Surgery, radio, sleep, and restless legs
This is a long shot, but just in case... I had a mastectomy and reconstruction in mid-December, and I'm almost halfway through radiation treatment. I've always had restless legs, and there's ...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Kahm - sorry to read that you are having a tough time of it just now ......
re your mastectomy pain - can you talk to your Breast Care Nurse? Do you still have some pain meds that you can take? You are still 'in recovery' from the surgery & everyone heals at a different rate .... is it sore with a particular arm movement? Only at night? Maybe try & work out a pattern? Then take the meds BEFORE the pain sets in .....
I had some severe 'stabbing' pains in my breast during my Rads .... like electric shocks - they would wake me up! Nothing much I could do about them tho, as they were intermittent. :(
1) Are extremely restless legs something that others have noticed, or am I a shiny snowflake?
Definitely not alone ..... it is so weird. My legs are still fairly restless now & then & hubby's almost all the time!! Sometimes I think it may be because I am too hot & I kick the bedding off .... Someone else mentioned it the other day & Magnesium tablets were mentioned ..... definitely worth giving them a go.
2) Any tips beyond that for sleep?
Sleep is one of the first things 'to go' after diagnosis - initially (I think) due to an overactive brain going over the information overload ..... then post surgery & treatment & AI side effects ...... I usually read for a bit before I turn off the light, just to slow my brain down (nothing too heavy .... magazines are good.) I also got a script for Temase (designed to allow you to sleep for about 4 hrs) from the GP & use them sparingly .... if still wide awake at 1am, I will take one. The ones in the bottle actually dissolve on your tongue & I take water with them as well - the ones in the packet don't dissolve (I have found.) If I've had a rough few nights, sometimes I take a half a one when I am going to bed, & it is just enough to help me 'fall asleep' and often will then sleep thru, or at least get 'some' quality sleep. Good luck.
3) Any tips for managing discomfort during radiation? I've got mepitel and moogoo, I'm hiding from the sun like a troll/vampire hybrid, and I'm drinking ALLLLL the water. I still suspect I'm about to develop the worst case of sunburn I've ever had. Owie.
Definitely raise any issues with your Rads Nurse BEFORE it becomes a problem ..... they may have some more creams/ointments that may suit you better than the Moogoo (good tho it is!) Make sure you put the lotions on every couple of hours AFTER your rads (not before) .... and that 'warmth' that you feel - will continue for up to a month afterwards (sometimes more) so very important to continue with the lotions/creams afterwards, too.
4) Can you ever lie on your front again after implant reconstruction? I'm generally a tummy sleeper, and I'm missing being able to snuggle up in bed like I normally would.
Sorry - can't help you there - hopefully someone else will have some good tips xx
take care & I hope you get some sleep relief soon xx. All the best for your remaining rads
re your mastectomy pain - can you talk to your Breast Care Nurse? Do you still have some pain meds that you can take? You are still 'in recovery' from the surgery & everyone heals at a different rate .... is it sore with a particular arm movement? Only at night? Maybe try & work out a pattern? Then take the meds BEFORE the pain sets in .....
I had some severe 'stabbing' pains in my breast during my Rads .... like electric shocks - they would wake me up! Nothing much I could do about them tho, as they were intermittent. :(
1) Are extremely restless legs something that others have noticed, or am I a shiny snowflake?
Definitely not alone ..... it is so weird. My legs are still fairly restless now & then & hubby's almost all the time!! Sometimes I think it may be because I am too hot & I kick the bedding off .... Someone else mentioned it the other day & Magnesium tablets were mentioned ..... definitely worth giving them a go.
2) Any tips beyond that for sleep?
Sleep is one of the first things 'to go' after diagnosis - initially (I think) due to an overactive brain going over the information overload ..... then post surgery & treatment & AI side effects ...... I usually read for a bit before I turn off the light, just to slow my brain down (nothing too heavy .... magazines are good.) I also got a script for Temase (designed to allow you to sleep for about 4 hrs) from the GP & use them sparingly .... if still wide awake at 1am, I will take one. The ones in the bottle actually dissolve on your tongue & I take water with them as well - the ones in the packet don't dissolve (I have found.) If I've had a rough few nights, sometimes I take a half a one when I am going to bed, & it is just enough to help me 'fall asleep' and often will then sleep thru, or at least get 'some' quality sleep. Good luck.
3) Any tips for managing discomfort during radiation? I've got mepitel and moogoo, I'm hiding from the sun like a troll/vampire hybrid, and I'm drinking ALLLLL the water. I still suspect I'm about to develop the worst case of sunburn I've ever had. Owie.
Definitely raise any issues with your Rads Nurse BEFORE it becomes a problem ..... they may have some more creams/ointments that may suit you better than the Moogoo (good tho it is!) Make sure you put the lotions on every couple of hours AFTER your rads (not before) .... and that 'warmth' that you feel - will continue for up to a month afterwards (sometimes more) so very important to continue with the lotions/creams afterwards, too.
4) Can you ever lie on your front again after implant reconstruction? I'm generally a tummy sleeper, and I'm missing being able to snuggle up in bed like I normally would.
Sorry - can't help you there - hopefully someone else will have some good tips xx
take care & I hope you get some sleep relief soon xx. All the best for your remaining rads