55 minutes ago, Luke said:

I had suspected covid quite badly in September last year. It was really rough ontop of withdrawal, and my withdrawal was already very physical and fatigue and exhaustion were major symptoms already, so you can imagine how well I was with both combined.

However, I feel as though I recovered completely from the viral illness, and just sort of went back to where I was before it.

Hopefully you'll do the same.

@Luke Thank you Luke, so sorry you went through this, it must have been really tough dealing with covid on top of everything else. It very reassuring that once the virus left you, you returned to 'withdrawal normal '. Right now I'd settle for withdrawal symptoms, thanks for your good wishes. Hope you are doing better. x

10 hours ago, Bernadette said:

Sonia2, so very sorry to hear you have to deal with this virus, it can definitely be taxing on the cnc while in WD, and most definitely does not help. Sending some special thoughts and prayers for some needed relief.

@Bernadette Thank you for your good wishes, hope you are doing ok too. Take care x

Hi, so I've still got this so called "non specific infection" that began almost three weeks ago, it's been pretty miserable. The diarrhoea has stopped over a week ago but I've had terrible fatigue, nausea, tummy aches and feeling very weak. I feel hot and sweaty after any small task. I've lost more weight and I cannot afford to. I saw another doctor today (3 to date) I have a slight temperature again, he has put me on a broad spectrum antibiotic, erythromycin, and anti-sickness tablets cyclizine. I've got to try something and I'll worry about how they will affect my withdrawal later. I just hope the side effects won't be too bad.

Bset wishes all 🙂🙏

6 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, so I've still got this so called "non specific infection" that began almost three weeks ago, it's been pretty miserable. The diarrhoea has stopped over a week ago but I've had terrible fatigue, nausea, tummy aches and feeling very weak. I feel hot and sweaty after any small task. I've lost more weight and I cannot afford to. I saw another doctor today (3 to date) I have a slight temperature again, he has put me on a broad spectrum antibiotic, erythromycin, and anti-sickness tablets cyclizine. I've got to try something and I'll worry about how they will affect my withdrawal later. I just hope the side effects won't be too bad.

Bset wishes all 🙂🙏

I'm sorry about your infection @Sonia2, that sounds really miserable. I've been dealing with a UTI myself the past week and it's certainly rough on top of WD. I did a short round of antibiotics already and I don't think it set off any WD symptoms -- I'm in a wave now but I think that's more because of the infection itself and difficulty sleeping than the antibiotics. The wave seemed to be triggered when the infection got worse. Hope things go well for you and you get this cleared up soon 💜.

@SarahMc Thanks for your kind wishes Sarah, we needed this like a hole in the head, I hope your wave and infection settles down soon too. x

Hi, so I stopped the erythromycin after two days, they gave me chest tightness and abdominal aches. The side effects are actually the same as what I've been suffering from (whatever that was). Now for the fallout. I fear this has knocked back my progress for several weeks and it's scary. Nausea, weird head sensations, weird dreams, anxiety, lack of interest in anything etc etc.

I guess I' ve just got to take it on the chin.

best wishes all x

35 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, so I stopped the erythromycin after two days, they gave me chest tightness and abdominal aches. The side effects are actually the same as what I've been suffering from (whatever that was). Now for the fallout. I fear this has knocked back my progress for several weeks and it's scary. Nausea, weird head sensations, weird dreams, anxiety, lack of interest in anything etc etc.

I guess I' ve just got to take it on the chin.

I'm sorry @Sonia2. I've got the same fear as you about my infection and resulting wave. But whatever happens, we'll make through 💜💜💜.

4 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

I'm sorry @Sonia2. I've got the same fear as you about my infection and resulting wave. But whatever happens, we'll make through 💜💜💜.

@SarahMc Thanks Sarah, I'm at a point where I don't know if it the illness itself, the antibiotics or withdrawal, the joy!

Hats off to you for what you do here x

12 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Hats off to you for what you do here x

Thanks for your kind words Sonia, it's honestly a great distraction for me so I'm happy to do it!

Hi, has anyone tried Lansoprazole for acid reflux and nausea whilst going through protracted withdrawal? My doctor has prescribed it for me but the side effects sound horrendous and my cns is so sensitized right now following failed erythromycin and cyclizine meds. Thanks.

