Sleep

Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
Does anyone actually always consistently sleep for 6-8 hours? I wasn't sleeping before cancer and now every time something new pops up, I go through a few days where I don't sleep. Thankfully eventually I get so tired, I make it through the night. Do you get to a point where you just say it's going to be what it's going to be, sleep is good, I need to do this?
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Comments

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    Melatonin helps and is
    Melatonin helps and is supposed to help fight cancer.
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    Yikes, Helen! I HATE those
    Yikes, Helen! I HATE those "just can't shut the brain down and sleep" times! I was plagued with them for it seems like forever. Everything rolls in at night and wants your brain to figure it out! AND if you DO go to sleep, you (me).dream about everything that HAS been bothering you during the day! It's like living two full very tiring lives.....

    I finally talked with my regular GP and he gave me an antidepressant that I take at night and helps me sleep. Still dream some, but not like before. I didn't want to take antidepressants but sure fill better for sleeping! I guess cancer gave me permission to try and feel better! LOL! Bless you, Lorie
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    Hi Helen,
    The doctor gave


    Hi Helen,

    The doctor gave Rick 1 mg of Lorazepam and he's now finally sleeping soundly at night. It might help you...

    "Lorazepam: is used to relieve anxiety. Lorazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation."

    Cyn
  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member

    Hi Helen,
    The doctor gave


    Hi Helen,

    The doctor gave Rick 1 mg of Lorazepam and he's now finally sleeping soundly at night. It might help you...

    "Lorazepam: is used to relieve anxiety. Lorazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation."

    Cyn

    Melatonin
    Melatonin all the way,it is natural you can by it i n the Health store, I take 3 of 3 mg each at night, It takes about an hour before it works , BUT it works and it is also good against cancer.
    No caffeinne at night that includes regular tea. No cola or pepsi. Etc.
    I drink Camomille tea that also can make you sleepy.
    I am a professional NONE sleeper. Since I take the Melatonin I can sleep at least 6 hours in a row.
    Do not take more then 12 mg I was told.
    Hugs, Marjan
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    sleep is essential for me
    i even try to have an afternoon nap.
    its when the body heals,

    i also take melatonin, most nights and aim to get to bed before 10pm and get up around 6am.

    sleeps when our healing happens, i hope you get your sleep routine better.

    no real studies on this to say you must, but so many of my alternative guru advisers have pounded this into my thick head, that i have accepted it.

    go go to sleep myself.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps sweet healing dreams.....
  • lauragb
    lauragb Member Posts: 370 Member
    I have had periods of
    I have had periods of non-sleep throughout this odyssey. My doctor gave me Valium, which I sometimes take a half of one. It helps. I also use melatonin and find it helps alot. I am post my takedown surgery and am finding that I am sleeping a lot without taking anything, which has been a pleasant surprise.

    I have been careful to not use too much Valium to avoid dependency but am glad I have had it available to me. I have put it away for now. If I have sleeping issues again, I will go back on the Melatonin first.

    Goodluck! I love sleep and I hope you get some!
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    Lorikat said:

    Yikes, Helen! I HATE those
    Yikes, Helen! I HATE those "just can't shut the brain down and sleep" times! I was plagued with them for it seems like forever. Everything rolls in at night and wants your brain to figure it out! AND if you DO go to sleep, you (me).dream about everything that HAS been bothering you during the day! It's like living two full very tiring lives.....

    I finally talked with my regular GP and he gave me an antidepressant that I take at night and helps me sleep. Still dream some, but not like before. I didn't want to take antidepressants but sure fill better for sleeping! I guess cancer gave me permission to try and feel better! LOL! Bless you, Lorie

    Tried antidepressant, doing
    Tried antidepressant, doing nothing for sleep. I'll have to talk with my doc about the melatonin since I take synthroid and the anxiety med now. Leproxa did work great for the anxiety though, at least my arm is no longer hurting. I can take naps for hours, those would be perfect. I slept three days away last week but I didn't get paid and that's no good. This week I have to work so no naps=( I just want to crawl under my desk right now.
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    lauragb said:

    I have had periods of
    I have had periods of non-sleep throughout this odyssey. My doctor gave me Valium, which I sometimes take a half of one. It helps. I also use melatonin and find it helps alot. I am post my takedown surgery and am finding that I am sleeping a lot without taking anything, which has been a pleasant surprise.

    I have been careful to not use too much Valium to avoid dependency but am glad I have had it available to me. I have put it away for now. If I have sleeping issues again, I will go back on the Melatonin first.

    Goodluck! I love sleep and I hope you get some!

    Happend to me also. Dr gave
    Happend to me also. Dr gave ambeum. Works good and wake up with no groggy feeling.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

    Hi Helen,
    The doctor gave


    Hi Helen,

    The doctor gave Rick 1 mg of Lorazepam and he's now finally sleeping soundly at night. It might help you...

