OT August Chit Chat

[Virginia]

I am like Cherie, I just can't sleep!!! I sometime have a period where I sleep pretty well for awhile, but mostly it is awful.

Got word a little before 12 that my brother is in surgery. Tomorrow will be recovery and Friday will be a catherization to find blockage. Did not know they were thinking he had one. He has had open heart surgery. For a hospital that cannot take high risk patients they seem to be able to do it.

[Cherie]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~
Cherie ~

CBD and THC can interact with pharmaceuticals. That is why we are not giving Jon CBD oil to curtail his current spate of seizures. It can interact with Dilantin and Depakote. In my research for Jon, I discovered that some BP medications can interact with CBD oil.

Perhaps you can address this aspect with your CBD/THC provider. And Google all of your meds for an interaction with CBD/THC.

If you slept better without taking CBD/THC, then how is a higher dosage going to help?

Are you weaning off of Ativan, while taking CBD/THC? Could some of your responses be withdrawal?

SLEEP

When Jim had issues with sleep, mostly because he worked the night shift, and because he has sleep apnea, I researched everything I could find about sleep.

I learned:

Establish a routine ~ Bedtime at X:00 and stick to it.

Turn off all TV, computers, phones, etc. one hour prior to bedtime.

Get some daylight exposure every day. Even if it's cloudy. At least 15 minutes of sun exposure (also helps with Vitamin D).

No caffeine after 12:00 p.m. Earlier, if you can manage it. Caffeine stays in your system a long time.

A cool room and light covers is better than a warmer environment.

Of course, there are many medical issues associated with sleep disorders, and we can only do so much about those. Some of the medications prescribed for assorted medical issues can interfere with normal sleep patterns.

I have observed from my own experience that erratic sleep patterns confuse my body. I like to think that if I had the opportunity to sleep unabated for a week, I would sleep 8-10 hours a day to catch up on all that I've missed. But, if I go to bed 1 hour earlier than usual, my body still wakes me up after 3 1/2 - 4 hours. And as soon as dawn breaks, even though we have shutters and heavy curtains in our bedroom, I still wake up. Because this is what my body has been trained to do for years.

Sleep is so vital to our overall health and well being, yet, so many people struggle with getting proper sleep.

Prayers for peaceful, restorative sleep for all!

Love & Light,



Rose

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I was told not to wean off the Ativan (by the supplier) till I had had improved sleep for a week. My neurologist suggested that it might take different dosing to see results and also suggested a week's improvement prior to starting to cut back so no withdrawal. As to all of the other sleep "hygiene" issues you have brought up, they have been part of my practice for years. Last night was another good sleep night. I know my sleep on meds is better than it is without but I can see how an additive to the schedule that works can upset things.

Howie,
Perhaps if the TV was off you would not wake so frequently.

Although we have a TV in the bedroom, the only time it is used is when it is too hot to watch in the living room (we do not have central air but have a window unit in the bedroom). Or David may use the TV in the bedroom to watch news while I am watching a drama in the living room that he has little interest in. Generally, though, we are not big TV watchers.

[Cherie]

OK. Looked up medication interactions with CBD oil and got this list:

Drugs that Interact with Cannabidiol
Any drug metabolized by CYP450 enzymes could potentially interact with cannabidiol. According to the Indiana University Department of Medicine, drugs known to use the CYP450 system include:

Steroids
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers
Antihistamines
Prokinetics
HIV antivirals
Immune modulators
Benzodiazepines
Antiarrythmics
Antibiotics
Anesthetics
Antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Anti-epileptics
Beta blockers
PPIs
NSAIDs
Angiotension II blockers
Oral hypoglycemic agents
Sulfonylureas
This list does not include all of the potential medications impacted by cannabidiol. Nor will every medication in the categories contained on this list will cause an interaction. For these reasons, you should consult with a medical professional before supplementing with CBD.


I am on an immunosuppressant (Rituxan) a beta blocker (Bystolic) and a Benzodiazepine (Ativan) . Thank you Rose. I have learned today.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Continuing prayers, with hope that your brother’s surgery went well today and that he will recover quickly. Did he have a rod and pins or a full hip replacement? Jon has a rod and pins in his right hip. Surgery took 45 minutes with only 50 cc of blood loss.

A cath tomorrow ~ that’s a lot to go through, particularly in our Senior years. Sending healing thoughts and positive energy ~

Cherie ~

I’m glad that the information I shared is helpful to you.

While the guidelines for better sleep habits are sensible, here you are doing all of those things and still have sleep disturbance. And, Cat drinks caffeine with no sleep disturbance. And Jim can do all of those things, and his sleep is still interrupted, because he has untreated sleep apnea and an enlarged prostate.

