INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Anonymous

Tang, sorry you're going thru this now. I thought losing my hair was one of the toughest aspects of chemo. Wore bandanas with soft caps over. Soft berets at home. 

justmejanis

Good morning everyone.  I am new to this thread and hope you don't mind me jumping in to say hello.  I have had insomnia for most of my life, so finally decided to come here and chat.

I have only read a few posts but can tell this is a fun and lively bunch.  I love that, so nice to have a safe haven to come to in the wee hours.

Chevyboy I lived in Denver for many many years and love and miss it.  My youngest son and his wife live in Conifer.  I was lucky enough to get to go visit last year.  It makes me yearn to be back there.  My sister lives in Castle Rock, as does my niece.  Also I have a grown stepson near Colorado Springs.  I chuckled at your comment about breaking your arm.  I did that just over a year ago.  Not fun!  I color my own hair and was fortunate a good neighbor came over to do it for me.  My DH doesn't get why I color and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to let it go grey.  NOT! 

I have recently developed pretty significant pain in my left breast and underarm.  That is my non cancer breast.  I called the MO office this week and they got me in as soon as they could, so I go Friday.  It is a bit unnerving since I have been fine since my original diagnosis.  I only called because the pain has become worse the past few days.  I hate waiting!

So hello to all, and I really hope that I can add something to the group.  I look forward to getting to know you!

Janis

Chevyboy

Oh NO Janis!  Call those wart-heads as soon as you can!  I mean as soon as they will LISTEN to you!   Maybe you just pulled a damn muscle?  Or something like a virus, like I sometimes get in my neck, and shoulder?  We need to get to the bottom of this! 

Glad you loved Colorado!  I live over by old Elitch's in what used to be called North Denver.... but we have become "uppity" in the last few years, and are now referred to as "West Highlands!"  

I grew up a block away from here....  So this is just our "home"....  We never moved around...  It wasn't so much me afraid of getting lost,

just that we knew this area... 

Yes.... we must keep up the old facade'  of feeling like we look better with SOME color in our hair!   AND make-up.... don't forget the make-up....  keeps people from screaming when you pass by them!   So welcome....  just let us know what is going on, okay?

justmejanis

Chevy you are the first insomniac to reply!  It has been a long night.  I goofed off and caught up on some e-mail and browsed a bunch of recipe sites.  I think I gained ten pounds! 

I lived in Aurora two different times.  My first hubby is a geologist and he got his first professional job working for a company in Lakewood.  We had to settle in Aurora as we were then renting and had dogs and cats and very little time to house hunt.  We moved there from Reno.  The first time we lived there from 1974 to early 1977.  He got a new job in Casper, Wyoming so we relocated there.  That company actually relocated their main offices to Denver in 1978.  We went back to Aurora until 1988 then the company moved again to Houston.  I have moved so much!  Now remarried and currently in Idaho, but I definitely want to return to Colorado or Wyoming.  Sadly not possible.  Idaho just doesn't feel right!

I will keep you updated on the sad boobie!  Friday is not too bad, and hopefully I can get some answers.  I am sure they will order a mammo so guessing I won't know much until next week.

Oh my DH and I are both huge Bronco fans.  I was at such a loss after that Super Bowl!  Not so 'Super' for us, huh? 

Chevyboy

Tang and Maddy and "Hole"....  I'm just feelin' so bad that you guys are going through this!  Or have BEEN through that losing hair and toe-nails!  I'm just sorry for all of you! 

I didn't have chemo.... I whined too much, and was scared litshess so they felt sorry and said, "well, okay....she's a whiner."   So I'm still doing okay since 12/4/09!    I was so lucky, that the Mammogram found that spot... 

Teka, I don't even know what a "port" is....  Sorry for you gals that have had to go through this also....  I'm thinking it is some sort of implant that is used for the infusions, instead of going through veins? 

Oh, eeeeeks!  You gals are amazing. 

Bluebird....  that owl is just for Sassy, Ha!  That will make her laugh...!

Spookie, you are getting all technical on here with the "Alaalphalippic" stuff!  I don't have a clue.... and I KNOW Cammi doesn't either.  We are busy girls...  dancing and changing dresses and stuff. 

