Sleeping problems

[Bishtown]

Hi Ladies...I am on Ibrance, 125mg (starting third month) and letrozole. Anyone else have trouble sleeping? By 8pm, I can hardly stay awake. Stay up till at least 10pm, go to bed, and sleep till maybe midnight, and then get awake and fight trying to get back to sleep the rest of the night. Also, my eyes are so dry...that seems to add to me being ready to sleep early. Any other side effects are very minimum, so hate to be complaining, compared to what some of you are going through.

[Barbteeth]

Hi there

I sometimes don’t sleep too well..last night I woke about 1.00am..tossed and turned and eventually just got up and read my book till 4.00am..slept till 10.00am..at least I could lie in

I think sometimes I just get too hot due to side effects of letrazole..I do take 10mg of amitriptyline which usually helps me relax

I do sympathise with you..it’s exhausting

I’m also on Ibrance 100mg

Sorry no help whatsoever !!

Barb xx

[Bishtown in reply to Barbteeth]

Thanks...sometimes it just helps to know someone else might be having the same problem. I am a reader too, so usually I am into a book during those sleepless nights. Getting more reading done now than I have in a long time! 😊 I am having hot flashes again...doctor told me to take 400mg vit e twice a day for them. I think it helps some.

[Hidden]

Hi!

I sometimes have trouble sleeping through the night too. I try to wind down by taking a bath and relaxing, but it does not always work. I am a light sleeper, which I don't think helps. It may also be a side effect of Letrozole. I have never been able to sleep well in a hot bedroom though, so I sometimes open the window to let in some fresh air. I was told to expect hot flushes, but I had one in June and a couple of night sweats after that and that was it. Are you experiencing hot flushes or night sweats? I also like my sheets and pillow to be cold. It helps me relax more. Do you think cooling your bedroom down might help?

Sophie x

[Bishtown in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Sophie...I prefer a cool bedroom too. Might have to start cracking bedroom window at night, now that nights are getting cooler. I do have a memory foam pillow that one side has a large gel sheet on it. It is really cool when I lay my head on it. After a while it warms up from my body heat and I Just circle it around to get the other side under my head again. Love it. I do get hot flashes...thought I was over them a long time ago. Doctor told me to take 400mg vit E twice a day for that. I think it is helping some.

Thank you for reminding me about cooling bedroom down. That could be a big help. 😊

[Hidden in reply to Bishtown]

You're welcome. Hopefully cooling your bedroom down will help. I just love the feel of a cool pillow and cool sheets. I find it really soothing, and always have! I hope the hot flushes ease off for you soon. The one I had back in June made me feel sick! It just came over me and I was sweating profusely. Then a few minutes later the sensation had passed.

Sophie x

[DMC652691 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I questioned my sleep Dr about wakening up every 2 hrs, he said yes the hormone pill will do that; because hormones effect every part of your body.

[Hidden]

I’m on Ibrance and now faslodex. Some days I come home from work and fall asleep watching Dr Phil. I am often too tired to make dinner and do much. If I nap, and some days I can’t stay awake, it throws my sleep cycle way off and affects me for days. I try hard not to nap because I seem to get a second wind a few hours later. I have found a fruit smoothie with Garden of Life green powder and other nutrients helps. I put some almond milk and yogurt in there. Then there are days I don’t get that far. Oh well...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nrocks,

I get tired too at times, but I try not to nap every day. If I do, I will usually set the timer on my phone so I am only napping for 30 minutes or so, otherwise I would not want to get up! Sorry to hear you are sometimes too tired to cook. What I tend to do is cook up large batches of food and then I will freeze the food into individual serving containers. I have several Chinese takeaway containers in my freezer with healthy homemade meals. So if I am after a quick meal and don't feel like cooking, I just have to thaw it out and reheat it.

Sophie x

[nstonerocks in reply to Hidden]

You are so much more motivated and organized than I. 13 plus, I also spent half the weekend seeping. There was so much more I wanted to do. Arghhh!!! At least the dog is bathed, the cat litter is all fresh, dishes done. Work tomorrow, and the cycle repeats itself. I just can’t seem to get ahead of the stuff I have to do. Of course, spent a lot of time thinking about my next vacation.

