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Vomiting and sleep problems-Normal?

Posted by denise96 @denise96, Dec 30, 2024

My husband who has stage 4 lung cancer and copd had his first chemo treatment on Dec.11. He is still vomiting and has a hard time sleeping. At first he slept ok, but over the last 3 weeks, he just can't fall asleep and stay asleep. He is just so tired and he has his second chemo treatment this week on Thursday. Is this normal for cancer patients? This is all new to me so I don't know. I did call the doctor and was told that he should take melatonin pills or drink sleep time tea. He just laughed and said that he wanted a prescription pill because over the counter stuff won't work for him. I believe that because most of his life he has been on oxycodone and he abused them. NOw his body has built up such a tolerance that the meds that would normally knock most of us out, won't work now for him. What a mess.

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dougmck | @dougmck | 6 days ago

Your husband sounds more and more like he could be dealing with anxiety and depression re: his diagnosis. Is he able to talk about that, and, if so, would he be willing to get some counseling? Fear is a normal reaction to cancer. I don't know where you're living and getting treatment, but a social worker could probably hook him up with a therapist who deals with cancer patients. After my lung cancer I was diagnosed three years later with bladder cancer... I expected the worst, and saw a therapist who really helped me deal with my anxiety re: getting cancer all over again.

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denise96 | @denise96 | 6 days ago
In reply to @dougmck "Your husband sounds more and more like he could be dealing with anxiety and depression re:..." + (show)
@dougmck

Your husband sounds more and more like he could be dealing with anxiety and depression re: his diagnosis. Is he able to talk about that, and, if so, would he be willing to get some counseling? Fear is a normal reaction to cancer. I don't know where you're living and getting treatment, but a social worker could probably hook him up with a therapist who deals with cancer patients. After my lung cancer I was diagnosed three years later with bladder cancer... I expected the worst, and saw a therapist who really helped me deal with my anxiety re: getting cancer all over again.

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the doctor gave him sleeping pills. Now he has trazadone and ambien. He should be happy. He did sleep last night but he took 2 ambien instead of 1. That is what he does. If it says take 1, he takes 2. then he complains when he runs out. It is a vicious cycle with him and his pills.

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denise96 | @denise96 | 6 days ago
In reply to @denzie "Is medical marijuana legal where you live? What about recreational marijuana? It would be worth a..." + (show)
@denzie

Is medical marijuana legal where you live? What about recreational marijuana? It would be worth a try. Ask the dispensary about one that stimulates appetite. He seems to fight traditional meds.

Meanwhile, if he uses cream in his coffee, use real cream for added calories.

Time to get real. Stop begging him to let you help him. Start asking him if he wants to be buried vs cremation. Does he want any particular music played? Stories of his life shared?

Hopefully, conversations like this will spark some desire to fight. Once someone has decided that they are going to let the cancer kill then, there is little you can do to change their mind. The nihilism that this disease generated is powerful and difficult to overcome.

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I had to laugh at some of your comments. Thanks for that. I needed a laugh. Well, he finally talked his oncologist into giving him ambien. Pallatiave care gave him trazadone so now he has both. And instead of taking 1 ambien as prescribed, he took 2. He always takes more than prescribed and then he runs out. He is a smooth talker. But his oncologist is concerned with all the pills he seems to be taking. Yes, marijuana is legal in P A but he does not want to spend the money to get the card. He did buy some off the guy next door. I found out that he gets his extra pills from the guy across the street. I just shake my head. He is an addict and I believe he always be one. So, I am waiting for him to come up with another symptom that he needs another pill for. Sorry for sounding bitchy, but this gets to me. But it is not my body so I just don't say much about it. He may just do himself in with all the pills he is putting in his body. We shall see. But thanks for the concern.

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