SLEEP
When I go to bed I know right away if it's going to be a stuggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. I just don't always sleep well and it's very annoying. I know people that always sleep so well all night. Wow, I wish I did but occationally if I do it feels so nice and I feel so rested. I just can't count on getting a good night sleep every night.
Thanks in advance. I'm sure there must be others on the board that have this problem.
Annette
Comments
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Yes....
took Ativan (Lorzoapam (can;t spell!) during chemo and steroids as the steroids messed up my sleep. I also take Xanax when very anxious. I used to love to take naps, but now have trouble napping as well. In general I would say that cancer, chemo, etc has messed up my sleep patterns, due both to chemical reactions and general anxiety and I don't think that's uncommon, unfortunately.
Before going to bed, I meditate, pray, and sometimes listen to relaxation tapes. I;m developing a whole nighttime routine to wind down and it does help. Exercise during the day helps as well.
I'm grateful when I am able to get a decent night's sleep - makes dealing with the next day so much easier.
Blessings,
Laura0 -
Hi Annette,
I finished chemo
Hi Annette,
I finished chemo almost a year ago and have had sleep problems on off ever since. I also take Lorazapam on a as needed basis however it is habit forming.
Here is what I have learnt -
1.Taking 500mg - 1500mg of Tryptophan (an amino acid) before going to bed will increase the level of seratonin in the brain and help with relaxation. The seratonin eventually breaks down into Melatonin.
2. Taking .5 to 1mg Melatonin before bed will help with falling and staying asleep.
3.Taking 100mg of B3 and 25 - 50mg of B2 2x a day is also meant to help with the relaxation and sleep and also support the nervous system.
I do all 3 and add Valerian root in with that. Almost everytime I take it I do fall asleep AND sleep through the night. I do wake up to go to the bathroom or because I am hot flashing but am able to fall asleep again right away. I started giving this formula (excluding the Valerian root) to my daughter and amazingly she falls asleep right away. In the past it has taken her at least an hour to fall asleep and no other herbs have helped at all, Benedryl didn't even do the trick for her.
On night were I am stressed out or feeling really anxious, then I might resort to Larazapam again.
This is what works for me (and my daughter) and took about 10 months of experimentation and research. There is nothing like a good night sleep and it makes such a huge difference.
Hope you find something that works for you.
Mariam0 -
I am a year post-treatmentmariam_11_09 said:Hi Annette,
I finished chemo
Hi Annette,
I finished chemo almost a year ago and have had sleep problems on off ever since. I also take Lorazapam on a as needed basis however it is habit forming.
Here is what I have learnt -
1.Taking 500mg - 1500mg of Tryptophan (an amino acid) before going to bed will increase the level of seratonin in the brain and help with relaxation. The seratonin eventually breaks down into Melatonin.
2. Taking .5 to 1mg Melatonin before bed will help with falling and staying asleep.
3.Taking 100mg of B3 and 25 - 50mg of B2 2x a day is also meant to help with the relaxation and sleep and also support the nervous system.
I do all 3 and add Valerian root in with that. Almost everytime I take it I do fall asleep AND sleep through the night. I do wake up to go to the bathroom or because I am hot flashing but am able to fall asleep again right away. I started giving this formula (excluding the Valerian root) to my daughter and amazingly she falls asleep right away. In the past it has taken her at least an hour to fall asleep and no other herbs have helped at all, Benedryl didn't even do the trick for her.
On night were I am stressed out or feeling really anxious, then I might resort to Larazapam again.
This is what works for me (and my daughter) and took about 10 months of experimentation and research. There is nothing like a good night sleep and it makes such a huge difference.
Hope you find something that works for you.
Mariam
and some nights I have a lot of trouble sleeping. Since I am already taking so many meds, I hate adding anything else. I have an appointment with my onc. next month and I will ask her about the above-mentioned sleep aids. It's so much better to cope with life when you have a good night's sleep.
Hugs, Renee0 -
I didn't have chemo but had
I didn't have chemo but had radiation(33) and couldn't sleep. Doctor put me on trazodone 50mg. I finished rads in Nov. 2010 but still take sleeping pill. I sleep all night and it feels so good to finally sleep. Don't know if it is addictive but I don't care as long as I sleep. I had problems before cancer. So I was happy to find something. Good luck .... Diana0 -
I wrote this downmariam_11_09 said:Hi Annette,
I finished chemo
Hi Annette,
I finished chemo almost a year ago and have had sleep problems on off ever since. I also take Lorazapam on a as needed basis however it is habit forming.
