Question about Sleep patterns

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irishlass258
irishlass258 Member Posts: 16
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My husband has finished his first round of chemo. That went well with little nausia. He became dehydrated and went into kidney failure which led to being hospitalized. Of course there was also low white cell count. This is now being controlled. 

However, it has seemed to affected his slepping pattern. He has troubles sleeping through the night. If he awakes to go to the bathroom it is difficul to go back to sleep. Also he has coughing spells when trying to sleep. I was wondering if others had this problem or if it is unique to him. 

He is scheduled to beginn round 2 on Feb. 10. He is also suppose to start a 6 week cycle of radiation. I am concerned that he will become very fatigued. 

Would welcome any suggestions and comments.

Comments

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #2
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    During treatment

    the most my husband ever slept at a time was about  2 hours. This was due mostly to the need to get rid of the mucous from the mucositis and pain. Later his sleep was very interrupted because dry mouth..and in fact it still is because he wakes up to take a drink and wet his mouth (he has almost zero saliva). Also due to fatigue and daytime naps, his whole wake/sleep cycle got out of whack. We're still trying to get into a better sleep pattern six months out from treatment. For a while he had to sleep more upright in a recliner due to the mucous, but now I am happy that he is back in the regular bed with extra pillows. Other things that have helped are using a humidifier, putting in xylimelt patches in the mouth before bed, and having a water bottle next to the bed.

    I guess what I am saying is that it's not unusual for sleep to become disrupted during treatment and also after. Keep trying different things and hopefully it will improve. Fatigue is going to be an issue no matter what - the chemo and radiation will make sure of that. The best you can do is try to minimize the effects by resting when you can and recognizing that it WILL get better with time.

    Good luck with round 2 and the radiation! Kick those cancer cells outta there!

    Barbara

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #3
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    Sleeping & not.........

    The radiation and chemo can affect many things. I never had chemo or radiation, just surgery. I have trouble getting to sleep. There are many days even with OTC sleeping aid's, I am still awake 3 or 4 hours later. If I do fall asleep I do ok but I wake up to cough, [it's a neck breathing thing, it is required or you plug the filter] but then I can go back to sleep ok. For me it is the time when you lay down and it's nice and quite, is when the mind kicks in and you think about everything, including what you went through. I also think about all the "new" persons and the one's lost. It is always somewhere in the back of my mine, the question will it return. The surgery got all of mine and it is not likely to come back in H&N, but with severe COPD and it can only get worse you do have it on your mind. So it is just getting to sleep for me.

    Bill

  • kdot2003
    kdot2003 Member Posts: 143
    #4
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    Sleep

    I took Ativan at night to help me sleep.  It was supposed to be for my mask but after I got over that phobia I used it to sleep for about a month.  One day I decided I had to stop using it to sleep so I didnt take it again at night.  I had a few rough nights of insomnia tho.  My sleep patterns were crazy.  Naps during the day, mucous, nausea, hot and cold flashes, were just a few things that messed sleep up.  It gets better though after treatment.  

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #5
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    My husband had the sleep

    My husband had the sleep problems too. He is 2 weeks out of treatment, but the mucus is what got him. He would wake up a lot at night to spit or vomit out mucus. He kept a plastic trash can and wash cloths by the bed for that purpose. And he carried wash cloths and a plastic bag with him when we went out. Also, he had hydration by IV multiple times a week and on those days, he was up going to the bathroom so much at night. I felt so bad for him getting so little sleep. He did uSe multiple pillows, and even though he was a back sleeper, sleeping on his right side seemed to help. Now at 2 weeks out, he is sleeping better and the mucus is better. He can sleep like 6 hours straight now which is awesome for him (and me). Hang in there.

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #6
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    Sleep

    I think it was after the 2nd round of chemo, and third week of rads that sleep became the only thing I did.

    I would get up - "eat" something (I use that word loosely), take a nap, wake up for lunch - get my rads - take a name - wake up for dinner - take a nap - wake up - take a sleeping pill, and then go to bed.  All this was done on the couch - never went into the bed the whole time.

    I was reluctant to take the sleeping pills, as I had never had them before.  However, I was not sleeping at all for quite a while - and would pace the house during the evening and nighttime. Once I started taking them - I had restful nights

    Don't hesitate to take something - it really made a difference.

    Lorna 2007 & 2014

     

    (After this last cancer - now I cannot sleep anywhere but bed - not even dozing while watching TV.)

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #7
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    lornal said:

    Sleep

    I think it was after the 2nd round of chemo, and third week of rads that sleep became the only thing I did.

    I would get up - "eat" something (I use that word loosely), take a nap, wake up for lunch - get my rads - take a name - wake up for dinner - take a nap - wake up - take a sleeping pill, and then go to bed.  All this was done on the couch - never went into the bed the whole time.

    I was reluctant to take the sleeping pills, as I had never had them before.  However, I was not sleeping at all for quite a while - and would pace the house during the evening and nighttime. Once I started taking them - I had restful nights

    Don't hesitate to take something - it really made a difference.

    Lorna 2007 & 2014

     

    (After this last cancer - now I cannot sleep anywhere but bed - not even dozing while watching TV.)

    Dozing can stop your breathing.

    Dozing is interesting to say the least. My head drops and blocke my stoma. Wow, do you wake up fast.

    Bill
    Oct 2013

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #8
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    wmc said:

    Dozing can stop your breathing.

    Dozing is interesting to say the least. My head drops and blocke my stoma. Wow, do you wake up fast.