[Hidden in reply to nstonerocks]

You must have needed the rest. I wouldn't beat yourself up about what you were not able to do. Just look at what you were able to accomplish! Your cat and dog are probably thanking you for taking care of them and the dishes were done. I managed to deep clean part of my kitchen yesterday, iron my husband's work uniform and do some laundry. I have the other half of the kitchen left to do! I worked this morning, did my dad and brother's shopping and then I had my second complementary therapy session. I chose a massage this time, which was really relaxing.

Take care,

Sophie 💘

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I’m going for a massage tomorrow after work. I think we should all get regular massages!!!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Enjoy your massage tomorrow! I agree we should all have massages if that's what we want. Complementary therapy is offered free of charge for cancer patients where I live.

Sophie 💘

[13plus in reply to Hidden]

I've been like that this weekend! I was cursing that yesterday was such a lovely day and I spent the afternoon asleep in bed! And yes, if I nap in the late afternoon it messes up my night time routine.

[Hidden]

I started taking CBD oil - without THC - at bedtime. It helps. It also helps if I can’t fall asleep after I wake up in the middle of the night to pee. A dropper of oil under the tongue gives me the help I need. No drowsiness from it in the morning since it has no THC.

[theresac1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Marthasvineyard, I take Melatonin to help me fall asleep. I wake up at least 3 times night or more. I have hot flashes and am a light sleeper. However, I now sleep with an eye mask on and ear plugs to block out any noise, and snoring from my husband. I have been thinking of CBD oil because I have heard that it really helps with sleep. Have you purchased your CDB oil at a store or on-line? How do you know how much to take?

Regarding wine from another post, my doctor says NO alcohol at all with Ibrance. Have your doctors told you not to drink while on Ibrance?

Theresa

[Hidden in reply to theresac1]

Marijuana is legal in MA. A friend who knows the business brought me a small bottle with a dropper. She’s also an experienced pharmaceutical employee who I trust a lot. It can be purchased on line too I believe. We started with me taking 1/2 dropper to see effect. I found full dropper is effective.

[Burgerde]

I also have same issues sleeping. All things suggested already are worth trying. A few things I can also suggest. It seems every time I have faced a change in my scans or my meds I go through a period of adjustment and increased anxiety. Most people I imagine do. The sleep specialists recommend not reading in bed to get up and read if need to and return to bed when tired. I have tried meditation st bedtime which sometimes helps. I have resorted t o taking a sleeping pill, ambien, at times for a few nights to try to reset my sleep. A dose of Ativan or similar anxiety pill can help. This can be taken if you wake up middle of night. These 2 options should be temporary short term options. For the dry eyes use an eye moisturizer drop or gel if bad, before bed and am. If dry eyes can be used during day. This really helps the eye grit. Hope you find something that works for you. Not sleeping puts stress on you when you least need it ! Talk to your oncologist about options.

[nstonerocks in reply to Burgerde]

If I am waking up in the middle of a night’s sleep and it’s becoming a pattern, I take a Xanax. It does help me sleep thru the night. My problem now seems to be sleeping half the weekend. What a waste of a glorious weekend, but I was tired...Work tomorrow.

[SeattleMom]

Hi, Bishtown! You don't mention whether you have tried melatonin or any anti-anxiety meds? I've read earlier posts from women who have had great sleep success with an anti-anxiety med called "elavil." It requires a prescription, but apparently is very effective. I have taken an anti-anxiety med, celexa, since I was diagnosed with BC eighteen years ago. I usually take it at night with a couple of Tylenol and have had no trouble sleeping. Hope you find the remedy that works for you--it's awful to be awake at night when your body, especially now, needs a LOT of down time through naps and solid sleeps. Prayers for you! XO Linda

[DMC652691 in reply to SeattleMom]

Elavil is a very addictive med. My mom was on it years ago.

[nstonerocks in reply to DMC652691]

I’m on it. It is an old antidepressant and meant to be taken daily. Takes about 2 weeks to start working. It isn’t like benzodiazepines like Xanax and Ativan and Valium, which are usually taken as needed an addictive. The more you use those drugs, the less effective they are. I try not to use Xanax much, but in a pinch it really works well for me.

