Insomnia

Hi All

This is my first post on this site. I live in the UK but I am not too imprest with the standard of the message boards I have found over here.

I have Stage 4 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer which I was diagnosed with in June 2006, after contracting pneumonia.

So far I have had 2 sessions of chemo but the cancer is also in the Lymphatic system, and the bones.

My Oncologist has said that I am now in what they classify as a stable condition and has given me a couple of months without any further treatment apart from Pain Management. This is fine with me as I do feel quite well.  I had no adverse reaction to the Chemo apart from some skin irritation.

My major issue at the moment is insomnia. I seem to exist on about 3 -4 hours a night and am usually up and around at about 3.30 - 4 am. Whilst this does not concern me greatly apart from some tiredness durring the day my wife is really worried as she doesn't think this is enough for me to give my all to the fight.

Does anyone out there have similar issues and if so how do you cope.

My wife told me that I was actually sleeping whilst eating my tea the other night which I should imagine would look rather strange.

I have tried listening to music, reading, researching the net and many other diversions to try to get back to sleep but nothink seems to work.

Do you think it could just be the fact that I have little to do during the day apart from being a house - husband means that as I expend little energy I do not need so much time to replenish what I have utised.

My Doc has just prescribed sleeping tablets but they do not seem to have made any difference.

Any ideas to help would be gratefully received.

Best Regards to all

Edwin

 

My mother is also not sleeping well.  She is also taking sleeping meds but they do not work for her.  She takes little naps during the day and I think that may be a lot of her problem. 

I wish I had an answer for you.  When I can't sleep, I flip channels on the T.V. and watch something really boring.....it puts me to sleep!

 

I wish you good rest, my friend!

j.

On 10/21/2007 Edwin531 wrote:

Hi All

This is my first post on this site. I live in the UK but I am not too imprest with the standard of the message boards I have found over here.

I have Stage 4 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer which I was diagnosed with in June 2006, after contracting pneumonia.

So far I have had 2 sessions of chemo but the cancer is also in the Lymphatic system, and the bones.

My Oncologist has said that I am now in what they classify as a stable condition and has given me a couple of months without any further treatment apart from Pain Management. This is fine with me as I do feel quite well.  I had no adverse reaction to the Chemo apart from some skin irritation.

My major issue at the moment is insomnia. I seem to exist on about 3 -4 hours a night and am usually up and around at about 3.30 - 4 am. Whilst this does not concern me greatly apart from some tiredness durring the day my wife is really worried as she doesn't think this is enough for me to give my all to the fight.

Does anyone out there have similar issues and if so how do you cope.

My wife told me that I was actually sleeping whilst eating my tea the other night which I should imagine would look rather strange.

I have tried listening to music, reading, researching the net and many other diversions to try to get back to sleep but nothink seems to work.

Do you think it could just be the fact that I have little to do during the day apart from being a house - husband means that as I expend little energy I do not need so much time to replenish what I have utised.

My Doc has just prescribed sleeping tablets but they do not seem to have made any difference.

Any ideas to help would be gratefully received.

Best Regards to all

Edwin

 

Hello Edwin531 It is good to know you are having such good results from your treatment and with few side effects. I'm sure that news will be encouraging for others. As for the insomnia, my naturopath and med/alt doctor both recommend melatonin for insomnia. Here is a link with some information that I hope will be helpful.... http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2001/melatonin-1017.html

Have you tried taking a gravol...works for me

 

On 10/21/2007 Edwin531 wrote:

Hi All

This is my first post on this site. I live in the UK but I am not too imprest with the standard of the message boards I have found over here.

I have Stage 4 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer which I was diagnosed with in June 2006, after contracting pneumonia.

So far I have had 2 sessions of chemo but the cancer is also in the Lymphatic system, and the bones.

My Oncologist has said that I am now in what they classify as a stable condition and has given me a couple of months without any further treatment apart from Pain Management. This is fine with me as I do feel quite well.  I had no adverse reaction to the Chemo apart from some skin irritation.

My major issue at the moment is insomnia. I seem to exist on about 3 -4 hours a night and am usually up and around at about 3.30 - 4 am. Whilst this does not concern me greatly apart from some tiredness durring the day my wife is really worried as she doesn't think this is enough for me to give my all to the fight.

Does anyone out there have similar issues and if so how do you cope.

My wife told me that I was actually sleeping whilst eating my tea the other night which I should imagine would look rather strange.

I have tried listening to music, reading, researching the net and many other diversions to try to get back to sleep but nothink seems to work.

Do you think it could just be the fact that I have little to do during the day apart from being a house - husband means that as I expend little energy I do not need so much time to replenish what I have utised.

My Doc has just prescribed sleeping tablets but they do not seem to have made any difference.

Any ideas to help would be gratefully received.

Best Regards to all

Edwin

 

Dear Edwin~

My husband's story is long and ugly but, instead of a sleeping aid have you tried Lexapro?  Just a small dose(  5mg) of this just before bedtime has made a world of difference for my husband.  It is an anti-anxiety medication.  When he can he also will take a small walk or bicycle ride.  This medication still works for him even though the walks and bike rides are not possible now.

Check with your Doctor as it is a prescription medication.

Good luck and congratulations!

Kat82

If you don't like the idea of taking tablets to help you sleep, try having a relaxing bath and a warm milk drink before you go to bed.  If you really can't sleep, don't just lie there.  It is better to get up and do something quietly like reading, crossword or jigsaw for example until you feel tired.  Then, try again.

Greetings all,

 

I think I do not sleep because I am affraid of the night sweats and how I feel when I wake up in the morning.... My internal solution is just not to sleep.

I have been DX with hypogammaglobulinemia at this point but Oncologist has given up and sending me to Mayo Clinic after my Last of 3 Bone Marrow Biopsies....... they are thinking T-Cell LGL but not sure.

I too have trouble sleeping, I fall asleep for an hour or so after taking 2 tablets of Proqenil 200mg ( Rhuemitologist thinks by giving me them it will decrease my extreme inflammation) but then I am up for 5hrs and then sleep for about 2hrs.... 3hrs of sleep a night is tearing me up through the day.

I also do not know what to do.... My Oncologist gave me 10mg Ambien tablets but most nights I take 2 of those and still cannot sleep. 

 

I am sorry for your health condition. You can keep some boring books by your bed. The moment you feel awake start reading those books. Reading boring books may make feel asleep at least for a little while. Play a soothing music all night just to make you fall asleep. Most importantly stop worrying about your sleeplessness. Have some positive thoughts every night like ‘you are sleeping well for more hours, you don’t feel any pain or discomfort and wake up fresh in the mornings’ before going to sleep. Try this and it will definitely bring change in your sleep pattern.

Hi Edwin,

Do you live anywhere near a Maggies Cancer Support Centre? They do a course for dealing with stress which has a session on sleeping problems which could well help. I found it really good.

Sue