INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours
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This is one of my soapbox things. LOL who me soapboxing.T he reason I ask is I too react to drugs at standard dosing. I found out why. CYP 3A4 & 3A5 are abnormal. 50% of all drugs are metabolized through these two routes in the liver. Only 5% of the population have a 3A4 abnormality, 7% have a 3 A5 abnormality. But there is not % for my abnormality. One's slow the other fast. LOL I"M rare. But you may be too. Genelex does testing for it.
Let me give you and example. I can take 5mg of oxy and it works for 24 hours.
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sas--the conversation with the RN was re: meds taking...this was after taxol but still on the same meds I am now (for cancer). They had prescribed me 1mg of Ativan. Told me it was for sleep, anxiety, and nausea. So I took it every night for anxiety. I slept very well. No issues. RN said no can't do that. So cut me back to .5mg 20 pills. Sleep issues ever since. I tried 15mg restoril. Not enough. 30 too much. Tried nortriptoline (sp?) put me to sleep for 24 hrs. Tried melatonin. Worked for a little while. Tried Benadryl. Too groggy in am. Finally persuaded them to give me ambien. I know it works. I take 5mg. Nothing weird happens with me...but it's starting not to work. So I'm taking an Ativan with it if it doesn't work within an hr. Psychiatric NP just prescribed me trazadone 25mg hoping that will help and maybe replace ambien. I guess I'm just wondering why take me of for the1mg Ativan if it worked so well in the first place! My friend who has stage 4 colon cancer, he and his wife take 2mg at least once a day. ?? Blah. My eyes are blurry now so I think I'll try to sleep :
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Kjones- I tried trazadone and it didn't do anything. You can go up on the dose they started you on. 1mg of ativan does nothing for me. I tried restoril and had a weird reaction where I just moved constantly all over the bed. I woke up exhausted. DH headed for the couch. I took it for 5 days and bailed. My PCP gave me 5mg of ambien and it is heaven sent so far, it works and not hung over. These days I can take 1-2 naps a day and still sleep at night. They increased the spironloactone and I make multiple trips to the bathroom all night- it's worth it.
Not getting enough sleep is miserable. It has never made any sense to me why a stage 4 cancer patient can't take the meds that work for them. I hope you get the ativan back.
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KJones a pox on them they didn't listen--it worked for you. 1mg Ativan at sleep is just fine. Hells bells I was taking 4mg plus 10mg of melatonin. But I was working with my PCP. Your RN had to be and ARNP. RN 's can't prescribed. Just as all docs aren't equal in knowledge, neither are ARNP's. I respect ARNP's to a degree, but they have weaknesses in their education. They are not even close to an MD. ARNP's would be outraged to here that, some would say I agree. Off that soapbox.
You say you took it every night for anxiety. Anxiety is a word our brain doesn't know." What our brain knows is it works and overworks. It can be so busy that it allows us no rest." Study that phrase well. I just made it up, but it is the root of so much trouble. How we calm our minds for sleep is not easy. Prior to BC I never took anything for sleep. Then I was desparate for sleep. I started this thread in those times. ChrissyB told me about Melatonin. Bless her. But she suggested up to 6mg. Didn't work. I thought I was off the charts at 10mg and then found in the search that up to 20 mg was okay. But that still didn't work. I was prescribed Ativan 2mg twice a day. I took the two pills at the same time with the 10mg of melatonin and finally got some sleep. PCP was okay with it.
Kj....our minds do become adjusted /acclimated/tolerant to meds.... then we need to know how to switch to something else.
Restoril 30 mg is a standard dosing. A typical hospital order is 15mg may repeat x's 1. total dose 30 mg. I found for me 30mg was too much. No clue in the awful time what would have been right. I truly wish I knew. Just plumb forgot about the drug. Earlier I wrote about each benzo having it's particular characteristic. Restoril's is sleep. In a do over I would love to have know what the effect of Restoril would have been. Lordy, hope I don't have to do a do over.
Yes, something stops working try something else. Consider some of the sleepy teas. Sounds crazy. but they've been around for centuries.
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OKAY....I present you Viet Nam. Be prepared to be bombarded with pictures. I have been working on this "assigned project" (given to me by the playground monitor) for 2 days. I hope you enjoy what I gathered.
Northern Viet Nam-notice the rice fields in the middle of pic.
Rice paddies--Viet Nam is the top five exporter of rice.
Backbreaking labor
Many mountain ranges and.....
....dense forests throughout the country.
Pristine beaches of VN found in the south peninsula
There are over 50 ethnic minority and indigenous groups. Most live in mountainous areas.
