Insomnia and Cancer

Posted by lacey @lacey, Nov 1, 2016

HI, my name is Lacey, I have been in remission since Jan. 2015 and I feel great except for sleeping issues. I was on
zolpiderm for at least a year and the insurance co. just denied the prescription any longer. Instead , they prescribed
Trazodone which does nothing . I haven't slept in 48 hours and I feel that no sleep is going to cause worse problems
The zolpiderm let me sleep 8-9 hours a night. Do you have any help for this problem? Thanks, Lacey

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

Lacey, I'm tagging a few Connect members who have in the past mentioned sleep issues either during cancer treatment or afterwards, such as @travelgirl @saltis @lindajean @shortshot80 @toastergirl_1 and @susanao1 @hopeful33250. This is such an important topic. Thanks for starting the discussion.

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@lacey I am sorry to hear about your sleep problems. I wasn't familiar with the medicine that you were previously taking, however, have you considered consulting with a sleep specialist? A sleep study might be helpful in determining the kind of sleep disorder you have. If your previous medicine was one that is addictive, it might take time to adjust to something different. I know of many people who use Trazodone with good results. Perhaps the dosage needs adjusting? In any event, it would be a good time to talk to your doctor regarding your options. Best wishes for better sleep.

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Hello Lacey, any type of sleep disorder should be your one and only coonversation with your doctor. Get yourself back to the doc and talk till you are blue, get some help. It takes too long to catch up. I know that for a fact. Also your doc can't help if they don't know! shortshot80

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@lacey Hi There, Oh I haven't even had treatments and I cant seem to want to sleep. I have to be completely worn exhausted nonstop moving for like 12 hours to sleep. If I just have a regular work day or a day in my life. Well forget about it. I body wants to party all night long as well. I am thinking I have way too much fun during to stop and sleep.. LOL.. Just kidding. I think it is just in the subconscious mind the constant worry about night sweats for me. If I feel myself getting warm while sleeping I wake up throw off the covers tossing and turning all night long. I often take 1 or 2 Tylenol PM to sleep. They help sometimes. But not all the time. Especially like today, I drank Green tea this afternoon. Now I feel like Ricochet Rabbit I'm bouncing off the walls here tonight.. The only way I can sleep like I said, Is to Totally wear myself out. Walk like 12 miles in one day. Then I can sleep in peace.

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I had the same problem with insurance and zolpidem. Have you tried Good Rx. I use their coupon and can get for $7 per month. Does not go thru insurance. Of course you need doctors rx. Hope this will help you,

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@shortshot80

Hello Lacey, any type of sleep disorder should be your one and only coonversation with your doctor. Get yourself back to the doc and talk till you are blue, get some help. It takes too long to catch up. I know that for a fact. Also your doc can't help if they don't know! shortshot80

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Thanks for the go ahead, but the insurance com. are in charge, the doctor knows my problem and
called in the zolpiderm, but it was denied, the other meds. did nothing, someone told me to take
vicks zzz, so I am going to try that tonight, hopefully it will work, thanks for reply. Lacey

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@shortshot80

Hello Lacey, any type of sleep disorder should be your one and only coonversation with your doctor. Get yourself back to the doc and talk till you are blue, get some help. It takes too long to catch up. I know that for a fact. Also your doc can't help if they don't know! shortshot80

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I just completely by pass insurance.

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@travelgirl

@lacey Hi There, Oh I haven't even had treatments and I cant seem to want to sleep. I have to be completely worn exhausted nonstop moving for like 12 hours to sleep. If I just have a regular work day or a day in my life. Well forget about it. I body wants to party all night long as well. I am thinking I have way too much fun during to stop and sleep.. LOL.. Just kidding. I think it is just in the subconscious mind the constant worry about night sweats for me. If I feel myself getting warm while sleeping I wake up throw off the covers tossing and turning all night long. I often take 1 or 2 Tylenol PM to sleep. They help sometimes. But not all the time. Especially like today, I drank Green tea this afternoon. Now I feel like Ricochet Rabbit I'm bouncing off the walls here tonight.. The only way I can sleep like I said, Is to Totally wear myself out. Walk like 12 miles in one day. Then I can sleep in peace.

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Funny travelgirl, missed you lately, but when you haven't slept for awhile, my funny left town.
I am very active, so that may be the problem, I would not worry about the sweats, you will
surely know when they are around, you wake up in a puddle of water, thats when youget your butt to the doctor. Today is Livestrong class and we are going to play some pickle ball, maybe
I will be able to sleep tonight, lets hope. Talk soon, take care. Lacey

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@laneyk

I had the same problem with insurance and zolpidem. Have you tried Good Rx. I use their coupon and can get for $7 per month. Does not go thru insurance. Of course you need doctors rx. Hope this will help you,

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Tell me more, I can get the prescription, but who is this Good Rx?? I have prescription
coverage and it was still costing me $37.00 extra. what a rip.

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@colleenyoung

Lacey, I'm tagging a few Connect members who have in the past mentioned sleep issues either during cancer treatment or afterwards, such as @travelgirl @saltis @lindajean @shortshot80 @toastergirl_1 and @susanao1 @hopeful33250. This is such an important topic. Thanks for starting the discussion.

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Your welcome, hopefully it will help a lot of us and find the answer, mostly all the
people you contacted have sent me information, some very helpful, will keep you
posted. Thanks again, Lacey

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