I cannot sleep.

Boobs - I agree!!  I HATE depending on meds to get me to sleep.  I worry that I'll never sleep again  without them.  I try to alternate the Xanax and Ambien one night with Advil PM and Xanax the next night.

Interestingly, I was able to fall asleep in my car after I got home from work the other day!  I was listening to the end of a program on NPR and the next thing I know, I was snoozing!! 

Kind of a shock to wake up in my car.

I too can not sleep as you can tell by the time stamp.  Lump BC in 08/06 complete hysto in 12/07 and I am 48yrs old.  I have a large hematoma still in my breast,which hurts.Taking Tamoxifen and nothing else, Effexor made me think of very bad things.  I am so tired I can sleep only max 2hrs,till flashes come. My mind is mush, cheeks are fat,tummy is flubby.  I walk my boxer and weimaraner daily, both big dogs and happy for my effort, can't say "walk" until we are ready to go out the door. I have a very good hubby,cooked and cleaned during my treatment, tries to help make light of the flashes. He misses me when I get out of bed to cool off and then finish sleeping in other room so I don't wake him. If I am still in bed when he needs to go to work he always comes and gives me a kiss and tells me he loves me and to have a good day .   How come I still feel lost? 

Thanks for letting me vent, wish you all the best!

MJ

Anyone taking Tamoxifen 2x a day?? I was wondering if I switched to just in the AM, would my hot flashes be better? Would I  sleep better? I am currently taking 10mg in am and 10 mg in pm. I take magnesium, calcium, potassium, and of course Ambien 5mg at night. I just bought some Energi C for sleep that has melatonin in it.

D

I just started taking both pills this morning. I hardly ever have hot flashes during the day (at least not ones that bother me). I will let you know how I sleep and if its better. I just want to sleep!

D

Boobs - Ehhh.  Thanks for asking.  Sleep is an elusive dream!  I don't know what I would do without Ambien and Xanax. 

 I do hope that there will come a time when I don't need to take something every night.  Waking up is a nightmare, as well. 

How are you doing?

Susan

Hi everyone! Taking Tamoxifen  in the morning has NOT made a difference! I still have as many hot flashes ans wake up! Going to keep taking Ambien for awhile. I really want to get off of it!

D

I have been taking Ambien CR for about a month.  It definitely helps me FALL asleep but not stay asleep.  I also started my tamoxifen a week ago.  Everything was going great until I decided two nights ago that I was going to stop the ambien--took a tylenol PM instead.  OMG--I was awake the whole night it seemed...hot flash, cold and shivering, hot flash, etc.  So back on the ambien last night and I slept for a good 6 to 7 hours.  Would love to have more than that but if it means no hot flashes, then I will stick with the ambien. 

I have tried Sona I think its called, it sucked.  I would like to try Lunesta--sounds like a few of you have had good results with that. 

I know I will have to take something to sleep no matter what--even before BC I had to take one tylenol PM to get to sleep.  I just can never turn my brain off.....will worry and think about anything and everything ALL night long!

I can't sleep either between so many things going through my brain and the hot flashes.  i've tried ambien and restoril i am planning on asking for something else at my appt tomorrow hope it works.

good sleep and good dreams to all

It's been a couple of months since anyone has posted.  Just thought I'd drop a line and say "I WANT MY SLEEP BACK".   I got about 2 hours of sleep last night, feel like crap today.  I do have the Lunesta, but don't like to take it too often.  The hot flashes and night sweats have gotten worse for me....guess I thought they would get better!  That's what I get for thinking!

Wishing everyone a good nights sleep!

leaf -  I'm barely able to operate on 2 hours.  I wasn't very productive today....the lack of sleep has really gotten to me this week.  Tonight I'll take a Lunesta and hope for a good nights sleep.

Hi ALL.. Good to see this thread still goin as I came in during surgery and before chemo. Now my chemo is done!!!BUT i am just NOT sleeping. To a point now, where I need to go talk to someone and not sure who? Some DRS are jsut clueless and need someone who understands the after affects of chemo and surgery and aftermath of emotions we are experiencing?! My oncologist is not a warm person and shows very little empathy. GOOD in what she does and that is it.

 I am wired during the day. Go to bed, tired and fall asleep reading..10 min's later..wide awake.. try to calm myself  by breathing etc and refuse taking  a Lorazpam as it was somewhat good during chemo but does not work the same when taken every night. I then fall asleep and am wide awake at 1AM for an hour and then 4AM. and ready to get up before the birds are even up!!!I have dark circles under my eyes and the resotrative sleep feeling is not there at all.

 I do take a timed released melatonin each night. Goin to take a Lorazapam tonight. Goin to try to cut ALL sugar out and see if that is doin. IT is only three weeks from doin 9 weeks of chemo.. have no clue how long it affects a person? When does it make sense to see if thyroid or for sure homrones be tested. They are probably whacked!!! NO oneness at all and feel i have no normal feeling of  what would work for my body.

Have increaased my walking to try to naturally get tired and it works but not for a total night sleep. Thanks for listening and will keep reading here, Do think I need to talk to some professional and see what i can do to feel naturally tired and sleep without waking with this high alertness!!

Frustrated and Want sleep!!!

Donna

Two things that should be checked out are the possibility of having restless legs syndrome and/or sleep apnea.

Oh side note... cut my caffenine too.. sigh

Donna - Yay!  I'm so glad you slept through the entire night!  Bet you felt a little more rested this morning.   Maybe cutting out the sugar helped?? 

I seem to get a good nights sleep after days of having hardly any.  I hate taking pills and will only take a Lunesta if I haven't gotten much sleep in 3 days.....then the 4th night is usually my good night of sleep, not always though. 

Last night I had a hard time sleeping, kept waking up, would get up at times, go back to bed and lay there for awhile....oh well!  I would like to find something other than Lunesta that will help me sleep without making me feel crappy the next morning!

hollyann - I still take Tamox twice a day because I didn't have bad se's, so I decided to stay with what worked.  Now the hot flashes and night sweats are worse so this morning I began taking both Tamox pills.  I'll see if it makes a difference.  Glad the Trazodone is helping you sleep.  I'll google the Chillow Pillow, thanx!

<HUGS>