← Return to Endless withdrawal from benzos and pregabalin

Discussion

Endless withdrawal from benzos and pregabalin

Addiction & Recovery | Last Active: Jun 20 2:04pm | Replies (168)

Comment receiving replies
@marye2

I have MCTD autoimmune. Sleep has been an ongoing issue, but this year I found a sleep doctor who sent me to cognitive behavior. They had a questionnaire about my day (naps, bedtime, etc. etc) and then used an algorithm for advice. And, it worked! I still have some issues, but generally getting deeper sleep. Dr Michael Grandner of the University of Arizona helped me; sleep doctor is through Banner Hospital. Still, I have pain pills, and various topical fixes (ie lidocaine patches), stretches before bed, but pretty much at the end of a frustrating viscious cycle. I find the hybrid Indica CBD/THC (5 mg) gummies help, but those might not be possible for you. Like you, I don't have the physical and mental tiredness that matches anymore. Tai Chi is great; I also like water exercise.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I have MCTD autoimmune. Sleep has been an ongoing issue, but this year I found a..."

I really enjoy water aerobics. They have free classes at a local fitness club for people with MS and PD. That takes care of socializing and exercise for two days/week. I walk first thing in the morning (usually just around the block)--great way to begin the day. I've tried Indica gummies--didn't do much for me, and the tinctures are just too potent: actually feel stoned even though they are supposedly THC-free. I can't handle anything that reminds me of marijuana--gives me flashbacks from when I was in Vietnam and quite a large number of Marine Corps grunts smoked very potent opiated pot. I was extremely paranoid then, and still have horrible nightmares to this day. I got a small 20% disability rating for shrapnel wounds and never applied for a mental disability rating from the Veterans Admin because until I came down with Parkinson's, I felt that so many others were more deserving of the benefits and were neither receiving help, but simply ignored. The government is now handing out full disability to many of the military personnel who are coming back from the middle east and claiming PTSD, and these people enlisted, unlike my generation which saw more than a third of all deaths being draftees; so I've finally decided to be evaluated--it would help my wife greatly to get some more money every month--and my Parkinson's likely came from one of two, or even both sources: Agent Orange exposure or toxic drinking water from when I was stationed at Camp LeJeune; and the troops coming home from SE Asia received little or no support when we were released from active duty. I've adapted to living with the physical symptoms of PD, but it's the cognitive decline that worries my wife. She's a wonderful person and notices that I'm beginning to show signs of dementia; I certainly don't want to be a burden on her. We've been together for nearly 40 years, and life's been good to us as we've grown older together.