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How are y'all doing with insomnia? I thought it would get better ...lol....if I sleep for 5 hours straight, I think "wow! 5 whole hours!" I guess our sleep routines are really messed up with all we've been thru...I don't take meds...don't really want to...
The thing that works for me is Melatonin. Half a tablet is great. It is the ingredient that comes in sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can become habit forming, but, not straight Melatonin. You can find it in the vitamin aisle at any grocery store or drug store.
You know, I did try melatonin and it didn't work on me...maybe I'll try it again and see if it'll work now....I still have some. Thanks. I'll let you know.
Maybe you could try caffeine free tea. My favorites are Darjeeling and Bengal Spice.
I don't drink any caffein...I drink caffein free white tea. I stay away from sugar, too...I do drink water which I try to not drink any after dinner. I think my body is just in a routine which I am having a hard time breaking out of. It's like my mother used to say "if it ain't one durned thing, it's another!"
I find I just don't sleep as much as I use to. If I was tired all the time or lacked energy I might take something but my energy level is back since finishing chemo in sept. I just relax watch tv sometime late into the nite. I'm still usually the first one up in the morning. I have been like this for several years before ovca.
My sleep since chemo has been very irregular. Prior to cancer and even during chemo I had no problems. Now I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep sometimes. I sometimes take Benadryl since I have postnasal drip from allergies and it also helps me sleep.
Another thing that might be worth a try is a nice, relaxing bath with low lights or candles. I sleep better when I get my mind off of things that happen during the day. Especially, a day that is extremely stressful. Sometimes things bother us and we don't always realize it. Knitting and crocheting are theraputic for me. Do you have any hobbies?
I like to crochet also. I love to read. Thanks for all the suggestions, ladies. Just don't say warm milk before bed :(
I finally broke down and started taking Ambien. Now I take the maximum dosage and still can't sleep! Don't start taking Ambien or any kind of "PM" medicine to help you sleep while on chemo, you are 80% more likely to get hooked!
Sounds like we all have the same problem. I also stay up late and am up bright and early and usually still feel tired no matter how many hours I slept. I really don't want to take any meds for sleeping. Sometimes I take a small dose of Benadryl, or even an extra-strength Tylenol and they help a little. But on the day of chemo or just after, nothing really helps. I figure it's just a way of life now.
I might read, or watch TV, or do crosswords to try to get sleepy. At least I know all of you are out there doing the same thing! My cousin (also a cancer survivor) has the same problem and always tells me to e-mail her any hour of the day or night!
Where is the Sandman when we need him??
Same here. Since cancer, have not slept well at all. Going on 5 years and still trying-I will try some of the suggestions here. As for melatonin, it gives me headaches. I did try valerian and it did work but I felt so drugged when I woke up and had to go to work.
I have started to have problems sleeping
after using Melatonin..... I took & Like 4 hours later BING
eyes WIDE OPEN>....
I used to be a 8-10 a night sleeper....
I might 4- 5 hours now then I awke... take abathroom break.. soemtimes I can fall back to sleep otehr times.... I take a lorazapam...
some times I read... soemtimes I pray...
I really dont want to take sleep meds....
the Lorazapam was for only when I had back pain so bad I needed it to relax.. but with this new diagnosis I admit I take it now.. cause I have started to have panic attacks....
I listen to calming music..... soothing waves... instrumental music....
that helps
I try taking a bath with sea salts... to soak..
and had blueberry tea...
felt relaxed...
but I am AWAKE at all sorts of night hours
thinking
what in the world....
I need my sleep
then I wish this website had a
Midnight OWL Chat ROOM
where we could talk....
think they'd do that for us ??
Hey, wouldn't that be an idea? The melatonin didn't work...I've tried it different times now and it's still the same...HELLO! "Now what do I do?" is what I think...do you get up and do something? Do you just lay there and try to fall asleep? Duh! This is the pits! And what's worse is how you then start thinking....they say you need 7 hours of sleep to revitalize your body (does anybody remember what that feels like?)...or you could be more prone for a heart attack...whatever....
I have been taking a sleeping pill every night since the end of my chemo -- more than 1 1/2 years ago. First, Lunesta, and now Ambien because that's what my insurance will cover. I don't feel bad about being dependent on it. If I get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, my mood is much better and I have energy and can be productive. Considering what I'm up against, I think being dependent on a sleeping pill is really minor. And now I just passed my 2-year anniversary of my diagnosis without a reoccurrence, so I must be doing something right!
I agree with JanJ, a medication to help you sleep is not a bad thing. I have used mostly the antianxiety drugs for this. Talk to your primary doctor about the lack of sleep. I have found that the oncologists are focusing on the cancer and are not always in tune with the other effects of cancer and treatment. Try to get in a long walk during the day if you can. Yoga is great, you don't have to do the hard poses. Meditation is great, just concentrate on your breathing. Try not to watch tv or be on the computer late at night as it works against falling asleep. Sleepytime tea is good, so is Tension Tamer both by Celestial Seasonings. Belleruth Naparstek cds are also great to help you relax and fall and stay asleep. She has one on healthful sleep. It helps to have your room really dark, light makes me wake up all night. Look up on the internet sleep disorders and there are lots of good ideas and information. Good luck.
When I was in high school, many years ago, I'd worry about not being able to sleep, especially the night before tests and exams, and of course, that would keep me from falling asleep. My mother gave me good advice: she told me that if you can relax and lie still with your eyes closed, you get almost as much rest as if you were really sleeping. Seemed to work for me.
Good luck to all those who are dealing with sleeping problems!
Hi,
I too have problems with insomnia. My doctor has
recommended 1mg of Ativan an hr before bedtime. It works as a anti-anxiety drug and if I can't really sleep, I take two but that is rare.
The steroids that I am on occasionally cause sleepness as does the taxol/cisplatin protocol.
My doctor believes that sleep is really important and
this is something that I don't want to play around with.
Hope this helps.
I take Lunesta a few nights a week just to help me get some sleep. It works for me, so I'll stick with it until it doesn't work any more.
Hope you can find something to help you get some sleep soon.
Take care & God Bless
I'm another light sleeper. I just put on audiobooks and listen to them. When I wake up, I start the audiobook again. I wake up 5 or 6 times a night, but can function during the day, so I don't care.
I take 25 mg of zoloft but wonder if an anti-anxiety med might help with the sleeping issue.
Vickie
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