Chemo Dreams(nightmares)

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BossyRenee
BossyRenee Member Posts: 77
edited August 2018 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Has anyone else experienced wild and crazy dreams while on and since having chemo? I find that I wake up now from dreams containing violence and other mean spirited acts. I am not a mean or violent person so I'm a little surprised by these nightly visions. Just wanted to know if anyone else was experiencing as well.

Wanda

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  • RegulJ
    RegulJ Member Posts: 244
    edited March 2010

    Welcome to my club. I usually have weird dreams the night of and the day after chemo. I blame the steroids..nothing violent just really weird.

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  • hereandnow
    hereandnow Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2010

    Hi Wanda, I never remember my dreams, and never have nightmares, but about day 5 after chemo had a night of horrible, weird and vivid nightmares - I spoke to my breast Ca support nurse, and she said it is quite comon and usually to do with the steroids. Definately something to bring up with your oncologist when you see them again. I only had the one night thank god, but my sleep is still a bit disturbed.  It ain't fun, but as someone else has said here, it's Temporary. Good luck.

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  • BossyRenee
    BossyRenee Member Posts: 77
    edited March 2010

    Thanks so much ladies! I though I was the only one. They are not aways violent but sometimes just weird in general. I kinda figured it had something to do with some part of the cheno treatment. My chemo is done so hopefully so are the crazy dreams.

    Wanda

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited March 2010

    I had some weird dreams also..I really think it was the drugs and the stress....just never slept well in general

    Good for you being done with chemo..now the healing can truly begin...you will begin sleeping better....and feeling better!   

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited March 2010

    Oh..and I love your screen name!

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  • lovetosail
    lovetosail Member Posts: 544
    edited March 2010

    BossyRenee - yes - I did have weird violent dreams.  And like you, I am a peaceful person.  Really strange dreams like wrestling with a ferret that kept biting me (I don't have a ferret, btw, and neither do any friends).

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited March 2010

    A ferret..seriously....kinda scary where our brains go ..when we aren't watching..isnt it?  I keep freaking out about getting alzheimers and telling people to "f' off or something..it's scary

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  • BossyRenee
    BossyRenee Member Posts: 77
    edited March 2010

    @ Titan: Thanks for the name compliment!

    @lovetosail: that's exactly what I'm talking about! Last night I dreamt that a realliy big pair of shoes with no one in them was chasing me. Talking about odd. The dreams occur at some point EVERY night. I was beginning to think I was losing my mind. I mean the chemo brain is enough when I'm awake.

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  • MsBliss
    MsBliss Member Posts: 536
    edited March 2010

    Renee--it's also possible that the dreams are a metaphor for something much more promising:  that the chemo is bullying the cancer into non-existance.  Sometimes our bodies communicate with us in weird ways. 

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  • BossyRenee
    BossyRenee Member Posts: 77
    edited March 2010

    MissBliss - I sincerely hope so!

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  • ribbonlady
    ribbonlady Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2010

    I had chemo treatments 8 years ago and the nightmares are still with me.  Have to take Lorazepam not to have them.  Not only did I start with the horrific nightmares but had a few panic attacks during the course of treatment.  My brain hasn't been the same since then.  Am taking 1 mg of Lorazepam which gives me a great night's sleep but it is addictive.  When I cut back to half the dose, problems come back.  Have taken Lorazepam for 8 years and it all started with chemo treatments.  The nightmares never stopped for me.  I hate it!

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  • kacee999
    kacee999 Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2012

    BOY HAVE I !!!!! I have told everyone that one of the WORST SE's of this process are the chemo dreams.  And it's not just dreams...it's horrific smells (sweet, like something has died), horrible sounds, horrible tastes, all woven into bizarre unsettling dreams (not being chased by anything, mind you, just dark, greasy, metallic sci fi type stuff). The dreams for me start about day 4 after a session and I get a good week of them. I am 12 days out of session #2 and I only had a restful night starting on the 10th. That's the one thing I kept commenting to everyone that all said they hadn't heard before (now mind you these are friends, family, etc.). Glad to know I am not alone in this!

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  • weeziebug50
    weeziebug50 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2015


    It's nice to know I'm not alone in this but I feel bad for everyone who also have these dreams.  I'm always fighting someone and i too am very laid back and peaceful.  One night I was in the Marines and was fighting in some war.  Last night i was shooting a burgler at my house.  Needless to say I don't sleep well.  Hopefully this will pass. 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2015

    Dear weeziebug, Welcome to the community. We are sorry to hear about your sleepless nights and bad dreams but we are glad that you reached out to us here. Might we suggest that you consider starting a new topic or posting on another topic that is more current. We see that the last poster here was in 2012. We want you to be able to connect with others more quickly. Let us know via PM if you need help. The Mods

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2015

    weeziebug - Are you taking any sleeping pills? When I was on Taxol, I could not sleep even though I was completely and utterly exhausted. My Chemo Dr gave me some sleeping pills. I normally NEVER have nightmares but on what he gave me I had horrendous NIGHTMARES. I called my PA (of 15 yrs then) and she gave me a different script in the lowest level - worked great. D

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  • gwydiana
    gwydiana Member Posts: 47
    edited August 2018

    OMG, I thought I was alone in this. My dreams have been so vivid and realistic, it feels as if I'm still living them while awake!

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