13 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, has anyone tried Lansoprazole for acid reflux and nausea whilst going through protracted withdrawal? My doctor has prescribed it for me but the side effects sound horrendous and my cns is so sensitized right now following failed erythromycin and cyclizine meds. Thanks.

Hey @Sonia2

There is no way to know how you will react to it. Someone elses experience won't likely be your either as every one is so different.

As with most things we suggest avoiding them, as you said with a senstive nervous it's not worth the risk imo.

Medications, Supplements and Other Substances in Withdrawal

@Chippy Thanks for responding Chippy and for the attachment. I'm still affected by the antibiotics so I am going to give it more time before considering taking anything else. Hopefully it will resolve with careful diet. Much appreciated 😊

Just now, Sonia2 said:

@Chippy Thanks for responding Chippy and for the attachment. I'm still affected by the antibiotics so I am going to give it more time before considering taking anything else. Hopefully it will resolve with careful diet. Much appreciated 😊

Think thats wise. As with alot of these drugs, PPIs have a bit of scandal surrounding them I believe, I would do a good deep dive before taking should you consider it in the future. We must do our due diligence rather than just follow.

Hi, I've been in withdrawal since 2019 and protracted withdrawal for over 18 months. I had a stomach bug four weeks ago, non specific infection they called it. Two weeks ago i was given erythromycin and cyclizine which I only took for two days because it made me worse.

I was going through my old journals and it scared me to realise I have had nausea and gi symptoms throughout on and off. I had ct Scans a couple of years ago which which were ok and echocardiogram. I had lost three stone in weight by then.

I think this recent 'virus', the antibiotics plus a scare over my mother having a fall last week has set me back.

Today I feel I am back in the thick of withdrawal again with old symptoms resurfacing. I cannot see an end to it. Recent bloods came back normal that's how I found out it wasn't a bacterial infection. I just don't know what to do. I am unable to walk my dog, my poor husband has to do that and he's ill.

I try to stay positive but I'm a natural worrier and if stress is making things worse for me I don't know where to go from here. My life is slipping by when people need me to care for them.

Sorry for the vent but I have no one to share this with.

Prayers for everyone suffering here🙏

1 hour ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, I've been in withdrawal since 2019 and protracted withdrawal for over 18 months. I had a stomach bug four weeks ago, non specific infection they called it. Two weeks ago i was given erythromycin and cyclizine which I only took for two days because it made me worse.

I was going through my old journals and it scared me to realise I have had nausea and gi symptoms throughout on and off. I had ct Scans a couple of years ago which which were ok and echocardiogram. I had lost three stone in weight by then.

I think this recent 'virus', the antibiotics plus a scare over my mother having a fall last week has set me back.

Today I feel I am back in the thick of withdrawal again with old symptoms resurfacing. I cannot see an end to it. Recent bloods came back normal that's how I found out it wasn't a bacterial infection. I just don't know what to do. I am unable to walk my dog, my poor husband has to do that and he's ill.

I try to stay positive but I'm a natural worrier and if stress is making things worse for me I don't know where to go from here. My life is slipping by when people need me to care for them.

Sorry for the vent but I have no one to share this with.

Prayers for everyone suffering here🙏

@Sonia2 never apologize for venting here! This forum is the perfect place for it. I'm sorry that life has piled up and worsened your WD symptoms. I went through something similar to you recently -- I was convinced I had a UTI, took antibiotics for it because it felt exactly like previous UTIs I've had, and then it turned out there was never any infection. I think it was all just part of a massive wave that is only just starting to lift now. I hope it's the same for you and this is just another frustrating wave that will work its way out of your system soon. It's natural to worry about this, and we absolutely all do it, but we will heal regardless! Thinking of you 💜

I myself @Sonia2 have been experiencing a bit of stomach issues since I returned from my camping trip. I've had similar experiences in the past during my earlier days and periodically throughout my recovery and just ended up being WD symptoms. I've had to learn over time not to let my mind ruminate otherwise it just got me more worked up, its a hard thing to learn for myself, but with practice I got better at it. For now I'm sitting here sipping on peppermint tea to calm things, with a heating pad on my stomach to help easy the discomfort and just let it be. @mstimc60 suggested the heating pad and seams to be helping, can't believe I forgot this. But given time our systems will settle. Sending prayers and thoughts for some needed relief for you. 🤗

@SarahMc @Bernadette Thank you both for your reassurance and kind wishes especially when you are both going through horrible symptoms too. I don't usually let things get on top of me this much but I've been worrying about my mother recently who lives on her own, her fall and confusion was down to low blood pressure. Her bp meds have been adjusted but she's been on losartan since the loss of my brother twelve years ago and the doctor has now halved her dose. It going to be disastrous and at the first sign of withdrawal I'll be on the phone to her doctor.

