Sleepless under the disco ball...

usakat

It's 3:00 in the morning and I'm wide awake. I can't sleep (I'm saying in my whiniest voice).

Ever since I started chemo I've had a rough time sleeping. I'm sure part of my problem is noon-time naps, but today I was out and about all day, no naps and I still can't sleep. I have a big day tomorrow, which is technically later today, and I need to be somewhat lively.

Tonight my toilet all of a sudden started intermittent running and that sound off and on and off and on made me goofy and kept me awake. Wide awake I then noticed my cell phone power light blinking on and off and on and off making me think of disco lights, which made me start thinking about disco music.

Today I saw that movie, Little Miss Sunshine (go see it - best film this year) and that song, Super Freak was featured. My disco light cell phone got me singing, "she's a super freak, she's supa freaka yeow..." Now I can't get that song out of my head. CRAZY MAKING! You try sleeping through Super Freak. Yuck, I never liked disco much...not unless there were at least four martinis in the mix.

Too much super freak so I caved and just got up, shut off the toilet and now I'm looking for help for a good night sleep tomorrow night. Ugh.

Has anyone here had problems sleeping through chemo? If so, help me please. Any suggestions for natural remedies...teas that really do help you sleep, pillows, tapes, mantras, movies, books, I'll try anything...with all the meds I'm on right now I really don't want to add more, and definitely no narcotics (I don't want to have to push Rush aside for the Oxi). Any suggestions would be immensely appreciated.

Godnatt...Good night!

KathiM

Well, Katie...it is now 3:31PST and I, too, am wide awake...maybe we are like cats...maybe there will be a shaker (you know, pets ALWAYS get jumpy before...hehehehe).
Seriously, sleeplessness is, sadly, a part of the prize package you have selected! I found that restricting caffine after 6pm (no brown drinks AT ALL...even prune juice would keep you up for another reason), try lying in bed, flex everything. Then, starting from your toes, start unflexing...toes, then ankles, then calves, etc. By the time you get to your eyes, you should be relaxed. Also try white noise in the room. I lucked out on this...my beau sleeps with a breathing machine...blocks out all other sounds. If all else fails, get up (like you did), move to the couch, and read a Nora Roberts novel...sleeping will happen soon.
One final note, realize your body is going thru hell, it is completely charged for the fight (to it, chemo is the enemy, sigh), and napping is GREAT. Drink plenty of water, and try light exercise during the day.

Hugs from a fellow Night Kat!

Kathi

jerseysue

Many sleepless nights with chemo. Sometimes I felt all jumpy I'm sure chemo has some type of speed in it. If Scouty posts I believe she has a herbal supplement that she uses sorry I can't remember the name of it. Take care...yawn..yawn (maybe that will help you get to sleep..yawn..yawn..yawn...

AuthorUnknown

Hi Kat,

There is an herb called Valerian. You can buy it over the counter in a drug store. It helps to relax and sleep.

Also, you might want to start doing meditation during the day so that you train your mind to stop thoughts. One of the reasons that you can not sleep is that perhaps your brain is very heavily working when it is time to stop. So, daily mediation will help you to catch yourself during the night with brain actively working and stop it. This will help you to fall asleep. Please write to me if you would like more information about how to do meditation.

Best Regards, Eleonora

scouty

Thanks Sue!!!!!

Melatonin is a natural supplement if you buy it from a reputable company. Not all vitamin supplements are made equal (surprise surprise, everything seems to be about money!!!!!). Many companies make products that your body can't even break down and all you do is pee it all out. Get the melatonin from a health food store/coop or a Vitamin Shoppe. You can also go to VitaminShoppe.com just to see which brands you can trust.

Get it in a 2 or 3 mg dose and start with just one and make sure to give yourself 8 hours of time to sleep.

It is also great for jet lag.

FYI, chemo is the definitely the culprit.

Lastly. I hate the Super Freak song so much I almost stopped reading your post.....almost.....

Lisa P.

spongebob

scouty said:

Thanks Sue!!!!!

Melatonin is a natural supplement if you buy it from a reputable company. Not all vitamin supplements are made equal (surprise surprise, everything seems to be about money!!!!!). Many companies make products that your body can't even break down and all you do is pee it all out. Get the melatonin from a health food store/coop or a Vitamin Shoppe. You can also go to VitaminShoppe.com just to see which brands you can trust.

Get it in a 2 or 3 mg dose and start with just one and make sure to give yourself 8 hours of time to sleep.

It is also great for jet lag.

FYI, chemo is the definitely the culprit.

