BullDog777

After 2 years and 3 months clean, i found myself feeling like i did the first month i was sober, last night. it was awful. twitching, muscle jerks, the pins and needles feelings...it really scared the crap outta me.

I got on the phone with my addiction specialist and she said protracted withdrawal syndrome can pop up sporadically for years and even a decade or more.

this F'in sucks, but 'm just glad i'm at the end of this and not the beginning.. the last time i had an episode was around 18 months and before that it was at roughly a year. it rarely lasts more than a few days, but it was enough to shake me up.

dam the benzos and opiates.

anyway, i'm here. i'll be on the forums like glue till this passes. thanks for hearing me folks.

istherehope999

Proud of you for staying clean this long!!!! Wow, that's awesome.....You have my respect.

IvanKatz

I wouldn't worry too much about this. THis will go away soon enough. THe thing that makes it worse is dwelling on it. I have the same issues sometimes where out of the blue, it hit me. THe best thing you can do is find an activity to get your mind off of it. Boredom is a big factor with this so it's very important you find a healthy outlet.

MemphisBlues

Hey, BullDog

Thanks for posting. Yep, me and benzos...I was prescribed 20 milligrams of Klonopin a day at the end of my use. PAWS and me sucks. I'm at 18 months and seem to forget that the fatigue, muddled thinking, depression on top of someone who suffers from major depression to begin with, could all be chalked up to PAWS.

Sorry you are going through this, but thanks for the reminder. When I am feeling lethargic, useless, hopeless, helpless...it just might help to remember the miracle -- I'm sober.

BullDog777

thanks for the support guys. last night wasn't quite as bad, but i have bodyaches and i'm exhausted today with a real light sensitivity. i'm taking off work until next ruesday. since i'm my own boss, i don't think i would mind.

this is a sonofabitc#. someone oughtta outlaw the use of benzos. i think they do more harm than good. i pray this goes back into dormant phase by the end of the weekend...i'm getting too old for this s#it.

thanks for the support. it really does alot for me.

Stride34

Yeah it happens to me too bro. Every once in a while I just feel really uncomfortable for a day or two, it's hard to explain. Like a very mild version of acute withdrawal, but it still sucks.

BullDog777

yeah, that's exactly it. very well put.

i'm so glad i have this place. what a blessing it is to be able to go somewhere and everyone know exactly how i feel.

BullDog777

a little better today...maybe this is about to go dormant again.slept better last night..vague nausea is a bitc# though....hungry, but afraid to eat. i dunno if that's part of the pws or the stomach flu i had last week. ugh.........i need some good days.

zxcirce

BD I understand the benzo stuff, I get hit with waves of weirdness from my benzo days, too. It gets a little easier each time but the sudden recurrence of strange brain stuff and burning nerves and anxiety can really throw me off!

You're doing great taking care of yourself.

BullDog777

thanks for all the support, it really means alot to me.

BullDog777

that was a horrible last week. between the pws and the stomach flu, i felt pretty bad. i'm not sure if one was working on the other and making the pws feel worse, but i'm just glad my body is back to normal. i slept like a baby last night and it was wonderful.

I took a long walk and just enjoyed the morning. i pray those episodes of pws get easier and easier to deal with. It just locks me in a state of anxiety when it happens and shakes me to my core.

i'm glad it's over. thanks again for all of everyone's support. it means alot to me.