    Bill
    Oct 2013

    Dozing

    Yeah - that's an issue.  I do wear a larytube 23/7  (I do need to clean it twice a day - at least)

  • Flyfisherman
    Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
    #9
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    Sleep Patterns

    I am 7 months out from Chemo and Radiation.  I am normally only sleeping about 1 1/2 hours straight due to dry mouth.  I keep water by the bed and normally just take a sip and go back to sleep.  A good night, I only wake up twice, but it's usually 3-4 times a night.  Not sure if this will get better as the Dr didn't offer a lot of promise that the dry mouth would improve...I do try to take a short nap in the daytime.  When I miss these, I run out of steam...the nurse suggested a small spritzer bottle filled with water and a drop or two of olive oil or coconut oil.  This is supposed to coat the mouth and retain the moisture a little longer.  I personally, can't tell if it works, but it may be worth a try...

  • IAmStrong
    IAmStrong Member Posts: 58
    #10
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    Flyfisherman said:

    Sleep Patterns

    I am 7 months out from Chemo and Radiation.  I am normally only sleeping about 1 1/2 hours straight due to dry mouth.  I keep water by the bed and normally just take a sip and go back to sleep.  A good night, I only wake up twice, but it's usually 3-4 times a night.  Not sure if this will get better as the Dr didn't offer a lot of promise that the dry mouth would improve...I do try to take a short nap in the daytime.  When I miss these, I run out of steam...the nurse suggested a small spritzer bottle filled with water and a drop or two of olive oil or coconut oil.  This is supposed to coat the mouth and retain the moisture a little longer.  I personally, can't tell if it works, but it may be worth a try...

    Dry Mouth and Sleep

    Hi all. I use coconut oil (it is firm in a jar).  I keep one in the bathroom.  I moisturize all rads affected area with it, helps Enormously with sensation of "tightness".  Do that twice daily, including before bed. Skin is soft and supple 5 1/2 yrs out.  Then I take 1tsp to 1 1/2 tbsp of oil, put in mouth and roll around lubricating all of surfaces including front and back of teeth.  I let it dissolve, keeping it there as long as I can.  Best sensation of natural saliva I've had.  Google health benfits.  Also I use Pilocarpine eye drops...yes.  A side effect is increased salivary production.  For me, 5-7 drops as needed.  I go through bottles each month, much less expensive than tablets of same.  I always keep 1 bottle at bedside if I awake with dryness. ENT suggestion a life saver for me!  Huge Blessing! Hope this can help some-Best Regards!

     

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #11
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    Sleep problems common

    As other have said sleep patterns are disrupted considerably.  During treatment, sleeping in a recliner seemed helpful, keeping water by the bed and saline solutions to rinse and spit with.  Found having a humidifier by my bed helped the dryness issue a lot.  This may seem crazy, but I exercised every day to the best of my ability for an hour and I believe it helped me sleep a bit better and kept my mood more positive.  There were many nights when I would wake up and not be able to sleep and the computer or a good book helped and journaling as well.   Also got old Seinfeld episodes for Netflix (mail) and watched them and they were still funny.  

    Best to you and your husband.  

    PJ

  • oldvampswyfe
    oldvampswyfe Member Posts: 10
    #12
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    I feel for you

    We went through R N C and  it was rough.  Oldvamp was waking up quite a bit, due to dry mouth, pain, fatique and stress.  He wasn't able to go back to sleep..his brain couldn't shut down, he was scared and he felt like he was failing his family (which wasn't true at all, it wasn't his fault). 

    He ended up in the hospital due to low white cell counts and temp of over 103.  (Happy Birthday to me).  He was there for 4 days.  They released him and he spiked again within 2 hours of his release, but they wouldn't re-admit him because his temp was 102.8, not 103.  Sigh.

    We also had the issue of chemo fog..he would get out of bed to take 3 am stroles to be at some appointment (still baffled at that one), with me having to chase him down the block to get him back in the house (barefoot and in my nightgown).  I had to barricade the doors and sleep in the recliner to guard the homestead, lol.  Its funny now, but not then.  He gets up because of needing to go to the bathroom (drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day will do that to you), the sundowners syndrome is gone, thanks to what ever powers are out there.  He has survived and he is doing better, except for getting up 4-6 times night, which will be his lot in life until things settle for him (he is about 6 months out from his last R N C treatments)

    It does get easier.  You need to not sweat the small stuff (and if you are anything like me, right at this moment, nothing is seems to be small).  He will wake up and all you can do is love him, support him, hold him and be there for him. And then he will get up again. And the cycle continues.  Eventually things will calm down.

    You are in my prayers and thoughts. 

    You are doing a wonderful job, if you weren't, you wouldn't be asking what you can do to help him through this crisis. 

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #13
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    wmc said:

    Sleeping & not.........

    The radiation and chemo can affect many things. I never had chemo or radiation, just surgery. I have trouble getting to sleep. There are many days even with OTC sleeping aid's, I am still awake 3 or 4 hours later. If I do fall asleep I do ok but I wake up to cough, [it's a neck breathing thing, it is required or you plug the filter] but then I can go back to sleep ok. For me it is the time when you lay down and it's nice and quite, is when the mind kicks in and you think about everything, including what you went through. I also think about all the "new" persons and the one's lost. It is always somewhere in the back of my mine, the question will it return. The surgery got all of mine and it is not likely to come back in H&N, but with severe COPD and it can only get worse you do have it on your mind. So it is just getting to sleep for me.

    Bill

     

     

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