sleeling pills/ cold meds/ forks over knives.

girlypants
girlypants Member Posts: 31
in Kidney Cancer #1
I have been a insomniac most of my 28 years, seriously I never slept as a baby and now I cant sleep unless I take benadlry or ambien. I has stopped taking it right before and after surgery, but since I am at week 6 thur from surgery, and will be going back to work on Saturday I know I have to take the ambien again. Has anyone been told not to take these meds? I thought I couldnt sleep before surgery, now I just lay there longer thinking after surgery. At least I feel good, totally back to normal. Only a few random feelings of soreness or pain in the kidney area. The doc said that I would have more pain because I was young and lost part of it, so I would feel more because the whole thing was not removed.

Still dont think I have come to terms with the whole cancer thing. My dad seems to think I just need to move on. Uh yeah I had cancer, could have died, am super young, yup lets just move on with things...ugh I had that kind of closed minded thinking. I did finally find a therapist so lets see if it helps. Couldn't hurt I figured..

Oh and cold medication.. What do people take?! I had the flu and cold this week, I finally caved and took nyquil and tylenol flu. We shouldn't take IB Profen right? So confusing! My doc just said live like it never happened. But that seems to risky.

Watched Forks over knives a documentary about cancer and the meat protein link which has me all freaked out now that I might have given myself cancer. What if it isnt the gene, and I caused it, or it just happened? Am I doomed? I hope I get the genetic results back soon. Well over now with my rambles...

Comments

  • lbinmsp
    lbinmsp Member Posts: 266
    #2
    Hey GP
    I read your post a couple of times - and I always find it surprising and sad when I see yet another younger person with this beast of a disease! I'm happy to hear that you're recovering well and nearly ready to go back to your normal life.

    I've taken Ambien on/off through the past 10 years or so (mostly since I was diagnosed with RCC). This diagnosis can get into your head big time. Having said that, I am a real spook when it comes to drugs of any sort so I always exercise extreme caution. When I'm on prescription pain meds I do NOT use Ambien. A little sleeplessness is far preferable to having some odd reaction using those drugs together. As for cold/flu meds - some of them contain alcohol which you are supposed to avoid when on certain prescription meds (like Ambien).

    I think that if you're in doubt about using any medication, either talk to a pharmacist or call your PC doctor.
  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    #3
    lbinmsp said:

    Hey GP
    I read your post a couple of times - and I always find it surprising and sad when I see yet another younger person with this beast of a disease! I'm happy to hear that you're recovering well and nearly ready to go back to your normal life.

    I've taken Ambien on/off through the past 10 years or so (mostly since I was diagnosed with RCC). This diagnosis can get into your head big time. Having said that, I am a real spook when it comes to drugs of any sort so I always exercise extreme caution. When I'm on prescription pain meds I do NOT use Ambien. A little sleeplessness is far preferable to having some odd reaction using those drugs together. As for cold/flu meds - some of them contain alcohol which you are supposed to avoid when on certain prescription meds (like Ambien).

    I think that if you're in doubt about using any medication, either talk to a pharmacist or call your PC doctor.

    Not doomed
    I have watched Forks over Knives as well and found it pretty interesting. What I take from anything I've seen or read is to take everything in moderation. I have cut down on my protein but not eliminated it. I guess it's a personal preference. I think that kidney cancer is probably caused by a number of things including genetics, what we put into our bodies plus a lot of things we cannot control. What you can control is how you deal with stress, what you choose to eat and drink and learning how to strengthen your immune system, which is your body's best line of defense. Enjoy life but remember to take care of yourself.
  • jam66
    jam66 Member Posts: 55
    #4
    FOK
    I watched Forks Over Knives as well. It definitely swayed me, and my husband, to take on the plant-based diet. The evidence is pretty strong that this diet reverses heart disease, but cancer is a pretty grey area. There are so many factors that come into play - environment, diet, genes - so who knows. I just figure I'll do whatever I can to help fight this beast. A great website to visit is www.nutritionfacts.org - type in a search for kidney cancer, and a few videos pop up. Dr. Gregor talks about acrylomides in one video, which has been proven to cause kidney cancer. Acrylomides are in foods that are cooked at high temperatures, so anything roasted, pretzels, chips, coffee, pretty much anything yummy. So I definitely watch my acrylomides intake. After surgery I was pretty obsessed with all this stuff. I'm a bit calmer now, but still strongly believe that what you put into your body makes a difference.
    Wishing you the best......now get some sleep!
  • girlypants
    girlypants Member Posts: 31
    #5
    jam66 said:

