Awake and up all night

I'm no expert but I think you are wise to seek advice regarding ibuprofen. The hot water bottle is a good idea. I tend to turn my electric under-blanket to full then turn myself occasionally to ensure complete roasting, remembering to only to rotate half a turn in either direction to avoid getting tangled up with my catheter. I'm from the Bladder cancer forum but often come here. Activity levels vary. Tonight it has been quite quiet.

Yes i can see the difficulties repositioning with the catheter. I am usually full on rotisserie chicken throughout the night. Could probably run some sort of motor from my continuous turning ha  

Well i am glad I have found this place. Hopefully better sleep for us soon. Going to do some reading to distract myself. Currently reading the artist by Lucy steeds.

Do you have anything in particular to help you get back to sleep? 

I do in fact sleep soundly once in bed. My problem is that I live alone, retired in 2008  and lost my wife in 2007, so there's no-one to bang on the ceiling to enforce some discipline on my sleeping/waking times . I try to avoid really silly bedtimes but 3am or thereabouts is typical for me. I emerge at 10am. 

Sorry to hear about your wife Ray. It must be very difficult living alone. 

I do feel more creative at night. A sort of freedom. When most people are asleep. Its like you can breathe a little. 

Although anxiety can creep in if your not to careful.

Tbh your sleeping times are not too bad, i would say. At least you have some sort of consistency/routine.

I used to do night shifts but I certainly have done my time with them. And switching from days and nights is so bad for health really. 

The forum software can be temperamental. I tried to reply three times. Message kept closing before posting, then I was kicked back to a page a year ago!  

I agree that night time is good for creative thoughts. 

Particularly early in the cancer diagnosis and treatment stages, anxiety can creep in. The Macmillan forums are good for seeking morale boosting company, albeit fairly anonymously. There are many long term members in this sub forum and the general 'atmosphere' is just what I needed when I joined about 3 years ago. Have you found the other forums on here? Most cancers are catered for and there  are forums for carers amongst several others.

I'll say goodnight now. I hope your water bottle and book help you through the night. It would be great if you visited this sub-forum again. I see from your profile page that you joined other parts a few weeks back. You will be most welcome here as well. Best wishes, Ray xx 

Your previous messege only just came through. Thank you for chatting. I hope to talk with you again.

Goodnight and sleep well xxx

Still no replies to my post last night when I was in distress, although this morning I see some reactions, so thanks for that. Only just seeing posts from last night now.

I spent an hour on the phone to the Sa*******s late evening, which calmed me down eventually until I went to bed to find zero activity on here. Lovely man, and a great dog lover so he understood about the effects of my dogs being taken off me until next year.

Hoping today is a better day, although still feeling physically and mentally well below par.

I'll be back this evening, to save the feeling in the meantime that I am not part of this community currently.  I'll react to the new posts then, when I am (hopefully) in a better place.

Hello Gill Dogdays 

So sorry to read your post - I don’t do nights (I sleep well) and am out all day today. I hope you are sorted now and have a much better day today.

I know how important your dogs are and can understand how you feel. This is my boy at the moment-an 8 year old ex racing greyhound Ryder.

I will catch up with you later- stay positive.

Kind regards-Brian xx

Hi Dogdays 

You are most definitely part of this community.

It was my first time posting so late/early last night and was luck that Ray was there to respond. Glad you managed to chat to someone to calm you. I may not always be awake at that time but please feel free to message anytime and I could always get back to you the following day. Sometimes writing everything down that your feeling is really beneficial. 

Wishing you all the best Dogdays

Sophsea xxx