Phyllidink!  You guys are ALL brats!  But I love the damn SHOES!  I'll have to add them to my collection...  And Littlegoats, those are TOOO funny, Ha!   And what is remedial?  Is that like a remedy or something?

Morning Wren!  You have a stiff ankle?  And you fell?  What's going on?  You know, I saw my neighbor yesterday, on crutches, so I went out, with my trusty walker, and hobbled out to the front, and said, "Hey neighbor, what did YOU do?"  She tripped or slipped on something, and broke her ankle?  I couldn't hear very well, from across the street... But I figure a WALKER is much easier than crutches!   She must not be able to put any weight on that leg?  

I was out there, along with my chicken neighbor, and her 2 little girls, AND their little Chihuahua running back and forth across the street, and me hollering at her that her DOG is down the BLOCK~!   And her and her clueless chicken-look just stands there!   So when I get back in my yard I hear the 2 dogs fighting!  Good God I can't stand pets getting hurt, and their lame-brain owners standing there without nary a care in the world!   It's a wonder she didn't take the chickens WITH her... like to visit the neighbors! 

Ziggers you little shit!   I saw that!  But it IS funny..... about Cammi calling GG, "Hole"....   Cammi only says it because she is funny.... she THINKS funny...  not to MENtion types funny!   She is our "special" one.   And GG don't care either...   we're funny that way.

I can TELL Sass is still asleep, because our owls are all sitting there looking at us, and not flying all over the place...!  Would someone please tell me what they did to Sass?  Was it her Thyroid?  And how did I miss this?   Just make it simple...  I'm wounded.

Chevyboy

camillegal

Welcome Janis--we seemed to evolve into a 24 hr. thread so someone is here all the time--I hope u find u'r answers and truly hope they are things that can be dealt with easily. We need easy.

This is a fantastic group and I think u will enjoy everyone and loads of infor especially from our Sas who is now recovering from a thyroidectomy.

So we'll all be here for u.

I'm just getting moving this morning, I "boss" was here last nite for about an hr. and I chased him home to his beautiful bride-Oh damn he's so sweet and Chevy he told me I gave him a great idea in my ramblings, tho I don't know what it is--I was great. This old lady still has ideas, even tho I don't know it.

Oh and look who dropped in Phyloanklenobracelet--obviously it's off or she'd be hear now. OK I'm trying to wake up-(shut up Chevy) it will happen usually at 9PM WTF.

Teka

justmejanis *Owlette*, Welcome!   Positive results Friday.

Good Morning!!

Chevy, chemo port tube goes in a vein or artery.   Sweet little girl.

sas, still restttttttttttttttttttttttt

camillegal

Chevy u were in a drug induced happy place when we talked about Sas's thyroid taken out--Sas I hope u'r feeling beter every minute.

Tang how is u port placement feeling today, I remember I worked 2 dys later, but I was uncomfortable (I was trying to save my sick days) I'm sorry that they had a difficult time finding the right place to put it. I remember the BS examining me all over the place, then he started drawing on me and it went well, but u'r spot might not have been conducive for it--so maybe u'll hurt more. I hope not.

justmejanis

Chevy, Cami, Teka.....thanks so much for the warm welcome.  I am really happy I found this thread and have a place to visit if I am up late nights.  Seems like a great group....supportive and carefree and fun.  I like!  I'll even visit during the daytime. 

Getting ready to feed our little family.  We have two Golden Retriever's.  Both are from a rescue in Colorado.  Also three cats, they are all shelter kitties.  We are such suckers, but due to the economy we are forced to hang the 'No Vacancy' sign out.  We are very happy with our fur family.  Both of our Golden's....Murphy and Sampson, are about nine and we are blessed they have lived this long.  Wonderful breed, but they have a terribly high mortality from cancer.  We lost our first Golden, Spencer Radley, to a very aggressive cancer when he was barely five.  My son lost his cherished Golden 'Will' to cancer last May.  I lost my mom to cancer 15 years ago.  Damn I hate this disease with a passion.

Be well, one and all.  Take good care and thanks again for the happy thoughts! 

