From: yday548715@a...

Date: Mon Mar 19, 2001 7:44 pm

Subject: My Recent Withdrawal Woes

Dear Groups:

I have had quite the adventure these past months and thought I would share my story with you as perhaps we can all learn something from what has recently happened to me. I have been free from xanax for quite some time now and had been feeling very well and functionable until this past Christmas when I started developing rashes behind my knees, in the inside of my thighs, in my armpits and along the insides of both arms. They were just miserable and itched incessantly and I was feeling very run down. Nevertheless, I continued to go forward with my life, eating very well and adding in more exercise as I believed that the rashes were an outward manifestation of toxins attempting to leave my body.

Now...I completely understand that some people think that the benzo toxins do not stay in the body for a long period of time and that the damage is incurred in the receptors of the brain. I don't intend to start a debate about this fact as there is no scientific study to prove or disprove these claims. For all I know, it could be some of both. That being said, approximately one month ago I had numerous "lumps" begin to appear under my armpits and at first they were very, very sore. They continued to get larger in size and continued to itch and this is when I started to become concerned. I went to my Doctor of Oriental Medicine/Homeopathy and spoke with a naturalpath...both were of the opinion that I had a "clog" in my immune system. I tried chinese herbs, a homeopathic remedy called lymphomyosot and acupuncture...none of these measures helped.

Then, in true benzo fashion, I started searching for other causes and an explanation of my symptoms. What I discovered was alarming....I had all the symptoms of Hodgkin's Lymphoma and by this time I was becoming franatic and decided to consult with a GP. He examined me and did various tests and concluded that I was suffering from a bacterial infection for which I was prescribed the antiobiotic, Avelox. Now the true horror begins. Shortly after taking this "super-antibiotic" I developed a severe life-threatening allergic reaction. Some of what I experienced was loss of vision, loss of control of bladder and bowels, feeling of suffocation and tightening of throat, disorientation, confusion, vomiting and nausea, terror, and the freezing up of my muscles. I could not even walk and my husband had to carry me to the car and rush me to the emergency room. It was like xanax withdrawal all over again except times one-thousand!!!

I was finally stablized at the hospital and was treated there by a wonderful doctor who also practices alternative medicine. His own father had gone through xanax withdrawal and he was quite sympathetic and took excellent care of me. He ran tests and determined that I did not have a bacterial infection; rather, the lumps under my arms were cysts. He recommended that I soak in Celtic Sea Salts and also to drink them. This is incredibly ironic since Geraldine had told me about the sea salts only days prior!

I definitely want to share the good news regarding the Sea Salts. I have been using them now for four days and all the cysts except for one have completely disappeared!! The rashes have entirely cleared up and while I still have occasional itching, it is nothing compared to what I originally experienced. I think this product is definitely worth investigating for anyone suffering benzo withdrawal. In my opinion, it is a very inexpensive, non-invasive method of helping to draw the toxins out of the body and not producing or excaberating existing withdrawal symptoms.

To learn more about the products you can call their 800 number: 1-800-867-7258 and their website is: www.celtic-seasalt.com. I started out by purchasing the 5lb bag of natural bath salt which sells for $36.00. If you buy a membership to the Grain & Salt Society for $15.00, the price is then lowered to $18.00. I bought the 1/2 lb. light grey salt for drinking which is $5.50 and $2.75 for members. I am now back to feeling incredibly well again and would highly recommend the sea salts to everyone.

Love and best wishes to you all, Yvonne