Lastly. I hate the Super Freak song so much I almost stopped reading your post.....almost.....

Lisa P.

That's just because you know Rick James wrote that song about you, Lisa...

;-)

KathiM

scouty said:

Thanks Sue!!!!!

Melatonin is a natural supplement if you buy it from a reputable company. Not all vitamin supplements are made equal (surprise surprise, everything seems to be about money!!!!!). Many companies make products that your body can't even break down and all you do is pee it all out. Get the melatonin from a health food store/coop or a Vitamin Shoppe. You can also go to VitaminShoppe.com just to see which brands you can trust.

Get it in a 2 or 3 mg dose and start with just one and make sure to give yourself 8 hours of time to sleep.

It is also great for jet lag.

FYI, chemo is the definitely the culprit.

Lastly. I hate the Super Freak song so much I almost stopped reading your post.....almost.....

Lisa P.

Lisa!
I have been using Melatonin for years on my trips to and from Holland for jet lag! I didn't think of using it for sleeplessness....THANK YOU!

Hugs, Kathi

scouty

spongebob said:

That's just because you know Rick James wrote that song about you, Lisa...

;-)

I am proud to say I don't know enough about the lyrics of that song to know whether your comment is nice or not so nice.

AND just when are you coming home to visit your mother?????? Your real one!!!!!!!

spongebob

scouty said:

I am proud to say I don't know enough about the lyrics of that song to know whether your comment is nice or not so nice.

AND just when are you coming home to visit your mother?????? Your real one!!!!!!!

Well, let's just say that you're a very freaky girl, the kind I won't take home to mother! But you have never let my spirits down - not once I got you off the street! You're all right!! hey hey hey...

usakat

Thanks for the replies everyone and thanks for giving me more laugh-ammo for my growing insanity. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture after all, hence that tortuous song, which thankfully has been replaced by another for tonight. Scouty, I won't mention any names or annoying lyrics this time. You're right, it's horrible especially at 2 AM. I do wonder though SpongeBob, how it is you know the lyrics to last night's diddy? Please, oh please tell us you Googled it...

Anyway, thanks for the supplement and meditation suggestions ladies. I will check out the supplements to see which is best for my situation and definitely work on ways to better regulate my sleep habits. Kathi, I think you're right about exercise, in fact today my mom suggested that it's time for me to get back to swim workouts sooner rather than later. Perhaps I can get one or two in before round 2 chemo on Wednesday.

Thanks again all - oh and Kathi, you're also right about cats knowing when the quakes are coming, hopefully that is not the case here - my furry cat slept just fine last night.

Be well,
Katie

terril

I have had those sleepless nights while on chemo. I can tell you all the late night shows on TV. I also read. I hit the computer. I have even cleaned the house at 3am!!! I haven't had any disco problems, though!!!!! I just fall asleep eventually. Terri

spongebob

usakat said:

Thanks for the replies everyone and thanks for giving me more laugh-ammo for my growing insanity. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture after all, hence that tortuous song, which thankfully has been replaced by another for tonight. Scouty, I won't mention any names or annoying lyrics this time. You're right, it's horrible especially at 2 AM. I do wonder though SpongeBob, how it is you know the lyrics to last night's diddy? Please, oh please tell us you Googled it...

Anyway, thanks for the supplement and meditation suggestions ladies. I will check out the supplements to see which is best for my situation and definitely work on ways to better regulate my sleep habits. Kathi, I think you're right about exercise, in fact today my mom suggested that it's time for me to get back to swim workouts sooner rather than later. Perhaps I can get one or two in before round 2 chemo on Wednesday.

Thanks again all - oh and Kathi, you're also right about cats knowing when the quakes are coming, hopefully that is not the case here - my furry cat slept just fine last night.

Be well,
Katie

Don't you mean your neighbor's cat?

Well, off to whistle the theme to the Andy Griffith Show...

hey hey hey!

DK2006

Hi Katie,
Sorry to hear about your insomnia. Nothing worse than not be able to sleep when you are exhausted!
During chemo, my husband and I bought a bunch of meditation CDs. The one we like like the best, (I'm sure that there are better ones out there) is Andrew Weil-"8 meditations for optimum health." We used to meditate right before bed, and it helped us.
Best wishes to better health and sleep.
Donna

usakat

spongebob said:

Don't you mean your neighbor's cat?

Well, off to whistle the theme to the Andy Griffith Show...

hey hey hey!

Is it SpongeBob Smarty Pants or Square Pants? I can't remember, but either way, love your sense of humor!