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Unbearable Chest Pain, presumably related to benzos.

Pickledlemons

Pickledlemons

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Oct 4, 2017
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BC, Canada
So I've been taking benzos, primarily xanax off and on for the last two and half years.

A month off, a month on, 6 months on, 6 months off... been doing this for the last while.... to say the least.

This pressure in my chest has been something I have been dealing with pretty much all along. But it was... tolerable.

But this most recent episode, its become unbearable. I am constantly concerned that one day I'm just going to keel over.

I was completely off benzos for a month. It wasn't easy, but it it was tolerable. But then something changed.

The chest pressure has become so bad I am basically useless. Its not just chest pain either, its like its spreads to my back and my neck and my jaw, and my extremities. I feel a tingly sensation in my fingertips, and in my toes. A lot of the time I really feel like I'm going to keel over at any time from a heart attack. Speaking of heart attacks, I've already had one before when I was 22. And I'm only 32 now. Can't imagine that helps my odds.

I tried quitting vaping, caffeine and Xanax all at once, despite feeling like absolute shit all the time, I find myself staying in bed curled up into the feudal position as that seems to reduce the discomfort somewhat.

I tried calling my doctors office and they didn't seem to take me that seriously so I will have to wait another 7 days to talk to my dr. My new dr.... is fine... hmmm how do I put this as nicely as I can... She is friendly, but not nearly as experienced as my last doctor. My old doc would rx me diazepam over the course of a week or even several months depending on the situation. And everytime it would be a success, meaning it would end in me taking no benzos at all with next to no withdrawal symptoms. But this new doctor, she doesn't want to do that.

She wants to give me some diazepam, but a dose that is so low, I cant possibly see how it would make any difference, and the worst part, I have to go into the clinic every time I need to take a dose. That is what really bothers me. Like look lady, I'm 32 years old, I'm not a kid anymore, and I do have some self respect left, I'm not going into the clinic like a methadone junkie just to get 5mg of diazepam thats retarded. Humiliate myself for what is essentially a placebo. No fucking way.

I have 0 incentive to try and get these drugs for recreational purposes. If I wanted that I would simply buy more xanax online since its easier to get and it has an effect that is more than placebo. Not only that.... you expect me to go from 8mg of alprazolam to 5mg of diazepam, and still be well enough to go into the pharmacy every day to pick up the dose? I am simply not well enough to do that! Honestly I'm not sure if she even understands the difference between those two doses.

Anyway, as proud as I was about being completely benzo free for a month, my chest pain, whos symptoms line up 1 for 1 to angina are really unbearable, and could mean heart disease. I don't want that to be the case.,.. But lets face it, I've been burning the candle at both ends for quite a long time now.

Anyway I broke down and finally went and ordered some xanax. I just couldn't take the discomfort anymore. If my remaining lifespan is measured in months I'd rather spend it not in unbearable pain. I know my old doc would understand the situation and put me on a taper plan. But I guess that boat has sailed.
 
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tachychardia and heart issues are a known side effect of benzo withdrawal. id really get with a doc to help manage this situation, and -- ye cant just keep going on / off benzos. they are so damaging. but yeah, that pent up energy/tachy/palpitations -- all part of benzo wd(at least as i experienced it).
 
cdin said:
tachychardia and heart issues are a known side effect of benzo withdrawal. id really get with a doc to help manage this situation, and -- ye cant just keep going on / off benzos. they are so damaging. but yeah, that pent up energy/tachy/palpitations -- all part of benzo wd(at least as i experienced it).
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yeah, this approach probably will not lead anywhere. Basically, one should take it every day until one decides to quit for good, or then just few times a month.

Protocol that current doc is going for is insanity.
 
superenforcer said:
Is going to an ER out of the question for you?
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No, its not out of the question. Its just, a very unpleasant process, sometimes having to wait all day in the most uncomfortable chairs imaginable surrounded by sick people. But I will still do it if I see no other choice. I'm supposed to get a phone call on Monday. Hopefully I can try to talk some sense into my doctor then, and if nothing else, maybe she'll at least give me a referral to the ER which speeds things up a bit.
 