A rickshaw handler waiting for customer(s). Cheapest (and slowest) way to travel.
High school students in traditional white Ao Dai
Lotus and flowers sellers
Mangosteens- my favorite fruit
Rambutan
Durian-tastes like heaven, but stinks like hell to me
Milk Apple- very refreshing when chilled
Dragon fruit
Chiku-should only be eaten when ripe, if not you will be miserably plugged
Star fruits
Flamboyant trees- sign of summer (even though it's hot year round in the middle and south VN)
Hoa Mai or Ochna Integerrima- sign of spring
Lotus
Pho (beef noodle soup)-one of my comfort foods
Bun rieu (crab/shrimp noodle soup) another of my comfort foods
Sticky Rice with corn- yummy breakfast I often had growing up
Vietnamese "expresso"- French influence
Westernized city
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I take 100 mg Trazodone for sleep; obviously not working well tonight, it's 12:30 here....
Never talked cytochrome 450....will look it up tomorrow
Ambien worked for me but one night I bought a lof of people Nutrisystem online! Then, my DH says I had a party in my pants on my own, like he wasn't present. Couldn't be trusted but I took it for two years. Gained weight eating at night but slept well. Lunesta was just okay. Just bought the Nighty Nite tea I read all the comments about, haven't tried it yet.
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LMG, you're asking about Blessings2011. Haven't seen her in a long time. She and DH had the Cpapsthrough Kaiser.
So yesterday sent a note to my GYN about prescription and see if I got Toradol during bmx. Didn't get any as far as sx notes show. He wants me to stop prescription because the scan I had in April for stomach pain shows I have mild clogged artery of the aorta. WTH!! Why didn't my GP tell me? So now I have to get ahold of her and have her compare it to the scan 3 years ago. What's the matter with these people. This is Kaiser??
I had LASIK done about 10 years ago. Only drug was a Valium pill to take off the anxiety level. And if you're old enough, you'll need reading glasses after. They can't fix that yet
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oh my...those pictures are stunning. Makes me want to go visit right away!
Sas survey says ocular migraines...I think the abraxane is causing it.
And thanks ladies for the hair advice. I realize I still have a lot and it's a first world problem. I was just worried the re growth would be all uneven and maybe a different color..but I will take a wait and see attitude. My hairdresser gave me her cell and said call whenever I need too
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Tres. Get some gel or wax or whatever but stay away from gorilla snot! It's very sticky and hard to get out. I know because I bought it for my 6 yr old and he did his 3 yr old sisters hair! I like my products to still feel flexible.
I had one friend that did different colors and styles. Have fun with it. Got kids or grands? Bet they'd set you up.
Trazadone worked for me for a long time prior to bc. PCP told me to cut back on Xanax. I only take .5 at night so wth? I had a long talk and explained my situation. I now have an rx for 3x a day but still only take it at night.
This is the latest on getting kids to sleep. Audio version is very, very, very boring. I keep forgetting to use it but it's worth a try.
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Rabbit-Who-Wants-Fall...
It's joint pain and hot flashes and now processing new dx that keeps me awake. Only sleep good for a couple of hours. Sometimes four! Will have to ask about restoril but need to be able to function at night with kids.
Beautiful pix and lesson about Vietnam. Wish you could cook us a meal! Or try some of those fruits.
Earl grey for breakfast. Bought store brand:(r
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Re: Ativan
I take 0.5mg 4 times a day, have for over a year, long story, partial bowel obstruction, 2 months of liquid diet, until I could have the upper and lower scopes scheduled, husband passed away, I was a mess and never could sleep, it works for me, some day (maybe) I can stop it, some SE, but it has been my "friend" getting thru the past 15 months.
dsgirl
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Morning gals! Going to paint one side of the frame garage today... We have another one, galvanized steel, but it will be easy...we use it mostly for storage...
But your hair? I don't know what I would have done, if I had to take chemo........ which I didn't, but I was thinking about buying a couple wigs, if I had... Does your hair grow back as soon as the treatments are finished? I mean if you lose it all, or have it shaved? I know my friend at work lost her hair twice, from to bouts...but her hair grew back thick and wavy both times......
If you leave your hair, and finish your treatments, does new hair just come in mixing with the longer hair? We need to know this, before we make any decisions.....
Also, Rosie honey....! Beautiful pictures! I just saved this whole page, so I could show our Rosie when she comes over again. She was just here yesterday, helping me out a little.... I LOVE Pho soup n' those noodles! A regular Pho place is best...they bring you tons of Asian sweet basil, bean sprouts, sliced jalapeno's and I forget what else is on that platter to add to the broth & noodles.
