CAN’T SLEEP, THINKIN’ ‘BOUT LYMPHOMA

written March 29, and posted to Face Book.

I started my new chemo regimen Monday, March 23. The only issue for me was forgetting to pick up a prescription the week before when at an Oncology appointment. May have delayed my start about 30 minutes. Monday was supposed to be a long day and it was, 8:15 start. I left around 4. No reactions to the biological as I had been tolerating it quite well when at Kaiser Sunnyside. A second drug was administered on Monday also. I had been cautioned the 2nd drug could be a problem, but it wasn’t. A good start to a new regimen.

I get to take a different steroid with this new regimen. It’s function is fight nausea, stimulate appetite, and provide energy stimulus. Nausea has not been a problem. There have been times when food wasn’t interesting to me although my stomach was rumbling, so it forced me to do something, i.e. eat. What has been really interesting is the stimulus aspect to this steroid. I have a tendency to be a night-owl and thought nothing of staying up to midnight Monday. Slept in Tuesday morning, 10 AM. Took a couple walks with Lizzie. Tuesday was another late night, midnight bedtime and this doesn’t count how late I may have stayed awake reading in bed. Wednesday I was up before 10. Lizzie and I took some more walks. Wednesday eve Dameon and I played some 2 player Pinochle and listened to music until one of us won. Then we binged some television, which got us up to midnight once again. I elected to go to bed. Once in my bedroom I reached the decision to go looking for something in a bedside stand top drawer. I cannot specifically remember what I was looking for, but found some other very interesting items to occupy my attention later on. I put back the things I wanted to keep in the drawer and left the items of interest out. I looked at my iPhone for the time, 3 AM. My how time flies when you’re focused. Thursday morning I was up by 11 AM. The catch 22, if you will, is the later I sleep in the later I ingest the steroid. I was advised to ingest the steroid early in the morning, like 7. The effectiveness of the drug is rather long lasting. And I’m a little suspect afternoon caffeine may also have been a contributor. 

I am reminded of my college days when bennies and black beauties were one’s answer to procrastination regarding papers and end of term finals’ studying. At some point I would notice the tightly clenched jaw, stinky sweat and a who needs food attitude. I contrast those thoughts and feelings with today’s situation. I am not working under a deadline, so no stress there. Today I finished my Lymphoma binder. The steroid worked well to get me through to the end of the binder project. I actually started the binder yesterday and was indoors almost all day. I got fresh air standing on the front porch after letting Lizzie in and out. Today wasn’t much different exercise wise. Indoors most of the day. No stinky sweat because no stinkin’ stress. But I did eat small meals all day long. I have also been drinking lots of fluids as one of the chemo drugs is real hard on the kidneys. One of those fluids was a coffee concoction Dameon whipped up I kept forgetting to drink, so I’m thinkin’ it may have had some influence on my current state of awakefullness. 

Thursday was the last day to take the steroid so I’m hoping I can get myself back to a normal sleep pattern. One nice thing regarding the steroid use is I also take an antipsychotic medication, small dose, which does a nice job of taking the edge off. 
NO ‘ROID RAGE FOR YOU, SUCKHA!!!