Cari Elana, what a beautiful name.
I am sure being so far apart must be heartbreaking for you right now. I can feel how difficult it is for you to be separated from Cari Elana right now. We want to be with our children in their time of need, their time of need is also our time of need.
I am only a beginner reader or I would pull a card for you tonight. @jeanne-mayell, perhaps you or someone else can offer some inside?
23 is young to have melanoma. My step-sister had melanoma at the age of 21 and my parents were so worried for her. She is 45 now and doing well. She gets checked often and has had additional pre-cancerous moles removed over the years but nothing was as serious as that melanoma. I don't recall what type of melanoma it she had but she is healthy today. I am sure a lot of progress for treatment has been made in 24 years too.
May Cari Elana feel at peace tomorrow and be held with loving light. May you feel peace and the presences of a host of angels watching over you and your daughter. May you be reunited soon so you can hold her in your arms. May her surgeon be guided to take care of everything that needs to be found and addressed.
Sending you a great big hug mama. This community will be sending healing energy to Cari Elana, I just know it.
@kksali I’ve just noticed in the past few months that when I’m meditating for healing, I often have a vision of a warm red light. Not always, though. When it happens, it is my sense that healing energy is being transmitted to the person I’m caring about and the light lasts as long as I’m focused on healing.
The ambien(zolpiderm) is giving me a metallic taste in my mouth. Athough I normally take very little and it works really great, I feel scared.
I am afraid to stop using it and be awake. To lay awake is to panic. It is a trade off. But this new weird feeling in my lips and the aftertaste are concerning. I did have to use quite a bit a few nights ago which precipitated the aftertaste, but most nights it is about 2.5 or so which is a tiny sliver. and I sleep well, fall asleep within half an hour, or even sooner some nights, and get eight hours of sleep. I even have been dreaming.
I am going to try to skip a night if I can. Perhaps I can use less frequently and still reap the benefits?
Perhaps I will fail miserably.
Perhaps my excellent sleep hygiene and daily habits will help. I go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. No alcohol, No caffiene (goodbye chocolate :( ) or drugs. Don't eat usually after 6 pm.Walk every single day, rain, shine, hot or cold. Never nap and try to physically stand up if I start to nod off. And use so many coping techniques that have helped make bedtime less anxious. I am truly doing everything I can to help myself.
I see a lot of mixed reviews for long term use. I stopped using medical mj 4 months ago because I was dependent on it and coughing..am asthmatic. I seemed to have swapped one substance for another.
I have read horror stories and glowing testimonials both about using zolpiderm/ambien long term. It's now been 3 months for me. I need to stop reading though, because it is truly frightening me.
I think though this new side effect is telling me to try to wean off again if I can. So I will try . I may not be able to but it can't hurt to try...
I'm sorry you are going through such a difficult time with your sleep. It is frustrating. Please keep in mind I am not a pharmacist, medical person.
Have you tried herbal tea to help you with sleep? It is not Ambient, that is for certain. But if you want to ween yourself off of it or if you would like to try something else first before using your medication, that could be something that would help.
As for your sleeping hygiene, I think you are doing great! The only thing I would add is this. If you decide to not take ambient and you are not sleeping after 40-45 minutes, get up, out of your bedroom. Do not turn on any lights, TV or any other electronic. Just stay up for 5 minutes, no more. Just empty your mind, do nothing else. Then go back to bed.
That's something that helps me. More often than not, I only have to get up once. But it has happened where I had to do it a couple of times. I would then take a herbal tea on the second try.
My aunt makes a pitcher of herbal tea every evening. She takes a cup about an hour before bed and brings the rest on her bedside table. She wakes up often through out the night. when she wakes up she drink the tea from her bed to ensure she doesn't get out of bed and wake up completely. That has helped her as well.
Just keep in mind, your doctor has prescribed something to help you sleep for a reason. So talk to him/her with the problems you are experiencing with your meds.
I hope this helps. Good night!
Following on the heals of @Bright Opal, try not to use any electronics or tv before bed. Including phone. Blue light waves can make it difficult to sleep. Make sure to adjust your phone and computer setting at night to the evening warmer light setting. Also, if you have digital clocks or other light sources that are blue or green ( not red or warm colored) block them. It can disrupt sleep. I block my DVR clock and humidifier light every night.
Thanks for responding.
I do have things I do if I still can't sleep. I get out of bed after 15 minutes and have warm milk and a visit with the cat. I read this forum for a bit, and then switch to a book. If I am still awake and not sleepy after another 15 minurtes or so, I take another sliver.
I notice I am not having to do that as often and I am less panicked over all. So I am making some progress. I am learning to retrain my brain and choose better thoughts. I do have a long ingrained pattern of panicking over insomnia but I keep at it. Mostly I work at self forgiveness to give myself a chance to feel well enough to sleep.
It is nice to feel so cared for here in this forum. I appreciate all of the kind comments I receive and have been posting more and more, feeling more able to communicate clearly as time goes on.
Thanks. I do watch tv w muted sound for a bit but then turn everything off except for the music. Not sure I can give that up as it distracts and calms me, helps me pretend I am not trying to get ready for sleep.... but I appreciate the advice. I'll think about that.
hi if anyone happens on this board - it's 11:54 p.m. on the east coast. We foster kittens and one is en route to the emergency vet due to breathing problems. If you can send any healing and light, please! Thank you so much.