All this sounds all too familiar to me, as my sleeping patterns continue to similarly affected, and I am doing most of the things recommended by the sleep specialist. The only thing she did not mention are the bathroom breaks given the need to drink more to flush out the chemo – another sleep interruption.
The list is as follows:
- Have a regular bedtime
- Avoid caffeine
- Avoid medication and herbal treatments for sleep
- Get up when one can’t sleep – don’t stay in bed for longer than what feels like 20 minutes
- Avoid looking at the clock
- Don’t ruminate or worry
- Avoid naps over 30 minutes
Some of these are easier than others (looking at the clock helps me at 3 am know that I should go back to sleep – at 5 it tells me I can get up)
Hollye Harrington Jacobs: Dreaming of Sleep During Chemotherapy Treatment.
