Insomnia

ConnieSW

When I was in chemo, I finally gave in and used Ativan .5 for sleep. It worked ok. Now I am 5 weeks out and have tried sleeping on my own the past 4 nights and it's not working. I go to sleep just fine then am wide awake 2 hours later. When I go back to sleep, I am again awake 1-2 hours later. So, how long is this disruptive sleep cycle likely to continue? Should I just give up and start taking the Ativan again?. I am not much for pharmaceuticals which is kinda funny considering all the poison I have been willingly putting into my body this past spring and summer.

debrajo

I am almost three years out
I am almost three years out from start of chemo/radiation. My dr. took one look at me and put me on Ambient. He said your body doesn't heal well if you don't get enough of the right kind of sleep. I say, what ever gets you through the night! best, debrajo

txtrisha55

Over 1 year out from last chemo treatment
right there with you. I never sleep a full night anymore. I wake up so tired but I wake up early every morning and as much as I want to take naps when I get home, I can't. I try taking Advil PM and it sometimes helps but usually wake up about 2-3 sit up for a while then go back to sleep. Wake up at 7 get up go to work. Let me know if any finds a good sleep remedy not including pills. trish

Michaelynn

Insomnia
My doctor had me on ativan for the duration of my chemo and then took me off it because he said you don't want to take sleeping pills forever. Since i can't take benadryl he told me the next best thing was Melatonin. It took about a week for it to work and 2 years later I sleep very good at night. I take 1 3mg tablet about an hour before bedtime and it works great for me. The over the counter sleep aids stop working after you take them for awhile but melatonin is a natural sleep aid that your body produces.

LizGrrr

Sleep meds
My onc wouldn't give me Ambien so I got it from my GP. Suffered through the worst of it, and when I got really bad I'd take the Ambien. It's a wonder drug (though not wondrous enough to have combatted chemo insomnia).

I'm 3 1/2 months past my last chemo and many nights I sleep great. Lately I've had trouble though. I was diagnosed with sleep disorders a year or so before my cancer diagnosis, and this is what the sleep dr prescribed:

For restless legs, Requip, B-12 megadose and iron
For a mild case of apnea, 3-6 mg of melatonin about half an hour before bedtime

I find I'm taking Ambien 1-2 times a month.

Liz in Dallas, who thinks insomnia makes everything feel worse