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Sleep Adventures 103

I am sure most people are familiar with the side effects of the medicine ambien--the sleep walking. I first heard about it one morning while watching the news.  At that point I wasn't currently taking a sleep medicine, so I really didn't much about it.  But I did find it interesting.  Well as life would have it I have been on ambien for awhile now.  Guess what I have concern that I am sleep walking.  At first I think I would experience any side effects, but one morning I got up and noticed my computer was on.  I was like did some one use my computer during the night, or maybe I forget to turn it off.  I feel it is highly unlikely that I forget to turn it off.  But the next episode, we generally sleep with a nightlight on in the house, one night I woke up and the house was pitch black, I said well maybe the bulb just blew.  I checked nothing wrong with the bulb I switched the light, and the nightlight came on. 

I said now there is really something funny going on here.  I still didnt think I was the culprit.  Now again I get up and my computer is on again.  I am thinking you have got to be kidding, am I really sleep walking??  It crazy you don't remember, and have no knowledge that you were ever up.  I spoke to my doctor about it.  He confirmed that yes some people do use their computers while sleep walking, and alot of people eat, anyway I have scaled way back off of the ambien.

as always,

from a patient's perspective,

adrienne

you can also visit my other blog at www.rx-info.blogspot.com

The Yuck Test!

I call it the yuck test because in the days of old they were yucky.  I am referring to the colonoscope, you know the one where you spend the previous day on the toilet emptying your whole insides out so they can take a look up the rectum to see whats going on. 

Actually I didn't have it done, my mom did, and also a friend of mine.

So really I want to post about her experience, and encourage anyone to have it done if your doctors advises one.  My mom constantly had stomach troubles for years on end.  She was diagnose with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) so she took as that, and didn't bother to take it a step further.  But the problem still existed this very sensitive stomach, that would only tolerate certain foods.  If she eat the wrong foods look out because all hell is broke loss.

To really get to the heart of the matter my aunt constantly encouraged her to have a colonoscopy.  Of course she dreaded it, but scheduled for one anyway.  As it turned out it wasn't as bad as they use to be in the days of old.  She was asleep during the whole procedure, not only that but they found 2 pockets in her intestine, along with a bacteria that was causing her stomach problems.

The polyp's have been corrected, and medication was given to her to clear up the bacteria, and now stomach problems be gone!

Fondly,

from a patient's perspective,

Adrienne

Echo Stress Test

About five weeks ago I had my stress test and echocardigram, it wasn't to bad.  It was just a matter of being hooked up to a few monitor to watch my blood pressure, and heart rate.  The whole idea was to get pictures of my heart to make sure it is functioning properly.

Today I received my results, I didn't actually see the doctor I saw the "advanced practicioner".  I didn't there was such a thing as advanced practitioners.  I am well familiar with the PA - Physician Assistants. You know the ones who actually think they are the doctor, but they are not.  But I must say they are very professional at treating the patient's with great bedside manners.

But back to the results.  It was interesting she give me a mixed explanation she said well everything looks normal, but we did see you have a grade 1 enlargement of the top left and right values.  You know your heart is divided into four sections.  She also when on to say your heart muscle isn't relaxing as well as it should when its pumping.  I thought well, that doesn't sound 100% normal to me.  But she assured me alot of people have a small enlargement its nothing to worry about.

The one thing she was concerned about was the chlestoral level which were elevated 40 points higher than normal.   I didn't know practitioners could write prescriptions either.  She wrote out a script for Zetia 10m.g. and ordered new blood work to be taken in 6 weeks. Which is pretty much routine after begining a new regiment of medicine.

There you have it todays test results.

fondly,

from a patient's perspective,

Adrienne

Sleep Adventures 102

I discovered the hard way that eating sweets at night is a very bad idea, at first I didn't realize it was the sweets I just thought my heart was doing its funny little racing thing again.  But than I started to notice it really was the sweets at night.  This was a problem because than I couldn't sleep.  So here are two tips to get you off to a good night sleep:

Make Your Room Peaceful

If the budget allows, paint your walls a tranquil color.  Pick a color you like, preferably in soft hues to cover the walls.  Loud patterns, colored stripes or bright wallpaper may interfere with your relaxation at night.  If you walk into a bedroom decorated the way you like, you can exhale deeply, and fall right into bed.  It’s your room and the way you like it.  Sleep sound knowing you picked it out.

Don’t Feed a Sweet Tooth

Sugar right before bedtime can mess up your night of sleep in a variety of ways.  1 – The sugar can hype up your system and make it hard to fall asleep.  2 – Sugar right before bedtime can cause vivid dreams and even nightmares.  3 – The sugar, even after brushing your teeth, can cause tooth decay!  So, leave the candy in the jar until morning, after breakfast.  Then you can please your sweet tooth when you have enough time to burn it off!