    "Lorazepam: is used to relieve anxiety. Lorazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation."

    Cyn

    I'm going to talk to my
    I'm going to talk to my doctor about switching from the Lexpraxo to something else. At first we tried Ambien, I was talking, walking and yelling at the dog to get away, get away. My family was highly entertained by my outrageous behavior. Lexpraxo has helped the daytime tremendously and I sleep sometimes but every time I go for a new test, boom, days and days of starting over. I need to get my thoughts to stop it and behave! I'll ask about Loraxepam instead. Maybe I need something for actual anxiety instead of depression/anxiety.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

    sleep is essential for me
    i even try to have an afternoon nap.
    its when the body heals,

    i also take melatonin, most nights and aim to get to bed before 10pm and get up around 6am.

    sleeps when our healing happens, i hope you get your sleep routine better.

    no real studies on this to say you must, but so many of my alternative guru advisers have pounded this into my thick head, that i have accepted it.

    go go to sleep myself.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps sweet healing dreams.....

    lol thanks, my dreams were
    lol thanks, my dreams were not so sweet because I've been up since 4:30. I can SO nap. I just can't because I'm at work. Napping is never a problem when I'm home. Last week I slept 3 days away but I didn't get paid. My body is saying okay get this sleep thing together here. Second person who said melatonin. I just put in a call to my thyroid doc to call me back to give me the clear to try it.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

    sleep is essential for me
    i even try to have an afternoon nap.
    its when the body heals,

    i also take melatonin, most nights and aim to get to bed before 10pm and get up around 6am.

    sleeps when our healing happens, i hope you get your sleep routine better.

    no real studies on this to say you must, but so many of my alternative guru advisers have pounded this into my thick head, that i have accepted it.

    go go to sleep myself.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps sweet healing dreams.....

    lol thanks, my dreams were
    lol thanks, my dreams were not so sweet because I've been up since 4:30. I can SO nap. I just can't because I'm at work. Napping is never a problem when I'm home. Last week I slept 3 days away but I didn't get paid. My body is saying okay get this sleep thing together here. Second person who said melatonin. I just put in a call to my thyroid doc to call me back to give me the clear to try it.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    Kenny H. said:

    Happend to me also. Dr gave
    Happend to me also. Dr gave ambeum. Works good and wake up with no groggy feeling.

    I think it was Ambien?
    I think it was Ambien? Ambien made me a nut! lol I laughed hysterically at the top of the stairs while slapping my knee, I remember getting back into bed and laughing hysterically for about 10 minutes. What I don't remember is that I walked around the house yelling at everyone including the dog. Apparently I put on quite a show. My whole family thought it was hysterical. I wish they had recorded it so I could see. Apparently I should not take Ambien. I'm going to try the melatonin. I need to go buy some toothpicks to keep my eyelids open.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep
    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep calling it all kinds of names. My GP called me back. Melatonin is fine with both synthroid and Lexapro as long as you take them all seperately. So I'll do a 3 hour routine. Thanks for the tips. I just hope this isn't all permanent. I really miss sleeping.
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep
    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep calling it all kinds of names. My GP called me back. Melatonin is fine with both synthroid and Lexapro as long as you take them all seperately. So I'll do a 3 hour routine. Thanks for the tips. I just hope this isn't all permanent. I really miss sleeping.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    Helen321 said:

    I'm going to talk to my
    I'm going to talk to my doctor about switching from the Lexpraxo to something else. At first we tried Ambien, I was talking, walking and yelling at the dog to get away, get away. My family was highly entertained by my outrageous behavior. Lexpraxo has helped the daytime tremendously and I sleep sometimes but every time I go for a new test, boom, days and days of starting over. I need to get my thoughts to stop it and behave! I'll ask about Loraxepam instead. Maybe I need something for actual anxiety instead of depression/anxiety.

    I use lorazepam as well...
    brand name Ativan. Originally took it for nausea during chemo, but found it's also very useful for sleep. Doesn't knock you out or anything, just reduces nervous system activity a bit. I also found that it doesn't have any "hangover" effect the next day, unlike some of the meds that are designed to actually put you to sleep. Good luck, hope you find something that works. It's essential to get some sleep, esp if you have to go to work. Ann
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    Helen321 said:

    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep
    I'm taking Lexapro. I keep calling it all kinds of names. My GP called me back. Melatonin is fine with both synthroid and Lexapro as long as you take them all seperately. So I'll do a 3 hour routine. Thanks for the tips. I just hope this isn't all permanent. I really miss sleeping.

    sleep
    PErsonally I was a bad sleeper and the stressful phases of this journey have kep me awake. I always had restless legs as a cause of poor sleep and strangely they have improved since my relapse and I now sleep well. I do wonder if it is the chemo leaving my exhausted.