I hope you come out of your wave soon @SarahMc and I hope your GI problems resolve quickly @Bernadette . I'll try the hot water bottle but we have another heatwave starting tomorrow.😓

Take care x🙏

@Sonia2 , so very sorry to hear of your Mother's fall due to low blood pressure, hoping the doctor is able to get her blood pressure medications stable, my sincerest thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Sending hugs xxx Bernadette ❤️

@Bernadette @SarahMc I meant they halved her lorazepam not losartan, sorry. Thank you for your kind wishes.

My partner's mum had the same thing, she's in her 90s, had a fall and they conducted a load of tests and determined her blood pressure was low. She's fine now (apart from panic attacks due to the heat but that's another story) so I'm hoping it'll be the same with your mum.

To settle my stomach I find ginger tea works a treat, as well as peppermint tea. Might be worth a try?

15 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

Today I feel I am back in the thick of withdrawal again with old symptoms resurfacing. I cannot see an end to it. Recent bloods came back normal that's how I found out it wasn't a bacterial infection. I just don't know what to do. I am unable to walk my dog, my poor husband has to do that and he's ill.

I try to stay positive but I'm a natural worrier and if stress is making things worse for me I don't know where to go from here. My life is slipping by when people need me to care for them.

Sorry for the vent but I have no one to share this with.

I am so sorry @Sonia2 this journey is not an easy one, and I empathise with everything you have said here. When things worsen (as is so normal on this healing path) it can suck all the optimism from us, I know this only too well. Remember those better days, healing is always happening. We will be victorious given enough time I have no doubt of this. Vent away, we all understand and are here with you.

3 hours ago, Mamgu said:

My partner's mum had the same thing, she's in her 90s, had a fall and they conducted a load of tests and determined her blood pressure was low. She's fine now (apart from panic attacks due to the heat but that's another story) so I'm hoping it'll be the same with your mum.

To settle my stomach I find ginger tea works a treat, as well as peppermint tea. Might be worth a try?

@Mamgu Hi, I'm happy to hear your partner's mother is ok now, I hope she will be ok with this new heatwave. I hate the hot weather myself, been hiding away from it.

My mother seems to be ok now, let's see what happens when they reduce her benzo🤔.

Thanks for the tip, I found some herbal teas in my cupboard, had a ginger tea yesterday which went down ok. Feeling a little dizzyish today, my worst symptom.

Hope you are doing ok, I know you're on a very low dose now, almost there. Been thinking about you.

Thank you and take care xx

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

I am so sorry @Sonia2 this journey is not an easy one, and I empathise with everything you have said here. When things worsen (as is so normal on this healing path) it can suck all the optimism from us, I know this only too well. Remember those better days, healing is always happening. We will be victorious given enough time I have no doubt of this. Vent away, we all understand and are here with you.

@Chippy Thanks Chippy for your reassurance and kind thoughts. The support here is great but I do realise that you all get bad days too so I appreciate it even more. If I can get back to pre virus state I will be happy. Thankfully I have a weekday morning dog walker, she takes my dog for a couple of hours every day and he plays with his pals so it's only evenings and weekends to think about.

Thank you and take care xx

28 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Thankfully I have a weekday morning dog walker, she takes my dog for a couple of hours every day and he plays with his pals so it's only evenings and weekends to think about.

It is good you have some help, takes the load off.

28 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

If I can get back to pre virus state I will be happy.

You can and will soon I am sure x

18 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

@SarahMc @Bernadette Thank you both for your reassurance and kind wishes especially when you are both going through horrible symptoms too. I don't usually let things get on top of me this much but I've been worrying about my mother recently who lives on her own, her fall and confusion was down to low blood pressure. Her bp meds have been adjusted but she's been on losartan since the loss of my brother twelve years ago and the doctor has now halved her dose. It going to be disastrous and at the first sign of withdrawal I'll be on the phone to her doctor.

Of course that’s stressful @Sonia2 💜. I hope your mom recovers soon and that the lorazepam cut goes ok. It’s a good thing that you have some knowledge of these things and can advocate for her!