trouble sleeping after chemo

calabria03

Just had my first round of chemo on 4/1. Taxotere and Cytoxan even though I am tired I can't sleep. I was awake til 11:30 pm and up every hour on the hour to go to the bathroom. I woke up at 6:30am and was not able to fall back to sleep. I have been trying to nap today because I am tired but have been unsuccessful. I was really hoping to get some rest as the Grandparent's will be bringing the boy ages 11 and 5 back home tomorrow.

laurissa

Hi calabria
I was on the same and had to take steroids for 3 days. I was told the steroids would do that. I got about 4 hours sleep a night for a few days. Hope you get your rest soon. For me, day 7 I was feeling better.

cindycflynn

Yes
The steriods will tend to do that if you're taking them.

Ask your doctor if there's something you can take to help you sleep. Mine okayed me taking a Tylenol PM, which helped immensely.

Take care,
Cindy

Flakey_Flake

Anti Nausea Meds
I was having the same problem. Go like a Whirling Dervish for a couple days after chemo, then went down for the count. Found out from my onc that the anti-nausea meds are a form of steroids. I finally got prescribed some sleep meds that helped. Is there anyone who can help with your boys after they get back? My heart goes out to you, Calibria - let us know how it goes.
Sharon

Angie2U

laurissa said:

Hi calabria
I was on the same and had to take steroids for 3 days. I was told the steroids would do that. I got about 4 hours sleep a night for a few days. Hope you get your rest soon. For me, day 7 I was feeling better.

Have you asked your
Have you asked your oncologist to prescribe something possibly to help you sleep? He should be able to help you out, I hope. Hope you get some sleep soon.

heidijez

Yup, been there and done
Yup, been there and done that. I am on the same two drugs, had my sixth chemo yesterday and am so tired and my eyes want to close, but I cannot sleep. This has been one of the most difficult parts of treatment for me, but somehow I am getting through it and still working practically full time.

Hang in there, it will get better ; )

Youcandothis

heidijez said:

Yup, been there and done
Yup, been there and done that. I am on the same two drugs, had my sixth chemo yesterday and am so tired and my eyes want to close, but I cannot sleep. This has been one of the most difficult parts of treatment for me, but somehow I am getting through it and still working practically full time.

Hang in there, it will get better ; )

My onc said
It was the steroids--compazine. She suggested I tinker with the dosage. I cut the last dose in half and that's all it took for me. I had a lot of nausea so was taking the Ativan on top of the odanisetran ( or whatever the heck it is!) had me sleeping a lot those 2 reaction days.

susanleeann

most definitely the steroids
most definitely the steroids are responsible. you gotta have them but ask the doc for help next time, especially if you work or have other responsiblities that need to be met.

aztec45

Sorry
Sorry about the insomnia. My onc used to have me take the anti nausea meds to help with that. If it doesn't get better, you should talk to your docs and have them give you something so you can sleep. You need to rest.

Take care,

P

DebbyM

cindycflynn said:

Yes
The steriods will tend to do that if you're taking them.

Ask your doctor if there's something you can take to help you sleep. Mine okayed me taking a Tylenol PM, which helped immensely.

Take care,
Cindy

Steroids seem to have that
Steroids seem to have that effect on some. See your doctor about prescribing a sleeping pill possibly. Good luck!

Christine Louise

Hope you are sleeping better
I hope the steroids have worn off and you are sleeping better! My onc gave me lorazepam, to help with both nausea and sleeplessness. I don't take it every night, and sometimes half a tab is enough. I switch between it and valium, as the second night on either is not effective.

About all those bathroom trips: Although we're supposed to drink lots of water, I found that not drinking anything after 6:00 pm keeps me from getting up all night to urinate. As long as I've had plenty of water during the day and early afternoon, I've felt fine. If you still get up in the night, move your "drinking deadline" up to 5:00 or 4:00.

I just passed the infamous "Day 10," (actually, it was on day 9 for me) when the white blood cell count is at its lowest point in the chemo cycle. Slept great on days 8, 9 and 10 without meds -- a trade-off for the awesome fatigue. When the fatigue lifted, I could almost feel my bone marrow pumpin' out the white blood cells -- energy, normality!

Wishing you the best!

GayleMc

Christine Louise said:

Hope you are sleeping better
I hope the steroids have worn off and you are sleeping better! My onc gave me lorazepam, to help with both nausea and sleeplessness. I don't take it every night, and sometimes half a tab is enough. I switch between it and valium, as the second night on either is not effective.

About all those bathroom trips: Although we're supposed to drink lots of water, I found that not drinking anything after 6:00 pm keeps me from getting up all night to urinate. As long as I've had plenty of water during the day and early afternoon, I've felt fine. If you still get up in the night, move your "drinking deadline" up to 5:00 or 4:00.

I just passed the infamous "Day 10," (actually, it was on day 9 for me) when the white blood cell count is at its lowest point in the chemo cycle. Slept great on days 8, 9 and 10 without meds -- a trade-off for the awesome fatigue. When the fatigue lifted, I could almost feel my bone marrow pumpin' out the white blood cells -- energy, normality!

Wishing you the best!

I also had problems with the
I also had problems with the steroids. I am really sensitive to them I guess. Tylenol PM also helped me . I never knew tylenol PM has benadryl in it to help a person sleep. I work in a pharmacy as a tech and never knew that. Anyway I have my 4th and last of T?C tomorrow, YAY!! Last week I got hit with the severe fatigue that I understand can come as you are finishing up treatment. It's a lot of ups and downs and always a learning experience with chemo and I'm so thankful for all the info I get on this site and assurance that most things are "normal". Best to all. Take care. ( be sure to check with doc before taking any new meds ).

mariam_11_09

Lorazepam - I think is the
Lorazepam - I think is the same or similar to Ativan. My doctor prescribed this for anti-nausea, anti-anxiety and sleep. Great all in one pill. I take it for a week after chemo as I can't sleep otherwise - have horrible images going through my head all night.

Ask your doctor if he can prescibe something or alter the steroid dose. You really need to get sleep for the sake of your healing. I hear you about the kids, I have a daughter as well and need sleep just to be able to deal with her.

I hope you can figure something out.

Megan M

Christine Louise said:

Hope you are sleeping better
I hope the steroids have worn off and you are sleeping better! My onc gave me lorazepam, to help with both nausea and sleeplessness. I don't take it every night, and sometimes half a tab is enough. I switch between it and valium, as the second night on either is not effective.

About all those bathroom trips: Although we're supposed to drink lots of water, I found that not drinking anything after 6:00 pm keeps me from getting up all night to urinate. As long as I've had plenty of water during the day and early afternoon, I've felt fine. If you still get up in the night, move your "drinking deadline" up to 5:00 or 4:00.

I just passed the infamous "Day 10," (actually, it was on day 9 for me) when the white blood cell count is at its lowest point in the chemo cycle. Slept great on days 8, 9 and 10 without meds -- a trade-off for the awesome fatigue. When the fatigue lifted, I could almost feel my bone marrow pumpin' out the white blood cells -- energy, normality!

Wishing you the best!

Ask your oncologist for
Ask your oncologist for something to help you to get to sleep. I am sure that he can give you some meds that will help you.