Chemo/Radiation prior to surgery done now can't sleep

OregonPatti
OregonPatti Member Posts: 3
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Please help. I have now been done with the prior to surgery chemo/radiation for three weeks and for the last week I have been lucky to get 2 hours of sleep per night. I am not thinking of my cancer or surgery and have been really positive through this whole thing. I have high stage III (they initially diagnosed stage IV) rectal/colon cancer. During treatment I took benadryl and two of my nausea pills but now that does not work for sleep. prescription sleeping pills are not working either. I took two last night and have been up all night -- literally. Thank you. Patti

Comments

  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #2
    Make that two of us, Patti :)
    Unfortunately, that's one of the common side affects of treatment, both pre and post, and the myriad of drugs they put us on for fighting the possible side affects. Even if you up and stop the anti-side affect drugs, they are still in your system for some time and can cause havoc with sleep patterns.

    You might want to talk to your onc or family doctor and explain the problem, let them know exactly what you are taking and how often... and they might be able to prescribe something that doesn't react to what you are taking.

    Me... I know tonight is an insomnia night because I was so sick of bland food and the lightheadedness/dizzies I was getting for having no real food, that I ordered in Chinese tonight. Hahaha... I kept it simple with soup, egg foo yung and rice... which after 10 days of next to nothing, this was delicious (and the dizzies and lightheadeness have disappeared!) ... but alas, the intestines and stomach are not happy campers. So I've been up pretty much all night :) Was it worth it? I guess I'll know more tomorrow :)

    Cheryl

    PS: I see this is your first post! Welcome to the semi-colon club!!!! :D
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #3
    Ask for a different sleep med
    Lunesta keeps me up; Ambien CR works great (but I hate the amnesia that goes with it for me.)

    We respond differently to different meds. Ask about Valium or Ativan as another possibility.

    I'm trying to find one I can use, tho now I only need it occasionally. The amnesia issues with the Ambien (I do things during the night of which I am totally unaware) has it an unacceptable level. However, I relied on Ambien for many months post-dx and during treatment. As I mentioned, Lunesta makes me sleepy, but unable to sleep, so that's useless. I don't know what we'll try next, or since my needs are now so infrequent, I'll just rely on Valium.
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #4
    abrub said:

    Ask for a different sleep med
    Lunesta keeps me up; Ambien CR works great (but I hate the amnesia that goes with it for me.)

    We respond differently to different meds. Ask about Valium or Ativan as another possibility.

    I'm trying to find one I can use, tho now I only need it occasionally. The amnesia issues with the Ambien (I do things during the night of which I am totally unaware) has it an unacceptable level. However, I relied on Ambien for many months post-dx and during treatment. As I mentioned, Lunesta makes me sleepy, but unable to sleep, so that's useless. I don't know what we'll try next, or since my needs are now so infrequent, I'll just rely on Valium.

    Feel sorry I can't help in that despite l had recently finished
    a very similar treatment , but not problems with sleeping in my case!
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #5
    Sleep
    I had trouble sleeping when I was taking vicodin,I had to get off of it,then started on zoloft,and ativan.Now I sleep all night,but it took about a month to get rid of the vicodin from my system.I was also cold all the time.Talk to the doctor,I'm sure you can find something that works.Good luck.
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    #6
    sleep
    I could not sleep while on chemo, would lay awake watching tv, could not relax. Told nurse and wanted prescription, but they suggested over the counter at Walgreens, it started with a D, sorry forgot name, but have seen it at other stores. It really helped. It still took a while to go to sleep, but I would sleep and when I woke up I went back to sleep. When chemo was over I went off it with no problems. I would try something like that first. It was a capsule, I think blue. Good luck. Pat
  • OregonPatti
    OregonPatti Member Posts: 3
    #7
    CherylHutch said:

    Make that two of us, Patti :)
    Unfortunately, that's one of the common side affects of treatment, both pre and post, and the myriad of drugs they put us on for fighting the possible side affects. Even if you up and stop the anti-side affect drugs, they are still in your system for some time and can cause havoc with sleep patterns.

