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#29005 05-09-2007 05:54 AM
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Hi..Has anyone experienced nightmares while trying to cope with this devastating disease. My husband says he is having terrible nightmares. I just wondered if anyone else has had them. Currently is just started taking Codeine for the pain. Any suggestions...( I think it is the fear of the disease playing on his mind)They all started at the time he was told he has throat cancer.


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#29006 05-09-2007 06:02 AM
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Maybe it is the Codeine. Last (and only) time I took Codeine I found myself 'floating 6 inches above the bed' with me looking on and wondering if I was going to my maker. Never again.

Has he ever taken it before? Just a thought.

Eileen


----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
#29007 05-09-2007 06:30 AM
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The nightmares started when he heard he had throat cancer. He had been taking a variety of drugs because the doctor was thinking at first it was an abcess behind the tonsil. He has had tylenol 3s with codeine at twice. He was given morphine when he had the terrible pain in his chest from the feed tube..and the blood loss. Not really sure why he is having these nightmares but he finds them disturbing. (Forgot to ask the doctor yesterday about them)


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#29008 05-09-2007 08:59 AM
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Hello mommapez

In the last month I have not been sleeping well. No nightmares, but I wake up from "weird" dreams. I was really stressed and in a bad situation before I found out about the cancer. Now it is way worse. I think our sub-conscious never sleeps. You know the saying, "your life flashes before your eyes"? It's like in my dreams, it's slowly flashing before my eyes. I can't sleep for more than 3 hours, and I always wake up worried about something. I have oxycodone for pain, but I do not take them b4 I go to bed. If I do, I sleep good. But I try to only take them for pain, not sleep. I never had sleep problems before.


DX 3-21-07 L tongue,SCC Stage IV (T3N2MO) TX Slash/Burn/Poison Method.
***Rapid Aggressive Recurrence 8-4-07 with same DX/TX. Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. Never Give Up! ****UPDATE**** Our dear friend Petey passed away, RIP 9-2-07
#29009 05-09-2007 09:23 AM
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mom,

Are you talking about the traditional nightmare that involves sleep paralysis and difficulty breathing? If so I have copied a few paragraphs from the internet:

In common current usage, the term nightmare refers to dreams of particular intensity, with content that the sleeper finds disturbing, related either to physiological causes, such as a high fever, or to psychological ones, such as unusual trauma or stress in the sleeper's life. The occasional body movements seen in nightmares may have a use in awakening the sleeper, thus helping to avoid the frightening dream-situation. This can sometimes be called a "mare"

Occasional nightmares are commonplace, but recurrent nightmares can interfere with sleep and may cause people to seek medical help. A recently proposed treatment consists of imagery rehearsal (PMID 15984916). This approach appears to reduce the effects of nightmares and other symptoms in acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.[1]

As this says they can be caused by stress which is understandable and a qualified doc should be consulted


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
#29010 05-09-2007 09:31 AM
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I used ativan or lunesta at different times. Ativan helps you sleep, and calms you down.
Rob


6-05, Left Tonsil-T1N2bM0 stageIVA, chemo(Cisplatin), radiation(6660cGy), neck disection, no PEG. HPV negative. (Doc suspects posit)
3-9-09 last of 30 HBO treatments.
#29011 05-09-2007 10:01 AM
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I've never had trouble sleeping before being diagnosed either. Ever since, I've had trouble almost every night.

I know for me it is stress related to having cancer, no question. Some nights are better than others, but I regularly take immovane to get to sleep.

I don't think it's unusual at all
Wayne


SCC left mandible TIVN0M0 40% of jaw removed, rebuilt using fibula, titanium and tissue from forearm.June 06. 30 IMRT Aug.-Oct. 06
#29012 05-09-2007 11:04 AM
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When we dream it is a good thing because we are going into a deep sleep...I think the nightmares are from FEAR. Fear of the cancer and what it will do. I will ask the doctor at the next visit. Thanks...hopefully they will go away...in time...This disease has certainly played on our minds...


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#29013 05-09-2007 11:11 AM
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I had nightmares from the moment I was diagnosed until a little while after surgery and again starting the day I found a new lump and until the path results came back pre-cancer but still benign from that second surgery. I never had nightmares before that. I would dream that I was dying, that my mom got the cancer, that I was watching as my friend had the surgery and seeing all the blood and lastly - I dreamt that my dad was writing my ulogy(I can't spell that) or obituary. Needless to say - I didn't get any rest either - and it was awful. So, I don't think he is alone. However, I do not know a remedy. Maybe he can talk to a phychologist or something for some relaxing techniques - as the sleep medications didn't really rid my nights of nightmares.

Good luck and know that eventually - they will subside.


SCC Right Lateral Tongue T2N0M0 Dx 01/12/06, Surgery 01/25/06. Partial Glossectomy, Bilateral Neck Dissection - 22 lymph nodes - all clear. No radiation.
#29014 05-09-2007 11:20 AM
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Amy..I have to agree..the nightmares started when he found out he had cancer. At the start he got terrible headaches also. He continues to have the nightmares which are quite disturbing. I think they will subside. Thank you. Again, this forum is a blessing to me..It gives me comfort, hope, understanding..and a chance to vent..to learn and pass onto my husband what others have experienced with this disease and the treatments first hand. I am so lucky I found it..Thank you all for your replies.


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
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