INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

M0mmyof3

Got myself into a minimum of trouble today. Did laundry, finished one assignment, revisions on another and figured out dinner. I'm so done with today.

lizlori

Hi Everyone, Decided to stop lurking and say Hello. My issues with not being able to sleep seems to have taken over my quality of life and I am determined to figure out how I can get myself to relax and stop obsessing over the fact that I can't get to sleep, stay asleep and even sleep peacefully once my body gives in. I was taking ativan daily for a couple of years until my new Doc got her undies in a knot about me taking this daily. (My old primary Doc moved away) and so now I don't have that option to take this magic pill daily and now only take .25mg two or three times a week, but feel guilty for even taking that much. I did have had a sleep study which showed nothing with breathing or restless leg syndrome. The sleep specialist prescribed ambien but this just doesn't help at all, and am only able to sleep four hours and then feel groggy the next day. It scares me what lack of sleep is doing to my body immune system. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Jazzygirl

Liz- Welcome to our thread. You will find folks posting here 24/7.

I go through times where I cannot stay asleep. I can usually fall asleep (unless I have any caffeine too late), but cannot stay asleep. I use an eye pillow with lavender to help me relax. My sister told me today she is learning to drink some hot milk before bed. More natural remedies for your consideration, but it sounds like you would like that vs. a pill? Give these a try. If you are on the anti-hormone stuff, they can really mess up your sleep.

JunieB

lizlori - Welcome to the thread! These ladies are a lot of fun and support, but if you've been lurking for awhile then you already know that. Have you ever tried valerian root? It is a natural sleep aid and comes in capsules. Also, if you visit mercola.com there is melatonin spray that is $14.97 for one bottle. It contains melatonin/valerian root/tryptophan/hops and some other things. It might be worth a try.

Lookforward

hi Liz welcome to the thread. I don't have trouble sleeping, l just like to stay up late. We are night owls in my family. Have you tried meditating or night time yoga with deep breathing. A nurse suggested a sleeping pill for me before I began treatment, but I felt wiped the next day. I agree with Jazzy a glass of hot milk is soothing, I have hot chocolate sometimes.

Smaarty your quilt is wonderful, is that machine embroidery. I have a quilting machine, but I haven't tried the embroidery stitches yet, I need some lessons.

Sass sounds like your having fun with your house guest.

JWoo you look like you are in college, your pictures are very inviting. Hoping to do some travelling this year.

Our kitchen Reno starts next week, I need to clean out cupboards and make some meals to freeze

JunieB

Mommyof2 - That sounds more like work than trouble.

Smaarty - Your quilt is beautiful. It is difficult to find quilters there in Sacramento?

Sas - I know what you mean about the gray weather. Today was ANOTHER one of those days and windy/cold. So far this winter we've had 30" inches of rain in the Willamette Valley. This week is my week off of the oral chemo and today has been my day to be extremely exhausted. I showered/dressed, went to the post office, had lunch and I was wiped out. Came back home and went back to bed. I didn't even hear a friend of mine come into my apartment to drop off the cooler she is lending me to go to Calif.

From reading your posts I imagine you are a very strong woman and am surprised you would put up with anyone being abusive to you in YOUR own home.

Also, Ms. Sas, those braces might be ugly, but they sure help a whole bunch. They fit into your shoe and if you wear pants, you can't even see them.

JWoo - Beautiful pictures. I've been in Oregon for 10 years now, but have not had the chance to get up to Washington State yet. Will get there when my puppy comes, beacause I'll have to drive up to get him. If/when I ever hear if the momma is pregnant.

Does anybody know how Ms. Chevy is? I haven't seen any posts from her recently. I hope she's o.k.

In regards to my family search, today I called the prosecutor's office in Dayton, Ohio. Apparently they don't have their older cases (i.e., year of 2000) on a computer database, so they told me they would try to find the advocate for the case involving my father and they'd get back to me. So we'll see.

Meadow

Snappy, liz and funthing, welcome! I am still a newbie here, and welcome the newest!

Lookforward, I love that warmer. I am impressed by your knitting.

