Question about Sleep patterns

the most my husband ever slept at a time was about  2 hours. This was due mostly to the need to get rid of the mucous from the mucositis and pain. Later his sleep was very interrupted because dry mouth..and in fact it still is because he wakes up to take a drink and wet his mouth (he has almost zero saliva). Also due to fatigue and daytime naps, his whole wake/sleep cycle got out of whack. We're still trying to get into a better sleep pattern six months out from treatment. For a while he had to sleep more upright in a recliner due to the mucous, but now I am happy that he is back in the regular bed with extra pillows. Other things that have helped are using a humidifier, putting in xylimelt patches in the mouth before bed, and having a water bottle next to the bed.

I guess what I am saying is that it's not unusual for sleep to become disrupted during treatment and also after. Keep trying different things and hopefully it will improve. Fatigue is going to be an issue no matter what - the chemo and radiation will make sure of that. The best you can do is try to minimize the effects by resting when you can and recognizing that it WILL get better with time.

Good luck with round 2 and the radiation! Kick those cancer cells outta there!

Barbara

I took Ativan at night to help me sleep.  It was supposed to be for my mask but after I got over that phobia I used it to sleep for about a month.  One day I decided I had to stop using it to sleep so I didnt take it again at night.  I had a few rough nights of insomnia tho.  My sleep patterns were crazy.  Naps during the day, mucous, nausea, hot and cold flashes, were just a few things that messed sleep up.  It gets better though after treatment.  

I think it was after the 2nd round of chemo, and third week of rads that sleep became the only thing I did.

I would get up - "eat" something (I use that word loosely), take a nap, wake up for lunch - get my rads - take a name - wake up for dinner - take a nap - wake up - take a sleeping pill, and then go to bed.  All this was done on the couch - never went into the bed the whole time.

I was reluctant to take the sleeping pills, as I had never had them before.  However, I was not sleeping at all for quite a while - and would pace the house during the evening and nighttime. Once I started taking them - I had restful nights

Don't hesitate to take something - it really made a difference.

Lorna 2007 & 2014

(After this last cancer - now I cannot sleep anywhere but bed - not even dozing while watching TV.)

wmc said:

Dozing can stop your breathing.

Dozing is interesting to say the least. My head drops and blocke my stoma. Wow, do you wake up fast.

Bill
Oct 2013

Yeah - that's an issue.  I do wear a larytube 23/7  (I do need to clean it twice a day - at least)

Flyfisherman said:

Sleep Patterns

I am 7 months out from Chemo and Radiation.  I am normally only sleeping about 1 1/2 hours straight due to dry mouth.  I keep water by the bed and normally just take a sip and go back to sleep.  A good night, I only wake up twice, but it's usually 3-4 times a night.  Not sure if this will get better as the Dr didn't offer a lot of promise that the dry mouth would improve...I do try to take a short nap in the daytime.  When I miss these, I run out of steam...the nurse suggested a small spritzer bottle filled with water and a drop or two of olive oil or coconut oil.  This is supposed to coat the mouth and retain the moisture a little longer.  I personally, can't tell if it works, but it may be worth a try...

Hi all. I use coconut oil (it is firm in a jar).  I keep one in the bathroom.  I moisturize all rads affected area with it, helps Enormously with sensation of "tightness".  Do that twice daily, including before bed. Skin is soft and supple 5 1/2 yrs out.  Then I take 1tsp to 1 1/2 tbsp of oil, put in mouth and roll around lubricating all of surfaces including front and back of teeth.  I let it dissolve, keeping it there as long as I can.  Best sensation of natural saliva I've had.  Google health benfits.  Also I use Pilocarpine eye drops...yes.  A side effect is increased salivary production.  For me, 5-7 drops as needed.  I go through bottles each month, much less expensive than tablets of same.  I always keep 1 bottle at bedside if I awake with dryness. ENT suggestion a life saver for me!  Huge Blessing! Hope this can help some-Best Regards!

We went through R N C and  it was rough.  Oldvamp was waking up quite a bit, due to dry mouth, pain, fatique and stress.  He wasn't able to go back to sleep..his brain couldn't shut down, he was scared and he felt like he was failing his family (which wasn't true at all, it wasn't his fault). 

He ended up in the hospital due to low white cell counts and temp of over 103.  (Happy Birthday to me).  He was there for 4 days.  They released him and he spiked again within 2 hours of his release, but they wouldn't re-admit him because his temp was 102.8, not 103.  Sigh.

We also had the issue of chemo fog..he would get out of bed to take 3 am stroles to be at some appointment (still baffled at that one), with me having to chase him down the block to get him back in the house (barefoot and in my nightgown).  I had to barricade the doors and sleep in the recliner to guard the homestead, lol.  Its funny now, but not then.  He gets up because of needing to go to the bathroom (drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day will do that to you), the sundowners syndrome is gone, thanks to what ever powers are out there.  He has survived and he is doing better, except for getting up 4-6 times night, which will be his lot in life until things settle for him (he is about 6 months out from his last R N C treatments)

It does get easier.  You need to not sweat the small stuff (and if you are anything like me, right at this moment, nothing is seems to be small).  He will wake up and all you can do is love him, support him, hold him and be there for him. And then he will get up again. And the cycle continues.  Eventually things will calm down.

You are in my prayers and thoughts. 

You are doing a wonderful job, if you weren't, you wouldn't be asking what you can do to help him through this crisis.