Back from the living dead

Just as I was getting my Menieres disease under control, the pain in my hips began to get worse.  Long story short, I had to have double hip replacement surgery.  The surgeries went well ( 3 months apart for each one) and I am still recovering, but the last one,  left one leg an inch longer than the other leg.  This has become a major problem as I now walk with a limp and have a lot of pain in my back and legs.  Doc said to wait several months and do the daily exercises and walks and it may correct itself.  If not, I will have to have a custom lift made and wear ugly shoes.
I had been taking pain medication for several months before the surgeries as I was having trouble walking with all the pain in the hips, and once the lst surgery was scheduled I immediately stopped taking the pain meds.  (gabapentin and tramadol).  Three different docs had told me these were not addictive and I would be able to stop them with no problem.  Not true.  I immediately started having panic attacks, extreme anxiety, couldnt sleep at night without a light on, couldnt go into a dark room, or a movie or a restaurant without having a panic attack.  Couldnt stand to hear music or singing.  Forget about going into an elevator.  The claustaphobia was overwhelming.  I became a hermit curled up in bed in a well lit room.
After my surgeries, the hospital had to put me in a private room with the door left open and the light on at night.  The blinds had to be left open on the windows and I had to be able to see into the hallway.  The bathroom in my room had to have a light on and the door left open.  I had to spend 4 nights in the hospital after each surgery.
I cant begin to tell you how horrendous this was.  Now, after 8 months I am almost back to normal.  I googled these meds and asked for withdrawal symptoms instead of side effects, and right there on the computer was all the symptoms I had.  I read all the comments made by others trying to get off these drugs and it was a real eye opener.
It feels good to be back as I have missed my SOTH.  I posted a photo of myself at the hospital under my photos.