Sleep

denistd
denistd Member Posts: 597
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I have read over the past couple of years on this board and others the problem a lot of people have with sleeping. At my last check up with the team we talked about about sleep and a successful recovery and a healthy life after treatment, the chemo doc and the rad onc told me that, second only to lifestyle, sleep was essential to remain healthy, at least 8 hours a night was the key, even if you have to take something to help you fall, and stay asleep. Sleeping is the body's natural way to repair and maintain healthy tissue. I do sleep at least 8 hours a night, most times 9. I do get up to attend to natures call once a night but fall straight back to sleep. I work about 36 hours a week and feel pretty good. So, if you need something to help you sleep you should take it. Denis

Comments

  • Daddisgrl
    Daddisgrl Member Posts: 116
    #2
    If anyone is having problems
    If anyone is having problems sleeping; consider seeing a sleep specialist for a study as some are diagnosed with apnea.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Sleep....8 hours straight...
    I haven't slept 8 hours in a row for I don't kno how many years.....

    I do sleep more in the 6 - 7 hour range, but not without getting up a few times...but also do my business...which usually also consists of letting the two choclate labs out at least once.

    I rarely sleep solid for more than 3 hours..

    I have noticed though since getting the Septoplasty a few weeks ago, I tend to feel better and do believe (at least from reports) that I'm snoring less than before.

    I'm also sleeping better and longer, though still not much more than 4 hours or so at one stretch.

    JG
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #4
    I'm With Denis
    And I think we're in a minority. If I don't stay up too late, I can get my 8 hours in, only getting up once or twice (whizz, slurp, swish, gulp), then getting back to sleep easily. Is seems to me like most here have sleep issues. When I had problems some time ago, a relaxation tape helped. Good luck.
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 726 Member
    #5
    Pam M said:

    I'm With Denis
    And I think we're in a minority. If I don't stay up too late, I can get my 8 hours in, only getting up once or twice (whizz, slurp, swish, gulp), then getting back to sleep easily. Is seems to me like most here have sleep issues. When I had problems some time ago, a relaxation tape helped. Good luck.

    As We Age
    Wasn't there some study about the problem of falling asleep as we get up in age? I've heard it several times over the years and know it's true for me.

    Although I do try to average 8 hours of sleep per night, the usual things wake me up. With men it's mostly the prostate issue. Yes I do take the medicine for it but it only lessens it a wee bit. (pun intended) And I too have a dog who bonks the bed when she needs to go outside. The last time I slept for an entire 8 hours was way back when I was drinking too much! Now I take an Anbien or Xanax depending on what's going on.

    This didn't answer your question but it was just to let you know that getting a good nights sleep is hard for a lot of adults.

    Tommy
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #6
    tommyodavey said:

    As We Age
    Wasn't there some study about the problem of falling asleep as we get up in age? I've heard it several times over the years and know it's true for me.

    Although I do try to average 8 hours of sleep per night, the usual things wake me up. With men it's mostly the prostate issue. Yes I do take the medicine for it but it only lessens it a wee bit. (pun intended) And I too have a dog who bonks the bed when she needs to go outside. The last time I slept for an entire 8 hours was way back when I was drinking too much! Now I take an Anbien or Xanax depending on what's going on.

    This didn't answer your question but it was just to let you know that getting a good nights sleep is hard for a lot of adults.

    Tommy

    I had heard that ,as we age,
    I had heard that ,as we age, our bodies don't need as much sleep, I don't buy that a lot of elderly people take an afternoon nap, hence at night sleep is difficult. I am 68, in the past 3 years, I have had a quadruple by-pass, 2 mini strokes that resulted in surgery on my carotid artery, cancer of the larynx and gastro-intestinal bleeding. I feel amazingly well despite this. I do not nap in the afternoon. When I go to bed I usually fall asleep pretty quick, I do have an enlarged prostate that gets me up at night, I awaken at 5;30 or 6 and feel pretty refreshed. I attribute this to my sleeping habits. When I was younger I got nowhere near the amount of sleep I get now, being in a rock and roll band and on the road all year and partying after gigs was the real reason, maybe I am just catching up on it now.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #7
    About taking stuff to make me stay asleep....
    I posted this on my thread, but I will post it here, to since it applies.

    There are times, when I cannot take it, and I do take Benadryl so I can pass out cold for a 5 hour block of sleep. (I am about at that point here now. I've had hardly any sleep at all this week. Like just a couple hrs each night) However, if I take something and sleep for that block of five hours, I pay dearly the next day, because my tongue KILLS ME, for the rest of the day or two, because I didn't wake up when it was so dry, to moisten it. It goes past beef jerky stage, and into petrified wood stage. It's actually hard for me to talk and move it around, and eat the next day, and it hurts. I really miss saliva. :(

    So, do I trade sleep for problems with pain and eating the whole next day? For me the lesser of evils is lack of sleep, because it's not as painful as what happens to my tongue. IDK what the answer is for me.

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