Fatigue

Nanaof3
Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,
I am new to this site. I had a successful lumpectomy in December and there was no lymph node involvement, so I feel very lucky. I finished a short session (16) of radiation 2-1/2 weeks ago and am on Arimidex. I have read the discussions about how extensive fatigue can be and how long it can take to taper off. My problem is that I crash every afternoon and, although I am very tired (like now at 8:43pm), I have great difficulty sleeping at night. I was a light sleeper before the cancer. Arimidex MAY cause sleeplessness in some patients, apparently, but I don't know if this is the problem - if it's just me - or if it's because I sleep in the afternoons. Does anyone else have this problem or have any suggestions. I would LOVE to have some restorative sleep.
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Comments

  • Ticky
    Ticky Member Posts: 117
    #2
    Arimidex
    I can only speak for myself but I have noticed taking Arimidex in the evening has caused some sleep problems with me. I changed to taking it in the morning or early afternoon and I seem to sleep better.

    I hope this helps.

    Ticky
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #3
    Rads wiped me out -
    I slept all the time. I didn't have a problem with napping and nighttime. I'm sure someone else will be able to help you..

    Sue
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #4
    Ticky said:

    Arimidex
    I can only speak for myself but I have noticed taking Arimidex in the evening has caused some sleep problems with me. I changed to taking it in the morning or early afternoon and I seem to sleep better.

    I hope this helps.

    Ticky

    Thank you
    I just spoke to my doctor today about changing to a morning dose of Arimidex. "They" recommended it be taken at night so that's what I have been doing but I will start with a morning dose tomorrow.

    I appreciate your reply. Thanks Ticky.
  • 1acme
    1acme Member Posts: 77
    #5
    Hi Nanaof3
    I had Lumpectomy,
    Hi Nanaof3

    I had Lumpectomy, Centennial note and 14 lymphs note removed on Valentine's day (Feb-14-2011) I am still in recovery after operation and next week I have scheduled 1st appointment/consultation with Onco Dx (Mar-31). My surgeon told me that I need Radiation and MAY be chemo, so will see what they will give me.

    So I cannot share much information with you as my treatments are in front of me, but I am also light sleeper. I used to work for several years a night shifts and sleeping (try to sleep) over the day. I tried several different thing to put me a sleep and stay sleeping.

    A) always try to go to bed at same time, so my body get used to it. I also drink a full glass of water just before bed, keep my body hydrated during sleep.

    B) played a nice relaxing music like natural sounds or Reiki music AND always played same CD so my body get in to same routine. Music = Time to sleep

    C) put a small drips of Anise oil on my pillow and cover. I found that smell of Anise made me relax more

    D) finally if I missed my scheduled sleeping time or could not sleep I got a Melatonin STRIPS (brand Jameson) 2x 15 strips in box (30 days supply) for about $10. you take a one STRIP (or half) and put it on your tongue and it will dissolve quickly which goes immediately in your blood stream. In about 10-15 minutes I was asleep. with full strip I slept about 9-10hrs, with 1/2 strip I got about 6-7 hrs which was plenty for me.

    I hope that this help.
    Good luck
    Helen

    PS: If you cannot find the strips, I can get it for you and mail it to you home. Just let me know. They did "miracle" for me.
  • Jean T. Szabo
    Jean T. Szabo Member Posts: 193
    #6
    sbmly53 said:

    Rads wiped me out -
    I slept all the time. I didn't have a problem with napping and nighttime. I'm sure someone else will be able to help you..

    Sue

    Rads/fatigue
    Finished Rads on March 10th. Why do I feel so tired now? Does it take that long to hit you?
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    Hope this helps!
    I don't know what time you are taking the arimidex? I first took it in the AM and that did not work for me at all. I was hitting major fatigue a few hours later. I now take it around 4PM every day and that has worked just great for me. I never tried to take it right before bedtime because I take all of my heart meds then and didn't want to add another pill at that time.

    Anyway, I have always tended towards insomnia, but I actually have less now (or have learned how to manage it better after many years).

