Thank Mari, Donna, and Waves.

I would have to unplug my phone in the bedroom cause there is not a way to turn off the ringer. I have a problem with unplugging the phone in case I were to need to call out in an emergency. I would hate to try to plug the phone back up in the dark.

Mari, how did you sleep last night?

Donna, have fun at the party today.

Waves, I am glad you feel much better. The veggies sounds good. That's what I need more of instead of so much meat.

Barbara

Hi Waves...
Calmer NO.... just the opposite!!! I am trying to deal with some very confusing news that could turn very bad at the drop of a hat. I'm waiting for the other show to fall... if you know what I mean...

I wish I were calmer... I am very tired from the lack of sleep... I do sleep some but I am having terrible night mares.....

Thank you for caring!!!
Abbie

Dear Abbie,
Keep doing whatever you can to keep yourself calm.
Sleep is the best thing you can do.
Also, avoid making any big decisions or taking on new projects -- brain might not be thinking clearly.
When do you see the tdoc or pdoc again?
Can you bring someone with you to the next appointments? Someone who can help you communicate your needs??

M.

Barbara,

I used to unplug my phone -- depending on what my apt situation was.

Since being ready in an emergency takes precedence over sleep in your case, you can buy a phone with the nob / button that allows you to turn it off and on.

When I buy my phones, that is the major item I look for.
I have two cheap phones in the house.
Both have caller ID and the ability to turn off the ringer.


Sometimes I take a nap on the couch near the phone. Regardless of who is on the caller ID, I do not answer the phone if I am sleeping.

There is no one who could be calling that is worth my talking to. NO ONE. Just because it rings does not mean that I have to answer it.

Seriously. What information do I need that is more important than sleep?

I,f god forbid, our country is at war, I'll find out when I wake up and turn on the tv or find someone in the neighborhood to talk to.

A friend of mine lives within a range of a nuclear power plant. They have set up outdoor sirens to notify people of a safety issue. No one is going to call him by phone to tell him to take precautions.

Hubby and I do not answer the door when someone knocks unless he knows it is the postman.

We control who talks to us.
If they want to bang on the door because no one is answering, that is their problem (and the neighbors, but not ours).

The neighbor person can be ignored.
If she wants to make a nuisance of herself by banging on windows or something, then you can call the cops.

You could also consider changing your phone number and giving it out only to people who are worth waking you out of your sleep.

M.

Abbie, I hope things be work on for you. Lack of sleep can really work on us.

Mari, point taken.

barbara

Barbara,

I think I got a little carried away with the phone thing. Sorry.
You can see that the phone is an "issue" for me.

Maybe I am a weirdo about sleep. I do not have cats, dogs, or children because I care about my sleep that much.


Mari

We had a great time. I took Sabrina and Will and Ethan too.

My mom and sisters really enjoyed seeing my grandson's. And thanked
Sabrina for bringing Will and coming. It was so nice. Derrick had
a great time too.

Donna

Here it is.... 1:27 in the morning.... and I am wide awake....

I found a bottle of ambien full 30 day script worth......but won't take it as I don't know how it will affect my other meds.... though it is VERY tempting.


Abbie

in simple circumstances, i would tell you to pop 30mg of ambien and see how things go. but you have already complex circumstances. so i am 100% with you on not taking it.

What you could do, however, since today is monday (well, here it is already monday... i have not slept either lol btw, and i don't wanna take sleep meds during day time now but i will nap at least.

I would get your pdoc (in person or on phone, but HIM, not staff) and ask him about taking the Ambien. It *could* help:

-- remind him of your other meds (make list of meds & doses before call)
-- inquire as to safety with your other meds (should be ok but always best to check.
-- ask how much to take (taking too little won't help, so ask for a range to try. generally, range is 10-40mg depending on severity, but in excess of 40mg-ish it is discarded by the brain, so no sense using more.

Also REPORT SLEEP PROBLEMS in detail

i suggest writing the stuff down before calling:

---- latency: whether you have trouble FALLING asleep and why (e.g. racing thoughts and/or anxiety, agitation... other.)
---- persistence: whether you have trouble REMAINING asleep (Ambien alne will NOT help with this but he might give you something which can, to combine with the Ambien
---- total average sleep in a 24 hr period. #hours sleep in a single, typical sleep/nap.
---- THE NIGHTMARES. people have had odd experiences with ambien... low quality sleep, anterograde amnesia (can happen with any benzo but ambien (a simil-benzo) has some freaky stories)
---- SLEEP QUALITY - for instance, whether you remember your dreams easily - this is an index into how deeply you sleep, and whether you wake or semi/wake after each cycle whether or not you are aware of waking.

------------------ on dreams....

i had problems with Seroquel at 400mg dose - with sleep - specifically hypnapompic and hypngagogic hallucinations accompanying sleep paralysis. Seroquel could be producing similar problems even at a higher dose. I did not find it a particularly useful drug. I don't know if doses over 600 are ever given - at that dose it worked for me as far as sleep.

Hang in there, take heart. make notes, call pdoc or give notes to tdoc and ask her to mediate. TAKE CARE OF YOU!

((( hugs )))

~ waves ~

I'm still awake.... 7:44 am.....

my pdoc isn't in today....


abbie