A person being treated with mesothelioma, can have many causes of sleep disruption. It’s important to minimize them, since adequate sleep is always crucial for good health and good recovery from radiation or surgery.
The anxiety of being in cancer treatment is enough to disrupt sleep for many people. Then there are the symptoms that interrupt sleep:
- Pain
- Fever
- Coughing
- Breathing problems
- Headaches
- Night sweats
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Keep a regular sleep schedule
It helps to keep to a regular sleep schedule if possible. Let the body become used to retiring at the same hour each night, so that it expects that, and adapts to it. The daily wake-and-sleep cycle is called the Circadian Rhythm. Most of us know what jet lag is like – the disruption of our Circadian Rhythm. Changes in one’s work shift have the same disruptive effect. In our own home we can avoid these problems by always being in bed by the same hour each night.
Create a restful sleep environment
Dim the lights, soften any noise, keep the room at a comfortable temperature, be sure the bedding is clean and wrinkle-free, have lots of pillows, and dress in loose, soft nightwear.
Prepare the body well for sleep
Avoid drinking any fluids close to bedtime. Be sure and go to the bathroom before you lie down. Drink lots of fluid during the day so that you are not thirsty at bedtime. If you suffer from incontinence, take a medication for it. Avoid caffeine near bedtime. Do some exercising during the day so the body is not restless, and eat a high-protein snack about two hours before you retire, so hunger doesn’t wake you during the night.
Cancer treatment is usually a stressful thing to go through. If you would like to know more about your legal rights and options, please contact us for a free consultation. If you have mesothelioma and were exposed to asbestos years ago, you could be entitled to monetary compensation, and we can work on that for you.