    Drugs are good but aim to keep them short term. You lexapro (escitalopram) is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety treatment which is often useful but is not sedative so won't help you sleep unless the insomnia is just caused by depression/ anxiety. In your situation it is most likely just a symptom of your situation. Melatonin is worth trying and helps some people. Your reaction to ambien isn't that uncommon but was still a good thing to try. The lorazapam idea is one I would save till lower in the list as it is very addictive (more so than valium) but can be useful if short term and intermittently used. Promethazine is another tactic- it is an antihistamine that is quite sedative so not addictive.

    Sleep hygeine is vital though- no day time naps and a regular routine. Lie ins only worsen insomnia so try to get up at the same regualr time including at weekends until your pattern returns. No using the bedroom for other things during the day- watching the tv/ resting etc (a bit of nookie okay but not napping after!) No caffeine after 4pm (including tea), last cigaratte before 8pm. If you can't sleep after 30-40 minutes- get up and do something calming eg hot milky drink, read etc. Don't lie in bed and toss and turn. Then go back to bed and try and again.

    Sorry- am at work so am in psychiatrist mode. Better stop lecturing do some real work,

    steve
  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    steved said:

    sleep
    PErsonally I was a bad sleeper and the stressful phases of this journey have kep me awake. I always had restless legs as a cause of poor sleep and strangely they have improved since my relapse and I now sleep well. I do wonder if it is the chemo leaving my exhausted.

    Drugs are good but aim to keep them short term. You lexapro (escitalopram) is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety treatment which is often useful but is not sedative so won't help you sleep unless the insomnia is just caused by depression/ anxiety. In your situation it is most likely just a symptom of your situation. Melatonin is worth trying and helps some people. Your reaction to ambien isn't that uncommon but was still a good thing to try. The lorazapam idea is one I would save till lower in the list as it is very addictive (more so than valium) but can be useful if short term and intermittently used. Promethazine is another tactic- it is an antihistamine that is quite sedative so not addictive.

    Sleep hygeine is vital though- no day time naps and a regular routine. Lie ins only worsen insomnia so try to get up at the same regualr time including at weekends until your pattern returns. No using the bedroom for other things during the day- watching the tv/ resting etc (a bit of nookie okay but not napping after!) No caffeine after 4pm (including tea), last cigaratte before 8pm. If you can't sleep after 30-40 minutes- get up and do something calming eg hot milky drink, read etc. Don't lie in bed and toss and turn. Then go back to bed and try and again.

    Sorry- am at work so am in psychiatrist mode. Better stop lecturing do some real work,

    steve

    Fantastic info! I did take
    Fantastic info! I did take a 4 hour nap this weekend, I guess I'm totally messing up my sleep patterns. I have a TV in my bedroom. Sleep hygeine is incredibly vital. Something that normally takes me 40 minutes to finish took me 3 hours yesterday. I was zombie-ish. I'm going to try the melatonin-lexapro-synthroid routine, see how it works. Where should I send my payment?
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    Helen321 said:

    Fantastic info! I did take
    Fantastic info! I did take a 4 hour nap this weekend, I guess I'm totally messing up my sleep patterns. I have a TV in my bedroom. Sleep hygeine is incredibly vital. Something that normally takes me 40 minutes to finish took me 3 hours yesterday. I was zombie-ish. I'm going to try the melatonin-lexapro-synthroid routine, see how it works. Where should I send my payment?

    My oncologist gave me a
    My oncologist gave me a prescript for something I probably have the name all wrong Ziplo something or other....leaves a really BAD taste in your mouth...it says take when needed at bedtime....okay so I Needed it for an extended period of time....I have refills avail. but didn't fill the presc......without them had a HORRIBLE time falling asleep so I popped nytol...had the most BIZZARRE dreams once I finally fell asleep. I always wondered how people come up with strange things for movies...this would have been a great movie, weird creatures and all!!!
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    Not sleeping was common for
    Not sleeping was common for me. I would stay up for 36-48 hours at times. I was relaxing other then when I took my walks, and played with the dogs.

    Then I would crash and sleep for 10 hours eat and go back to sleep. Soon after stopping chemo, my sleep went back to normal.

    Best Always, mike
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    Helen321 said:

    Tried antidepressant, doing
    Tried antidepressant, doing nothing for sleep. I'll have to talk with my doc about the melatonin since I take synthroid and the anxiety med now. Leproxa did work great for the anxiety though, at least my arm is no longer hurting. I can take naps for hours, those would be perfect. I slept three days away last week but I didn't get paid and that's no good. This week I have to work so no naps=( I just want to crawl under my desk right now.

    Nappy time
    Hey Helen,

    According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 you are entitled to ask your employer to make a reasonable accommodation for a nap time during your shift. Granted, it will be off the clock time, but it's better to miss 30 - 60 minutes than a whole day.

    Hope this helps out and God Bless

    Doc