Cherish that heritage Rosie.... beautiful pictures! Do you print off some of the scenes, and then frame them to group on a wall? I would.
I read where you guys talk medical, and treatment stuff, but I don't think I have anything to contribute....Well in fact, I KNOW I don't.
Oh get this...... So my chicken neighbor came over to give me a Starbucks card...! YAYYYYYYY! But we were talking about one of her chickens that I was worried about.... Then my OTHER chicken neighbor came over, and THEY built a guillotine for when something happens to one of THEIR chickens!!!!!!!!! I almost fell over! A GUILLOTINE ??? I told them EEeee gads girls! Can't you just take them to a VET??? But "Rosie" is losing feathers, and she was limping, and "hiding" so they didn't know what to do with her....... But the "chop 'em off" neighbor says they can use their contraption! GOD, I almost threw up! I said just take her to the Vet, and put her to sleep! Man, I just get chills........
Yes, I Do remember what my Grandpa used to do with their Chickens.... I hate those memories.......
Anyway, Kelli went to the feed-store, and the guy gave her some anti-biotics... to put in their water... So I don't want to know what happens next..... She DID say little Ivy, would play with the Chickens and throw them around! She probably got her leg hurt that way..... THEY thought it was cute, but I thought WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL YOU PEOPLE???? And I DID tell her, "Don't let them DO that"! So that is my gripe for this morning......... love you girls...........xoxoxo
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poor chickens. Wonder what the laws are for my town.
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Glennie, how long a drive for you to Orlando? Sas is right, great place for lunch. Want to do a meet up? Or if you know a good place in Ocala, that's doable for us too.
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dsgirl--im so sorry for your loss. I hope you are taking good care of yourself. Hugs.
I forgot to mention that I have used extra sleepy time tea. Worked like a charm when going thru my divorce. Don't know why it or I changed and now doesn't phase me.
Looking forward to trying trazadone. My PNP was pretty hilarious because she also works at an emergency clinic...where patients come in and are handed 400mg trazadone and a cigarette! Hopefully I won't get to that point! Haha!
Hope you ladies have a great day! Always reading. Hard to keep up with y'all!
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Ms. CHEVY, how many chicken neighbors do you have? I still remember how my Mom and house maids slaughtered the chickens for special occasions. I will spare you all the details. I have to confess one thing though( I hope I don't get disowned after sharing this story). I think I was maybe 8 at the time. I overheard my Mom says that if a chicken eats a rubber band it will get sick and die. I'm thinking hmm I didn't die when I swallowed a coin. It came out distorted, but I was ok. How could a chicken die if it swallows a rubberbband? I was curious of itsdigestive tract. Now, if you cut a beige rubberbband once and drop it on the floor, it looks like a skinny worm. Chickens like worms. One of the poor chicken fell for it. Yes, that chicken was sacrificed after I told my mom that I dropped the band on the ground and the chicken ate it. That rubberbband was in the gizzard along with tiny pepples. I felt so bad I couldn't eat chicken for awhile. I was a bad kid. My curiosity got the best of me. I am so glad my kids didn't turn out naughty like me.
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Dsgirl- hugs, things have been tough for you. Wishing you better days sister.
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Rose, I am happy to hear everyone had a good time out yesterday. It's good you found a place to get recharged. Hope no kids thought that you were part of the display. Ha! My older daughter loved to chase birds when she was younger. It was heaven for her when we were in front of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice...so many pigeons for her to terrorize. At seventeen,she is still somewhat tempted to chase birds but has learned to refrain from it.
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Dsgirl, very sorry for what you have gone through.
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Thinking about you Floridian ladies
I was wondering why my hip was hurting yesterday( you know how your mind takes you to the dark side) and woke up to a cloudy day today . No forecast of rain.
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Smaarty - You are smart. Yes it was Blessing.
Loverly - Thank you for the beautiful pictures of Viet Nam.
Oh Tres I remember one member likes hair chalk - talking about different colors. My local grocery even has some. Susan is probably a good go to. Hopefully she will chime in. She's a hairdresser when she's not out building her glam legs bicycling.
Chevy - that's one reason I've never gotten into chickens. That and hawks, owls, raccoons. Yes my goats go the vet and they take care of everything, for a price of course. But DH could never even in his good shape dig a hole for them. And I'd be afraid something would dig them up. I like Loverly didn't know both neighbors had chickens.