Sas, you might have been a bazillionaire!

jwoo, thank you so much for the pics

JWoo

Ha- thanks ladies! I just had my 40th bday in December, so def not college-age any more. though I do my best to stay immature youthful. I certainly don't feel emotionally 40, although sometimes i feel physically about 140.

Lover, my hoodie says Fxck Cancer. Here is a little bit about the ordganization:

The F C Cancer Foundation "Fxck Cancer" was started in Huntington Beach, California by our friend Brandon McGuinness after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2005. He was an avid surfer, skater, snowboarder, and loved by everyone who knew him. Brandon lost his life to cancer in 2007 at the very young age of 26 years old. He started the F C Cancer Foundation in order to help victims and their families battle this terrible disease.

It really expresses how I feel most days, and $ goes to a good cause.

Sas, I could live without seeing the sun more than once a week. All it does is burn me!

Hi Liz, welcome. insomnia seems to be the biggest side effect of cancer. Have you ever tried Lunesta? I took that for several years off and on, and it really helped me. I can't take ambian at all.

Mommy- staying out of trouble is good!

MO appt today went really well, still NED, and now I only have to go in once every 6 months! yay!

susan3

I hope Chevy didn't leave this board. She mentioned it when spooks said bye. Hope they both come back. I don't know what went on, and actually don't want to get involved in whatever it was. Just hope fences get mended. I love reconciliation

funthing42

Hi

Thank you. It's just strange to be on the opposite side.

I was almost a year out from radiation for the second time and now yuk.

I needed more Rads same side because it came back locally in skin a month after finishing chemo. Yuk again.

A little remission would be great. This every year crap is for the birds.

Tomorrow is my biopsy. Cool bear pic.

Thanks for support and advice.

sensitivehrt

Man, now I know where to come when I wake up at 2am in the morning. I was just diagnosed last Monday 3/7/16 with idc grade 2. Waiting for my referral to go thru to oncology/breast surgeon. Having a hard time sleeping lately!

susan3

good luck ladies. Prayers your way

Loveroflife

Yes Jazzy, sleep is a gift.

No Ms. Sas, I don't have trouble sleeping. Like Forward, I like to stay up late and want to sleep in in the morning. Night time is my quiet time.

JunieB, hopefully your dizziness goes away soon.

Jwoo, NED is music to the ear. I knew two kids (16 and 12) who passed away from leukemia. My MIL lost her life to Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Too many young people are affected. Thank you for sharing your story about your friend.

Welcome Sensitive. It was scary for me at the beginning and I lost both my appetite and sleep. Hang in there.

Yes Susan, I would love to see reconciliation too. I have been mourning the loss.

Loveroflife

Ms. Smaaarty, those can't be your legs behind the quilt. Did you notice that Sensitive is from Sacramento?

M0mmyof3

Drinking coffee and listening to the news.

feelingfeline

Smaarty - beautiful. Love the unity of the way the flowers are done.

JWoo - WooHoo!

queenmomcat

Funthing42: in your pocket for the biopsy.....

Smaarty

yes, just saw Sensitive's post. So Sentative, 2 of us on here are in Sacramento. If you need to talk or cry, give a yell. The beginning of this crap is very taxing. Are you with Kaiser? Lover still works but I'm retired. PM or send a message here.

No those are not my legs or feet! Friend was holding it up for me. Haha

Good luck with the biopsy. We need a pocket party for Sensitive and fun thing.

M0mmyof3

MO appointment went well today. Now back to my normal routine

sensitivehrt

I'm with UC Davis, though my sister has a friend that works at Kaiser BC center that has given some support. I got a number from my doctor today to check on my referral. They had put my referral in the wrong spot and originally told me it could be another 7-10 days for it to be "reviewed". Thankfully my co-worker pushed me to call back. The lady that has to do the review answered the phone and was able to do what needed to be done. Meet with the surgeon on March 31st. 2 weeks seems so far away. Just going to keep myself busy in the meantime.

Loveroflife

Welcome Liz.

Hugs, MammaRay. Good for you for choosing to focus on the positive.

