1 month totally off Benzos! No longer need a wheelchair and 95 percent better

I wanted to give some hope to anyone out there. I was a bit of an extreme case. I had severe activity and exercise intolerance that put me in a wheelchair for over 5 months. I was bedridden the better part of all of 2018. it took almost 3 years to heal and get to this point.

 

I tapered very slowly really over the course of three years just because I was so disabled from this withdrawal. 1 month ago I started slowly being able to walk a bit more . I stopped using the wheelchair shortly thereafter. (Mind you before benzos I was a competitive athlete in exceptionally good shape)

The past month I have been improving rapidly! I would now say I feel 95 percent better. I have my life back!

 

The activity intolerance was so bad at one point. I could not stand up for more than 15 seconds. Could not take more than about 2 steps. My muscle weakness was so bad I could barely take a bath. Couldn't take a shower. I couldn't wash dishes or cook. I had to hire help in fact. If I even wheeled myself down the hall to the mailbox it would often be too much and I'd be worse for weeks. It was so frustrating.

 

So even really tough cases - you will get better. There were many days I felt as though I was going to die. Most days in fact. I literally could not do anything but lie in bed all day. No matter how much I rested I was not able to get better. I ate extremely healthy , and even that did not help. It just happened one day that I was slowly getting better and it was at a snails pace.

 

If you look at my prior posts, you can see just how much I struggled with so many different symptoms.

 

So happy to be better!

 

Wow what an amazing story of courage, strength and endurance!

 

Thanks for sharing 

Congratulations!! I have been following your progress and praying for you and I am so so happy you are doing better. Keep marching on!!!

One thing I forgot to ask is how is your POTS!

I am so very pleased you have recovered so well.  :thumbsup:

First of all, I am so happy for you. Wonderful news! Secondly, I have a question and would appreciate your input. Like you, I am on Ritalin and it is the only medication I ever really needed and the only one that has not harmed me. In the course of getting treatment for lifelong adhd, I was told by a psychiatrist that I had depression/anxiety that was safely treated and should be. I realize now that the diagnosis and treatment were made with no real justification. But that was before the public became aware that the chemical imbalance theory was bogus. I looked at your posts, and it seems you feel that you should have not gone off the Ritalin before your Benzo taper. I am still taking a reduced dose, because I need it, but have wondered if it was harmful. I think if I drop it, I will be catatonic or else walking around in circles. I would be interested in your thoughts. Also, do you still think your very slow taper helped you? It seemed like it was bad for you throughout taper and acute. My taper started fast, but became very slow due to extreme side effects. I am wondering would it not be better to just taper at 10% remaining dose a month, which would get me off in another 6-10 months. I am already almost a year in this very dysfunctional state, even after long holds. Thank you, Esperanza

Wow Linnie, what you went through was horrible, how brave and relentless you were to get where you are is amazing.  That is a success story to lift us all still tapering.  Thank you very much for sharing, love Mary ☮️💜🙏☮️💜🙏

Excellent progress, Linnie!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!

 

To think of what you must have gone through is very difficult, and I can see why you thought of dying so much. These pills are just horrendous...

 

Many more joys for you are up ahead!!!!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Linnie!!!! CONGRATULATIONS omg I'm so happy for you. You are extremely courageous and I'm glad to hear you are no longer in a wheelchair it made me feel good to hear that

Thank you to all for your kind words!

 

My Pots is totally gone! I never thought it would go and it was a slow recovery. Bit by bit things improved until one day I was better.

 

Esperanza: regarding the ritalin, that's really up to you. If it were me, I would stay on the Ritalin until you are at least 6 months off Benzos, then reduce it slowly and see how you do. The ritalin will be a walk in the park compared to Benzos. I would recommend a longer slower taper. I had very severe side effects and I tried cutting through some of them and it just got worse. The body has its own timeline and it just heals at its own pace.

 

Looking back on these past years, I can't believe that I'm nearly at the finish line.

I remember reading how bad it was, for so long. Thank you so much for writing this. I am so pleased to read this good news.🌸 Stay strong.

Wow, this gives me hope! So happy for you!

Posting here b/c it's the only way I know of that I'll be assured of finding this thread again....I'd like to be able to read more here & see (some) members' blogs when my eyes aren't as sore as presently. 

Fantastic..!!

Great effort Linnie..!!

I wish you a brilliant future... May all things good come to you..

 

I am so sorry I didn't begin w/posting my Congratulations to You & thank so much for sharing uplifting, encouraging news...

Wishing you ongoing success!

Well done Linnie!

Congratulations!! Thank you so much for sharing your story!

Amazing recovery. It’s crazy how quickly the body can recover once the poison is out of your system!  So glad you are out of the wheelchair!

Linnie,

WOW! I am so proud of you. Your history is very similar to mine. In fact, you are the first person I have met here in almost 7 years who had the muscle wasting and weakness that I did. Over time benzos and ADs affected me in ways I did not know could happen. I saw specialists, over and over and was told I might have fibro., CFS, Parkinsons,. Ms, etc. I was falling almost every day those last three years

I had none of those diseases. My drugs caused it all. Just like you. I am now so much healthier than I have been in perhaps a decade. I would like to hear more of your journey.

east

Again, sincerest congrats!!  Your story is a great inspiration for me at this time, b/c I am feeling so much worse since I jumped on 2/16/19 and not seeing any relief in sight.  I've also been non-functioning throughout much of active taper (only realized I was in tolerance w/d for 2 years prior once I'd begun my research for active taper).  Developed agoraphobia.  24/7 pain is biggest hindrance.  I am sure muscle wasting has occurred, as I feel I have "jelly" legs & afraid to shower.  I had been diagnosed w/fibromyalgia many years prior to the dr. who put me on the ativan.  At that time, a doctor prescribed klonopin.  I read up & threw it away.  I didn't have that same presence of mind @ time of ativan prescription, or would have done the same.

 

Linnie, your post also very inspiring.  Did your doctor, by any chance, cut you off?  My doctor did so.  I now revile that physician.   Thanks to that, have big mistrust/fear of doctors, as well. 

 

Thanks so much for giving others here much needed encouragement by example & sharing.

 

 

Greetings! Thank you for your hope!

Congratulations on your successful Journey!  Your an inspiration! Thanks