Teka

Is this one of your 3 kitties?

4sewwhat

Good Morning!!!

So you talked me into it!  I have color on my hair!  Roots were looking sad.  I may or may not be sitting here in a "robe" I acquired form a mamogram facility some years back because I thought it might be useful when coloring my hair 

Sas, hope you feel better even if you don't sound it.  My kids LOVE it when I have to yell at a whisper!

Hi Janis!!

Cami, you know you are brilliant! of course you still have good ideas, even if you don't know it!

Hi Teka, your pics are making me hungry!

Phylo!  I took Metanx through chemo, I actually requested it to try to prevent the neuropathy.  They have a generic called Vitaric-B.  I just filled mine yesterday.  Don't know if it helped but it sure didn't hurt.  I ended up with very few problems and I still have neuropathy in the ankle I shattered but it is SLOWLY getting better.  I have another list of things I take that are supposed to help and I will find it and post it for you.

Tang!  I did ice during chemo, both hands and feet.  I had one big toe nail lift but didn't lose any.  I had lines show up in my fingernails that seemed to be consistant with each treatment and they have finally grown all the way out and toe is back to normal.  I finished chemo 8/13.  Best of luck to you in the trenches!

Linda, have a great visit with your sister.

Prayers for Lilli and her family!

Ziggy, you crack me up.  Fit right in with Chevy and Cam! Give 'em hell, they need it!!

2nd time, Spookie, BlueBird and Wren!  Hope things are going well!

Nice Shoes Lil'Goats!!  More ice your way?  PLEASE do not send it my direction.  I can't take my kids home again this soon!

Hi O!  I like it!  Better than I da Ho!!  or just plain hole!  Hope you are well and glad you are done with rads!

And CHEVY!  I will sit on my ass for a while if you so.  Nurse asked me yesterday if I was active.  DA  then she got a funy look and said she forgot who she was talking to.  I have to go have my booblette drained again today because I am being too active.  I like it like this!  Might not be a good thing but it looks pretty nice.  It wants to be a grown up boob again and it fighting for that!!!  So depressing to go watch it deflate AGAIN.  So I will take it easy if you do.  NOT, but what's a girl to do?  Hope you are feeling well and getting around ok.!

I know I have missed many!  Sorry about that.  Hope everyone is having a great week!

camillegal

4 U sound so much better right now--I hope it is going better for you---slow down is so hard for u--I wish I had some of u'r energy.

Little busy today--so BBL

4sewwhat

Things are exceptionally good right now Cami!  All things considered.....  YOu do have energy!  YOu keep going no matter what.  I love you for that!

Holeinone

Good Morning to all, 

Janis, WELCOME ! I am 2 hours south from you in Twin Falls. Small world. This bunch has kept me from, well, instead of going to the nuthouse, I joined this crazy party.

Chevy, great image of you outside with the trusty walker, kids, stray dogs and loose chickens. You need a horn for your wheels & a whistle. It's your job to keep that neighborhood in line. Hell, you have been there long enough, you own the place!

4sew, as always you are large & in charge. Shoot, wish I would of thought to get myself a "gown". My hair is very white/grey. I bit DH head off last night we he starting telling me for the hundredth time how much he like my QTIP head.....arrrg, I need to have my hairdresser color the 1 inch mess, trim the neck up. Then I might keep it up myself. So expensive to have them do it. I have calicks (sp) everywhere.

Chevster, the girl & fish.....cute....unusual, little girls usually hate fish...

tangandchris

Hi janis!

Cami-I am working today actually haha, even though I'm trippin. I got about 4 hours of sleep and my upper body feels sore as heck. I'm worried about taking time off too, I'll be okay today...thankfully I work from home.

So, I'm beginning to think that my pain meds are causing me insomnia. I called the pharmacist and she acted like I was asking a bizarre question, but I've noticed on the nights that I have taken them I can NOT sleep. Worse than normal I should add.

Anyway...I'm just pressing on! I've heard about the ice and the nail thing, but that just sounds brutal to sit with ice on my fingers.

