Let's Talk Benzo Belly! - GIVE ME YOUR BEST IDEAS

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...]

Sorry for the delay… I got caught out and about without my tablets after last posting and ended up missing two doses. When I destabilise, I get extreme lethargy and fatigue and end up bedridden, unable to lift my head off the pillow.

I’ll just take the pressure off myself and address your questions one at at a time in separate posts, so just know I’ll keep adding as I have more add.

Winter this is gold! pure gold. First things first, GET WELL AND GET STABLE AGAIN! Sending blessings and prayers your way and hoping this wave isn't too bad (I can't imagine missing doses amidst a taper... eek, stay strong!).

I'm going to dive in to some of the resources you mentioned and then I'll bump this post in a week or two with some questions and keep the conversation going. Hopefully people will find this useful.

Going to dive into mast cells and figure out what the hell those are (especially since I have allergy prick testing scheduled for next month), probably a good thing to know going into that! I have found that the DAO does seem to be limiting some of the benzo belly symptoms. I'm just a bit burpy, not super bloaty and burpy... that's an improvement, but I'll know if thats for real after the next klonopin cut, and I try the new probiotics coming today too. Thanks again. Stay well!

[[Buddie]]

  Here’s a post on the success stories board which may interest you.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=271709.msg3406283#msg3406283

[[Buddie]]

Here’s a post on the success stories board which may interest you.
http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=271709.msg3406283#msg3406283

Just wanted to update this post and say thank you to winter. I've been experimenting over the past two weeks and had some success with:
 
1) switching to a low histamine diet
2) changing probiotics to a histamine free brand (this one in particular from Lifted: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L8MMCZV)
3) taking a half to quarter pill of NaturDAO supplement before meals: (https://www.amazon.com/NATURDAO-Vegetable-Deficiency-Histamine-Intolerance/dp/B08R5ZVG4L)

My benzo belly has been reduced on days when my allergies are not bad. Don't get bad gas or bloating at all. If I cheat on diet or my allergies are really bad it does seem to set the benzo belly symptoms off again and I get them all back (gas, bloating, and even sometimes the dreaded d word). I've learned a lot about mast cell activation and benzo's and histamine intolerance and there's clearly a link. Check out this article (https://drleeds.com/are-benzos-drugs-that-cause-histamine-intolerance-and-withdrawal-allergies/).

But by no means am I cured, so I'm adding two more things the list here that I'm trying:
1) L-Glutamine
2) Zinc
3) Bone Broth and supplemental collagen in it

Starting low and slow on these to help heal my gut lining. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with this? @[...] any more thoughts?

[[Buddie]]

So happy that I stumbled upon this thread! It’s exactly what I needed!  My GI issues are my worst hurdle so far. I’m going to try most of what WintersSun posted!

Thank you, thank you!!! 🤩

[[Buddie]]

So happy that I stumbled upon this thread! It’s exactly what I needed!  My GI issues are my worst hurdle so far. I’m going to try most of what WintersSun posted!

Thank you, thank you!!! 🤩

You’re welcome, [...].

I hope some of this information helps. Just don’t be overly strict or let it take over your life or your bank account.

[[Buddie]]

Here’s a post on the success stories board which may interest you.
http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=271709.msg3406283#msg3406283

Just wanted to update this post and say thank you to winter. I've been experimenting over the past two weeks and had some success with:
 
1) switching to a low histamine diet
2) changing probiotics to a histamine free brand (this one in particular from Lifted: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L8MMCZV)
3) taking a half to quarter pill of NaturDAO supplement before meals: (https://www.amazon.com/NATURDAO-Vegetable-Deficiency-Histamine-Intolerance/dp/B08R5ZVG4L)

My benzo belly has been reduced on days when my allergies are not bad. Don't get bad gas or bloating at all. If I cheat on diet or my allergies are really bad it does seem to set the benzo belly symptoms off again and I get them all back (gas, bloating, and even sometimes the dreaded d word). I've learned a lot about mast cell activation and benzo's and histamine intolerance and there's clearly a link. Check out this article (https://drleeds.com/are-benzos-drugs-that-cause-histamine-intolerance-and-withdrawal-allergies/).

But by no means am I cured, so I'm adding two more things the list here that I'm trying:
1) L-Glutamine
2) Zinc
3) Bone Broth and supplemental collagen in it

Starting low and slow on these to help heal my gut lining. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with this? @[...] any more thoughts?

You’re welcome, [...]

I take L-Glutamine every day 

Be careful with the bone broth, as it’s very high histamine and very rich in glycine, of which the glycine can be converted into glutamate in the body.

[[Buddie]]

I just recently FINALLY got rid of the benzo belly. This is how I did it......

by letting time pass.

It took 3 1/2 years for it to FINALLY go away. For me benzo belly started within a year of taking the drug. I had gained 50 lbs within a year without increasing food intake or anything. As time progressed I always felt full like I had just had Thanksgiving dinner and I felt stuffed even though I had not eaten for hours.