    Some things that really, really help me:
    1) Ear plugs every night
    2) A white noise machine on top of that
    3) No tv for at least 1-2 hrs before bedtime and no tv in bedroom at all at night
    4) Going to bed around the same time ever night and no naps
    5) One cup of coffee and then absolutely no caffeine after noon
    6) No light of any kind in the bedroom (night light in the bathroom though). I even put a wash cloth over the lighted clock by my bed
    7) If I can't sleep, I don't fret. I just look at it as an opportunity to finish my latest book
    8) No alcohol (I avoid this anyway because the stats on breast cancer and alcohol are grim)

    For more on sleep:
    Sleep Hygiene Tips from the University of Maryland Medical Center
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #8
    Hope some of the tips help
    My onc. also recommended the melatonin since it is a natural sleep aid and my son also recommended it . I haven't tried it yet since my sleeplessness went away on its own.
  • GrandmaJ
    GrandmaJ Member Posts: 209
    #9
    fatigue
    I'm on Femara now for 10 months and have had difficulty sleeping, weight gain and even some hair loss. sometimes the "after treatment" is worse than the treatment, at least for me, and I had it all, chemo, lumpectomy and rads.

    Judy
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #10
    GrandmaJ said:

    fatigue
    I'm on Femara now for 10 months and have had difficulty sleeping, weight gain and even some hair loss. sometimes the "after treatment" is worse than the treatment, at least for me, and I had it all, chemo, lumpectomy and rads.

    Judy

    Welcome Nana of 3
    I had a lumpectomy also and no nodes involved. The only time I had trouble sleeping really was during chemo for a few nights after treatments. I am on the Tamoxifen. I just wanted to welcome you and wish you the best. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • Dizzy Brain
    Dizzy Brain Member Posts: 1
    #11
    Boppy_of_6 said:

    Welcome Nana of 3
    I had a lumpectomy also and no nodes involved. The only time I had trouble sleeping really was during chemo for a few nights after treatments. I am on the Tamoxifen. I just wanted to welcome you and wish you the best. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice

    Hello - New to Site
    I just started Tamoxifen on March 4, 2011. I had a lumpectomy, no nodes and radiation. I just got my energy back after radiation and now having started Tamoxifen I am back to being really tired. Have you been tired with the Tamoxifen?
    Thanks.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #12
    $my story sounds like yours except i am on tamoxifen
    I don't sleep well at all but zzzzz on couch while watching tv. Go to bed and wide awake!I was taken off tamoxifen last week
  • Jean T. Szabo
    Jean T. Szabo Member Posts: 193
    #13
    disneyfan2008 said:

    $my story sounds like yours except i am on tamoxifen
    I don't sleep well at all but zzzzz on couch while watching tv. Go to bed and wide awake!I was taken off tamoxifen last week

    Sleep
    Am not on Tamoxifen (sp). Will be taking Arimidex, haven't started it yet.
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #14
    1acme said:

    Hi Nanaof3
    I had Lumpectomy,
    Hi Nanaof3

    I had Lumpectomy, Centennial note and 14 lymphs note removed on Valentine's day (Feb-14-2011) I am still in recovery after operation and next week I have scheduled 1st appointment/consultation with Onco Dx (Mar-31). My surgeon told me that I need Radiation and MAY be chemo, so will see what they will give me.

    So I cannot share much information with you as my treatments are in front of me, but I am also light sleeper. I used to work for several years a night shifts and sleeping (try to sleep) over the day. I tried several different thing to put me a sleep and stay sleeping.

    A) always try to go to bed at same time, so my body get used to it. I also drink a full glass of water just before bed, keep my body hydrated during sleep.

    B) played a nice relaxing music like natural sounds or Reiki music AND always played same CD so my body get in to same routine. Music = Time to sleep

    C) put a small drips of Anise oil on my pillow and cover. I found that smell of Anise made me relax more

    D) finally if I missed my scheduled sleeping time or could not sleep I got a Melatonin STRIPS (brand Jameson) 2x 15 strips in box (30 days supply) for about $10. you take a one STRIP (or half) and put it on your tongue and it will dissolve quickly which goes immediately in your blood stream. In about 10-15 minutes I was asleep. with full strip I slept about 9-10hrs, with 1/2 strip I got about 6-7 hrs which was plenty for me.

    I hope that this help.
    Good luck
    Helen

    PS: If you cannot find the strips, I can get it for you and mail it to you home. Just let me know. They did "miracle" for me.

    Good suggestions
    Thank you, Helen - I do use the music (surf sounds) and water but am interested in the Melatonin strips. Where did you get them? I live in Canada so things might be different here but I will certainly look out for them. And I will try the anise oil.

