INSOMNIA

Don't turn on any lights or check your cell phone when you get up... Did you have a lot on you mind that night?

Hi,

I found some useful tips on this thread for my dad:

https://healthunlocked.com/advanced-prostate-cancer/posts/140273333/sleep-helpful-hints-and-suggestions

It is normal to wake up several times every night and/or to get up to pee a couple of times. You should aim for 7-8 hours horizontal with eyes closed out of every 24 hours.

I make a point of exercising hard enough every day to go to bed at 9 PM tired and sore. Works for me.

7 mile daily run with lovely lady Labrador in 1/2 hour.

I go to bed at 8:30 and get up at 5:30 - wake up at least 4x per night to pee. So, out of those nine hours I'm not sure how many hours of sleep I get. Maybe the body adjusts to the disruptions, maybe it never truly does. My sleep hygiene improved after RP, but worsened after RT. The RO said the radiation made my bladder less elastic.

I guess it's one of the many new normals from PCa.

I take Trazodone 200mg 15/20 minutes before I go to bed, around 2100/2130 And I still get up to pee at 1130, 0230 and 0430 give or take a few minutes....
I think the body dose get used to it....

It really is mostly habits.... I go to bed early...as early 5pm...never any later than 7pm...3 times a night...like clockwork....and whiz...than drink water( sorry water rids toxins)...I awaken about 330am...stumble out of bed by 4...out the door for the day...time varies no later than 730 depending on tide surf conditions and dawn light...and surf and/or gym....back home by noon...hook up with spouse...for popcorn chips and salsa...have at least 2 hi octane IPA's...never more than 3 (rarely)...and a bit after beerthirty...have coffee on the couch...some times dozing off with cup in hand...yep...ouch...spouse pissed...which passes...yes I clean it up...and that is end for Solomon Grundy... Ps less than "required" sleep is extremely normal as on ages...oh yes...like trailguy...exercise hard and long...but it still can take quite abit to sleep at nite...re: a lot on my mind...well that goes without saying...and I like it like that...vivid and sequential dream life...which is its own story...

jmadrid said...
A single night visit to the bathroom has been my routine after surgery. But lately I can sometimes stay 7 or even 8 hours continuously in bed, though rarely sleeping that much, but if I wake up in the middle of the night going to the bathroom is not a priority as it used to be. Before surgery I used to make 1 to 3 visits. Not so bad, taking into account I had a very enlaged prostate.

Hi jm. If I may digress from the topic, I was intrigued by your PCa history. You were (accurately) a PIRADS 5 on MRI, and your definitive G8 (5+3) score means that pattern 5 was > 50% of your cancer. However, no 5 was found in your biopsy. Was that a target-only, or target + the standard 12 cores? How many cores were taken in total? Since your cancer burden was 18% and bilateral, I wouldn't think all 14 or so cores would miss the pattern 5.

Also, was your DRE finding a nodule(s)? If so, I'm curious to know if the nodule(s) was cancerous. My DRE finding of a new nodule, along with a rise in PSA, triggered my last biopsy. Although one G10 and one G9 lesion were found, my nodule turned out to be benign, as do about 50% of them, which is why I ask about yours. Congrats on coming through with a pT2 path status!

Lastly, did you consider having a genomics test run on your RP tissue?

Thanks,

Djin

My two cents: I had sleep difficulties similar to some described here. about ten years ago, I had an overnight sleep study done. I began using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (on my own) . It has helped the most to get solid, restful sleep. Other things have helped in minor ways.

Two books I've found especially useful : Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker and Say Goodnight to Insomnia by Gregg Jacobs.

All the best to you in solving your own sleep issues. In my experience, it takes time and patience, but the results are worth the effort.

Nah, it takes me 1/2 hour to get dressed in the winter after I shut down the computer. Usually we do 6 - 8.5 miles in 2 - 3 hours depending on the conditions. Today is was 6 miles in 2 hours due to uneven glare ice on the trail surface, slows me down a lot. Wasn't crowded out there today though.

I use Paul McKenna's I Can Make You Sleep - book for relaxation techniques and a trance program I can play on an old iPod. There are a couple of short mental exercises (easy to do) if I wake up middle of the night that have worked very well.
Usually sleep from 10p - 5a, occasionally I'll get up at 4.30a for the bathroom and then just stay up. Out the door for work at 6a

Never had a problem falling asleep, but would wake up after just a few hours, wide awake, raring to go, only to be sleepy again a few hours later. Years ago my internist prescribed 50 mg trazodone (the lowest strength), an antidepressant (at higher dosages) also commonly used for sleep disorders. That, coupled with a 5 mg slow release melatonin tablet, does the trick for me. If I limit liquids after dinner I usually sleep through the night. If I do wake up to pee, I can fall back asleep.

Keeping a regular sleep routine is important. Reading before sleep is a good activity. It takes your mind off things that might otherwise occupy your thoughts and helps you wind down.

Djin

Gear said...
My Doc said if I pee more than 2 times at night I likely have pre or actual diabetes. Blood tests show I do have close to or actual pre-diabetes. Some nights seems like I have full blown diabetes....

Can get that checked with your next PSA test since they are drawing blood anyway