Someone was talking about coloring their hair...I tried to put some hot pink strips on mine this weekend. FAIL! everytime I'd run my hand on the strip, hair would come out haha

 

Holeinone

Sas......hoping your throat, neck, head is starting to feel a little better....

Tang, the port ( I have a POWER port, sounds like super women ) is strange at first, but somehow like all this crap, it becomes ok...I still freak out a little when I see it poking out...I am keeping mine for a few more months...

Dinner Party @ my house.....what in the heck was I thinking....not in the mood, thankfully it's a pot luck...

camillegal

OK OK  Tang needs help on hair going first. (IMHO) Shave the rest off otherwise u look lopsided it's all going to com off anyway so no it will look like it's supposed to be--Now for statement--Of course u can get a wig closest to u'r hair color if u cn. But most of the time u might not feel like wearing it. so u get a few really cute hats--colors too and wear them a little (just a little) tilted with big sparkly earrings, if u wear a scarf make sure they're are not silky or they will slip, learn how (if u don't know) to tie them with a pretty knobby tpe bow and again wear big earrings--always earrings--and lite make-up but do u'r eyes (if u can) with some color and use u'r eye-lashes as long as u can with mascara so they show up and if u have blue or green eyes I'm very jealous-but wear complimentary colors with them, brown to ---if u wear a knit beret type hat wear a big sparkly pin on it and let u'r earrings be smaller.---I did work like that for four months---then I had to use my time cuz then I got my deboobish operation--but it looked good and I don't wear hats very well, but I had to (in my head, I thought) so if u do wear them, wear them with pizzaz--it makes u feel better.

camillegal

Now Hole what I did the first time--my hair was all white--so I reversed foiling to dark brown and had what looked like platinum streeks--I liked it just saying u don't have to have it done as much or just dye it all and u'll feel better

Wren44

Tang, In cold weather fleece is both soft and warm. I've watched some scarf tying videos online. There's a series by a super cute Moslem woman who explains how to tie the headgear. Man, talk about a lot of work. Not suggesting you do that, but she's so cute they're fun to watch. One of our departed members had a red bandana with dreads attached. Sounded cute and fun - she's a blonde.

tangandchris

Cami-I know I gotta shave it, I wish ya'll could all come for a "shaving party" so if I cried you could all make me laugh. I'm not going the wig route though, I've already decided that it isn't me. I'm gonna scarves and hats. BUT....I've got a big head and I'm having trouble finding hats that fit. Thanks for the make-up and earrings tips. I thought about the earrings, I gotta go do some shopping

Wren44

Tang, You might look on Etsy for hats. Anyone there could probably make one to order that would fit well. I share the big head problem. DH wears a smaller hat than I do.

Holeinone

tang, that would be a "hoot". We would give ya a little Mohawk first ! I'll bring the wine...:)

blondiex46

Sassy so glad you are back, take care of yourself!!

4sewwhat

Shaving Party!  I'm in!  I will bring the chips and dip!

TLC had lots of cute hats and stuff too!  I also remember seeing a place called www.TurbanDiva.com  too!

sas-schatzi

Oh Owlettes, Some very weird things are happening. I've googled them and no answers. I'm having these wild mood fluctuations---wild.  Bit two peoples heads of on the phone------totally not me. I've already called and apologized. 

I'm suspicious of Wellbutrin--LOL 3A4. Have no ides what all was given too me. So don't know if those drugs are going through my funky pathways. Besides not sure what the malfunctioning thyroid hormone was doing.

Pawprints comment that she's trying to catch up on reading and she says I'm talking this different language. Chevy says ( I can imagine her patting Pawprints shoulder). Don't worry sas does that ever once in awhile, she'll be okay in awhile.

Breakthrough-AHhah--Chevy's so totally right. I get on a soapbox and you tolerate it Thank you then I find normalcy again.

All of you thanks for thinking of me and your words have been wonderful. Warms the soul.

