Hi Family and Friends,

Things are going ok with me.  I thoroughly enjoyed my week off from chemo last week, and already look forward to having next week off.  I was able to fully recover from the nausea and tummy issues, and enjoyed not feeling like complete garbage for a solid week.  My main complaint has been the terrible sleep I have been getting.  Despite the melatonin, magnesium and occasional Benadryl, I am still suffering from insomnia and it’s getting ridiculous.  I can usually fall asleep ok, but I awaken 2-3 times a night with horrible night sweats, and then I have trouble falling back asleep.  I wake up exhausted each morning and have very low energy most days.  I talked to my doctor yesterday about this, and he is ordering some meds that should help me get rest.  I have to be honest—this makes me very nervous.  I have the meds at home, but I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.  I’m not someone that usually takes a lot of medicine in my regular life, so this is all very new to me.  But I also realize there is nothing “regular” about the situation I’m in right now.  Sometimes you just have to do what you can to survive.  And right now, folks—we are in survival mode.