    FOK
    I watched Forks Over Knives as well. It definitely swayed me, and my husband, to take on the plant-based diet. The evidence is pretty strong that this diet reverses heart disease, but cancer is a pretty grey area. There are so many factors that come into play - environment, diet, genes - so who knows. I just figure I'll do whatever I can to help fight this beast. A great website to visit is www.nutritionfacts.org - type in a search for kidney cancer, and a few videos pop up. Dr. Gregor talks about acrylomides in one video, which has been proven to cause kidney cancer. Acrylomides are in foods that are cooked at high temperatures, so anything roasted, pretzels, chips, coffee, pretty much anything yummy. So I definitely watch my acrylomides intake. After surgery I was pretty obsessed with all this stuff. I'm a bit calmer now, but still strongly believe that what you put into your body makes a difference.
    Wishing you the best......now get some sleep!

    Thanks everyone!
    I love this page, it always makes me feel better! Thanks for all the advice guys :)
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #6
    girlypants said:

    Thanks everyone!
    I love this page, it always makes me feel better! Thanks for all the advice guys :)

    Feeling better
    Amber, I don't know what other people think but, having read all of your posts, I feel sure that a bit of help from a good clinical psychologist would enable you to be a lot happier. You're obviously a habitual worrier and you say you're a lifetime insomniac. Some good advice should make it possible for you to be far less anxious and to get much better sleep. Your Dad has probably been through it as well, seeing you suffering but feeling powerless to do anything much to help. You're young with a good life ahead of you so please give yourself a chance to make the most of it!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #7
    Texas_wedge said:

    Feeling better
    Amber, I don't know what other people think but, having read all of your posts, I feel sure that a bit of help from a good clinical psychologist would enable you to be a lot happier. You're obviously a habitual worrier and you say you're a lifetime insomniac. Some good advice should make it possible for you to be far less anxious and to get much better sleep. Your Dad has probably been through it as well, seeing you suffering but feeling powerless to do anything much to help. You're young with a good life ahead of you so please give yourself a chance to make the most of it!

    Insomnia
    Amber, this guy really seems to be the real deal as a sleep expert (Harvard Medical School etc) and hid program might offer you a lot

    http://cbtforinsomnia.com/JoinNow.html

    "In a study conducted at Harvard Medical School that was funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, this CBT program for insomnia was more effective than Ambien.

    The Conquering Insomnia program is a PDF (Adobe Reader) based treatment program that is designed as if you are a patient going through the 5-session, 5-week CBT treatment program developed and tested at Harvard Medical School."
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #8
    jam66 said:

    FOK
    I watched Forks Over Knives as well. It definitely swayed me, and my husband, to take on the plant-based diet. The evidence is pretty strong that this diet reverses heart disease, but cancer is a pretty grey area. There are so many factors that come into play - environment, diet, genes - so who knows. I just figure I'll do whatever I can to help fight this beast. A great website to visit is www.nutritionfacts.org - type in a search for kidney cancer, and a few videos pop up. Dr. Gregor talks about acrylomides in one video, which has been proven to cause kidney cancer. Acrylomides are in foods that are cooked at high temperatures, so anything roasted, pretzels, chips, coffee, pretty much anything yummy. So I definitely watch my acrylomides intake. After surgery I was pretty obsessed with all this stuff. I'm a bit calmer now, but still strongly believe that what you put into your body makes a difference.
    Wishing you the best......now get some sleep!

    Showings?
    Where have you all seen this show, Forks over Knives? Is it shown on TV or did you watch it online? Thanks.

    Blessings,
    Lisa
  • jam66
    jam66 Member Posts: 55
    #9
    LISAinTN said:

    Showings?
    Where have you all seen this show, Forks over Knives? Is it shown on TV or did you watch it online? Thanks.

    Blessings,
    Lisa

    FOK
    It's a documentary that came out about a year ago. You can download it from Netflix or rent the movie.
  • LISAinTN
    LISAinTN Member Posts: 143
    #10
    jam66 said:

    FOK
    It's a documentary that came out about a year ago. You can download it from Netflix or rent the movie.

    Thanks!
    Thanks, Jam!

Discussion Boards