Sorry some are having trouble . Tang you have had so much good advice----CAMI said it best do it with pizzzaz---------cancer may make everything shit. But we can fight that with looking spectacular--fuck cancer, put on that spectacular head gear, make-up, and wild beautiful earrings. Then walk naked in the park. Only if no ones around otherwise you get a ticket.When the cops ask why you aren't dressed the answer is "But OH MY officers, I AM, I have my make up on, and my beautiful scarf" "A lady is always dressed when she has her makeup on"

sas-schatzi

Janis ----Helllllllloooooooooo we are here 24 hours a day. that makes it nice , very nice, we know each other in the night and day. Krips that sounds like all my college roommates. LOL, they were the best. Yes lots of the best here. Not able to hold on to you problem right now b/c mind malfunctioning. I do know the other gals have a handle on it.

Ziggy--------akron and cleveland here. were we neighbors?

Spookie Yoda called------he says two weeks ----fingers crossed

FierceBluebird

Tang, I also had a rough time getting my port put in. It really hurt a lot in the beginning. I started chemo the day after they put it in and it turned out to be a godsend. I was happy to have it. 

Is there any chance a Friends are by Your Side salon is near you? They will cut your hair and provide a wig at not cost. I did not wear a wig for the most part, but did use it on occasion. I mostly just wore cotton baseball caps. But I loved Martino Cartier the celebrity who founded Wigs N Wishes and Friends are by Your Side. He made me feel like a rock star and getting my hair shaved was an event.

http://friendsarebyyourside.com/find-a-salon-2/

Sas, I'm convinced anesthesia plays havoc on some people. I am a different person after surgery for a few days and pain pills also cause me insommnia sometimes. I just don't handle drugs well!

camillegal

Sas I agree with Bluebird, especially that now everyone comes home so soon, so u figure OK I'm home but all this stuff hangs around for a few days that's why I think we notice it more now, maybe.

Tang I hve a huge head, my kids still tease me about it so I know but some hats and wigs come in large and that was me,.I had a wig, I think I wore it once, but it is nice to have one and don't forget especially now a sleep cap it's more important than u think,, when I had summer chemo it was fine but winter chemo when u'r head is cold u'r whole body gets colder--even rhat had rhinestones in the front. And I wish we could all be there for u--everyone is different I was so glad to get my hair off--cuz I always had the ugliest hair to work with so I figured I was rid of it. But it did grow back and s far it's much better than it was no frizz. I was one huge Brillo pad.

See I really can't help in any medical ways cuz I honestly never paid attention to what the Drs. would told me, when they'd hold my hands I turned them off completely but I do know about how to hide spots on u'r face and how to wear make-up and accessorize thing when u don't have boobs cuz I never got recon--so that why I go in such detail--that's all I know LOL

sas-schatzi

Bluebird----it was so weird hearing the words and tone coming out of my mouth--------AND their was a part of me that wanted it to continue. Never heard it out of my mouth before. So, Wellbutrins out the door. 

But Ya'll may think this to harsh ----the last nurse documented somethings that weren't true. Have a call out to the assistant nurse manager. She documented discharge temp as 99----it was a 100. The Norco script I tore up said I didn't need it ,and I ONLY get controlled substances from one doc---gave her the lesson blah blah. She charted I received a script for Norco.__--seems harmless. Then gave me antibx script keflex--I asked her if she didn't have a problem with this?---NO---I'm allergic it was on my wristband and front of chart----------That's Sat nite

I went into ER Sun morning for swallowing difficulty-----intake nurse said you were just here last night and got a Norco script------had to do a third degree explanation. Her ATTITUDE changed as soon as she saw the discharge the night before. ER nurses are always looking for drug seekers._--------She closed her thoughts to anything I said. 

So, I will take action sounds harsh, but this young nurse needs to learn, you don't alter the medical record. PERIOD. If I have to take action against her license I will.  I know sounds way out of bounds to think of taking someones license.

There was an article about a fella that woke in the middle of the night and saw where there were BP's recorded in time periods he wasn't awake. It wasn't a situation where he slept through them. He took every action he could--civil, criminal, license revocation. ---the same assist nurse manager, I have the call out too. Read that article in a staff meeting.......Same floor ----another assist nurse manager from a BSN program saw a nurse do a similar thing at a different hospital and she was this nurses preceptor. Preceptor was teaching the student how to break the law.

I"m a bitch---------------YAY