That's how old I feel. I'm exhausted all the time and my hips, thighs and back are so sore. It takes me a good 20 minutes to get moving every morning. I think of my 95 year old Grandma every day and how she could run circles around me. Although, she could do that before I started chemo so that analogy really doesn't mean anything.
I had my second "how did chemo go" appointment this morning and I learned once again that all of this is perfectly normal. For some reason I handle all of the side effects better once I get reassurance that 1. it's normal, and 2. it will all end once chemo is over. But, an appointment wouldn't be an appointment if I didn't leave with another prescription. This time we discussed my inability to fall asleep on my own these days. I wake up tired, am exhausted all day long, and can't wait until a reasonable hour to go to bed, yet once I'm there I lay awake with my mind racing. I told the nurse how I rely on Tylenol PM a lot even though I hate having to take anything at all. Suzanne reassured me that this is another totally normal side effect of all of the drugs I've been taking, combined with the simple fact that I am going through cancer treatments and of course my mind is racing at night. She told me that many chemo patients take a sleeping pill during treatment, and promptly wrote me a prescription for Ambien. I'm not supposed to take this every night though as the effectiveness wears off if taken too frequently she said. Which works out great for me since I wouldn't take it when Matt wasn't home to take care of the girls anyway.
After we left, Matt mentioned how he read that some people sleepwalk when they take Ambien. Good to know - I'll have to make sure I wear matching pajamas when I take it. And probably not my striped ones. Can you imagine a bald girl in striped pajamas sleepwalking through the neighborhood? I'd look like an escaped convict from the women's prison....
I had my second "how did chemo go" appointment this morning and I learned once again that all of this is perfectly normal. For some reason I handle all of the side effects better once I get reassurance that 1. it's normal, and 2. it will all end once chemo is over. But, an appointment wouldn't be an appointment if I didn't leave with another prescription. This time we discussed my inability to fall asleep on my own these days. I wake up tired, am exhausted all day long, and can't wait until a reasonable hour to go to bed, yet once I'm there I lay awake with my mind racing. I told the nurse how I rely on Tylenol PM a lot even though I hate having to take anything at all. Suzanne reassured me that this is another totally normal side effect of all of the drugs I've been taking, combined with the simple fact that I am going through cancer treatments and of course my mind is racing at night. She told me that many chemo patients take a sleeping pill during treatment, and promptly wrote me a prescription for Ambien. I'm not supposed to take this every night though as the effectiveness wears off if taken too frequently she said. Which works out great for me since I wouldn't take it when Matt wasn't home to take care of the girls anyway.
After we left, Matt mentioned how he read that some people sleepwalk when they take Ambien. Good to know - I'll have to make sure I wear matching pajamas when I take it. And probably not my striped ones. Can you imagine a bald girl in striped pajamas sleepwalking through the neighborhood? I'd look like an escaped convict from the women's prison....
hahahahaha!!!The sleep walking part cracked me up!! And why on earth do you have any pajamas that resemble being in jail?? :) Pjs are to be pretty and pink. ;)) I think you need a shopping trip!
ReplyDeleteTake care!! You are getting there!!!
-Jackie
Tried to find black & white striped PJ's but couldn't. Oh well, you'll just have to walk the streets in regular ones. Good sense of humor and way to laugh at this whole thing. Love you, Mama
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