MORE Thoughts On Sleep…

In the immediate days following my Zoladex injections (ovarian suppression), I remember being in agony because my sleep patterns changed immediately!

I’d get out of bed exhausted in the morning because I had woken up at least three times during the night. I’d wake up sweating. I’d wake up because I had to pee. I’d wake up after an anxiety filled dream then lay in bed for what seemed like an eternity thinking through what it could have meant. It was a rough change.

I would dread the thought of going to sleep at night because nighttime had become so unpleasant. I felt desperate to find a sleeping solution. I wanted to cry. It was all I thought about. My mom basically emptied her kitchen and brought over every tea she had tried. She started looking up solutions for me and made some suggestions about cooling pillows to try. Kevin brought me a small fan. He could see and hear how miserable I had become. Though it was a small gesture, that bedside fan was a Godsend and helped prevent my night sweats, but I was still waking up multiple times a night.

I felt the same level of fatigue that I had when my kids were infants. Except this was different. I couldn’t tell myself that this would be short lived because I was sleep training or helping my kids with potty training. I had no idea how long this interrupted sleep pattern would last. Perhaps I would always have to suffer.

I’ve since learned of a few medical options to help with sleep. My oncologist has given me the option to take Effexor. A side effect of the antidepressant is that it helps with hot flashes. At this point I’ve opted not to take it but know that it’s an option.

There are great sleep specialists online that are worth checking out. Dr. Shelby Harris has fantastic information regarding sleeping positions, sleep hygiene, and when it’s time to reach out to a doctor for help.