My M-protein number was up yet again this month:
It's not as if my M-protein level is skyrocketing or anything, but it's fairly high and getting steadily higher with my current chemo regime. Here's hoping the folks at City of Hope come through with a spot for the Carvykti CAR-T treatment for me sometime soon.
In other news, earlier this morning my telescope mysteriously stopped working and I also got word that my primary care doctor is about to kill my Ambien prescription, something I've been dreading for a while. This all adds up to a pretty discouraging day.
POSTSCRIPT: What's the deal with the backlash against Ambien, anyway? I know it has side effects, but every sleeping med has side effects and Ambien's don't seem much worse than anyone else's. They sure do get a lot more attention, though, especially when celebrities are involved. I mean, here's an article about a woman who had some weird side effects from using 400–1400 mg of Ambien daily.¹ Holy shit! I'm surprised she's still alive. Writing an article like this is the same as writing about someone who gained weight eating 50 pounds of chocolate every day. What's the point?
¹I take 5 mg per day. It's rare to take more than 12.5 mg daily.
Have you tried Lunesta? Can't recommend it enough. I have next to zero knowledge about any of these medications, but I noticed no side effects (no longer take it).
Don't you remember the media panic over people on ambien sleep driving?
https://jaapl.org/content/39/4/535
A friend of mine got off Ambien by substituting a specific THC product that is made just for sleep. Perhaps you could look into that.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/ambien/faq-20058103 …
You need a new doc. I've been taking Ambien for years with no problem and my doc has said nada. Just writes up a refill when I need one.
Kevin, you live a Cali, you should not have sleep issues. The Evil weed my friend. Taken in edible form. You will sleep like a baby. Has to be healthier then Ambien, No?
My doc is super cool about it. Been on it for years, no problems.
(Have tried other things, including what has been mentioned on this thread.)
Good luck, Kevin!
What's wrong with Ambien? The DEA is watching it like a hawk and want to have a word with doctors who they perceive are prescribing too much. So blame the war on drugs.