Awake and up all night

Moderator - Macmillan Community over 1 year ago

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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.

Soc 5 months ago in reply to Gill H

thank you gill. you are on call 24 / 7 i understand. i am the same only sleep for 2 hours then wide awake again. hope roof stays with us he sounds really nice.hugs back to you.xxx

Gill H 5 months ago in reply to Soc

Roof sounds great hon, but my moaning will have been as much use to him as a chocolate fireguard. I think my sleeping has been disrupted recently is because OH got poorly - maybe now he's getting better so will my sleep.

Hey, I wonder if he likes ghost stories as they've sent me into the land of nod in the not too distant past. When he comes back I'll ask xxx

Sbird 5 months ago in reply to Roof

Hi Roof

I had 6 rounds of chemo for womb cancer, 2 different chemos each time. They started with anti-sickness, antihistamine and steroids, then a 30 minute break for them to kick in then on with the chemo. Mine took around 6 or so hours in total, but that could be different for you. I took a book, some crochet and listened to Spotify to pass the time. I found the room quite warm so I took a small rechargeable desk fan, those that used the cold cap had blankets as they got cold.

They sent me home with 4 days worth of steroids and some anti-sickness tablets but I was lucky and just had some nausea but wasn't actually sick.

I started losing my hair about 2 weeks after the first round and it came out quite quickly. I got a bit of joint pain in my knees and some peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes. Apart from the above I think I got off lightly.

I'm sure all of the above will be explained to you plus anything specific to the chemo you're having.

Good luck with it all.

Soc 5 months ago in reply to Gill H

that made me laugh. dont put yourself down i thought you were brilliant. you are always warm and welcoming. hope your sleep gets better now that OH is on the mend. my sister used to tell me ghost stories when we were kids i used to believe her. i was her carer for 6 years untilwelost her.xxx

JamesH 5 months ago in reply to Roof

Hi Roof. A very warm welcome.

I had chemo, Cisplatin was what I had. I also had radiotherapy every day. Initially I was more worried about the chemo but it didn't take long for that to change. The chemo made me feel nauseous for 2 to 3 days after. I got loads of anti sickness tablets to take which did the job as I wasn't sick once..

Chemo wasn't the most fun I'd ever had but radiotherapy affected me far worse.

As for the sleeping I'm exactly the same as you. Fine all day but when it gets to early evening the nerves start to get out of control. When it happens I find I can't sit still, I have to move about. I find a long walk, or lots of lengths of the garden, help to calm me down. Play done music or a podcast. When I get back in to bed if I can hold my wife's hand or have some skin to skin contact with her I drift off easily. Without either if those I'm back up and back off to the garden.

Hope something here helps. Ultimately it does get easier and the sleeping improves. I average about 6 hours a night now.

Best wishes

Soc 5 months ago in reply to JamesH

oh james you make me laugh. i am just imagining you walking round the garden at midnight. gad to hear your sleep has got better some good ideas there kistening to music or a podcast.

Anythingnoodle 5 months ago

Sorry unable to talk tonight as in hospital with infection and heavy antibiotics x

Gill H 5 months ago in reply to Anythingnoodle

Take care Noodle, and sending you the very best of wishes. Hugs and love hon xxx

Dingg 5 months ago in reply to RayMK

Ray

Not going so good but back home.

They called us 11pm to say his stats were dipping and moving him to intensive care. I asked shall l come down they say yes.

Got there and they said hes stable for the night given anti biotics so temp back down.

So we have come back they said they will ring if it changes. He was having loperamide to stop stomach issue.

So l stood down his brother and our priest.

It wasn't the call he's going. come now but telling us he's being transferred where he can be better monitored they said.

Got my son back home and in bed.

Not sure if I've done the right thing.

They didn't indicate it was happening now but a transfere.

RayMK 5 months ago in reply to Dingg

Hello Dingg, I'm sure your intuition is doing its best to prepare you. For the moment, Hubby's stability in intensive care is good. He is receiving the best care possible and being monitored frequently. Whilst stable, his systems may respond better to the treatment. There is always hope and prayer. I'm sure the thoughts of all of us here are with you, hubby and family. Very best wishes. Ray xxx