My face was bloated too. I was bloated everywhere to some extent and my stomach looked pregnant for about 8 years total. Had some constipation too and just did not/could not pass a lot of gas.

Well, this past November the benzo belly & bloat FINALLY went away. It pretty much started to diminish out of nowhere. I lost 10 lbs without trying at all over a span of maybe 3 weeks. My face is no longer bloated and puffy along with other parts of my body. Even my arms, neck, back, rib cage "trunk area" all no longer bloated. Hallelujah! Besides the abdominal area, my face is the most notably no longer bloated.

I have eaten clean throughout 90% of this journey once I realized that eating clean was necessary to not suffer as much. What I'm saying is I didn't change my diet any more than I already had. It just went away.

I did not take anything to battle the benzo belly because I am sensitive to any of that stuff. Vitamins supplements anything. If I take these things I get intensified withdrawal symptoms and no thank you. I don't take any medications and have not for 3 1/2 years.

If I was nauseated or felt stomach upset I used peppermint candies that are just peppermint oil & sugar basically or plain carbonated  water to burp. Which is just water & carbonation only. All those other additives that other companies put in are just bad.

I think it's like everything else in this journey. It just takes time. I've been on this forum for almost 3 years and I've watched people try to force their withdrawal healing with supplements & other meds and many, not all, but many end up suffering more than they need to as a result of taking things while their brains and central nervous systems are still fragile. Just be cautious of what you put into you body.

I've even noticed in the videos of a couple benzo coaches that if you look at their older videos from years back compared to now, they look totally less bloated. Especially their faces. Once you are psychotropic med free it takes time, a long time, but like the other symptoms it goes away.

It's such a HUGE relief to have that benzo bloat gone. I feel so much more comfortable and clothes fit better. Plus is gives me real time realization that we do heal, & that even the stubborn, lingering symptoms will start to disappear too.

It's just like everyone says. It takes a long long time for some of the symptoms to go, but they eventually do go. Some symptoms take longer than others.

It's the biggest gift of all to see proof of this happening within yourself as you heal more and more. You finally start to believe what you've been told was going to happen all along by those who have healed before you.

It will go away in time. In the meantime have some rest assured relief that this symptom will not be forever.

[[Buddie]]

I take L-Glutamine every day 
Be careful with the bone broth, as it’s very high histamine and very rich in glycine, of which the glycine can be converted into glutamate in the body.

Thanks Winter, noted on the bone broth, so far so good, but I will monitor . How much l-glutamine are you taking if you don't mind me asking? I'm slowly upping my dose (at 1500mg currently, 500mg 3x a day between meals). I notice most "gut healing products" recommend 5000mg in a serving. didn't want to rock the boat with higher doses yet though.

I just recently FINALLY got rid of the benzo belly. This is how I did it......

by letting time pass.

It took 3 1/2 years for it to FINALLY go away.

Fortitude, thanks for the thoughts. Totally get it. So this is my 2nd taper. I successfully tapered off klonopin after a 2 year journey ending this past summer. All my benzo belly went completely away when I was off the klonopin as you alluded to. I literally had zero stomach issues for about 4-5 months even towards the end of my taper. It was awesome! I still ate VERY healthy though because I had good habits built in from 2 years of dealing with benzos. Now in my 2nd battle with klonopin/lexapro, I'm realizing that FOR ME (and I emphasize FOR ME, maybe not for others), my allergies are a key component of whats causing me so many of my "symptoms". I ALSO personally believe that mast cell activation and histamine sensitivity may have something MORE to do with my anxiety as well outside of the klonopin itself (a lot of things are becoming clearer with the more research and consultation I've been doing... we shall see though). So this thread has turned into more of a discussion on histamines and mast cell activation than "benzo belly" persay, I guess.

Of course, you are right, in the end, we all just need to get off the benzos and let our body's heal. But I learned so much from my first taper, and my 2nd taper has been so much easier due to supplementation that I learned from the first (magnesium/vitamin D/omega 3's have totally rid me of all my body aches/spasms and sleep issues from my first taper, what a win!!!). Was hoping to learn a bit more this 2nd time around. Anyway, that's the reason behind this journey and thread. For others following and dealing with benzo belly, fortitude is of course correct, these symptoms will go away when you're clear of the benzos, could happen faster for some and slower for others, but yes, there is relief at the end of the tunnel for sure.

[[Buddie]]

Sorry [...]

I was just making oatmeal and put some L glutamine in and it reminded me of your question…

1 Tablespoon 

[[Buddie]]

Sorry [...]

I was just making oatmeal and put some L glutamine in and it reminded me of your question…

1 Tablespoon 

Thanks Winter, I'm gonna guess that's about 4-5grams right? I'm taking about 5000mg so that seems equivalent... I think