Sleep issues

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hkavanaugh
hkavanaugh Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Hi Cyber pals. This is my first use of an active conversation site. I am desperate for your wisdom on the insomnia difficulties I am experiencing. I have a few different meds for the problem but I worry that they are habit forming. Then on the other hand I think I am crazy not to use them for the relief that they offer. What are you doing??

Holly

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited October 2007

    Some sleep meds are habit forming and others aren't. Have you tried googling them and looking up the psychopharmacologies? If you do, be careful not to look on a site that is operated by the drug manufacturer-- look for something unbiased.  Deseryl generic named Trazadone is an antidepressant that's also used for sleep and is nonaddictive- it's been on the market for decades. Benzodiazapens like xanax and valium are addictive. You might also consider getting a sleep study-- many insurance companies pay for it now and if yours won't, there may be clinical trials in your area where they do them for free. I had my sleep study in 1995 and cannot begin to tell you the difference in my life and well being having a good night sleep.

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  • maker
    maker Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    hi i am 31 and have just been diagonosed with breast cancer and I cant sleep either lol

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  • maker
    maker Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    is anyone on line now I am worried about my fiance and how he is handling this has anyone any advice

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Holly - are you in treatment or finished? I had terrible sleep problems after surgery and during chemo, but they have gotten better since. I used Rx sleeping pills during chemo and it really helped. Now I try to stick mainly to Tylenol PM or a glass of wine before bed. The thing that has helped me the most is getting lots of exercise (if I'm exhuasted from a long day I can get to sleep much more easily).

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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited October 2007

    I take Ambien CR...which can be addictive. I have been having sleeping problems for many years.

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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited October 2007





    I still do not sleep well



    and will be looking into



    St Johns Wort

    and Valerian

    with my naturopath



    offered sl. pills



    in fact have them



    It is so important



    best to you

    when on TX, I seldom slept

    due to Decadron for me



    Hugs



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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited October 2007

    I did Tylenol PM. Helped a lot.

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  • BMD
    BMD Member Posts: 1,492
    edited October 2007

    I used rx during treatment but now I use AdvilPM. It still takes me a while to get to sleep but once I am down I usually only wake to go to the bathroom.

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  • itslisalouwho
    itslisalouwho Member Posts: 74
    edited October 2007

    I take Xanax.  Addictive?  yes.

    Do I care?  No longer.  haha  I just wanta sleep.  Makes everything the next day seem so much better.

    Lisa

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited October 2007

    I am a year out of treatment (chemo/rads) and I still have problems sleeping.   Evidently, sleeplessness has a lot to do with chemo and its affect on the brain.  I was just in a 6 week national clinical trial where they were monitoring sleep patterns of post chemo patients ( 6 months to 2 years post treatment). Half the group took yoga to see if it made a difference to help them sleep.  I was in the control group  so I don't know it it helps or not but the early study results say it does. A lot of my sleep is disturbed by hot flashes.  I can't take the PM stuff cause benedryl causes my heart to race.   Yes sleeping well does make a difference in how you feel.  I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any over the counter remedies that work.

    Sweet dreams.

    MarciaA.

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited October 2007

    Is there such a thing as sleep?? I wonder what that would be like.

    LOL

    I take the little blue pill now and then for sleep.... I for the life of me cannot remember the name right now.... lack of sleep to blame. I didn't take it last night.... LOL

    Or maybe chemo brain, or no estrogen syndrome causes my brain to fail.... who knows....

    One  day I hope to be able to sleep..... one day...... sigh....

    Wendy A

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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited October 2007

    Wendy...I believe the little blue pill...because I take it too, is called Ambien CR.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007
    I thought the little blue pill was Viagara Tongue out-- at least that's what the commericals say.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Lunesta is also blue. I'm thinking that if it was Viagra, Wendy wouldn't be sleeping. I know a girl who actually took it and was hyper (yes, in just the way you'd expect Surprised) and actually hallucinated! Whatever works, but I think you should stick to that which is intended to induce sleep! Wink

    ~Marin

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