moved into my chest and shoulders where I had a weird kind of spasming type of sensation.
 

I noticed with my 1600 dose that it is starting to build a bit. Do you think I should hang tight and wait for the 0400 dose or should I start now by reducing the 2200. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Wo sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.

 

I would decrease all of them across the board and see what happens. It’s been a day or so. Hopefully that will help you feel more comfortable, just decrease the 2200 dose tonight.

Edited January 19, 2022 by Frogie

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

So, all of my doses were even as of yesterday. I decided not to decrease the 2200 dose last night and instead started with my 0400 this morning. I had tightening on/off to

mostly my shoulders overnight - the pattern seems to have changed a bit. 
 

I’m confused, do you think I should decrease all doses today, or just the 2200?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

If they are all even, start with the one that makes you the most comfortable to decrease first. I just want you to get as much relief as possible.

 

WD symptoms love to change and move around. They like playing games with you, which I don't think is funny at all, but you are handling them so well.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Ok. I’ve already dropped the 0400 so I guess that’s the one I’ll start with. I guess I can always reduce the 2200 if it gets worse throughout the day?

 

Yes, no fun at all. Though I have to admit the tightening is definitely not as bad as it was in the beginning. Unfortunately, just present enough to disturb my sleep for the night. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

That's ok that you reduced the 0400 dose already. 

 

If you feel up to it go ahead and reduce the next one, whichever you feel most comfortable with.

 

I'm glad it is letting up, but still uncomfortable. But you are handling it really well.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Checking in with you today?

 

Are you working through all of this?

Edited January 20, 2022 by Frogie

[LotusRising]

Hi @Frogie

 

Pretty low couple of days. Barely sleeping at all. Reduced my 0400/1000 doses yesterday. Trying to decide what to do for 1600/2200. Really want to get some sleep. My anxiety ramps up in the evening just thinking about sleep. Thinking a lot about not wanting to be here. Hard to

imagine another 5-6 months of tightening 4 times a day with no sleep. 

I am trying to stay positive, but very difficult. It’s hard to walk around because my heart rate goes up high, which makes the prospect of an outdoor walk seem less doable. 
 

No, I am not working. I don’t know how I could, as I’m literally tightening half of my day. I don’t know how you got through all of this. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Have you tried Epson salt baths, a heating pad really helped me. Mine was in my neck and shoulders. And creepy crawling, burning skin.

 

I know you have a lot of anxiety over sleep. I still do. I'm lucky if I get 2-3 nights of decent sleep, so I just take it when I can.

 

Do you think you would be better to hold a couple of days? Or does your body feel like it needs to get rid of the reductions?

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Yes, tried Epsom salt baths, heating pad and a magnesium balm, but none of them seem to help the abdominal tightening. It feels deep inside, so I can’t massage either. 
 

To be honest, I don’t even know what my body needs right now. I feel like I’ve tried all of these different patterns of reducing and none of them showed a clear pattern of what works. I am having interdose abdominal tightening right now, so I didn’t make any changes to my 1600. But I’m hoping to sleep tonight, so may reduce the 2200. Not sure though. And I feel like if I hold the paradoxical symptoms always get worse. 

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep tonight.

[LotusRising]

@Frogie

 

Yes, I hope so. 
 

Is the creepy crawly burning skin from your benzo taper? Has it subsided over time?

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Yes it is from my benzo taper. I still get it but I do have better days than bad ones.

[Frogie]

@MedRN

 

Just wondered how your sleep was? Hope better.

 

What are your current doses? I just wanted to get this all straight.