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.

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

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)

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.

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

I used ativan or lunesta at different times. Ativan helps you sleep, and calms you down.
Rob

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

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...

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.

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.

Dear MP, just to alert you to further possibilities [sorry], when John was on strong meds, he had "visitors" in his bedroom as well as nightmares. He would tell me about them in full detail later. The combination of stress, fear and powerful drugs will do a number on your mind. Amy in the Ozarks

I have not given much thought to my sleep problem, as I thought it was the least of my worries. This thread is making me take a closer look, as it could effect my overall health (strength) as I enter treatment. And Wayne's is over a year old. Althought I know a sleep med will take care of this. I strongly feel taking too many meds can cancel out each others intened affect and create new problems. I see many seniors taking over 15 pills a day and I just know this is not good. That is why your pharmacist should be aware of all yours drugs, especialy when multiple doctors are employed.

Here is my "nieve" question of the day. Per Davids response, what or where is (PMID 15984916)?
Thank You, Petey

I dont sleep ..I dont know if i have nightmares when I do but i have bad dreams ..I am on lorab and I can take them and sleeping pills and still be awake at 6 am ....this disease in my mind is more then just physical!

I had my surgery one year ago and sleep now is in short supply. It is in the night that my mind wonders where in the daylight I don't allow it to go. I don't take medication, but I use lavendar oil on my pillow and fall asleep with calming music, it helps me fall asleep but not stay asleep. I try to enjoy all of my waking hours, so when I cannot sleep I get up and do something else that I enjoy.
I just recently got a mouth guard for my lower teeth and it helps me a bit, seems I was chewing on my tongue when I was sleeping and waking up with more discomfort than usual and also hurting myself and creating hyperplasia along the left side of my tongue, the numb side. The applicance has been very helpful.

I have also experienced sleep problems since surgery. I have never had a problem falling asleep however, now it takes several hours to fall asleep and sometimes I just don't sleep at all. I took Ambien for awhile which helped me fall asleep but, did not keep me asleep. I could only stay asleep for 3 hours so, I don't take any meds for it now. Things have gotten better. I am now falling asleep better but, I still only sleep 3 to 4 hours. Part of the problem is the dry mouth. I drink so much water that I normally get up 3 to 4 times a night to go to the bathroom. I guess it's like a "catch 22." I am so tired by the end of the day, I have no problem falling asleep.