valium

[kimmitiger]

Douglas has been off his morphine and vicoden for 18 days now and  his 6th day off of valium. The valium is not a good one to get off of for he is still having chest pains , heart palpitations, no sleep, blurred vision now. He made it clear he does not want a doctor at all. Where does that leave me when something bad happens.How can I get through to him?

[my_mayberry]

yes. he can visit a doctor and have the heart palpitations checked out without admiting to being an addict. i mean...in all reality the doctor SHOULD know the entire situation...it could make all the difference. but still, at the very least yes he needs to get that checked out.

has he taken his blood pressure lately? you might go to a store that has a blood pressure machine just to see. also look at the beats per minute...and if he's still having chest pains and palps, get the appt with a doc asap. i'd make it no matter what he says and then force him to go...or take him to urgent care.

[kimmitiger]

Greetings,

Good evening and hope all is well....Thank you for your response...Yes he did taper but not all the way just stopped taking them. He still says DO NOT DIAL 911 or a doctor so I called my sister in law who is a OR nurse and she said for him to go get it checked out. So I will try to get him to at leaste see a doctor. Thank you again and God bless you....

Best wishes
kimmi

[my_mayberry]

heart palps can be caused by the anxiety associated with valium withdrawal....but it shouldn't be ignored. was there a taper? if not, this is really NOT a good idea. going cold turkey on this drug from a moderate to high dose can be deadly....and if it isn't, it can leave you in withdrawal for weeks or months.

how to get through to him? tell him you'll control his taper as long as he goes to the hospital or doctor. its not worth the risk to his health. a taper is the much better option. and at the very LEAST...get the heart palps checked out.

[SophieShine]

Kim please see a dr asap, go to the ER, seizure is one of the consequences of cold turkeying off benzos...

[quitinoxys]

Kim, I agree with IB if he is having heart problems and not anxiety attacks he should be going to the ER. Does he have a history of heart promlems?

[IBKleen]

Kim, my heart goes out to you but he is just about the most stubborn man I ever heard of. I told you the other day to call 911 if it gets worse but I know you are afraid he will get mad. If it gets any worse you either call an ambulance or he dies in the chair.

I think he is being very selfish but short of hog tying him, I don't know what more you can do.

The only thing I can think of is a little reverse psychology. If you are waiting on him, caring for him...stop. Walk away. Go about your day and tell him you won't help him anymore until he helps himself. I know that is extreme, but so is he.

It's quiet this morning so hang around and get suggestions from others here.

I pray he gets the help he needs. I would hate to know that he made it through active addiction and withdrawal only to die from stubbornness. That would be sad.