Hi Pickled, you have just written a scenario that is very similar to mine, only i'm in the UK and it seems like a taboo subject with our NHS, i have those symptoms aswell, i had been using diaz for three years up to 30mg with no break, i got sent pills containing 'zenes' so i binned them, my plug sent me others which turned out to be bromaz and latterly alpraz fakes ( bad copies) i have been using these to try and help as the consequences of going to the local services are too harsh, and to not be put on a taper at the end of it.

I dropped the other evening, i don't know if it was a seizure or if i fainted but i had wet myself and have had shakey hands for a while, my skin is burning
hot but at the same time i'm covered in a film of cold sweat, and my heart feels like it stops for a second and i don't take a breath, very strange sensation.

Please update your thread with your outcome as i'd like to know how you are doing.

Take care.
 
I just wanted to add that I've incurred a lot of heart issues from alcoholism. When I quit, I get really scary heart events, which includes plenty of angina, and skipped beats, arrythmias, etc. However, it's transitory, and I would not describe it as "unbearable". It doesn't really hurt that much. I do not get any associated numbness or radiating pain.

I would definitely try to get checked ASAP.
 
sick sinus possible? chest pain can be also sternum imflammation and if you being on relapse for more than 6+ you can get this because it heals and by extremely case 1 week half to be vanished from your sight.

i did had a friend with this condition, so sick sinus is similar to tachychardia but isn't, because your heart can even stop for 2 seconds, and while it does when it sneeze, remember your body mechanic is on it's own so a condition isn't and that's why a sneeze being related to fact that it also stops your heart, isn't dangerous because is controlled by itself but a configuration of sick sinus is not, is a full history of medical that should be reviewed at most by at least 2 doctors including family doc to ask for extra details if possible, other than well.. a discount prescription for compensated meds is best sometimes it offers you details because it knows your family root, etcera
 
until then I recommend you to moderate your sleep, so is best to watch out for any sudden changes like this when doc ask to mention.

is very important to know yourself when you speak of heart, my godfather had 4 heart surgeries and ATC or whatever called device on heart..
 
Well as I suspected, as soon as getting back on xanax, all the symptoms went away, most notably the chest pressure.

Also as soon as my inhibitions were gone, so to was coffee and vaping back on the table. Which means, its going to be harder for a doctor to take me seriously. But I really felt like I had no choice. Being stuck in bed in the feudal position is no way to live. I really need a nice slow taper, and I know my doc doesn't like that ( she's by the books).

Maybe I'll have to ask for a referral or just fucking do it myself. I already have access to all the drugs I need, mind you, diazepam is a lot more expensive than xanax presses, but still. Its got to be better than humiliating myself every single day walking into the pharmacy to get what is nothing more than a placebo dose of diazepam.

Sigh, I miss my old doctor. At least he understood up from down.
 
so then it just sounds like you have snowballing anxiety that probably makes your symptoms worse


now at anytime, you show up at the ER complaining of chest pain, they're gonna see you right away - so saying you're gonna be sitting around waiting when you get there, just isnt true


so go to the ER if it's really that bad next time - having them run tests and telling you that you're fine, might help calm you down too
 
Mr. Krinkle said:
so then it just sounds like you have snowballing anxiety that probably makes your symptoms worse


now at anytime, you show up at the ER complaining of chest pain, they're gonna see you right away - so saying you're gonna be sitting around waiting when you get there, just isnt true


so go to the ER if it's really that bad next time - having them run tests and telling you that you're fine, might help calm you down too
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Thats true, and you know I am glad for free healthcare, at the same time when anybody can go to the ER for any reason without any kind of financial disincentive, it really does slow things down to a crawl.

I remember going one time because I was having trouble breathing. I was there all night, and never even saw a doctor. I ended up just up and leaving after waiting 12+ hours. Maybe it would have gone faster if I mentioned chest pain, I don't know.

