Re:withdrawal - Cecilia

[Guest guest]

> Dear Friends,

>

> I am having terrible withdrawals. Shakes, figity, can't sleep

-haven;t slept

> for 20 hours. HELP!

>

> Cecilia

>

> Cecilia

> soce@a...

> Mesa, Arizona

> Arizona Chapter Representative

> Pancreatitis Association International

> http://pancassociation.org/storieshome.html

Cecilia,

Having never been through this horrible experience I don't have

any personal advice that I can offer. Have you called your

physician to see what he can recommend for you? Surely he, or

the staff at the hospital, might have some suggestions for you. I

found this article on tips to help a person through withdrawal.

Maybe there will be something here that can help you.

To help cope with symptoms of withdrawal the withdrawing

person should:

Avoid large meals and heavy foods: Small, light meals and

snacks throughout the day are best , for example :toast, soup,

fruit, vegetables, dry biscuits, yoghurt or salads.

Drink lots of fluids -at least 2 litres a day (not alcohol): Avoid fizzy

drinks and stick to water, fruit juice, cordial and mineral water.

Aches and pains can be helped with warm baths, spas or

saunas, massage, or light exercise like swimming, walking or

stretching (especially if warm sunshine is involved).

Sleep disturbances. Disturbing dreams, night sweats and

disrupted sleep patterns and:difficulty falling asleep are normal.

Reassure them that they should sleep or nap whenever they

can;Try and dissuade them from using any type of sleeping

medication, it will only complicate the withdrawal and could

become habitual. Get up and keep them company early in the

morning or in front of a late night movie - talk, watch videos -

anything to help get through those long nightime hours.

Anger, frustration, paranoia and disturbed thoughts (particularly

with amphetamine withdrawal) are all part of withdrawal and

may at times be directed towards the support people. Don't take

it personally, try and remain calm and unflustered by it all, walk

away if you have to. Call a support line or seek professional help

if you feel you can't cope.

With some drugs such as amphetamines, benzodiazepines or

occasionally alcohol, the person withdrawing may become

violent. Do not put yourself or others at risk. If you feel you can't

cope - Dial 000 and request an ambulance.

Cravings for the drug are normal and are not a sign that the

withdrawal is failing, or of lack of willpower.

Its normal for the person to periodically feel that they can't go on

with the withdrawal, that the cravings are too severe, the

symptoms too uncomfortable, and that they won't make it.

Reassurance, support and distraction are what's called for here,

help them get through the next hour, then the next, and so on. If

the big picture is too big, or the future too scary for them,take it in

'baby steps'.

Stress, arguments, and upsets in general will worsen cravings

and symptoms - it's important to keep the environment calm,

keep anyone away who may upset the person withdrawing, and

provide lots of distractions like TV, videos, music, conversation,

food, light chores, walks etc.

The most important rules are:

Always have a clinician assess the individual for

appropriateness for home detox and have a health or drug and

alcohol professional aware of what you are doing for support.

Seek help immediately if you feel you can't cope, things get out of

hand, or the person withdrawing experiences fits, chest pains,

passes out, hallucinates or any other worrying phsyical

symptoms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take care, and keep us posted.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carollina

Southeastern Representative

Pancreatitis Association, Intl.