I Can't Sleep

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gramadeb
gramadeb Member Posts: 210
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Since being diagnosed in February I have had so much trouble sleeping. The first few weeks I was so stressed and finally got some Xanax from my doc. That helped for awhile. Still had trouble, so asked for sleeping med - Ambien - worked a little. Then switched to Ambien CR. I thought that once treatment was over I would relax and sleep more normally.

I am so tired, go to bed and start feeling anxious. I feel so rotten if I don't sleep. The more I think about not sleeping the more anxious I get. I feel like I have forgotten how to sleep. I know that probably sounds very silly. If I do fall asleep it is only for a couple of hours them I am wide awake.

I have been taking Ambien or Ambien CR everynight.

Any suggestions on how to learn to sleep with out drugs?

Deb

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited October 2008

    Deb, what is actually waking you up?  Is it pain, or hot flashes perhaps?  Or something else going on outside you are unaware of?  They changed shifts across the street one time and I had a terrible time sleeping through car doors shutting and engines revving.  Then one time the dump truck starting coming to the neighbors (different from our pickup) at 3-4 am and i'd wake every night that happened.  Sometimes it's something external.

    Oh!  I have to tell you too.  During chemo I got extremely sensitive to noise.  The clock in the KITCHEN would keep me up ticking!  Kid you not.  We've had for 10 years and for about weeks, I didn't sleep be/c I'd hear it! Finally had to take it down and remove the batteries.  It's about 40 feet from our bed, but I could hear it!

    Or perhaps a fan or low music playing would help?

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited October 2008

    Oh, deb, you sound so much like me!    i have had trouble sleeping since August 2006 when my sister was dx........I was dx 5 months later....SO   my anxiety evel went thru the roof!     I would wake from a sound sleep (once I got to sleep) and sit bolt up-right in bed and would not sleep any more that night......I trie Ambien and Ammbien CR....I sleep-walked and drove!...I would get up and call people......I ended up switching to lunesta.....What a difference........I sleep so much better now....and when I don't have the Lunesta i use a Tylenol PM...........Anxiety after a bc dx is normal....I got hit with a double whammy when my sister was dx and then me.....And to top all that off in Sept of 06   another sister passed away from lung mets from bc  ( she had had it for 10 yrs)   and none of us knew she was that ill........Bottom line if one doesn't work try another.....Sorry for the long winded explanation...Goos luck to you deb!  Hugs!

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  • gramadeb
    gramadeb Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2008

    wishiwere - sometimes I wake up because the old bladder is full. I did have problems with bilateral hip bursitis that I was being treated for before bc diagnosis. The steroids from chemo helped for awhile, now I am back to getting steroid injections every 6 weeks. So the pain is under control at night. I feel like I am not sound asleep and that is why I am waking up. My husband has sleep apnea so he has a CPAP machine which provides me some "white noise".

    I feel like my life revolves around my sleep or lack of it. I find myself planning events around my sleeping. This weekend my daughters and I are going away for a girls weekend and staying overnight in a hotel and I am already worried about sleeping. Gets to be a viscous cycle for me.

    Deb

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited October 2008

    Why not try yoga?  I hear it can work wonders. 

    I feel for you.  Everyone needs a good night's sleep.

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  • hooptiedoo
    hooptiedoo Member Posts: 100
    edited October 2008

    Deb, is it possible you need to take something for anxiety? My doctor put me on Paxil and it has been a lifesaver. I feel better, I sleep better, my life is much more normal now.

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  • LuAnnH
    LuAnnH Member Posts: 8,847
    edited October 2008

    I have heard of something called visualazation and relaxation, these techniques teach you how to relax and will help you when the time comes to sleep.  Maybe something like this will work for you.  I don't sleep well but know what my issues are, I sleep to much at the wrong times of the day and screws up my night sleep.  I would seiously look into that or relaxation CD's, those are pretty amazing.

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  • gramadeb
    gramadeb Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2008

    hollyann - wow you have been through a lot. I lost a sister 8 years ago to cancer - not bc - but know how hard that is.

    hooptiedoo - I am taking Effexor for hot flashes - but at low dose - maybe not enough for anxiety. I will leave a message for my onc

    LuAnnH - I will look into the CDs  - I will try anything. I don't like having to rely on medication every night. I have been taking Ambien, fell like I sleep but I am so tired last few days- like I haven't slept in days.

    Thanks to all of you for your input - knew I could come her for support.

    Deb

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