[Barbteeth in reply to nstonerocks]

I take this..low dose of 10mg and it helps a lot

Barb xx

[Bishtown in reply to SeattleMom]

I am using melatonin, but not having much success with it now...haven’t tried anything else yet.

[gerisplace]

Hello. I’m on my 17th month of Ibrance (100 mg) and letrozole. Only have occasional nights when I can’t sleep. Usually a small glass of wine helps me sleep really well. Warm milk might help too but I’m not a milk drinker! I too have dry eye issues. Lubricating eye drops before bed helps me a lot. Best of luck. Sleep is really important for our overall survival.

[Bishtown in reply to gerisplace]

17 months...ugh...I am only on my third month. Wondering how long I will be on it.

[SusieIM]

We are here to share our struggles and offer any insight we may have and for support. So please, don't feel uncomfortable at all about sharing your struggle to sleep. I try to be active during the day, move around to release some energy and stress. I need to work on being more active, as it is good to exercise at least some for several reasons. I put my earplugs on, put on my fav sleep music (that usually helps). I use Melatonin. I heard it helps not to eat just before going to bed or stop eating three hours before going to bed. I know sometimes my mind races at night, hard to unwind but I also know that is the day that I may not have exercised much. I heard that CBD oil specifically designed to help sleep does help.

[Gmaoftriplets]

Yes, I am on the same dosage as you, and I have trouble sleeping as well. I don't know if there is anything that can be done . For dry eyes I suggest Refresh optive preservative free eye drops, I use them up to 6 times a day and it really helps.

[Kimr2081]

When I was on Ibrance and letrozole I started to have alot of problems sleeping and had to resort to Ambien so that i could get some sleep and get up for work the next day. I figured with all the crap we are dealing with what's a little Ambien to get me through the night. My doctor gave me 10mg's but I could get by with cutting it in half. Some people swear by melatonin but it didn't seem to work for me. Hope it resolves itself or you find a solution. My doctor told me it was the Letrozole that was causing the sleep issues.

[lovetopaint]

Hello Everyone--What time of day do you take the Ibrance? I am on 125 mg plus anastrozole (Arimidex?). I thought the Ibrance was causing me to be drowsy during the day so I started taking it with dinner. But now that I can't get to sleep--or wake up around 12M--I wonder if I should switch back to taking it in the morning. Does the time of day you take it make any difference?

[Susan1953 in reply to lovetopaint]

I take my ibrance at night and letrozole in the morning. I have been on both for 18 months and doing well. I take a medication for anxiety at night and it is great for sleep. I sleep with the house cool and a tower fan blowing on me. That really helps with the hot flashes.

[oilermama in reply to lovetopaint]

I have been taking my Ibrance in the morning and anastrazole in the evening. So far it has worked ok. And fortunately no problems sleeping. However, I am awakend at night by tingling and numbness in my hands. Any ideas on help with that?

[kkrouse]

Same here. I got medical marijuana. I can take it 3 times a day, but I only take it an hour before bed. I’m on a really low dose, but I’ve increased the dose, so next time I’ll get a stronger tincture. It works for sleep. And no hangover feeling. Even if I get up for bathroom visit, I get back to sleep pretty soon. It doesn’t make me feel super sleepy, but once I go to bed, I fall asleep quickly. It’s worth a try.

[Bishtown]

Thank you so much ladies! I have read and taken notes on all of your replies. It is getting colder here at night so I am opening my windows in bedroom to sleep...told my hubby to just deal with it and wear warmer pajamas...😁...written down medications on helping to sleep and checking into them, and also drops for my eyes. This site is wonderful, and everyone is so ready to help. Amazing community of amazing ladies!

[13plus in reply to Bishtown]

Did I tell you my method of a few drops of pure lavender oil in a mister, like what Living Young sells. Seems to be working like a charm for me if I feel I might need a bit of help to sleep soundly.

[Hidden]

I hope you start sleeping better soon and that you can obtain some eye drops that work well for you.

Sophie x

[kkrouse]

Same here, but I got medical marijuana. Also, drink lots, lots, lots of water.