Insomnia Please Help

Heeran
Heeran Member Posts: 171
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi guys
my mom finished chemo and radiation 2 1/2 weeks ago. Next Friday we have a Pet scan. She is no longer on pain meds and for the last 4 days, she is having major insomnia. The doctor even prescribed her the extended release ambien and she is still only sleeping 3-4 hours a night. She said she keeps thinking about the surgery (if she's a candidate) she keeps thinking about all of the other cancer patients we've met and what a hard time they must be going through, and she's really weak. She didn't eat much for the last 3 weeks and now she's able to drink ensure again and eat, even though she doesn't really have the appetite. Is this normal? How can someone take Ambien and still not sleep? I'm scared that she won't heal enough to handle the surgery. Any thoughts?

Heeran
Daughter of EC patient T3,N2,M0 Squamous Cell Stage 3b

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • sangora
    sangora Member Posts: 213
    #3
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Ambien
    I have a friend that uses Ambien and it took several weeks for it to build up in his system and begin to really do its job. Also, I agree with Sherri, Ativan may help as well. Sam
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #4
    sangora said:

    Ambien
    I have a friend that uses Ambien and it took several weeks for it to build up in his system and begin to really do its job. Also, I agree with Sherri, Ativan may help as well. Sam

    Ativan
    Lee also suffered insomnia, and was given Ativan. It did seem to help. Does your mother sleep during the day? Our oc stated that for some unknown reason, often times cancer patients flip their days and nights. Lee was doing that, and sleeping for hours during the day, and up all night. He suggested using melatonin (5mg) as well as the Ativan.

    Chantal
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #5
    Try something else!!!
    Heeran,
    I have to agree with Sherri and all the others, Chantal hit it on the head....
    Ambien is a weird drug and does not always work and does so differently for many, especially at your mom's age-they even have one of those (MANY MANY) disclaimers about aged taking Ambien for sleep.

    They gave me Ativan (Xanax) and it works very well. Also thee are others too.

    God bless.
    So glad she is doing so well now after chemo despite these small issues...

    Eric
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #6
    My mom was put on Xanax last
    My mom was put on Xanax last week and it has helped her tremendously... with anxiety. Sleep is still grab it when you can. Hard to say if she's sleeping during the day because she sits with her eyes closed so often. She is also hard of hearing so she doesn't hear me when I walk up to check on her.

    The problem with her sleep is coughing. She cannot stop coughing despite 2 different cough Rx. The most recent has Codeine so it's probably causing her to doze off here and there.

    I take Ambien, but it doesn't give me much more than my using 4 to 5 hours of sleep. I've had that problem forever. I envy 8+ hour sleepers! I've had my entire week's worth of laundry washed, dried, folded, and put away before 5 a.m. many times.

    Sound like your mom can't turn her brain off. I highly recommend Xanax as a way of calming her down so she can sleep. Maybe she can enjoy some Boost drinks for added nutrients.
  • Heeran
    Heeran Member Posts: 171
    #7
    thank
    I will ask about the anti anxiety medicine. They ran labs on her friday because of the insomnia, constantly shaking, stomach shaking, and general weakness and he just told us that her thyroids are inflamed and now we need to see an endocrinologist. I have no idea what inflamed thyroids even mean but they are stating that this might be the issue.
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #8
    Heeran said:

    thank
    I will ask about the anti anxiety medicine. They ran labs on her friday because of the insomnia, constantly shaking, stomach shaking, and general weakness and he just told us that her thyroids are inflamed and now we need to see an endocrinologist. I have no idea what inflamed thyroids even mean but they are stating that this might be the issue.

    thyroids
    Chemo drugs can really do a number on thyroid glands. Lee had horrible sweats and chills, and also was sent to an endocrinologist. They gave him hormones, which really helped a lot. Don't really know much else, but that was one doctor that really offered Lee significant relief.
    Chantal
  • BobHaze
    BobHaze Member Posts: 163 Member
    #9
    chemosmoker said:

    Try something else!!!
    Heeran,
    I have to agree with Sherri and all the others, Chantal hit it on the head....
    Ambien is a weird drug and does not always work and does so differently for many, especially at your mom's age-they even have one of those (MANY MANY) disclaimers about aged taking Ambien for sleep.

    They gave me Ativan (Xanax) and it works very well. Also thee are others too.

    God bless.
    So glad she is doing so well now after chemo despite these small issues...

