I am a year or so out of treatment and I still can't get back to normal sleep.

HotRodTodd

I used to only sleep 6 or 7 hours a day, but now I seem to need 10 or 11 hours to feel like I've gotten enough. Does Anyone else seem like you're still dragging?

po18guy

Yes! Sadly, this may be the "new normal." Some days I have energy to push through, but others I have to take a nap - and some of those "naps" are an hour and a half. Can you take a nap during the day? That might help reduce nighttime sleep. Virtually all forms of treatment hammer our marrow, and while our blood counts may be normal, the blood cells themselves may be sub-par. It is a roller coaster that we can adapt to, but not saying it's easy.

Qs: Are your blood oxygen level, hemoglobin and hematocrit OK? Is doctor good with your blood tests?

As always, more questions than answers.

JaneA

Good quality sleep is elusive to most cancer patients and survivors. Sometimes, I can't turn my brain off. I've found that deep breathing once I get into bed helps a lot. It also helps if the bedroom is cooler.

BuckeyeShelby

Fatigue after treatment is not unusual. I don't sleep well, so I'm often tired. Hope your sleep cycle gets back to normal soon.

Bengal

You're sure not alone in this. I suffer from Chronic fatigue coupled with insomnia. I'm a year and a half out and quality sleep still alludes me. I try to grab naps when I can and will sometimes take a Xanax at night to just slow everything, especially my runaway brain, down. I too find breathing exercises can really help. I learned something called "wave breathing". Imagine your breathing as ocean waves rolling in on the beach . In through your nose, the wave rolls in, out through your mouth, the wave washes back out. The sound of your breath even mimics the sound of the water hissing down the sand. I know it sounds silly but I find it helps.

Charlieb

One of the biggest culprit that has a permeant affect on sleep is steroids. Everyone who I have talked with that has been on high doses of steroids is plagued with sleep issues.. Before I had cancer I was given a high dose of sol Medrol for neurological issues. That was over 30 years ago and I have had issues with sleep ever since. Now, with cancer treatment with dexamethasone 7 years ago I get between 4 to 6 hours. Currently undergoing treatment and, well, it is almost 4:00am and I've been up for about an hour!

Bengal

Gee, Charlie, I wish I'd know you were up and on What Next at 4:00 AM. I was wide awake too. We could have had a chat. Sleepless night make getting through the day tough.

schweetieangel

I'm the same.. I take sleeping pills prescribed and sometimes those don't help at all or I'm sleeping 11-12 hrs and still feel like I need a nap to get through my nausea and anxiety and its been over a year since my reoccurance.