Bad Night, w/d symptom?

[bBarry]

Sorry to be a whiner, you guys have been there to help and have been a Godsend. Thank you, especially Debbie. Been having trouble with Valium w/d for a few days going from 6mg to 5. Anxiety been through the roof, palps, but those I expected. Right now I am just a waste of space, no desire to do anything but watch tv and be miserable. The worst problem now is horrible cramping feet and calves at night. Last night which was the 4th day at 5mg was the worst. Had to get up 3 or 4 times to walk off the cramps. Today they feel like they had a long night, very tight and aching to my knees. Been taking Potassium, Fish Oil, Vitamins and flax seed oil which have helped in the past, not working at all now. Stopped Magnesium.

I don't think I have gone too fast. I was at 7.5mg for what seemed like a very long time and eased down to 7mg, then 6 for a few weeks, scraping dust off 6mg to ease down to 5. Now going to hold at 5 mg for at least 10 days after these w/d's stop. I have only lost 10mg (from 15 to 5mg since mid August,, 3 months to lose 10mg). This seems like it's taking forever, want it to be over, maybe time to bite the bullet and throw them away. The night sweats I was having even while on Valium for a long time are even better than when I was on it. Thankful for that.

Does anyone know a good old fashion home remedy for foot/calf cramps, or am I the only one that has experienced this? They are very powerful cramps. I had to get a steroid injection (Kenalog, 5cc, a good whack) for other problems about 10 days ago. I wonder if that could be the cause of this cramping? I'm supposed to get 5 more injections 30 days apart. The side effects are bad. On top of weaning valium

I need to let you all know that I have been a Christian since 1990. I have promise that Christ will be with me always. He has given me the strength to get this far with little trouble. I used to take 2 1/2 to 3, 10 mg Valium. I got off half of it with big jumps over a few years. Now getting lower seems harder than at higher doses.

I don't have a Doctor to help. 2 Drs wanted me to go down 5mg a week until I got to 5, then stop. I tried what they said and my HR went to 141 on the 3rd day. One Dr that hardly knows me told me "that's how we do it in the Hospital." Thanks Doc, I'm not in the Hospital and don't want another heart attack. He wrote Paxil. I'm not going to take that and trade addictions. The anxiety eases off on it's own when I level out. I should be good in a day or 2. Don't know about the foot cramps.

Thanks in advance.
Barry

[bBarry]

Thanks for the comments, greatly appreciated! w/d's better today.

luvdolphins,, I take potassium every day but not iron, hmmm. I need to try that but it's so constipating  :>o  

VICourageous I never heard of Lemon Juice helping cramps. I intend to try it. I have always heard from Old Timer's (and now I'm one), that a bar of soap at the foot of the bed helps. Last night was the 2nd night in a row I had them. Yesterday my foot ached most of the day from the "charlie horse" even after the cramp went away. I put a new bar of Ivory, unwrapped down by my feet and slept like a rock, no cramps,, until I kicked the soap out, found it on the floor this morning. Seems like it was working but Charlie came back after I kicked the soap out. I think it's just Valium w/d and maybe the steroid injection 2 weeks ago. Steroids mess up your metabolism. Has anyone heard of this from getting off benzo's?

atthebeach Thanks once again. Yep, cramping just started 2 nights in a row. I took a big dose of magnesium the night they started before going to bed. Been taking triple magnesium, 1000mg. Last night I broke the capsule and took about 1/3 of it. I thought magnesium might have caused it. Probly coincidence? I threw away my Simvastatin a year ago after 2 1/2 years of taking it. Too many side effects to stay on for life. Started taking Niacin instead and my Cholesterol is great. Just got blood work I'm looking at, LDL 106, HDL 37, Trig 163, Total chol 176.   My vit D was low at 25.3, should be 30.0-100.0. I take vit D almost every day, a tiny little pill of it.   My White Blood cells were high at 13.79,  glucose 119 not fasting, drinking Coke on my way there.   BUN was low at 5, should be 13-22.  Will see Doc in 3 weeks.

Thanks again to all of you. There is no best answer, they were all good. Between the 3 of you I now have some good ammo and see some things I can do that may help. These foot cramps are awful. I have had them in my life but not this bad, that's why I relate the Valium to it. It could be the electric blanket. I start out warm and turn it to low when I climb in. Gonna shut it off tonight, add some Vit C,  take my magnesium, drink more water, some lemon and less Caffeine Free Coke. I don't drink coffee anymore and boy,, I miss it! Not eating enough red meat following Cardiologist orders. I need a good steak, loaded with iron and all the bad stuff.

Sorry to be so long, I just need to add a couple things. My feet, esp the L has been getting burning cold and going numb a lot. My L leg goes to sleep even standing, makes me walk funny. lol The Neurologist said my pulse was weak in my L foot, also mentioned nerve damage from my wreck. I mentioned it to the Cardiologist 6 months ago and he said "might be circulation.". He didn't do anything about it though. I see him in a couple weeks, I guess I have to ask for some testing.

I don't feel right praying for myself, I have but only when everything is so bad I feel lost. The Bible says "You have not because you ask not." Guess it's time to ask.

Thanks Guy's and God Bless.
Barry

[VICourageous]

Hi
Take some Lemon and add it to warm water in the morning instead of caffeine..Lemon also has Potassium in it and it is full of vit C that will help with these cramps. It will also help with the digestive system to help draw out toxins.. YES, the Magnesium is god send. You can pick up a green box that says Electro Mix on the front at the store. Inside is packets of powder that contain Potassium which helps with nerves too. It also balance out with Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese, plus Chromium. This will provide the electrolytes you need and also for good cell turn over..It is wonderful at night for sleep too..I wish you all the best and I sure Pray you do not go through a He111 like I did.
I went c/t in 2012 off of Prescribed Methadone and one other med I added to it at the end..I was also taking KLONS..I have never experienced such a long and intense w/d in my entire life and I am over 50. I do know now that the benzo was what made it worse..SO I sure hope you do a nice and easy taper and let your body adjust to each drop. It is better to do it nice and slow then to go through a BAD detox. I wish you all the best and may God be with you.
Bless

[atthebeach]

hey barry. you are more than welcome.
did the leg and feet cramps just recently start?
do you happen to take statins for high cholesterol?
statins can cause cramping.

also deficiencies in magnesium/zinc/calcium and potassium can also
cause cramping. why did you stop the magnesium?

drinking tonic before bed can help.
also over the counter hylands leg cramp tabs are homeopathic.
walking, heating pads, icy hot, also are helpful.

keep moving forward you are doing fantastic.

you can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you.
HE will never leave you or forsake you.
keep the faith,
continued prayers...

[luvdolphins58]

Hello  i don't know anything about your wd   but leg and foot cramps r normally lack of potassium or iron. In your case might not be. Just wanted give my "2 cents"  haha.