All I know is I absolutely hate the ER department. Its like they go out of their way to make it as uncomfortable as possible to stop bums from sleeping in there or something. I have an aunt that works as head nurse out of town. Once I was in the same city and had a minor eye infection. Couldn't find anywhere else in town to take a look at me, so she arranged for me to go to the ER, and I was given like VIP treatment. In, out, with an rx in like 5 minutes. I guess it really does depend on who you know.
 
50shadesofDave said:
Hi Pickled, you have just written a scenario that is very similar to mine, only i'm in the UK and it seems like a taboo subject with our NHS, i have those symptoms aswell, i had been using diaz for three years up to 30mg with no break, i got sent pills containing 'zenes' so i binned them, my plug sent me others which turned out to be bromaz and latterly alpraz fakes ( bad copies) i have been using these to try and help as the consequences of going to the local services are too harsh, and to not be put on a taper at the end of it.

I dropped the other evening, i don't know if it was a seizure or if i fainted but i had wet myself and have had shakey hands for a while, my skin is burning
hot but at the same time i'm covered in a film of cold sweat, and my heart feels like it stops for a second and i don't take a breath, very strange sensation.

Please update your thread with your outcome as i'd like to know how you are doing.

Take care.
Click to expand...
Well I had a very frank discussion with my dr this morning, and I think I made some progress.

I said basically everything I said here... that this cold turkey thing isn't working and that I need a proper taper. And I said for it to work, I need a real dose. I straight up said "I'm not sure you understand the kind of drop 8mg of alprazolam to 5mg of diazepam is" thats like reducing my dose by 95% and then expecting me to go into the clinic everyday while I'm in the worst of withdrawals. It makes no sense.

She said she is concerned about me overdosing. I said at these doses I am much more afraid to die of a seizure or heart attack than an overdose. I've been on suboxone for 10 years. I've been on benzos, for probably 5 years altogether but more like 2.5 years of habitual use, with a few breaks. My body is pretty damn well used to these drugs, it would take a lot to kill me I'm certain of it. One time I took 100 xanax bars ( long story) and I didn't die, I did shit the bed though, but point being, I didn't even have a tolerance back then.

Anwyay, I really didn't hold anything back.

And she was surprisingly receptive. She mentioned how when she has done benzo tapers before the clients had taken advantage of her, you know, continuing to use their normal dose while getting additional maintenance doses. And while I can understand the hesitancy, I straight up said, look, I can order as many benzos as I want, I don't need you for that. So I am here talking to you, because I want to get off them. What possible incentive do I have to lie?

I told her I'm afraid I might not make it one more cold turkey attempt so I need to try something new. And I'm not going into the clinic everyday for my dose that humiliating.

So yeah... I think it went well. I was perhaps a little too aggressive at the beginning, just my pent up frustration, but I apologized for it afterwards. We agreed to make a plan come mid August. So yay! I mean I really do hate to have to be a dick to get my way sometimes, but I guess thats how the world works.

Oh and since I've started taking xanax again, most of my symptoms have gone away. I'm not sure if that means, it was just withdrawal symptoms, or if there's something more happening that the xanax is just masking. I mean one of the things that drew me towards xanax in the first place was how it eased my chest pressure.
 
It was likely very serious withdrawl symptoms. I recently tried to quit cold turkey, had a seizure, chest pains, trouble breating, puked, diarrhea. I was fortunately able to source a few valium and xan and was able to some form of taper. During that worst day, because of the chest pains and breathing issues, I was a little worried I'd contracted covid on top of the WDs. An hour after taking 5mg valium 95% of the symptoms went away.

Scary shit
 
Didgital said:
It was likely very serious withdrawl symptoms. I recently tried to quit cold turkey, had a seizure, chest pains, trouble breating, puked, diarrhea. I was fortunately able to source a few valium and xan and was able to some form of taper. During that worst day, because of the chest pains and breathing issues, I was a little worried I'd contracted covid on top of the WDs. An hour after taking 5mg valium 95% of the symptoms went away.

Scary shit
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yes. benzo wd symptoms include all of that, and very serious weirdness w electrical systems ie seizures/heart etc.
 
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