Hi there, all I would say is that the Oncologist probably won’t advocate taking sleeping pills, although they seem very keen on antidepressants…
I have also tried lots of alternative therapies, including EFT Meditation, yoga…
My GP is pretty hands off, so just dishes out the pills… not good I know.
I do understand the consequences of taking these pills long term as I worked in Pharmacy as a technician before I became ill.
But frankly it’s over estimated, and I prefer to get some sleep. Unless you have any side effects such as dizziness, depression, and loss of concentration… which strangely are also side effects of not sleeping, as long as you don’t abuse the doses it will be safe, and you sound like you have it under control. Best wishes to you…
Yeah i was prescribed for anxiety which I dont have or depression unless you count getting cheesed off for being awake most of the night 
Mmm i dispute well tolerated, i was not aware of this type of arthritis so thanks for the info. Its my left shoulder and knee, dont know if its a coincidence that all my tumours are all on the left of my body too. I been on it two and a half years now but the bad pain started around two or three months ago.
I also take same pain relief as you but my gp told me off for using ibuprofen although my cancer nurse said the opposite and said to use it whenever. Arrgh.
The issue with NSAIDS like Ibuprofen is that frequent use can damage kidney function eGFR. I have chronic kidney disease as do a number of people I’ve seen post on the forum and there are a number of causes of it but once eGFR starts to slip toward 60, it is recommended NSAIDS are not taken. It’s a minefield.
Hiya you mentioned you have been on zopiclone for three years and take it 4 or 5 nights. Do you mind telling me what dose you have? Also. I was told that taking it all the time means it loses its effectiveness, do you find this to be the case and have you had to increase your dose accordingly?
Jackie 
Thanks for this tip on Sleepio, I have tried to get it before but nhs website says it’s not available in my area - I succeeded going via the Macmillan site as you suggested. I find it really helpful, it uses CBT and I started to feel much calmer about lack of sleep within a few days, hopefully this is the first step to a better sleep pattern….
Dear jackbaz
I was prescribed zopiclone for a very short time after cancer surgery when I was very anxious and could not sleep much.
I now get cocodamol tablets which dissolve and cut each one in quarters. I dissolve one quarter in water each night and take that with one tablet of an antihistamine called chlorphenamine which makes me feel drowsy plus 1 paracetamol and two ibuprofen tablets.
I make sure my bedroom is quite dark and cool and I aim to go to bed at the same time every night with a fluffy hot water bottle.
I wind down in the evening and sun to get to sleep by no later than 11 pm every night. I get up at 7.45 am every morning.
I think a regular routine is good for maintaining a relaxed sleep and a good feeling as you awake refreshed.
Do things you enjoy and don’t dwell on what bad things may happen because no one knows what is in store for us apart from death and taxation. No mortal has beaten desth but its quality of life and friendship makes life more tolerable. We are going to have ups and downs whether we have breast cancer or not so it’s best to make the best of what you have and campaign for better treatments and research if you have the energy. If not let others do that on your behalf.
Best wishes
Seagulls
Hiya
Codeine and oramorph i am quite resistant to these types of drug. If my Brother takes Codeine he is zonked for hours, me……..nothing.
I am on naproxen as I have rotator cuff injury and frozen shoulder.
Antihistamines don’t work. Neither do anti depressants. I have been given a short course of zopiclone which does work so i keep them for week ends only.
I am resigned that a full nights sleep is a thing of the past. It is harder to deal with pain when tired too but I am grateful that I am still here .
Thanks for your reply. I’m sorry you can’t sleep as it’s so hard to deal with but I clearly don’t have the answer for you as we are all so different and we experience things so very differently.
What’s good about this forum is we can be honest about how we feel good or bad. Just by writing how I feel gives me a sense of relief - not from physical pain but I can stop putting in a brave face.
As one of my oldest friends put it bluntly life is shit and then you die. As bleak as that is, I can laugh at the idiocy of a lot of it - not while I experience it maybe. Looking back on it I can see my expectations were great but the reality wasn’t. I do read Charles Dickens’ books from time to time!
Seagulls
I’ve had trouble with sleep since chemo too, and what helped me recently was Cannabidiol isolate. I was nervous about trying anything cannabis-related, but the isolate form means it’s just the CBD without THC, so no high. I started with a low dose about an hour before bed, and it made a noticeable difference in how quickly I fell asleep and how restful it felt.
All very good ideas thanks heinzzi
Seagulls