    Eric

    Atavan plus Ambien
    I wasn't able to sleep after my MIE and I was very emotional much of the time, so my PCP gave me Atavan for bedtime and Ambien in case I woke up during the night - which I do every night after 2-3 hours. The combo did the trick for me, and now I'm sleeping 6 hours a night.
    This is a scary disease and anxiety is a normal human reaction, so let them give your Mom something to calm her down and the Ambien will work much better...at least that was my experience.

    Bob
    dx 08/03/11 T1N0M0
    MIE at Mass General Hospital 09/23/11
  • Lee Christensen
    Lee Christensen Member Posts: 49 Member
    #10
    Daisylin said:

    thyroids
    Chemo drugs can really do a number on thyroid glands. Lee had horrible sweats and chills, and also was sent to an endocrinologist. They gave him hormones, which really helped a lot. Don't really know much else, but that was one doctor that really offered Lee significant relief.
    Chantal

    SLEEP
    Going thru the same thing, only getting 4 hrs of sleep a night. So, your posts are nice to read. Going to Dr. tommorow. I'm almost a year since surgery, and am doing well accept for the sleep part. Tried Ambien and double strength Ambein with no effect. Over the counter stuff just don't work either.
    Thanks for all the info.
  • Cora11
    Cora11 Member Posts: 173
    #11
    Lee Christensen said:

    SLEEP
    Going thru the same thing, only getting 4 hrs of sleep a night. So, your posts are nice to read. Going to Dr. tommorow. I'm almost a year since surgery, and am doing well accept for the sleep part. Tried Ambien and double strength Ambein with no effect. Over the counter stuff just don't work either.
    Thanks for all the info.

    other options
    If Ambien doesn't work, there are other similar drugs like Lunesta. I hear people do well on that one. Also, Trazadone is good. It's actually an anti-depressant ( an old one) but they use it at very low doses to help with sleep and it is non habit forming
    Cora
  • lightning 777
    lightning 777 Member Posts: 12
    #12
    Insomnia!
    Hi,
    I've had insomnia from time to time, my Dr. gave me an Rx for Ambien, it didn't help much. The Dr. bumped the Ambien higher dose, I got some relief, but still couldn't get a good nights sleep.

    I asked my Dr. if I could taken Melatonin instead, he said it was ok. Melatonin is available over the counter.

    Melatonin is a natural product, made in the brain to help sleep. Sometimes, we need a little extra m]Melatonin. Ask her Dr. if it's ok to use Melatonin.

    Ihope that helps!
  • Lee Christensen
    Lee Christensen Member Posts: 49 Member
    #13
    lightning 777 said:

    Insomnia!
    Hi,
    I've had insomnia from time to time, my Dr. gave me an Rx for Ambien, it didn't help much. The Dr. bumped the Ambien higher dose, I got some relief, but still couldn't get a good nights sleep.

    I asked my Dr. if I could taken Melatonin instead, he said it was ok. Melatonin is available over the counter.

    Melatonin is a natural product, made in the brain to help sleep. Sometimes, we need a little extra m]Melatonin. Ask her Dr. if it's ok to use Melatonin.

    Ihope that helps!

    Tried 6 mg's of Melatonin
    Tried 6 mg's of Melatonin with no effect. Dr. told that it helps you fall asleep but doesn't keep you asleep.
  • Heeran
    Heeran Member Posts: 171
    #14
    My goodness
    Doctor prescribed the Atavan to be taken with the time release Ambien and my mom still only slept 4 hours last night. I'm so frustrated. Here I am so tired right along with her but if I didn't have responsibilities, I think I could sleep 10 hours if I wanted. I'll ask the doctor for the melatonin if she has trouble tonight again. Is it even possible that someone can sleep only 3 to 4 hours a day for over a week? it seems impossible.
  • wiltingnoh
    wiltingnoh Member Posts: 6
    #15
    Daisylin said:

    Ativan
    Lee also suffered insomnia, and was given Ativan. It did seem to help. Does your mother sleep during the day? Our oc stated that for some unknown reason, often times cancer patients flip their days and nights. Lee was doing that, and sleeping for hours during the day, and up all night. He suggested using melatonin (5mg) as well as the Ativan.

    Chantal

    insomnia
    I just wanted to thank everyone for the info. I read this morning. My husband still isn't sleeping much even though he takes sleeping meds. He may get 3hrs. at a time, tops. He is on so many meds. now that I will talk to his Dr. today and see about these suggestions before I buy over the counter.

    Cathy

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