Hello,
My husband finished his second chemo treatment 7 days ago and is having a really hard time sleeping. Currently taking Nubeqa and prednisone. He would appreciate any help with this side effect.
He also had blurred vision for about half an hour on day 6 and 7 following his chemo. Has anyone else experienced this?
Hi Iber. I reread your husband's bio again just to make sure I'm up to date. So I'll just share a few thoughts. And bravo the triplet program you are following. And of course I am just a well-read lay person on triplet therapy myself, now doing well at 2 and 1/2 years, from original high volume metastatic diagnosis. My mets were to my spine but not quite as extensive as those of your husband.
1. Regarding blurred vision just curious if the doctor checked the blood pressure?
2. The prednisone is ongoing or just for a few days around the Docetaxel? Because I am on Abiraterone/Zytiga, I am taking prednisone daily all the time. However during chemo I switched to dexamethasone, temporarily. It was fantastic! But I seem to recall that the energizing effect of the steroid may have made it more difficult to sleep. Dexamethasone I believe is stronger than prednisone, but if you're not taking a steroid on a regular basis, maybe your husband would respond in the same way?
3. I take melatonin an hour or so before sleeping at night, one quick dissolve under the tongue, and two long-lasting swallowed. All 5 mg, for a total of 15. I did lots of reading, seem to be okay, and seem to be a big help.
4. Also curious about the chemo protocol, (1) your husband is getting the anti-infection injection? (2) You're doing the icing of hands and feet? (3) Curious if you read up on water fasting around the infusion, the day before, the day of? This last item apparently may be helpful in reducing chemo damage to healthy cells while at the same time enhancing the vulnerability of the cancer cells themselves. Lots of notes on all three of these things on this forum.
5. Don't forget that your husband should be well hydrated for the infusion. You want the Docetaxel l to circulate nicely! (I will call having to shuffle to the washroom with the infusion poll - small price to pay I suppose - one of the indignities of our situation.)
A big success for your husband, that the skeletal lesions everywhere in his body are successfully suppressed, stepwise, with each successive Docetaxel! And that PSA keeps dropping, and dropping!
Thanks for the quick response, John. He is not taking any anti infection injections but is icing his hands and so far no issues. His prednisone is ongoing with Nubeqa and was on dexamethasone the day prior to his treatment and ongoing through the first 6 days after treatment. The dexamethasone was extended from his first treatment of 3 days to 6 days for his second treatment to help with his pain management. It certainly did give him a lot of energy and he was feeling great. We have been checking his BP and it was a little low, but not dangerously low. We have been in contact with his Family Physician and oncologist and he may have been dehydrated, so we are monitoring fluid intake as well and has an appointment with his oncologist on Monday, hoping for some answers.
I will definitely read up on water fasting and ask about the melatonin. Thanks again.
Melatonin will work......... Tried it a few times a couple of months ago (Never took a sleeping meds before in my entire life and I'm 88 now). Not using it now.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n
Great points. I'd also add exercise in the help. Even a bit of a walk may help. My husband was able to get to the gym a few days a week during chemo and it helped him be more rested. Hydration is truly key. Electrolytes in water help immensely.
Prednisolone (for me like bit to much caffeine)will make it harder to get of to sleep and stay asleep.....I didn't take mine while on chemo, I asked not to and there's study to say it doesn't benefit any thing(but that's not advice, that's just me.. )
Before chemo injection he will get Dexamethasone to help stave of reactions while having infusion.
NO SLEEP!!! WIRED
Hell need go with it.
Exercise in fresh air.
Walks down beach,
Do what he can happily.
Fresh air is out freind
Walking
Nature
Get out
Get tired
Try make those small simple things enjoyable if possible
Hi- wife here. My husband is also 62 and was diagnosed in February of 2024. He had low PSA at diagnosis and low met burden. Spine, one lymph and shoulder. He did three rounds of Taxotere before stopping due to side effects. Not a doctor but my advice is to take his BP and temp twice daily and log it. The blurred vision sounds BP related. Also hydration is key and avoiding constipation. Make sure he is having a BM. He needs to drink a crazy amount of water, more than 68 oz to flush the stuff out. Also, make sure he is getting enough protein. My husband couldn’t eat due to mouth sores and it became a problem.
Also, did you get genetic testing? Ask for both at his age (germline and somatic). It will tell the oncologist his mutations and if any drug is more advantageous/responsive. As far as sleep, talk to your oncologist about this. Mine couldn’t sleep due to pain and eventually he got meds to help. Also utilize the infusion nurses as a sounding board, they have seen it all.
Iber,
I also had Prostate Cancer. It was cured with radiation. I too was on prednisone for a short spell and now am down to 1mg per day and finally stopping prednisone for good (I hope!).
My understanding is being on prednisone for a long period can cause blurring of eyesight. Please note I wasn't on prednisone for the cancer treatment but for Polmyalgia. But any underlining treatment for any mental causes apparently effects the recovery of the cancer radiation - it did me! I'm not familiar with Nebraska. Note while on prednisone I had non side effects.
Good luck with your research and your road to recovery.
Patrick
The insomnia is, most likely due to the steroid. Consider asking for Decadron in stead, taken night before , just before infusion. He will have a sleepless night due to the decadron but ok the 2nd night.
Blurred vision could be caused by prednisone as well. However, if it continues, see an ophthalmologist
Chemo treatment/What happens after chemo? 
No appetite after chemo
The Arm Saga continues...to chemo or not to chemo
