Sleep Problems During Treatment

Pain, coughing and breathlessness often get worse when lying flat. Steroids given with some treatments can make people feel wired, especially if taken later in the day. Worry, hot flashes, frequent urination and daytime napping also play a role. Some medicines cause vivid dreams or restlessness. Keeping a short sleep log for a week, noting bedtime, wake-ups, naps and medications, can help you and your doctor spot patterns. Share the log at your next appointment rather than assuming poor sleep is simply part of the illness.

Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same times helps reset your body clock. Try a calming routine before bed, such as a warm shower, soft music or reading. Keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet, and limit screens in the last hour before sleep. If breathing is harder lying down, extra pillows or a wedge may help. Short naps early in the afternoon are usually less disruptive than long or late naps. Getting some daylight and gentle activity during the day, as your energy allows, can also improve sleep at night.

Ask whether the timing of steroids or other medicines can be adjusted so they are taken earlier in the day. If pain wakes you, a longer-acting pain medicine at bedtime may help, but only your care team can make that change. Sleep aids, including over-the-counter products, can interact with other drugs or affect breathing, so ask before using any. Some patients benefit from counseling approaches designed for insomnia. If worry keeps you awake, a psycho-oncology referral can address anxiety that shows up mostly at night.

1. 1

   Keep a one-week sleep log noting bedtime, wake-ups, naps, pain and medication times.

2. 2

   Ask your doctor whether steroid or other medication doses can be moved earlier in the day.

3. 3

   Set a consistent bedtime and wake time and keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet.

4. 4

   Check with your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter sleep aid or supplement.