    You might want to talk to your onc or family doctor and explain the problem, let them know exactly what you are taking and how often... and they might be able to prescribe something that doesn't react to what you are taking.

    Me... I know tonight is an insomnia night because I was so sick of bland food and the lightheadedness/dizzies I was getting for having no real food, that I ordered in Chinese tonight. Hahaha... I kept it simple with soup, egg foo yung and rice... which after 10 days of next to nothing, this was delicious (and the dizzies and lightheadeness have disappeared!) ... but alas, the intestines and stomach are not happy campers. So I've been up pretty much all night :) Was it worth it? I guess I'll know more tomorrow :)

    Cheryl

    PS: I see this is your first post! Welcome to the semi-colon club!!!! :D

    Thank you
    HI Cheryl,

    Thank you so much. Sorry that both of us are part of the club but after getting on the other night it has helped reading what others are going through so I don't feel like I am over-exaggerating what is going on with me (in my mind and/or otherwise).

    Good luck.

    Patti
  • OregonPatti
    OregonPatti Member Posts: 3
    #8
    abrub said:

    Ask for a different sleep med
    Lunesta keeps me up; Ambien CR works great (but I hate the amnesia that goes with it for me.)

    We respond differently to different meds. Ask about Valium or Ativan as another possibility.

    I'm trying to find one I can use, tho now I only need it occasionally. The amnesia issues with the Ambien (I do things during the night of which I am totally unaware) has it an unacceptable level. However, I relied on Ambien for many months post-dx and during treatment. As I mentioned, Lunesta makes me sleepy, but unable to sleep, so that's useless. I don't know what we'll try next, or since my needs are now so infrequent, I'll just rely on Valium.

    Not sleeping
    Thank you to all that offered help. Thank you thank you thank you. Patti
  • kuastoi
    kuastoi Member Posts: 63
    #9
    Lifeisajourney said:

    sleep
    I could not sleep while on chemo, would lay awake watching tv, could not relax. Told nurse and wanted prescription, but they suggested over the counter at Walgreens, it started with a D, sorry forgot name, but have seen it at other stores. It really helped. It still took a while to go to sleep, but I would sleep and when I woke up I went back to sleep. When chemo was over I went off it with no problems. I would try something like that first. It was a capsule, I think blue. Good luck. Pat

    Try meditation..
    I bought some meditation cd's on line and they helped immensely. Drugs work for only a short time than fade in their effectiveness and have some serious side effects - I am tired enough already during the day just from the chemo....

    Tom
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #10
    I did exactly the same
    I did exactly the same thing! Even if my body felt tired, my brain would say nah, you're not sleeping. My Dr. gave me Ambien 10mg and they helped me so much. Good luck with the sleep!

    Gail :)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    plh4gail said:

    I did exactly the same
    I did exactly the same thing! Even if my body felt tired, my brain would say nah, you're not sleeping. My Dr. gave me Ambien 10mg and they helped me so much. Good luck with the sleep!

    Gail :)

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • TMac52
    TMac52 Member Posts: 352
    #12
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    lorazapam
    LORAZAPAM 10 mg Works for me know but nothing worked while doing radiation/chemo.
    I am on mop up chemo now post surgery and the lorazapam (same as ativan) works wonders.
    Good luck,
    Tom
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #13
    Valerian
    I'm sorry, Patti! Have you tried Valerian? It's a root that you can purchase at Wal-Mart. It's helped me in the past.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #14
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Ambien - Sleepwalk?
    OMG Gracie!! Ok, I know this is not funny, and I'm not making light of it for those who have had a problem with doing things on this drug and not being aware of doing them.... but when you said you heard people were known to sleepwalk and do things in their sleep, including SHOP, I roared!! This definitely would NOT be the drug I should go anywhere near!! HAHAHAHA!! I have a hard enough time with going on shopping sprees when I'm awake... I would be in big trouble if I started shopping in my sleep!! :D

    Cheryl
    (who LOVES shopping!)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #15
    tootsie1 said:

    Valerian
    I'm sorry, Patti! Have you tried Valerian? It's a root that you can purchase at Wal-Mart. It's helped me in the past.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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