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Unable to sleep

Elsey
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  • 36 subscribers
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Hi

I'm new in here. I have breast cancer and have the op this Wednesday. I had to come of my HRT as it's an estrogen cancer. I'm struggling to sleep. Hot flushes and heart palps all through the night every hour ( sometimes more ) . Exhausted and struggling to get through day as so emotional also. I've started taking a natural Hormone pills ( menopause complex ) not even sure if I'm allowed to. And also Magnesium. Nothing helping. Have resorted to taking Nytol every night but I'm still waking up with the flushes and palps even with taking that. Any advice would be appreciated as feel like I'm going mad ! :( 

Thanks

Elaine 

  • Hi Elsey

     

    Welcome to the Online Community here at Macmillan. I hope you find it a helpful place to access support and ask questions. My name is Vanessa, and I am one of the cancer information nurses here at the Macmillan Cancer Support Line.

    I am sorry to read that you are struggling to sleep following your diagnosis of breast cancer. Being given a cancer diagnosis can be a huge shock, and its normal for this to have an emotional impact as you begin to process what has been said to you and the planned treatment. This can cause physical symptoms including disturbed sleep.

    Struggling to sleep is a common problem and we have some general information here. We have an awake in our breast cancer online forum and a more general awake and wanting to chat forum which is for those who want to chat at anytime, day or night.

    In addition to this emotional impact, you have been advised to stop your HRT as your cancer is hormone receptive. This may have resulted in your symptoms of palpitations and hot flushes.

    Palpitations is a common menopausal symptom, but they can also be caused by stress and anxiety amongst other things.

    Breast Cancer Now have some information on hot flushes including tips on how to manage them. You will see that in the section on complementary therapies they advise that you speak to your team before taking any complementary products. Please don’t panic that you have been taking herbal products, it sounds like this is very recent. We would advise that you stop any products until you have spoken to a member of your treatment team.

    We normally suggest you contact your allocated nurse specialist in the first instance, explain the symptoms you are experiencing and the products you have tried and they will be able to advise further.

     

    I hope you find this information helpful. You can also always call one of our nurses directly if you want to talk over your concerns or require any further support.

     

     

    Take care

     

    Vanessa G, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Ref VG/RH

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