Date: Mon Feb 4, 2002 9:31 am

Subject: Re: Old timers?? I'd love to hear from you....

Hi ****** !

If I'm not mistaken, you and I have corresponded before.

Congratulations on your 1 year!

Your lingering symptoms are quite common, and something that I

experienced just prior to my one year mark. By my 9th month I had already

began to increase my exercise enough to break through the fatigue barrier,

but of course that contributed more to the muscle aches. One thing that you

may want to consider is the idea that the Darvocet you're tapering from will

also cause muscles aches and cramps. That is one of the major symptoms of

withdrawal from that medication. A taper may minimize the problems, but it

will be there none the less.

Depending upon how severe your fatigue is, you may wish to perform as

many duties as you can during your moments of energy, then allow yourself a

short break when the fatigue sets in. I used to have enough energy to

perform my job well back then, but often I was tired by the early afternoon.

When I could, I came home and rested for an hour or so. Fortunately I have a

very flexible job. I even went as to have a few cups of tea. While coffee

was too extreme for me at that time (1-2 pots a day now!) I was able to

tolerate tea rather well. The boost of the mild caffeine and the short rest

shook me out of my fatigued state. That's usually about the time I hit the

gym so I could increase my aches and pains! LOL!

I'm 19 months benzo free now. The symptoms are gone, and all that's

left is the continuous job of sorting out what happened all of those months.

It's easy at times to attribute certain things that don't feel right to

withdrawal. I know that I'm free of withdrawal, but my mind likes to play

tricks on me from time to time. The final stage of the job seems to be

forcing one's self to continue on in the manner that was common before

benzos. Not exactly easy all the time, but necessary to undo all of life's

interruptions that were so prominent during withdrawals. It sounds as though

you're at the end of the hard stuff. A little more time and some effort will

polish off the rest.

Congratulations again!

Pete