Trouble Sleeping

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Back in early January of this year I was diagnosed with cancer of the right tonsil which had also spread to the lymph node on the right side of my neck. Thankfully the prognosis was curative so throughout my treatment I remained focused and driven. The 7 week treatment of 35 doses of radiotherapy and 3 full days of chemo was grueling. Unfortunately at the end of week 6 I was taken into hospital with neutropenic sepsis which resulted in the final session of chemo being cancelled. I somehow managed to completed the remaining 5 radiotherapy sessions whilst undergoing treatment for NS. The following 2 weeks I found very hard which I had been advised by the team would be. I was fortunate to have my PEG line removed and have been eating solids for 4 weeks now. The saliva in my mouth has thinned right down but during the night I am having real issues sleeping. I manage to go off to sleep quickly but consistently after around 2 hours I wake up in a bit of a panic. Throughout the day I am able to swallow but when I wake up in the night it is as if someone is holding my tongue and preventing me from being able to swallow. My airway feels restricted but I can breath. It is as if my mouth dries out and the back of my mouth sticks together. I try gargling water to try and moisten and free up my throat. This worries me as sometimes I choke and have to cough up the water. After several attempts I can swallow but my throat feels restricted for the rest of the night and I'm lucky to get back off to sleep for 3-4 hours. I eventually go off but again then only for a couple of hours before getting up. I would love to be able to sleep through and wondered if I could be doing something to help this. I have always been a snorer and breathed through my mouth prior my diagnosis so it has been hard for me to breath through my nose during and after treatment. I am hoping this dryness will pass over time otherwise I do not know what I will do to help improve my sleep? It is starting to get me down. 

  • Hi Stephen 

    CRT Treatment finished June 2023

    I loved Madras and Jalfrezi etc. curries .... Asian hot foods a definite no no until about 6 weeks ago ...can now get away with Chasni and some TexMex...things still improving,

    Peter