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Posted 1/21/2010 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
 

Well I went for my third treatment yesterday and it still was uneventful.  However,  for the last two nights I have been unable to sleep.  I feel tired but cannot sleep, I do not feel anixous or worried just wide awake.  Has anyone experienced this during treatment?  I really do not want to take sleeping pills but I need to get some sleep.  No napping even during the day.

Just wanted to know if this could possibly be from the radiation.

Jerry1

 

Posted 1/21/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jerry,

I completed 37 IMRT treatments back in July.  I don't recall any sleepless nights during treatment.  it could be from anxiety.  I did have fatigue which started about half way into treatment and lasted for a couple of months afterwards.  Sounds like everthing is pretty normal for now.  Don't worry, it will be over before you know it.

Posted 1/21/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thanks Booteel for information.  Glad to hear your treatments went well.

Jerry1

Posted 1/21/2010 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry - did you go through the same thing before or after your surgery?  Anxiety sounds like a like cause to me too.

 

Posted 1/21/2010 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had the treatment, but have found that I always have trouble sleeping after unusual or traumatic events- mild PSTD, I suppose. I had it for weeks after a really serious accident, again after PCa surgery and at other different times. I suspect yours most likely is stress and worry from beginning something new, with the strain of what the results may be ahead of you. If it doesn't ease, consider the pills, you need to get as much rest as you can, to help your body combat the effects. Just my opinion, of course.
Posted 1/21/2010 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jerry,

I'm just one treatment off your count but I would agree with the others that the sleepiness is probably due to anxiety. I was awake most of the night before my 1st treatment, got about 1/2 night's sleep on the second night and last night I slept most of the night. So far I've managed to go to the gym for moderate workouts (30-45 minutes) each day and that seems to clear my mind and tire me a little too.

Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight,
Jake
Posted 1/21/2010 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, you know I had a hard time with the SRT, and I had many near sleepless nights during my 39 treatments, often be up till 3-5 AM before Ambien finally would knock me out. I was put on Ambien 10 years ago when I went through my first bouts of radiation treatments, at that time, they said that was a common problem. Like you, I can't even nap in the day time, my brain won't turn off.

If you have to, it won't hurt to have your dr. put you on something like Ambien for the duration of your RT. It's not going to make you addicted in that short a time, and it might help. I found the Ambien CR doesn't work well, I do best with the generic 10 mg ones.

David in SC
Posted 1/21/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thanks all I do not feel anixious and am not a worrier but who knows it is a lot of stress.

So thank you all for your input may ask the doctor for a prescription if it keeps up.

going for number 4 today so far everything good except for the second day when they had a problem with the machine after I was lined up and hate to lay there on that metal table for almost an hour.  But if that is the worse thing to happen it will be pretty good.

Jerry1

Posted 1/21/2010 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
If you remember Jerry, I had a lot of alignment problems with my treatments, ranged from 15/20 minutes to a good hour, and yeah, it does get old on that table.

It was my original radiation dr that put me on the Ambien years ago, he said the sleep was more important than being on the meds. Also, in the generic ambiens, they make a coated and a non-coated version. if you have a choice, you want the non coated version, as it works faster. they make the coated version because there are idiots that grind up ambien to dust, take it, then overdose on caffine so that the ambien will make them hallucinate. pretty stupid, so they make the coated ones that cant be ground up easily. what fools will do.
Posted 1/21/2010 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,
I am not a good sleeper by nature and like David my mind runs constantly. Have slept okay thru the first few treatments and even took a nap after the first one. Could be a number of things for you, but once again sleep helps you deal with all of this so check it out with your Dr if it continues. Looking forward to your one week update but it sounds like it is going well.
Michael
Posted 1/22/2010 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I slept fine, in fact I dosed off on the table a few times and had a good nap once when the machine broke half way in and they decided to fix it and finish the treatment.
Posted 1/22/2010 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Geebra if you were able to sleep on that table I bet you can hold your own in a beer drinking contest. I go in with a full bladder as they have asked me to and that machine stops just in time for me to make it to the restroom.

Michael

Posted 1/22/2010 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I was just like Michael - get me off the table right away so I could pee!! I had 40 treatements but I don't recall any problems sleeping in the evening.

Jim B
Posted 1/22/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
 

Well last night I had a good nights sleep only woke up once to go to the bathroom.  Feel great today and finished my first week with no problems.  Hope it keeps up, I have to say the place I am going to for the treatments is great, except for the day the machine broke down, I go in at about 1:15 they take me after just a few minutes and I am out by 1:30PM and the people and doctors are great.

Jerry1

Posted 1/22/2010 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, glad you got a good nights sleep! Super that this week went well for you. Mine was fine too except I was scheduled for four treatments this week but only got in three due to the machine breaking down today. Good thing we didn't finalize those Hawaii plans for the day after finishing radiation since my cycle will go long now.

Hope everyone else did as well.

Take care,
Jake
Posted 1/23/2010 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Mine is going well although my neuropathy has increased in intensity. Today I felt a stinging pain on the left side during tx and had to take a couple of deep breaths. The Dr. said the radiation should not cause that type of pain so it very well could be from the nerve in my back which is creating the neuropathy. But that machine was throwing out the rays on that side when it hit, so I just dont know what to think. Hopefully it was a one time occurence. But I am in and out of there in 25-30 minutes and meet with the nurse and Dr. on Friday's. It is in a small town and my appt. time is 2:15 pm and the place is usually empty or one or two other people. No cookies or cake here, and no fellowship, but I really want to leave and just get home with our 4 pets, plenty of plants that my wife cares for and our home is surrounded by trees and silence. feel like I heal better at home. That was my week in a nutshell so not too bad.

Michael

Posted 1/23/2010 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Michael, just glad you got that first week down. Hope you can continue without picking up any complications.
Posted 1/23/2010 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry and Jake, glad you two are getting along with your treatments too, sounds mostly non eventful for the most part, and thats a good thing, hope it stays that way for you
Posted 1/23/2010 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry,I just had my second treatment and I agree with the other guys it is stress I have slept about 4 hours in the last two nights which is unusual for me.I think in a couple of days I will be back to what I consider normal.goodluck and try to relax.

Zach
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