Here is what I have learnt -
1.Taking 500mg - 1500mg of Tryptophan (an amino acid) before going to bed will increase the level of seratonin in the brain and help with relaxation. The seratonin eventually breaks down into Melatonin.
2. Taking .5 to 1mg Melatonin before bed will help with falling and staying asleep.
3.Taking 100mg of B3 and 25 - 50mg of B2 2x a day is also meant to help with the relaxation and sleep and also support the nervous system.
I do all 3 and add Valerian root in with that. Almost everytime I take it I do fall asleep AND sleep through the night. I do wake up to go to the bathroom or because I am hot flashing but am able to fall asleep again right away. I started giving this formula (excluding the Valerian root) to my daughter and amazingly she falls asleep right away. In the past it has taken her at least an hour to fall asleep and no other herbs have helped at all, Benedryl didn't even do the trick for her.
On night were I am stressed out or feeling really anxious, then I might resort to Larazapam again.
This is what works for me (and my daughter) and took about 10 months of experimentation and research. There is nothing like a good night sleep and it makes such a huge difference.
Hope you find something that works for you.
Mariam
Mariam, thank you, I forgot all about the Valerian root~ will check on the others...sleep, it does a body good..Thanks, even though I wasn't the one who asked, I am excited to try this..0 -
Haven't slept the same since dxgagee said:I didn't have chemo but had
I didn't have chemo but had radiation(33) and couldn't sleep. Doctor put me on trazodone 50mg. I finished rads in Nov. 2010 but still take sleeping pill. I sleep all night and it feels so good to finally sleep. Don't know if it is addictive but I don't care as long as I sleep. I had problems before cancer. So I was happy to find something. Good luck .... Diana
Onc had me taking Tylenol PM but I was afraid to do that every night because of long term Tylenol use. I recently found an ad for MidNite in the airline magazine and asked about taking that. Onc approved and said to let him know if it worked so he could pass the info along. It's an herbal - lemon balm, chamomille, lavendar and melatonin. You either chew it up or it's a quick dissovle that sort of tates like cherry. You can take it again during the night or if you want a quick nap and there are no "hangover" effects. It seems to be helping.
BTW - Glad to hear someone else is up to go to the bathroom during the night because of hot flashes! My kittens think they're great but me, not so much.0 -
I'm clearly the odd one out
but ever since my first surgery, I have slept like a baby - WAY better than I slept before diagnosis. I actually think that I just need more sleep now post chemo and surgeries. While I was on chemo I was tired so I never needed a sleep aid even then.
Go figure, I guess we are all different (or I am just really weird).
Best,
Clementine0 -
The only times I've really
The only times I've really had extended times of sleep problems was while I was on 12 weekly Taxol. Sleep just didn't happen at all. My Chemo Dr gave me Lorazapam - but it gave me horrible nightmares (Normaly my 'mightmares' consist of silly things like "potato people" chasing me but on it they were horrible brutal acts) and only worked for a few hours at the best. My PA changed me to lowest dose Ambien and it was great. I still have a script for them IF needed and I do use a couple times some months and not at all others.
Susan0 -
I'm with Clementine...Rague said:The only times I've really
The only times I've really had extended times of sleep problems was while I was on 12 weekly Taxol. Sleep just didn't happen at all. My Chemo Dr gave me Lorazapam - but it gave me horrible nightmares (Normaly my 'mightmares' consist of silly things like "potato people" chasing me but on it they were horrible brutal acts) and only worked for a few hours at the best. My PA changed me to lowest dose Ambien and it was great. I still have a script for them IF needed and I do use a couple times some months and not at all others.
Susan
I'm with Clementine... during all my treatments it was hard staying awake. So I took those catnaps when I got home from work and had no problem sleeping the night away either. Now two months post radiation, I still need an occasional nap.
