Awake and up all night

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Are you having trouble sleeping?

Sleep problems may be caused by how you’re feeling emotionally, or as part of the side effects for cancer treatment. If you find it hard to have a good sleep, you’re not alone. The Online Community is here to support you 24/7. 

“Getting a cancer diagnosis is extremely stressful, and that brings a whole load of emotions, and lack of sleep certainly does not help. I think many of us have periods of insomnia. I experienced a long period of not sleeping. I could go off to sleep quite quickly, but after an hour I would find myself wide awake again, and would spend the rest of the night getting frustrated because I couldn't sleep."
Community member, ‘Pancreatic cancer’ group

This discussion thread is for members who:

  • Have trouble sleeping and looking for somewhere to talk
  • Would like some company and support each other during the night
  • Share some things you do that helps you get to sleep

Be a part of the supportive Community in this discussion thread.

  • Hi Sarah, that just about sums it up, why assessing people with serious and often multiple health conditions shouldn't be left to someone who has no idea of the realities of our situation, and who probably have instructions from above which puts them in a difficult predicament, no doubt anyone with a conscience won't be considered, 

    love Eddie and Sheila xx 

  • I’m used to it now Gill, but I do miss being able to get out. There are local services, but I can’t really engage with strangers-my issue entirely-but I’m ok with my little cat-she’s curled up awake beside me just now hoping some little moth might come in the window so she can have something to chase! 

    It would be nice sometimes to have company for a natter but I’m ok with my own company usually. This forum has become really important to me over the past few years as a good place to chat to folk-I’ve met some lovely friends on here, and I do like “meeting” different people from all over the place. I look forward to coming on here and seeing familiar names and a thread for chatting like this one has been a really good addition to the groups. I’ve kind of taken it over tonight so we need to be talking about something else! I fell asleep for a little nap but I’m wide awake again.

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

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  • I couldn’t do that job Eddie-I’d be on the side of the person on the other end of the phone getting too involved in finding out if they were ok, so I wouldn’t last very long! I’d be giving them more, not taking it away.

    Like a lot of people in my situation, I can’t help thinking their only mission is to save money and they just find any way to do it, regardless of who they’re dealing with. I’m not a real person to them, I’m just the next person on the list to be phoned and see if they can take some money away. I wonder how they sleep at night. I don’t think I could.

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

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  • Hi Sarah, I'm with you I'd be offering people in need everything, without them having to ask, and alas I think your right, too often we're seen as just a number or indeed a burden, and as for " taking it over tonight," I'm sure Gilly would also say it's such a pleasure to talk to you, and it's strange how on the forum I have friends in NZ, Adelaide,Greece and San Francisco, yet Gilly you and I live no more than 30 miles apart, but it may as well be 1000, there are 2 kittens on the allotments, maybe 10 weeks old, a ginger and white girl and her brother who I haven't seen, but I'm trying to find homes for, not the first ones either.

    Eddie xx 

  • It’s funny how small the world becomes when you’re on a computer-remember we couldn’t even phone someone in the old days without going through the operator…it seems like a lifetime ago now. But it’s lovely to have connections we can make anywhere in the world.

    I hope you can find homes for the kittens Eddie-we’ve rescued so many feral cats over the years and they all turned out to be lovely companions. We had 12 cats at one point which was a bit too noisy really but we loved it.

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

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  • Hi Eddie and Sarah.  I agree with you both and it is indeed a pleasure to talk with you.

    It's lovely just to be able to chat about things, random, serious, silly and others must agree, as the thread's hit a hundred pages with over 70,000 views.  Just a couple of stats there. 

    So a toast on reaching a milestone - I'll make mine a cuppa, and then try for some shuteye as mine are like slits.

    Night night all and sleep well xxx

  • Night Gill, and Eddie if you’re still here. Even my cat is sleeping now so I’m finally putting out the light!

    Sarah xx


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    Cervical Cancer Forum

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Luckily the kittens were handled at an early age, so are very friendly with people, and utterly gorgeous, so a new home, preferably together, won't be a problem, Wow Sarah 12 cats, fab. Sorry my friend but I must try to get some sleep 

    Eddie xx

  • I have to just look at the garden through the patio doors unfortunately…I can’t go outside without help as I can’t actually lift my leg over the patio door frame or the back door so unless my OH is home, I’m inside. I can walk a very short distance with 2 sticks but it’s not safe without someone else being there in case I fall. 

    My father in law had a bleed on the brain and had to have surgery which was successful but left him with bad mobility. He was using sticks but not safely so we bought a lightweight walking frame from Argos of all places and he is now much more stable while walking around the house and can get out to the garden over a couple of steps; they also have plastic steps outside the doors to reduce the height of the steps. Would this be something that might help you?

  • We had 12 cats at one point which was a bit too noisy really but we loved it.

    12 cats! That would be my heaven but I think I'd be divorced Rofl