They say you shouldn’t watch tv or do any electronic stuff on an I pad etc late at night as there is too much stimulation going on.  Reading apparently better.

Although you say you don’t want to go down the sleeping pill route, could you take them just for say 3 days to get you back to a more regular routine?

From personal experience, the worst thing to do is to try to get to sleep.  Does your schedule allow you to sleep on in the mornings?  If so, when you’re awake in the middle of the night, could you say to yourself that it doesn’t really matter as you can sleep on later?

If you’re not sleeping because you’re worried you could have a piece of paper by your bed to write them down and then say to yourself you’ll consider them in the morning?

Also don’t make your bedroom anything else but where you sleep eg don’t work in there as well.

I’ve heard that a short nap during the day eg 20 mins is ok , you just don’t want to make it too long.

Hope that helps -now I’ve got to practice what I preach!

Also, are you busy enough during the day? Cancer treatment can often make you too tired / ill to do your usual activities but then you may not be tired enough at night.  If this is the case, is it feasible to make yourself do a little bit more during the day?

Hi hopecalm

Thank you for repling to my post with your helpful insights. Ill try switching from watching TV to reading before bed. I do have anxiety with the cancer mostly about getting my affairs in order finance for family funeral arrangements and so on. The tip on writing a note to consider in the morning is novel and something I shall do. I get excercise each day as I force myself to do a few hours work  which keeps me sane. I also go for walk 20 mins to one hour depending on fatigue level. Bedroom is dark and quiet as recommended. Daytime naps are dangerous as they end up being 2 hours rather than 20 mins and Ill hold off on the sleeping potions for now anyway. All the best.

Ed

Hi Ed

This is a late reply so apologies, I have been exactly the same as you. Tried all sorts of wonderful things to keep me asleep as I had no problem falling asleep just had the 3am curse! Finally after a lot of 3am wakeups I spoke to my oncologist and now take zopiclone 3.75 mg x2 each evening.

I don't have a set time I have them when I get in bed, best thing ever for me I sleep minimal 7 hours, which is needed as we heal when we sleep, I'm not drowsy when I wake up neither

Hope this helps Ed, sleep is important, hope you're coping with your treatment it's not easy both physically and mentally

Hi Ed

I agree with you it was my last go to aswell, but on the grand scale of things, I thought to myself I'm fighting every day with this cancer I just need to sleep! So for me it's easier to cope with each day if I've had some sleep if that makes sense. I've had the all clear once but it's now back, I'm incurable but it can be controlled so I'm told.

I'm positive I always have been, so I take each day as it comes, we're all fighters here  I hope you eventually get some sleep Ed you need it. 

Take care

Kallie.

Hi Ed and Kallie,  I sometimes take half a zopliclone when I need to sleep as well.  The doctor will only give me fourteen tablets.  If I want to have anymore I have to have a consultation with the doctor which I find ludicrous.  They tell me they are addictive and not good and will stop working.  Like you both I have incurable cancer and have been prescribed tramadol and since then morphine and liquid morphine.  I asked the oncologist will I become a drug addict and he said so what.  I get his point because its a good quality of life we need.  So for the doctor to act so patronizing  makes me mad.  The zopliclone helps but I only take it now and then, especially waiting for scan results etc.  I wish you both sweet dreams and hopefully a good nights sleep..

Lee x

Thank you for sharing that with me Kallie. Im on palliative care with immunotherapy so treatable but incurable. I hate that word terminal. As Im already having medicines I guess another to help with sleep wont be such a big deal. Especially if your experience of not waking up groggy is also true for me. I hope youve had a good day today.

Ed

Hello Lee

Nice to hear from you again and I hope you too have had a good day. I like the idea of just using the zoplicone at minimal dose and only when needed. You have a good point that for those of us who have incurable cancer, addiction is probably the least of our problems. And to have access to medicine that gives up a better quality of pain free life is more important. Ive got a new mattress and pillows to see if that makes a difference to sleep quality. As Im not able to get comfortable due to back pain from metastatic bone cancer. Feels like I cracked a rib during a recent coughing fit. Had second round of denosumab with my regular immunotherapy. Seem to be tolerating it quite well. Going to drive down to the coast for a walk ( in the rain) then get fish and chips and sit and eat them while watching the waves roll in and fighting off the gulls. Ah!the simple pleasures in life.

Ed

Hiya Ed same here palliative with immunotherapy, had the first immunotherapy last week, I was on chemo but it was stopped at the dreaded 3 monthly scan it wasn't working and the cancer had doubled, it's in 3 lympnodes in my groin and one on my pelvic wall, happy days eh! I have no pain at the minute, which is a blessing, I've been fighting this since 2022 I had chemoradiotherapy early 2023 that didn't work neither, what is going on I ask myself. The end of 2023 I had major surgery. They removed the tumour, I have a colostomy, and life was good for a while then it returned November 2024 and this is where I'm at now, apologies a bit of a long tale, your day sounds great Ed, very therapeutic listening to the ocean. Take care