Funthing, hope your biopsy went smoothly.

JunieB, more energy today?

Sensitive, two weeks seems like eternity. I'm glad you have support outside of BCO. I remember feeling very lonely at the beginning as I didn't know about this site and others who had BC.

Down with a cold. Took a two hour nap. Now I need to get my behind unstuck from the recliner and start making dinner.

Hello to all I didn't mention and hugs to lurkers ( you know who you are).

susan3

just rearranged my front room furniture. Love doing that

Loveroflife

pics?

susan3

lover, nothing special. I will post when all done. Having a shower for Claire on April 9 th. I know that seems far away, but when I got tons of energy, got get stuff done. All the shopping is done, and rearranged furniture so I can entertain. Everything I bought for decorations, are useable for them. Diaper cake, baby clothes on clothes lines, blocks for tables, and baby wash cloths that Dan and I are going to make origami animals out of. Doing diaper cake and oragami animals tomorrow. I will post those tomorrow.......if they are cute

sas-schatzi

Smarrty, Lovely pic of Evie, just lovely . That owl is beautiful. Amazing the owl species, so many looks,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Welcome Liz I have some stuff in the topic box on sleep. The one that may at least amuse you is about "second sleep". The story on it has only been resurrected by science recently. I found it fascinating. First heard of it on a documentary on TV, then NPR., and then in print. What we considered abnormal was normal at one time. Our lives are so stressed with time demands, we are fatigue overwhelmed all the time. Do a serious look at Melatonin. Our bodies are designed for it. We have a special enzyme path in the liver for it. That took thousands and thousands of years to develop.

Lookie, I didn't give him a chance the next day to be negative. I suggested the wildlife refuge. Birds and alligators. The birds and alligators cooperated by being present. Oddly, at times they don't. Visitor finally accepted he has a cold. DBF hit the doldrums with it last night and today.

Junie, well, never had anyone be abusive that was visiting. New scenario. Plus, he has an old craniotomy. He's not sure why they did it 17 years ago. My perception is they're is brain damage. He is disabled from it. Cutting him some slack b/c not sure of all the details. Plus, I had a craniotomy too. But for the grace of God, I may have turned out like him. AND DBF Donnie hasn't seen his brother in 25 years.

Meadow, wouldn't it have been nice to be a bazillioaire. The best though was when the first patient came in with the sleeves on just as I instructed 'someone' that told her. A pebble thrown into a pond sends a ripple that we will never know how far it goes.

sas-schatzi

Jwoooooo, No sun is to your liking, then Seatlle would be a wonderful place to be, Wish it could be. Greg and I never were ready at the same time to do exactly what we wanted. We were always so ready to make sure they other one was happy. One time though, when Greg found out I gave the dream up of being a midwife to follow him. He was pissed that I never said anything.

Welcome Sensitiveheart, I'll call you Sensi

Funthing, bx is over? Hope all went well. missed the pocket party, sorrrrry.

MammaR hugs and kisses..................

Wren44

Sensi, In the beginning all we want to do is get rid of the cancer. You do have time to research and decide what you would like to do. Circumstances might change what is best, but at least decide your preference. Some choices are whether lumpectomy or mastectomy and recon or no recon. If you want recon, read up on the various types. It's really important that you like and trust your care team. You can also get a 2nd opinion before deciding. Hugs.

sensitivehrt

Yes, I'm trying to research as much as possible, but also trying not to overwhelm myself. I also have other health issues (Neurofibromatosis) which I wonder will factor into my decision process. With the neurofibromatosis (NF for short), B9 tumors can grow anywhere there are nerves. I'm worried that hormone therapies will increase the growth of those tumors. Also curious as how they will stage my cancer (I've been told prob Stage 1). Also with family history of several different cancers (thyroid, colon, bc) if that will effect my treatment options.

M0mmyof3

Still trying to wake up, have not had my morning go-go juice (coffee) yet

Shellshine

Chevy, you are just all over the place!. I've been lurking the boards the past year but haven't written much. Just thought I would say hi

I turned another year older today....