There are so many factors, which can affect how well we sleep. I think that stress and anxiety are major contributors to sleep deprivation. I know it is for me and many of my friends. Meditation helps, but sometimes I’m too tired to meditate, as odd as that sounds.

I hope the increased dosage of CBD/THC will work for you. It is wise of you to hold off on the Ativan wean, I think.

Sweet dreams on fluffy clouds to all ~

Love & Light,



Rose

[Cherie]

We are going to hold off on any new dosing till I see my neuro in two weeks. I have been an insomniac since early childhood and on prescription medication for it for nearly 40 years. What I am taking now is miniscule compared to just two years ago but I wanted to continue exploring options to lower medications even more. I am not aware that stress keeps me awake or wakes me up at this point in my life. I have learned how to meditate that away once in bed with the lights out if there is any remaining by then. As a rule though, I feel pretty calm.

[stillstANNding]

Thanks for the info on drug interactions, Cheri. I am thinking of CBD oil/mj in the future to help w spasticity.

We had a beautiful and stress free ride and are now gratefully home. And it’s hot and humid.

ANN

[Sunshine]

Thanks for the info on drug interactions, Cheri. I am thinking of CBD oil/mj in the future to help w spasticity.

We had a beautiful and stress free ride and are now gratefully home. And it’s hot and humid.

ANN

Welcome home! The THC is an important part of treating spasticity. You want both and in a 1:1 ratio. The hemp plant CBD Oil sold everywhere is not Cannibis.

[Virginia]

Sleep - Oh how I wish I could just go to bed and sleep at night. What a blessing that would be. I think mine is largely stress related, though on occasions I go to bed feeling calm and still cannot sleep.

My brother came through the surgery and they put a rod in. As far as we know catherization is still on for tomorrow. He is still requesting no calls and no visitors. I do not blame him, with what he has been going through since Monday, I can't imagine that he would want to talk to anyone. We are still praying. They say "at best" recovery will be at least 6 months. My brother is tough!

Ann, glad you are home safe and sound after a good trip.

[nuthatch]

Glad to hear your brother came through surgery. He IS tough! Keeping him in my prayers for a smooth recovery.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Great news that your brother came through surgery okay. A rod is a better solution than a full hip replacement, based upon our experience. I will pray that all goes well with the catheterizaton tomorrow, and that he will feel better once his heart issue is sorted out.

As wonderful as visitors and phone calls are, it's also quite taxing and exhausting. What your brother needs most right now is rest. And that is an illusive thing in the hospital, since someone is coming into the room constantly day and night.

Continuing prayers on the way for your brother, you and your family ~

ANN~

Welcome home, ANN and Peter!

Sending peaceful sleep vibes to all ~

Love & Light,



Rose

[Sunshine]

Virginia, taking care of his caregivers is a good way to wait. I mean the family who is with him...giving them gift cards for food, meals delivered etc is a great alternative to nit being able to be by his side...

[agate]

I wish I'd thought of something like that, Sunshine, at all of the many times when I wished I could have been there for family members who were ill. I called and wrote and sent cards. Often I sent flowers or a plant but more recently that's been a problem.

Once the brother who was to get the flowers during his hospital stay was transferred and the flowers never reached him. Other times I was told that no plants or flowers were allowed, possibly because of allergy concerns in the hospital environment.

[Virginia]

Thanks Sunshine for a good suggestion.

Latest news: They were to do catherization this afternoon, so wife did not get there until 9:40 this morning. They had already done 3 stints. Cardiologist stopped by this afternoon and said Monday they were going to put in a defibrillator and that he would go to rehab middle of next week.

We are all worn out. It has been short messages all along and at one point today his daughter-in-law said that they were going to do a procedure that was kind of bad and that she did not think he could make it through it. I don't know why she put that out or where she got it. But that is the way it has been since Monday.

I honestly feel that my brother has finally gotten in a place where he is getting the help that he should have gotten long ago. If all goes well with defib, then the very lengthy recovery will begin.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Virginia)))))) ~

Wow! Your brother is going through a lot of surgeries in a short period. Is this the hospital, where they didn't think that they could treat him? If so, they sure stepped up to the plate for your brother. I'm so grateful that he's receiving the care he needs finally.

It's always high level stress, when a loved one is in the hospital, and especially so when ICU and surgeries are involved. Being quite familiar with that stress, I send you all of my empathy and prayers for strength and rest.

Rest is what all of you should do this weekend, before the next surgery and the transfer to rehab. Please take care of yourself.

Many prayers continuing ~

Love & Light,



Rose

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, I am glad that your brother came through his surgery and hope you get better information as you need it.

As always, remember to take care of yourself.

ANN