Hugs,
Lorrie0 -
Sleep
I am exactly like you. I finished Chemo in May. Surgery in June, and I have 10 more rads to complete. I have been taking Lorazapam since week 3 of chemo and telling myself I will stop taking it when I am done. I too wonder if that will be possible. It does help me fall asleep but I am waking up more and more as time passes. The sleeping pills I was given kept me awake! I say if it helps I will deal with weaning off them later. We have enough to deal with! The long nights of torture can wait. Thank you for bringing this up, sounds like melatonin would maybe help.
Tami0 -
I also take trazodone when Igagee said:I didn't have chemo but had
I didn't have chemo but had radiation(33) and couldn't sleep. Doctor put me on trazodone 50mg. I finished rads in Nov. 2010 but still take sleeping pill. I sleep all night and it feels so good to finally sleep. Don't know if it is addictive but I don't care as long as I sleep. I had problems before cancer. So I was happy to find something. Good luck .... Diana
I also take trazodone when I feel that I need something to help me, and, it works. See if you can try that to help you.
Hoping you get some sleep,
Debby0 -
I take (1) Tylenol PMkookaa said:Sleep
I am exactly like you. I finished Chemo in May. Surgery in June, and I have 10 more rads to complete. I have been taking Lorazapam since week 3 of chemo and telling myself I will stop taking it when I am done. I too wonder if that will be possible. It does help me fall asleep but I am waking up more and more as time passes. The sleeping pills I was given kept me awake! I say if it helps I will deal with weaning off them later. We have enough to deal with! The long nights of torture can wait. Thank you for bringing this up, sounds like melatonin would maybe help.
Tami
I take one tylenol PM if I have trouble sleeping. If I wake up during the night, I'll start praying for my family and friends who are not feeling well. Works every time.0 -
Me too!
I am just a little over a year out from finishing my chemo and radiation treatments. I have trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep as well
I tried lorazepam, but it gave me headaches. The Dr that gave me the lorazepam left the practice and my new oncologist says that less is better and doesn't want me to take anything for sleep. It is very frustrating. Because of my work schedule, naps are out of the question. So instead of being tired all the time, I self medicate with caffeine in the AM to get going. I am on Tamoxifen and have the hot flashes that I blame on my lack of sleep. Even if I wasn't on the tamoxifen I would probably still have trouble sleeping though. At night after my hubby and the kids are asleep, the house is so quiet. All I do is think too much and worry and stress about what is going to happen. I end up playing scrabble on my iphone with random people to get my mind off things untill I fall asleep. When I try to sneak back into bed with my hubby, he is snoring so loud I end up going to the couch most nights.
I would LOVE to have a couple of nights of GOOD sleep!!!0 -
Should have added that my yoga hlepsPunkindo said:Me too!
I am just a little over a year out from finishing my chemo and radiation treatments. I have trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep as well
I tried lorazepam, but it gave me headaches. The Dr that gave me the lorazepam left the practice and my new oncologist says that less is better and doesn't want me to take anything for sleep. It is very frustrating. Because of my work schedule, naps are out of the question. So instead of being tired all the time, I self medicate with caffeine in the AM to get going. I am on Tamoxifen and have the hot flashes that I blame on my lack of sleep. Even if I wasn't on the tamoxifen I would probably still have trouble sleeping though. At night after my hubby and the kids are asleep, the house is so quiet. All I do is think too much and worry and stress about what is going to happen. I end up playing scrabble on my iphone with random people to get my mind off things untill I fall asleep. When I try to sneak back into bed with my hubby, he is snoring so loud I end up going to the couch most nights.
I would LOVE to have a couple of nights of GOOD sleep!!!
I sleep better the night I have had yoga class. It's all about the breathing and relaxation. The MitNite helps too but yoga has multiple benefits.0 -
I never sleep well.skipper54 said:Should have added that my yoga hleps
I sleep better the night I have had yoga class. It's all about the breathing and relaxation. The MitNite helps too but yoga has multiple benefits.
I never sleep well. occasionally I will take something to sleep. Lorazepam if taken regularly is habit forming not if taken occasionally. I am going to try the above ideas! New Flower sent me some sleepy tea it was helpful!.0 -
One of my wishes is to havecarkris said:I never sleep well.
I never sleep well. occasionally I will take something to sleep. Lorazepam if taken regularly is habit forming not if taken occasionally. I am going to try the above ideas! New Flower sent me some sleepy tea it was helpful!.
