Need Help So confused. Opi/benzo Cessation, smoking damage and chest pain

[LucidSDreamr]

My main symptom is stabbing chest pain, more on the left but also on the right lung. I sometimes feel lighter fleeting stabbing pains in other parts of my body. There is also chest pain right where the lower sternum meets the diaphragm

I’ve had recurring respiratory problems and cough with fever and phlegm on and off for 4 months or so. I currently have no other symptoms besides the chest pain. The cough is almost totally gone.

My chest x ray and ekg was normal. All blood tests normal and no respiratory viruses were detected. Blood pressure is slightly high.

I have constant hunger that is never satiated. My mouth is always dry, teeth are grinding.

a piece of information is that I kicked methadone 6 weeks ago. I was taking 10-15 mg diazepam two times a week also. When I kicked methadone I went to 10 mg diazepam 1x per week. I am at 9 days post my last diazepam dose.


I don’t know if this pain is lung damage from smoking (weed smoker of 20 years). I quit smoking when I quit methadone 6 weeks ago. I don’t know if this pain is part of a benzo withdrawl. It’s not part of methadone withdrawl because I’ve never had this before and it’s been 6 weeks and this appeared at week 4.

I am completely lost, in a constant panic attack from the lack of sleep and pain. I don’t know what to do. I have the most thought out suicidal ideation I’ve ever had. Waiting for a specialist but it’s taking forever.

 

[paranoid android]

Have you been checked out for pneumonia? I had it once and had horrible chest pains with it along with coughing up horrible shit

 

[paranoid android]

I also felt suicidal when i had pneumonia. I was going through opiate and benzo wd at the time but i never had that before. Pneumonia really fucks with your head

 

[fairnymph]

The chest pain you describe plus the slightly elevated blood pressure (excess hunger too, often) in the absence of other symptoms, is something I have seen in others who are stressed and depressed. Sometimes in men suffering from PAWS and sometimes in totally straight edge men. For whatever reason, I have only ever seen this in men. I’m not saying it’s psychosomatic but it could be. Or you and these other men I know/have known have some mysterious unknown problem. Given the smoking and lung issues, it could be more complex. Or it could be you have some lung issues and that combined with your poor mental state is giving you more chest pain/tension.

Have you considered trying a beta blocker? Or even just clonidine?

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Have you been checked out for pneumonia? I had it once and had horrible chest pains with it along with coughing up horrible shit

Chest x ray was negative but sometimes small pneumonias don’t show up on x ray and require more advanced imaging.

 

[paranoid android]

Chest x ray was negative but sometimes small pneumonias don’t show up on x ray and require more advanced imaging.

Do you cough up much gunk?

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Do you cough up much gunk?

A little. It’s a wet cough but not too severe.

 

[paranoid android]

A little. It’s a wet cough but not too severe.

It would be worth getting checked out imo.

It could also possibly be paws. I have never come off methadone but i have come off oxy, morphine and fentanyl. When i was in wd i would sometimes get chest pains when it was severe. I think it was because of panic attacks. Usually a benzo would sort me out. However as your kicking them to i dont advise it.

I kicked 6mg's of klonopin once cold turkey but i cant remember what it was like. I was psychotic at the time and completely unmedicated in the psych ward. It was a total blackout

 

[Robi]

Just because I care but what helped me,it was blood clots and Barretts, felt like the heart,hibiscus tea,golden milk, garlic.Odd as it is my body responds to natural nutrients quicker on so many levels then prescribed medications,my heart doesn't even flutter all weird anymore because I was D iron and magnesium deficient,more ppl are than one would think.

 

[AngelsandFairiesarereal]

Honestly it sounds like you are having physical symptoms of extreme stress … all the way down to the teeth grinding. It’s good to get checked out and everything too and of course I’m not a doctor, but I have severe PTSD and get all of these symptoms as well. (I mean of course still see doctors … like you are).

Maybe while you’re waiting on seeing a specialist maybe you can try to do something for yourself to help your whole body/nervous system settle a bit. Like a massage, (or anything that can help with stress even a little) also look into getting a mouth guard if you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep … the grinding teeth can cause all kinds of physical problems actually. I mean I’ve read your other posts and you definitely have a lot of stress in your life right now.

Are you stopping the diazepam for good or do you think it could help here and there? Anyways … I hope that was okay to say, you have my support either way you take it. If anything I said helps good, if not don’t even mind it. I’m in a kind of weird space myself but wanted to write something because I see how hard you’ve been trying and I’m proud of you.

Sending you love, hope and strength
Gentle hug

 

[Robi]

Oh and these remedies I make are easy to make and inexpensive, not easy as popping pills but yes my liver it thriving without them

 

[Robi]

Honestly it sounds like you are having physical symptoms of extreme stress … all the way down to the teeth grinding. It’s good to get checked out and everything too and of course I’m not a doctor, but I have severe PTSD and get all of these symptoms as well. (I mean of course still see doctors … like you are).

Maybe while you’re waiting on seeing a specialist maybe you can try to do something for yourself to help your whole body/nervous system settle a bit. Like a massage, (or anything that can help with stress even a little) also look into getting a mouth guard if you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep … the grinding teeth can cause all kinds of physical problems actually. I mean I’ve read your other posts and you definitely have a lot of stress in your life right now.

Are you stopping the diazepam for good or do you think it could help here and there? Anyways … I hope that was okay to say, you have my support either way you take it. If anything I said helps good, if not don’t even mind it. I’m in a kind weird space myself but wanted to write something because I see how hard you’ve been trying and I’m proud of you.

Sending you love, hope and strength
Gentle hug

Yes! This ^

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Are you stopping the diazepam for good or do you think it could help here and there?

God no I spent the day on benzo buddies forum reading about benzo withdrawal horror stories. Scared the piss out of me people saying they literally haven’t slept for an entire year and just spent months in the fetal position in a panic attack.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

@LucidSDreamr how is your hydration and diet? Are you getting enough salt and magnesium?

 

[LucidSDreamr]

@LucidSDreamr how is your hydration and diet? Are you getting enough salt and magnesium?

Diet is good I’m eating a lot and it’s healthy stuff. Hydration is good because of the extreme thirst same with overeating food..

I take magnesium supplement but not much excess salt

 

[someguyontheinternet]

Diet is good I’m eating a lot and it’s healthy stuff. Hydration is good because of the extreme thirst same with overeating food..

I take magnesium supplement but not much excess salt

Its not about excess salt its about getting enough. The recommendations to eat low salt is for people with chronic idiopathic high blood pressure and we actually like closer to 2.5-3g per day iirc. Your kidneys clear out excess sodium just fine they're healthy

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Its not about excess salt its about getting enough. The recommendations to eat low salt is for people with chronic idiopathic high blood pressure and we actually like closer to 2.5-3g per day iirc. Your kidneys clear out excess sodium just fine they're healthy

I may not get enough I eat all my own food and don’t add any

 

[fairnymph]

Diet is good I’m eating a lot and it’s healthy stuff. Hydration is good because of the extreme thirst same with overeating food..

I take magnesium supplement but not much excess salt

What about potassium? Also magnesium is not well absorbed orally. Try it topically you want magnesium sulphate i.e. Epsom salts or magnesium chloride. Ideally a few pounds in a hot bath.

I suspect you might also need more sodium. I’d recommend getting some Trace Minerals ConcenTrace drops.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

Sorry if I missed it but How is your breathing?

Are you finding it difficult to breathe when in a "non-panic" state, or would you say your breathing is ok?