Zills - I think in Ft Worth proper you can have hens, no roosters and there is a limit to #. Aren't you rather rural? We used to have deed restrictions out here (county not city property) but they've all expired. Had a per acre limit which I prob. exceed but I have dwarf goats. No pigs were allowed which is just fine by me. Plenty of feral hogs around.
kjones - not heard of Sleepy Time Extra. Wow I found lots of Celestial Seasonings (odd name) Tea I did not know about. Dirty Chai, lots of new stuff too. I see stuff for DH's next Amazon order.
Hugs Dsgirl from a fellow Texan.
Rosie - sounds like a wonderful day for you, DH and your girls. Glad you didn't get arrested for being a vagrant lol.
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Luvsmygoats: haven't ever heard of Celestial Seasonings, or just not heard of the Sleepytime Extra? I too enjoy sleepytime extra, although it doesn't help much with actual sleep induction. I just like the way it tastes--mildly minty, with a smoothing of chamomile, and the other ingredients blend well.
Kjones: good luck with the trazodone. I'm on it for sleep disruption/anxiety/depression, and it's working well. I'm on 100 mg.
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Oh no Queenie. I have plenty of CS Teas. My very favorite is a holiday Gingerbread Spice herbal. I found some Pumpkin Chai I almost made iced yesterday. Instead I made Bigelow Lemon Lift (an almost full box, don't think I liked hot) with an extra Typhoo teabag for good measure. Darn bug flew into it during the early evening. It was good with a kick in the pants. I have these twin cabinets flanking the stove. One is spices though I must admit 3rd shelf is very, very old tea that needs to go. The other one is my tea cabinet. We used to drink mostly coffee, DH only one cuppa in the am. This year coffee is just not what I want most of the time, instead back into tea. Will see what cold weather will bring. I have used up all my special coffee, not yet willing to buy any more for a bit yet.
Darn Amazon only has the Dirty Chai by the 6 pkg. Guess I'm off to search for a recipe. I still have all those spices from my non-adventure into chai hot chocolate. Have to make a Ft Worth run on Friday - have to get that new glass RX filled. I'm complaining too much about not being able to read. Maybe time for a Central Market run for loose spices.
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That's what I figured: I'm sure there are some people out there who haven't heard of CS, but not anyone who's into tea.
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whats dirty chai? I was a big chai fan before chemo. Since I've been stateside my Irish tea doesn't taste good. Maybe need to try some extra sleepy time.
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I'm losing my mind...! Was it just this morning that someone posted "The most beautiful horse in the world?" The picture was of a "draft" horse, white and black, and really was beautiful! I can't FIND it, to post on FB!
And YES! I'm surrounded by Chicken people. Rachel, to the left has 4 laying Hens.... Kelli has 6... (maybe).... But they reach a certain age where they don't lay anymore.... THEN I don't know WHAT they will do. Chickens are not good "pets" for little girls.... The coop is a mess, and then little Ivy crawls up into the nesting area, like it is HER play-house, and it is NOT clean......!
So hot out.... can't work outdoors.... I'm making a rice dish that our Rosie told me about.... Jazmine rice, pieces of shrimp, fried in a little garlic, butter & oil, then add defrosted, mixed veggies, and then the cooked rice, a little chicken bouillon, and just heat it all up.... I have a little Sesame Oil to drizzle on top.....
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Don't remember any horses on here Chevster. Was it on Warm/Fuzzy which I cannot keep up with?
Dirty Chai appears to be Chai Tea with Espresso. I could not find any outlets per Celestial Seasoning's website that sold that version locally.
http://degreesofprep.com/homemade-dirty-chai-latte...
This looks super simple. I have tried somebody's boxed choc chai tea concentrate, terrible. I have to be careful with Chai, sometimes it really aggravates my GERD.
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Goats, this is good stuff!!
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Spookie - I haven't tried that one. OK rummaged in the cabinet. I do have "Pacific Chai" Spice Chai Latte powdered. Might have some of that in a bit. I also have a pkg of David Rio Tiger Spice Chai but I think the canister is expensive, I got this free at a tasting in market. The couple I had were good. This was a Tazo liquid choc. chai . It was chalky, just not nice and I diluted the heck out of it. Finally poured down the drain. Oh the Pacific Chai has frozen directions on it yum. Wonder where DH has put the blender.
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I'm not a tea fan at all, the chai smells sooooo good. Must be the cloves. This has powdered milk, can be served hot or cold. Perfect for a lazy impatient me.
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Loveroflife- I wake up with different pains every day that take me to the dark side. I am sorry your hip is hurting and hope it is better soon. Maybe a hot bath? Rub a bit of lavender oil on it if you have any?
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