One of my wishes is to have a good nights sleep!
I don't know what causes me to wake up (every 2 hours) no kidding, but it makes me cranky early in the day when I'm ready for more sleep. Ativan helped for a while but started to lose it's effect and I stopped taking it daily because it was habit forming. I have it now for an as needed basis.
Thanks for some of the great ideas here and I will try some.
Clementine, I'm sooo jealous LOL.
Hugs,
Wanda0 -
Have you tried excedrin pmkookaa said:Sleep
I am exactly like you. I finished Chemo in May. Surgery in June, and I have 10 more rads to complete. I have been taking Lorazapam since week 3 of chemo and telling myself I will stop taking it when I am done. I too wonder if that will be possible. It does help me fall asleep but I am waking up more and more as time passes. The sleeping pills I was given kept me awake! I say if it helps I will deal with weaning off them later. We have enough to deal with! The long nights of torture can wait. Thank you for bringing this up, sounds like melatonin would maybe help.
Tami
Have you tried excedrin pm or tylenol pm? I know they do work for some.
Lex0 -
No one's mentioned prescription drug SonataLighthouse_7 said:One of my wishes is to have
One of my wishes is to have a good nights sleep! I don't know what causes me to wake up (every 2 hours) no kidding, but it makes me cranky early in the day when I'm ready for more sleep. Ativan helped for a while but started to lose it's effect and I stopped taking it daily because it was habit forming. I have it now for an as needed basis.
Thanks for some of the great ideas here and I will try some.
Clementine, I'm sooo jealous LOL.
Hugs,
Wanda
I've certainly had many more sleep problems since my diagnosis in 2009. But I've actually always had a couple of nights a month just before my period (gotta love PMS) where I couldn't sleep AT ALL, and ended up a total zombie after the second night.
About 5 or 6 years ago, I finally broke down and asked my doctor about a sleep aid, and he prescribed Sonata. The cool thing about Sonata is that it has a "half-life" of only about 3 hours, so I've never had any lingering sleepiness or "medicine head" problems in the morning, and I can also take it in the middle of the night if I wake up and can't sleep, as long as it's at least 3 hours before I have to get up. I like that I don't feel like I'm over-medicating myself, just taking enough to help.
My doctor said Sonata isn't habit-forming, so I like not having to worry about that --he said it will just stop working if I take it too much. And it now comes in generic, so very low-cost.
I know I sound like a commercial here (I SWEAR I don't work for a drug company!), but, if you're asking your doctor about something for sleep, I highly recommend starting with Sonata.
Traci0 -
Fess up TraciTraciInLA said:No one's mentioned prescription drug Sonata
I've certainly had many more sleep problems since my diagnosis in 2009. But I've actually always had a couple of nights a month just before my period (gotta love PMS) where I couldn't sleep AT ALL, and ended up a total zombie after the second night.
About 5 or 6 years ago, I finally broke down and asked my doctor about a sleep aid, and he prescribed Sonata. The cool thing about Sonata is that it has a "half-life" of only about 3 hours, so I've never had any lingering sleepiness or "medicine head" problems in the morning, and I can also take it in the middle of the night if I wake up and can't sleep, as long as it's at least 3 hours before I have to get up. I like that I don't feel like I'm over-medicating myself, just taking enough to help.
My doctor said Sonata isn't habit-forming, so I like not having to worry about that --he said it will just stop working if I take it too much. And it now comes in generic, so very low-cost.
I know I sound like a commercial here (I SWEAR I don't work for a drug company!), but, if you're asking your doctor about something for sleep, I highly recommend starting with Sonata.
Traci
How much is your commission.:) Seriously though thanks for another tip. I'll be well armed on my next doctors' visit.0 -
Sleep? Definitely eludes me
Sleep? Definitely eludes me many nights. I usually fall asleep slowly and then wake up around 3 or 4. I sometimes fall back asleep or not.
My solution is to read. LOL, you wouldn't believe how well read I am becoming. I just don't fight it anymore and just look at it as my special reading time.
If I am truly exhausted, I either take a half dose of nyquil or, true desperation, an ambien. Both give me a bit of a pooped out feeling the next day, but I am glad to know they are there if I get too sleepless.0
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