Health care professionals can be very difficult patients. For my part, I have heard so many stories about the sleep aid zolpidem, I had refused a prescription for it several times. Sleep walking, sleep eating, sleep sexing, sleep driving-- you name it, I wanted no part of any drug that has those kinds of side effects.
I admitted to my breast medical oncologist on Tuesday that during my frequent bouts of insomnia (nightly!)I would partake of my "Insomnia Jelly Bellys". He laughed and rolled his eyes. Yes, fatigue is my biggest issue. Well, I'm writing you a script for this, and you're going to try it. Yes, sir.
I have slept every night since I started taking it. No weird side effects, no weird dreams, just sleep. It's like a miracle. Now that I'm sleeping, I'm getting a better idea of what kind of energy I really have contending with just the cancer, the meds and one lonely lung.
I'm so excited about being able to sleep it's really been a boost to my outlook. Funny what we take for granted.
Remember how I bragged about the long and curly eyelashes I've gotten while on the Tarceva? I spoke too soon. The lashes get TOO curly...then they break off or fall out. Right now, I've got a long curly set on the right, and a short, kinda curly set on the left. The left looked almost bald for a few days.
Then there are the eyebrows. I have NEVER had eyebrows, neither in quantity nor in color. That has also changed. I'm getting old man eyebrows: darker, longer, and unruly...sticking out in all directions. I've had to resort to using an eyebrow brush and eyebrow gel to tame them. Sign me up for a weekly wax.
I'm terrified that I'm going to start to grow hair out of my ears next. It's very hard to see that yourself....am I going to have to ask my hubby to check my ears for hair? Eeeww!
Sorry fellas, but ear hair is a man thing, not a lady thing.
So, no more excuses for Jelly Belly beans... just have to rein that one in. Can't wait to tell Dr S that I'm sleeping. 'Round Midnight belongs to Monk again.
