Awake and up all night

Morning all 

I slept well last night, not getting up until 6:15. I came down to water across the kitchen floor as the dishwasher had leaked , it's done it before so maybe the seal hadn't quite sealed properly anyway we won't know until we run it again.  

We've got a busy day today; firstly we're meeting our daughter and new son in law (Sarah & Lloyd) for breakfast at Wetherspoons in Ramsgate then she's going to start sorting out the wedding paraphernalia still in our small bedroom. Then this afternoon we're going to our son and daughter in law's (James & Ashleigh) for a BBQ as it was Ashleigh's mum's 80th birthday yesterday. 

H

Morning Helen.

Oh no, a leaky dishwasher isn't fun. Maybe a new seal would be a good idea.

Sounds like you have a packed day ahead! Hope you have a good time. I have no plans at all unfortunately.

Geoff.

During my chemo cycles (I have had two, to date), I have had a few days where I couldn't sleep well. I turn in at about 10 pm, and would wake up between 2 and 4:00 am and not really get back to full sleep. ANd I wake at around 6 am. 

I contacted my medical team's nurse and she told me that yes, there are some days when steroids can affect sleep. Because my sleepless days occurred just after the 5 day steroid cycle, I asked about that. And she told me that yes, there can be after effects from the steroids. The doctor prescribed me melatonin. I was sticker shocked by the price of it here in Ireland. It clst me around 36€ for a small bottle! In America, I would get melatonin over the counter and it was inexpensive. So I haven't taken it yet (also because after I got it, the sleepless days stopped), but I will need it for my next chemo cycles when the sleepness nights recur. 

I have always had only around 6 hours a night sleep, probably from years of shift work. Now I seem to have even less. I am blaming current problems on the steroids, or it could just be there's so much I want to get done before I am unable to- who knows?

Morning Geoff.

No worries about re replying and I hope you're feeling better today.

Weekends can sometimes be slower, as folk go out or just relax, and wind down on Sunday evening.  I was tired yesterday but blame the heat, and I say the same as yourself about snow.  Only catch is if you've got to be somewhere and the buses stop running.  I'll settle for a raging thunderstorm but they're as rare as a good local council.  Ahem.  

Hey, I watched your tete-a-tete with Grot and thought, what a stroppy 'woman', I don't know how you kept your patience!  I've never done the AI thingy, except with Curry's ToBi - whom I gave up with and hung on the line till I made human contact.  It's done purposely, all the hurdles when trying to speak to a person, in the hope folks will give up the ghost.  I refuse to play their games.  But top marks for confusing the robot; swearing usually means they've lost a grip on the debate.  Do you hail from London btw?

Anyway, look after yourself and don't overdo things till you feel more like it.  Hugs to you xxx

Yes, it could be either, or both. I had to give up on getting so much done (IN ONE DAY) before I am unable to. This was difficult for me. But now, I check in withmy body and energy levels a few times a day. I rest when I need to, throughout each day when I have fatigue (an entirely new concept for me - I am usually very muich a doer/go-getter, and I mazimixe my time). I check my schedule daily, a few times as well. Sometimes there are too many difficult things on my list and I will move my tasks around to either a later time in the day or to another day in the week (whenever my energy is better). 

I also meditate every weekday (I do 20 minutes but even 10 works), and I make a few different journal entries that take just a few minutes each: A Worry Journal entry, 3 Funny Things, a Mood Entry, and a Day Summary. Weekly, I list 5 things that I am grateful for from that week, and I also do a 15 minute weekly journal, noting what has happened that week. 

I also take a 30 minute walk at lunchtime with my spouse, and that helps with my energy, mood, and appetite. And now we're doing a weekend workout - either tai chi, yoga, or a combination of the two (I have several different DVDs that vary in difficulty and timing). We pick one that best suits on the day of, to do. 

These things help me alot and I also avail of free counseliing sessions for cancer patients on occasion. May you find what works for you and some peace as well. 

Morning Helen.  A busy day but enjoy every second, especially the BBQ, and meeting up with the family.  What a nuisance about your dishwasher - think I'd have kicked it for good measure!

Hugs xxx

Morning KotC.

If you're new here, welcome to our group.

Blimey, it made me exhausted just reading your post!  You certainly are a go-getter and lord knows how you pack all that into your week.  I'm a list maker too, to make extra sure things don't get forgotten, and constantly cross off or add to said list.  I beat myself up a bit if it's not completed; one of my daft foibles.

I'm my fella's carer, so don't know a great deal of the effects of chemo, but he had RT and fatigue kicked in big time afterwards.  Five months post he still sleeps, a lot, but then he always did so I'm unsure if he's back to normal or not?

Anyway, good to see you here and I hope your treatment goes as well as possible.  You make sure to look after yourself.  Hugs xxx

I'm feeling ok physically, but emotionally I'm not good. Not much different from any other day though. I'm just so sick of not knowing local people, and those I met recently are all a generation older than me or more. They want me to go to a sitting exercise thing where you move your arms up and down. Do I really look that old? I'm not sure about going to that place this Thursday but I'll probably give it one more go. The only 80+ year olds who spoke to me were the ones on the same table as me, plus some of the volunteer staff. The rest ignored me. I know I'm being negative about it now but I can't help feeling I was fooling myself before thinking that it would be a help for me. Even sitting there the other day I was actually completely on my own. If I was older then fine, it's great, but I'm not at that point. I feel close to death enough as it is with my cancer but that event made me feel even closer to it.

Grok, that AI, is only doing what the programming says. I'm not sure if you realise that or not! It's not stroppy or swearing because she doesn't know what to say, it's all just programming. It's hugely more powerful than those phone robots, and mostly they aren't for conversation like I had with it. They are used for writing computer code, writing letters for people who aren't good at such things, creating pictures and videos, brainstorming ideas, and other stuff. I don't have much use for all that though so it's just a bit of fun for me. That video I published is an utter flop though, as I suspected it would be. Youtube videos either do well or flop in the hours after they're published, so I already know it's not been received well and barely watched by anyone. I'm an idiot to think it might be popular due to the trendy subject matter.

Yes I'm from London. Well Croydon actually, which was in Surrey but the powers that be decided to change it to London. While I was there from birth until mid to late 30's, it was Surrey. Only about 10 miles from central London but you wouldn't think it's that close if you tried to get there.

Sorry if my bad mood comes across. I'm so alone and sick of it. Yes there are 2 or 3 nice people here but it's not the same as having local friends I can spend time with, or a girlfriend which I effectively don't have due to whatever is going on in her head.

Have a nice day Gill. x

Morning Gill,

I am new to this chat; I joined the community in June, if memory serves correct.

I just set reminders in Google Calendar; using tasks and also, events. I list things that I want to check off as done with the tasks (like my short journal entries and my "take injection out of the fridge", and 4x/day salt water mouthwash routine). 
In America, I ran my own business of one, and also was a partner in the business that I was contracted under, successfully, for 10 years. When you are the owner/operator, the buck stops with you. You have to get all of the things done, so yeah, I am organiised by practice and nature. 

I have bever been bored (since I was a child) and I don't intend to be bored now. I have also not usually had fatigue since my 20's and some of my 30's, when I burned the candle at all ends. 

My treatment is going as it is meant to- I am on R-CHOP for Stage 1A DLBCL Lymphoma. Everyone's experience is different with chemo and I have had some side effects that I definitely don't want, but that is how it goes. Good luck with your fella and it  is great that he has you to care for him. If you are a carer, you likely dno't have as much time and energy available. Mind yourself and yes, self-care is key.