This is a real question. If I take Xanax, I sleep for 8 hours. If I take nothing, I'm a nervous wreck. I asked Kent this question the other day and he said, "Chardonnay." Okay, I'm good at that but other suggestions are welcome.
We got clarification from the doc: no chemo TODAY. They want to wait until her counts come up and they're coming up, bit by bit. She has lots of monocytes so that means the rest will follow. Her platelets are in the toilet and we'd like for them to be higher but they can transfuse as necessary and that seems to be okay with everyone. So, we'll wait a few more days. I ask the pulmonologist every day if anything is growing and it isn't, so we have time. We have as much time as we need. We aren't going to do anything that will be "final" until everyone agrees that there are no treatment options left. We need to do that for Adrienne and for ourselves. I ask the doctors each day if she's in pain or suffering and they assure me that she isn't. Well, except that trach is a bit disconcerting. Every time they move her, she gags and it takes some times for her sats to come back up. They say this will get better in time but we weren't prepared for that at all. Still, it's nice to see her face again and she has beautiful rosy cheeks. Her skin looks great everywhere, no bed sores or even irritation. That $30K bed seems to be worth its weight in gold.
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I'm glad the doctors clarified things, and I hope that those WBCs will shoot up within the next few days. It's great that Adrienne has a state-of-the-art bed, too. My mom got a bedsore, and it was very painful and hard to treat.
As far as your question, what about half a Xanax? Actually, Dramamine helps me a little bit, too.
Hugs and prayers, Janet
You have to do what you need to to get some rest. Sounds like chemo is still an option...thankfully. Is Adrienne still heavily sedated with the trach or can she communicate with you? So thankful to read that the beast isn't growing in leaps and bounds giving you more precious time for her counts to recover before the next round of treatment. Hoping and praying that things stay calm until then.
((HUGS))
Susan
Alison,
I'm so glad to hear that things have gotten straightened out from yesterday. I'm with you 100% in exhausting all the possibilities for Adrienne - I think that's a very practical and wise tactic!
As regards the anxiety, perhaps smaller doses of Xanax or half-doses? If not, you could try Valium - It's worked well for me in the past. Also, while not prescribed for anxiety, Phenergen has had a calming effect on me. Something to at least think about.
Love you and that girl of yours, bunches!
Lisa
No answer to your question I'm afraid.........but you do need sleep so don't ditch the Xanax completely :0/
You are doing so well, Alison - you're doing absolutely everything in your power for Adrienne and, in her sedated state, she knows that. Here's to those counts rising and to going another round against this disease.......love you all..........<3
Hi Alison,
At least better news than last night. That was horrible. We will continue to hope that this will all work out, and we will continue to ride the roller coaster with you.
Much love to you and Adrienne,
Mom and Ed
Hope.
A Mom
ditto to what "a mom" says. without hope we are nothing. love and hugs to you all!!!
connie and john
Wish I had a good suggestion for the sleep issue but I don't. I would try the chardonnay solution! I am so happy the doctor clarified the chemo situation and the fact that the cancer is not growing is good news. Hang in there. Oh yeah reading a boring book always puts me to sleep, maybe combined with the chardonnay.
((HUGS))
Carol (mom20)
Still hoping for the best.
Alison,
I'm so encouraged to hear there's still hope! If anyone can pull this off it's Adrienne... You all are such troopers.
As far as something to take the edge off, I've used Clonazepam (sp?) and it really helped me during my most difficult times.
Hope you are comfortable and taking care of yourself the best you can.
Hugs,
Chris
I was so relieved to see this post. I am so glad you are back to the plan you made with the Drs.
Doing the high count dance for Adrienne.
I sometimes use "simply sleep" ( just the sleep portion of things like tylenol PM ) or just take a benadryl.
((HUGS)) and prayers,
Judy_smile
Alison, thanks for keeping all of us informed on Adrienne's progress. I love your tenacity; I'm sure that, more often than not, it's difficult to "keep on keeping on". Adrienne gets her tenacious will from you! ;-)
"One day at a time" is the theme here and with each day, there is always hope!
