excessive sleepiness after chemo

Posted by denise96 @denise96, Dec 14, 2024

My husband had his first chemo/immunotherapy treatment on Wednesday Dec. 11, 2024. Beginning on the 3rd day after treatment, he has been sleeping. He wakes up long enough to go to the bathroom or get a driknk but other than that he sleeps. His breathing so so shallow that I have to stand and watch to make sure he is still breathing. It is scary, but I guess this is normal. During this whole time of being diagnosed with cancer, his sleep was very irratic. Since this is all new to me and him, has anyone else experienced this? He also has hypotension which might be adding to this.

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Profile picture for denise96 @denise96

Dealing with my husband is easier said than done. He rejects most everything I want him to try. He was given remeron for anxiety and possibly would help him to gain some weight. He threw them away. He was given meds for nausea and he would only take 1. He is supposed to take claritin for the neulsa onpro they gave him for bone pain. He took one. Said he did not need them. (he still has nausea). I bought him an electric throw and at first he loved it because he is always cold. After about a week, he quit using it because he said it bugged him. There are about 10 bottles of boost in the frig. He was drinking them, but now he won't. He said everything he eats, makes him sick. The only thing he does, is sit in his recliner, drink coffee and smoke cigarettes. I mentioned that he should walk around outside and he told me that it would not do anything to help. I bought him chocolate pudding and he did try that, but could not finish it. They were the little cups. Then I made him jello. Hopefully today, he will try that. I made him homemade chicken noodle soup. He would not eat the chicken. He only eats processed food -when he eats. Lipton noodle soup out of the box and frozen foods out of boxes. I am at my wits end. He fights me on most everything that I suggest he try. He weighs about 106 pounds. Recently bought him flannel shirts to wear over his t-shirts that he always wears. He won't wear them although he complains about being cold. His pronosis is not looking good because he does not seem to want to help himself. But I will keep trying to come up with foods that he may try eating. And as far as those other meds, I believe he should take them because they are to help him. He used to be a drug/alcohol counselor and he believes he knows more about drugs than the doctors do. I look forward to going to work today. That is not nice to say but it is a break from listening to him complain but not doing anything to help himself. But thanks for the reply.

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@denise96 You need a break from all you are doing at home. It's hard when they won't work with us while we're trying to help them recover. Hand in there as it does get better after a while.

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Profile picture for nawazindia @nawazindia

My dad also facing moth cancer and he completed his 2 chemo inginction and he was sleepy from 1 st chemo and he was not able to see his mobile and im seeing that he couldn't remember anything about his life he just wake up to go washroom and he sleeps after washroom he said I'm not able to sit I need to sleep i remember that after moth cancer operation he is well and he is seeing his mobile talking and sitting in sun is his hobby but now he was nothing to do he only drinking liquid food like juice and mixed dry fruits and grains drink but not too much only ones in a day and near 200 ml it is not sufficient to a 45+ male but i don't know anything about it.and I'm his son only 18 years old .please if someone reading and they know very well about it please suggest me i need help and I'm crying daily but I need to recover them as before please

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@nawazindia , I'm sorry to hear that your father is facing cancer. This may be one of the most difficult times of your life too. Generally, sleep is restorative for the body and it is helpful for healing. The treatment process takes time, and the recovery can take even more time.
Do you attend his chemo appointments with him? The staff and his doctor may have helpful suggestions for getting him to eat more of the nutrients that his body needs.

Here are a couple of related discussions that may also offer some help:
- Nutrition and cancer: Protein.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nutrition/
- When will food taste good again after chemo and radiation?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trying-to-get-food-into-husband-after-chemo-and-radiation/
- Third day post chemo and terrible taste in my mouth. Any suggestions?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/third-day-post-chemo-and-terrible-taste-in-my-mouth-any-suggestions/

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