Awake and up all night

Hello Gill H and AnnieB3 

Here's a link to the thread as requested:

 Sex and cancer - Let's talk 

Happy to help,

Best wishes - Brian.

Many thanks Brian, you're a star! I got the thread title muddled up, but hopefully Annie will get somewhere with her question.

Hugs champ xxx

Hello Gill (Gill H ) 

Happy to help. I am around most days if you need anything. I don't always check in on this thread but I do follow you all as you are a fantastic support net for people so thank you for that. As a group we appreciate all you do for others.

If you do need anything my message box is always open.

Kind Regards - Brian

Thanks again Brian. Hope you're enjoying the football xxx

Hi Gill

Another place to ask might be the vulva cancer forum, which the poster has already joined as there are people there who’ve had the same surgery and will be more like to ask about this in that particular group.

Sarah xx

Hello. 

I have never been a great sleeper, but since this kidney cancer, operation, scans, appointments etc. It worse than the actual cancer. I have managed 5 hours in the past 24 hours, 6 hours broken sleep the day before and I can't seem to get any reprieve. 

I have tried reading, but get so engrossed cant stop. Tried podcasts but then just listen to each episode. Tired mediation music but wake up soon as it comes to an end. I even struggled with the GA and took about 5 mins for the doctors to put me sleep, they kept asking are you sleepy even had a conversation with the nurses about shopping and christmas whilst waiting to fall alseep. Then on ITU was given sleeping tablets on the 3rd day has they said I was not sleeping and over 72 hours had woked out I had managed about 14 hours.

They prescribed me sleeping tablets for the 3rd night and guess what...yep they didnt work, even the nurses said I am enigma as I was wake all day and night following my surgery whilst all the other patients are sleeping and flat out....I was up bolt right watching the staff lol. 

I have booked a GP appointment for next week. Even when I was on all my pain meds following surgery at home I still was never sleepy even with orimorph, codeine. I feel tired then wake within an hour or two like have slept for hours. Thank for reading. 

Hi Sarah.

Thanks for that lovely. Yes I noticed Annie had joined that forum, so hopefully she may have got replies there.

I'm a bit nervous to bring this up, but I really hope your OH got the care he needed and is on the mend. I also hope you didn't encounter more problems than you already had.

Sending big hugs xxx

Hello Jamie, and a very warm welcome to our group.

Aw, I'm sorry you're having sleepless nights post surgery, but by the sound of it you're already a sufferer of the dreaded sleep demon, which doesn't help at all. My sleep tips are useless, as I can't get them to work on myself. However, I recently came across a gadget that's supposed to reduce anxiety and promote sleep, so I'm seriously considering buying one. I don't think I can name the product here, but you carry it in your hand and it's supposed to calm you down. See if you can work out what it's called.

My OH had his surgery for a different cancer to yours, December 2024, but I can honestly say he's never suffered from sleep deprivation - just the opposite as he could probably nod off standing up! It's me with the problem and only this morning I tried reading, listening to ghost stories on YouTube until I eventually put the telly on and rooted for a channel to bore me off to sleep. And yes, I even tried no sounds or light - again zilch success. 

If you find yourself wide awake in the small hours, there are usually a few of us night owls happy to chat. Maybe our ramblings will have the desired effect, especially mine.

Wishing you all the best my friend, and a good recovery. Big hugs xxx

Hello Jamie, I think statistics can suggest that nearly everyone reacts to drugs in the same way and that we all need the same amount of sleep. The truth is that there is considerable variation buried in the figures. The main aim with sleep is to get enough to suit your needs. True, you may feel that you need more time to turn off, especially after medical procedures, but you seem to have better endurance than a lot of us. Your reaction to anaesthetic is interesting. I was terrified, told that I'd be out by 10seconds, felt the cold knockout drug going up my arm, became very concerned it wasn't working as I counted past 40.....then woke up a few hours later, somewhat surprised that it was all done. With sleeping, my problem is that I can sleep for 10-12 hours but my sleep/awake cycle is too slow, so I gradually get out of phase with day and night. Last night I went to bed at 4am (!!) and woke up today at 1pm. Not very convenient. I hope you manage to fine tune your sleeping needs to help you feel more rested. Best wishes,  Ray

Thank you for the reply. I cant even say it's anxiety as such. I have never been a deep sleeper, but since diagnosis I just cant sleep. Unless its unconscious anxiety? this no sleeping or broken sleep when I do is stressing me more than the cancer haha. That product sounds good can you offer more of description so I can try and Google it. As you have read in my post, I dont seem to be an easy person to sleep even witn GA haha.