Hi I’m new to the forum I’ve had a lumpectomy followed by a node clearance and have found out this week I have to have 6 months chemo and radiotherapy.
My sister had her second lot of breast cancer and my other sister is 2 weeks ahead of me but only needs radiotherapy.
I wasn’t sleeping prior to my diagnosis has happened since a late menopause.
I know chemo makes sleeping even worse.
I survive on a mixture of Nytol, Piriton and sleeping tablets.
Any suggestions would be welcomed as I don’t feel I can cope with chemo and not sleeping.
The GP tried ,e on Mertazepine which me feel awful. I do sleep hygiene no screens in evening, darkened room, Lavencer sprays, magnesium.
Also the GP tried me on Circadin slow release Melatonin, which didn’t work.
I don’t feel depressed but I know some GP’s will prescribe Amitryptyline for sleep, Has anyone got any experience of this?
I take amitriptyline for restless legs and hot flushes and it helps me sleep soundly! No other side effects on 10 to 20mg per night, anti depressant dosage is much higher than this.
So sorry you are going through this. I don’t know if I can be of any help really except do the things you know help you. I’ve heard the chemo and the radiotherapy can make you feel really tired and exhausted so not sleeping may not be a problem for you.
I don’t usually have any trouble sleeping but one thing that makes me really sleepy is antihistamines, whether they have the same affect on you can only be determined by you really. The doc prescribes me citrizine when I react to things and I am hard pushed to stay awake even on just one a day. If I take one in the morning I am very sleepy by mid day, if I take one in the evening I am hard pushed to wake up in the morning.
I hope you find you are ok on the chemo and radiotherapy and you sleep well throughout.
Hi Jippy, I really feel for you. I too went to my GP when I was really stressed and not sleeping. Although he prescribed a low dose anti depressant it knocked me out. My lovely Onco organised some help from psychological services, and I’m pleased to say I got some good tips about sleeping patterns. No tv, no I pad, hot drinks, mental visioning, warm baths, lavender oil etc etc etc. ? What my sessions helped me understand was that I can’t change what has happened to me, nor can I predict the future. The worrying that was preventing me sleeping will not affect my health as it is now.
The best thing I have done, though, is join a gym! I know …at the age of 72 as well. I find I have more confidence as no one knows I have cancer, more energy as I feel invigorated , and it helps with my lymphodeama as well as sleeping, as I am physically tired . I do TaiChi at my local Maggies Centre and this has an element of meditation which is great for helping with sleep.
Of course, I’m not sleeping tonight as I’ve got scan anxiety! Clinic tomorrow for results . Not that they could get me cannulated so it was a right botched affair!!!
i do hope that you can find some more natural solutions, and that you can get a reasonably good nights sleep. Very difficult to cope without it. X