    Thanks again.
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #15
    disneyfan2008 said:

    $my story sounds like yours except i am on tamoxifen
    I don't sleep well at all but zzzzz on couch while watching tv. Go to bed and wide awake!I was taken off tamoxifen last week

    That's me!
    I am taking Arimidex so I don't know what the tamoxifen is like. But I'm to take the Arimidex for 5 years so I need to find a way to deal with it. Good luck with your sleeping.
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #16
    Dizzy Brain said:

    Hello - New to Site
    I just started Tamoxifen on March 4, 2011. I had a lumpectomy, no nodes and radiation. I just got my energy back after radiation and now having started Tamoxifen I am back to being really tired. Have you been tired with the Tamoxifen?
    Thanks.

    Hi
    I am not taking Tamoxifen - was prescribed Arimidex and started taking it the same day I started my radiation, which was February 11/11. Am finished rads now and just taking the meds. Still very tired though and sleeping poorly at night. I don't see the oncologist again until May, unless I request it, but my family doctor suggested I take the Arimidex in the am instead of at night and try not to nap during the day. Some days that works, other days it doesn't!
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #17
    Jean T. Szabo said:

    Rads/fatigue
    Finished Rads on March 10th. Why do I feel so tired now? Does it take that long to hit you?

    Hi Jean,
    I don't know about other people but I was as tired two weeks after rads as I was during. The techs warned me that could happen.
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #18
    CypressCynthia said:

    Hope this helps!
    I don't know what time you are taking the arimidex? I first took it in the AM and that did not work for me at all. I was hitting major fatigue a few hours later. I now take it around 4PM every day and that has worked just great for me. I never tried to take it right before bedtime because I take all of my heart meds then and didn't want to add another pill at that time.

    Anyway, I have always tended towards insomnia, but I actually have less now (or have learned how to manage it better after many years).

    Some things that really, really help me:
    1) Ear plugs every night
    2) A white noise machine on top of that
    3) No tv for at least 1-2 hrs before bedtime and no tv in bedroom at all at night
    4) Going to bed around the same time ever night and no naps
    5) One cup of coffee and then absolutely no caffeine after noon
    6) No light of any kind in the bedroom (night light in the bathroom though). I even put a wash cloth over the lighted clock by my bed
    7) If I can't sleep, I don't fret. I just look at it as an opportunity to finish my latest book
    8) No alcohol (I avoid this anyway because the stats on breast cancer and alcohol are grim)

    For more on sleep:
    Sleep Hygiene Tips from the University of Maryland Medical Center

    Thank you
    Some wonderful suggestions here. I do follow a number of them as I was a light sleeper before breast cancer. I'm sure my afternoon naps are a big culprit and I am trying to cut them out but still feel very fatigued from the radiation, so I am not always successful at this yet. I have saved the web site you included and really appreciate your comments.
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #19
    A big thank you
    to everyone who responded to my fatigue question. You are all so supportive and I wish you all the very best in your individual journies.
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #20
    I can't remember the last
    I can't remember the last time I had restorative sleep. Tamoxifen and Arimidex both can cause fatigue and insomnia and they certainly did with me. I take 1/2 zoplicone ea night which helps me sleep longer than 2 hrs. I don't darken my room as it's really dark here at night and I love star gazing from my bed as I drift off :) Ask at your local health food store about the Melatonin strips, they will have the Melatonin for sure if not the actualy strips. I'm in Canada too and have bought Melatonin although it didn't work for me. Best of luck to you..
    jan
  • Nanaof3
    Nanaof3 Member Posts: 15
    #21
    phoenixrising said:

    I can't remember the last
    I can't remember the last time I had restorative sleep. Tamoxifen and Arimidex both can cause fatigue and insomnia and they certainly did with me. I take 1/2 zoplicone ea night which helps me sleep longer than 2 hrs. I don't darken my room as it's really dark here at night and I love star gazing from my bed as I drift off :) Ask at your local health food store about the Melatonin strips, they will have the Melatonin for sure if not the actualy strips. I'm in Canada too and have bought Melatonin although it didn't work for me. Best of luck to you..
    jan

    Thanks, Jan
    I will try the Melatonin but I think I need to run it by my doc first as I am also on BP Meds and my research indicates the strips MAY interfere with the meds I have.

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