I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with your sleep patterns at the moment. It's obviously a difficult time and the lack of decent sleep will make things seem worse.
Have you spoken with your GP about the issues that you're having? If not then it's worth having that conversation as there may be things they can recommend to try and improve things for you.
If you'd like to talk things through with one of our nurses for some advice and support you're welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
I do hope that things settle and improve for you soon.
Hi Pink-lady, I know how awful it is not being able to sleep, I had stress & anxiety issues which i didn't know at first and the lack of sleep was adding to my anxiety which was making my sleep even worse, a vicious circle. I was lucky my LCN recognized this and advised me what to do and put me on a 6 week managing stress course and a relaxation course and advised lots of exercise. It took a few weeks but i went from averaging 2 hour a night to nearly 5 hours in about four months then by practicing what i had learned, now sleep between 6 and 7 hours. i did both my courses at Maggie's, www.maggie's.org which were free of charge and a really nice place to go. I hope this helps.
I am sorry to hear about your sleeping problems. I agree with Eddie. I am 14 years down the line from diagnosis and also had this problem. I took various courses at Maggies, availed of some o their alternative therapies, had some stress counselling, attended pain management and mindfulness courses. I also attended various exercise classes for the not so fit, run by the NHS.I do hope that some of these suggestions help you.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
No problem at all. My hubby has a host of non-cancer related problems . He had a quadruple by pass 26 years ago and has been a creaking gate ever since. He now has Diabetes, Vascular Parkinsons, Vascular Dementia, has had a stroke. Pneumonia, and several TIAs and has heart failure. He was falling a lot and his walking was getting a lot more unsteady. I had my gall bladder removed along with a 3" gallstone, not long before my cancer diagnosis. I also had a pustular pleurisy, as a result of this and stopped breathing on the operating table. When I came around, I had to have a further 2 weeks of IV antibiotics, before they could try to operate again. Needless to say, this couldn't be done by key-hole surgery and I was cut from breast to groin. At the time doctors weren't sure whether or not they could save me, but fortunately they did. This meant a 3 month stay in hospital and long road to recuperation.
Neither of us were fit enough to join a regular exercise class and our GP suggested that we joined a "Strength and Balance" class, which was being run at our local gym, on behalf of the NHS. All of the people in the class had been referred by their GPs and had experienced heart surgery, Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic conditions. This started with gentle exercises. There was no problem if you couldn't do something, though we all tried.
I had put a lot of weight on, during my cancer treatment too and I couldn't get it off, no matter what I did. Again, my GP referred us both to a "Weigh to Go" class. This was a weekly class, where we were weighed every week and had our waists measured every other week. We then discussed various foodstuffs, eating out, calorie counting and how to make sensible choices, etc. This took up the first hour of the class. We then went through an exercise class for a further hour. We did this after we finished the "Strength and Balance " class, as we needed to be a bit fitter to be able to attend this class. I cannot remember exactly how long the classes lasted for, but it was between 10 and 15 weeks. These classes were free. We couldn't continue with the first class when it finished, but were allowed to continue with the "Weigh to Go" class for £2.50 per head per class. In the time that we attended these, I lost 6 stone, which has stayed off in the ensuing years.
When we finished the "Strength and Balance" class, we decided to join a regular exercise class for seniors, in the gym. We continued with this for quite some time, until my back became so sore that I had to stop, but we really got a lot out of these courses. We are in Scotland, so I'm not sure whether or not, the NHS in England offer reciprocal classes, but it is certainly well worth asking.
I have incurable bone marrow which was diagnosed 3.5 years ago. Overnight my life pretty much changed, I had to end a long and successful career, my driving licence was taken away from me removing virtually all of my independence and I’m constantly battling with Bain which must be as tough for everyone around me, as me. I’m single (divorced decades ago and brought my children up on my own. They are a constant source and comfort and love. I struggle with not wanting to over burden them and constant lack of sleep. I’ve never turned to maggies but am interested in what you think they might be able to help me with? thankyou
I am so sorry to hear of your cancer journey. I had had 2 bouts of breast cancer, but that was 14 years ago. I found Maggies a great source of help in learning to live life with cancer. It is there to cope with all stages of the disease and the problems that accompany it. I also attended The Haven, which was similar, although there are not so many of them dotted around the country. For those who do not have these charities nearby there are various local charities, which offer some of the same services. These have different names and the best way to find them is to ask your cancer nurse, consultant, GP, local library or Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Maggies are a great source of support, help and information for anyone with cancer or their families. In their own words "We help people take back control when
cancer turns life upside down, with professional support for anything from treatment side effects to money worries.
All our support is free and you don't need an appointment or referral – just come in. The centres offer cancer support in a serene environment bringing people together in a calm and uplifting space.
Our Cancer Support Specialists are experienced oncology nurses, radiographers and other healthcare professionals.
Our centres also have psychologists and benefits advisors who are available for anyone with cancer and those close to them. We also work with experts who provide exercise groups, yoga, nutrition advice and much more.
Our workshops, courses, one-to-one and group support help people to change the way they live with cancer.
We focus on the things that really make a difference, like money worries, help with stress and depression, managing side-effects and relationship and family support. Our support has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing and to help people take control when cancer turns life upside down.
Understanding every person’s individual circumstances is central to what we do and means we can guide them to the support that will help them the most.
Our cancer support is evaluated regularly, and is informed by external research findings, our own research and advice from our external reviews.
A friendly space
We work with some of the best architects in the world to design our centres because we know that light, colour and a connection to nature can help people to feel better.
Every Maggie’s is thoughtfully designed to be calming and welcoming; a place to escape from the clinical environment of the hospital. There are no reception desks and no clocks; instead, we have comfy sofas and plenty of time.
Our centres have large open spaces for group activities and a kitchen table to chat to other people. We also make sure there are plenty of peaceful corners for quiet moments and a chance to gather your thoughts."
The co-founder of Maggies was Maggie Keswick." Her idea was that with the right support, nobody would lose the joy living in the fear of dying when diagnosed with cancer." They also give support on-line for those who cannot get to their centres.
Have a look at this website and you will get a better idea of all that they do. Maggies - Search (bing.com)
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
Thank you Jolamine, been looking for NHS classes for over a year, managed to find one run by a cancer charity which is great but only available for 1 hour a week, regular classes are not for me as i need a medically qualified instructor as i am T4 with other problems, appreciate your post, take care.