As for suggestions on "sleep aides"... as others have already mentioned, Dramamine and Phenergen work for me.
Sending lots love, hugs and prayers...
Sandy
Relieved to read today's news and glad that Adrienne has a state of the art bed that is keeping her comfortable.
Can you try half an Ativan for the anxiety? Usually .5 mg is all I need to calm me and get me relaxed enough to sleep.
Thinking of Adrienne and you and hoping that news continues to get better...
as others have said, so glad you've received clarification. Adrienne is in the best hands when her plan is in your hands. i love how amused you are by Curt after so many years (i don't know how many but i assume many many). he seems like such an absurdly funny guy; that must make life a heck of a lot easier for you when the ***###$&!!%% is hitting the fan (for example, your dealings with nurse rathchet, whom i hope is now limping around with a paper coffee cup shoved up her ###!!!$$$, or obviously the more pressing problems). those funny dog tableaus with doggie deep thoughts that he sent Adrienne, telling you about the license plate, laughing together about Kent's matzah/mochi confusion. so much love and support in your family, even/especially? in the toughest of time. it inspires me to be better wife. anyway, i suggest ambien (though i'm sure you tried it). but then again i found hospital life as a caregiver more uninhabitable when i took xanax at night to sleep because the xanax raised the bar on what was tolerable (does that make any sense?) so i started to feel like i wasn't able to cope w/o it. whereas ambien threw me into sleep but didn't make my waking reality harder to deal with. but then again, maybe it's fine to just let yourself take it and take it during the day as needed too (which is what i did). nothing beats how quickly it works (much quicker than klonopin (sp?) for instance). obviously benadryl as well. you know this all better than anyone. i also find reading very boring academic papers helps. Prayers from Matzahland!
Hi Alison...you get EIGHT hours out of Xanax? I just get 5!
Have you tried Sonata? It is generally good for 4 hours. I have heard it used to be called the "truck driver sleep drug" b/c they could pull off the side of the road, get 4 hours, and wake back up.
You could try taking a half a tablet of Xanax and see if it helps. I have all varieties of dosage...I have been known to use 1/8 MG b/c it makes me so sleepy.
I'm actually going to my internist in the morning to talk about sleep meds. I find Lunesta leave me with more of a "hangover" than Xanax. Alcohol might help you fall asleep, but not stay asleep. Hey maybe that IS a good suggestion after all.
I am glad you got more clarification today. The day to day thing is a hard way to live, I know.
Kimberly
Hi Alison - I'm so glad that Adrienne is comfortable and that her counts are coming up :-)
I like Tylenol PM for a sleep aid. One is enough to help me sleep but still be able to get up.
Hugs, Jill
Sounds like a plan, keeping everything crossed that counts jump up quick. Nothing else to add about the sleep, I use Simply Sleep and works pretty good, not the best. Good luck, looking forward to more positive posts.
Sharon
Alison,
I use a half of a benadryl. You can buy the tablets and cut them in half and I sleep like a baby. If I take a full one, I want to sleep for 8-10 hours and still wake up groggy.
Glad to hear that you have hope and options.
Your optimistic post is a wonderful way to end a long work day. I think I checked for a new post every time I took a break. Adrienne is such a fighter. If the power of prayer and loving thoughts does indeed help, she has that in spades from so many people.
My suggestion for you is Ambien. Sound sleep, no hangover. 10 mg. will totally knock you out, 5 mg. for 4-6 hrs. I sometimes break the 5 if I wake during the night and my mind won't stop. Hope that helps.
Sherril
Adrienne is resting comfortably. They have assured you she is not in pain.
Maybe you should get some rest too. Take the xanax and get a good sleep. Everything is so much harder physically and emotionally when you haven't had enough sleep.
I'm sure they will wake you if Adrienne needs you.
Adrienne wants you to take care of yourself, too.
Judy_smile
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