Ann wrote << I'm not getting enough deep sleep.  I have cognitive problems
(memory,
concentration, complex reasoning) that -- from my perspective, but
thankfully so far not from my boss's perspective -- interfere with my
ability to do my job.  Some of that is probably chemo-brain, some may be
Tamoxifen-related, but I'm hopeful that getting more REM sleep might
improve the picture.

I appreciate your help, Kaye!

This my 2nd attempt to answer--wrote out a long response and was knocked
off-line just as I was about to send it--aahhh aol...anyway,
I do understand your concerns re memory and concentration.  I am not so sure
that sleep makes that much of a difference, per se because I don't think
studies have controlled for hormonal changes that co-occur.
My mom was concerned about regular sleep habits as we were growing up--she was
an R.N., and made sure she slept regularly--good amount each night.  The only
one with sleep probs in our family, I think, was my dad--who snored and had a
hard time getting up each morning.
I do know that I resisted sleep--thought it was a waste of time ;-)  I know we
need it and the purpose for it and on some days when deprived I am so
exhausted, but I have learned a few coping techniques.  One that helps me the
most is a power 'nap' or actually meditative state for about 20 min.  On those
nights when I have had very little sleep, two of these 'meditations' is
generally all it takes for me to get back into the thick of it.
I think each person's sleep habits are very different due to their physiology
and know they vary amongst family members.  I am not sure who came up with what
is 'best' for all (if anything can be).  Each of our 3 kids have had very
different sleep patterns--and still do--basically the same that they had since
they were infants.
My oldest didn't sleep much--since day '1'   She was premature by 5.5 weeks and
had to be re-hospitalized after her wt. dropped and she became hypothermic.  I
recall her dr. saying how alert she was and that smarter babies slept less (not
true for all, though).  She didn't sleep much as a baby--had 2 sitters quite on
us--one let her scream 3 hours; another let her scream 6 hours.  I tried the
modification programs--they didn't work.  Finally we found a sitter that said
her kid was the same.  She put her daughter in the backpack and walked around
the house with her.  She did that for my daughter and all was fine and then
when she could move around on her own--all was more than fine.  (that is not
true for all, of course).  She always craved stimulation and still does.  When
she was 4 she asked if we could move to another state because she thought it
was so 'boring' being in the same place.  She went on to graduate high school a
year early with honor of 'best academic-all around student.  She was accepted
to medical school, during her sophmore year of college, pending completion of
her B.A.  She could easily have done it in 3 years but decided to take some
classes she always wanted to take and then last semester--reduced load in order
to dance professionally.  She graduated with 2 B.S. degrees (neuroscience and
dance/human movement).  If she took one more class she would have had a B.S. in
biology and if she wrote a paper she could have had a B.S. in biology--all
within 4 years.  She is currently both a professional dancer/choeographer and
3rd year medical student.  She has applied to take off next year to do research
in some 3rd world country.  (I am not overly thrilled about that nor do I think
her current boyfriend is either...we shall see...).  I forgot to mention it is
not unusual for her to go 48 hours without sleep--she is the only person I have
ever known to do that without a problem.  Then she will sleep hard--very hard
which she has always done.     Then there was our middle daughter--the complete
opposite who needed so much more sleep---took 2 naps/day until she was in
kindergarten, and if she didn't or doesn't get enough sleep everyone around her
is sorry.  She was always a light sleeper--would wake up easily though if there
were any noise.  She is also quite bright but definately needs her sleep, a
structured environment, and likes things to be more calm.  
Our youngest daughter seems to be in between in terms of need for sleep.
I grew up hating to nap--recalling the feelings of torture when I was made to
nap.  I remember putting on a flashlight to read after I had gone to bed.  My
sister, on the other hand, always needed more sleep and still does.
Again, I think that everyone's need for sleep varies, and is biologically
based.  It may or may not be genetic but assume there must be some predisposed
factors involved.  Again, it is a different story though if the lack of sleep
is seriously affecting one's performance.  

<< I'm not getting enough deep sleep.  I have cognitive problems (memory,
concentration, complex reasoning) that -- from my perspective, but
thankfully so far not from my boss's perspective -- interfere with my
ability to do my job.  Some of that is probably chemo-brain, some may be
Tamoxifen-related, but I'm hopeful that getting more REM sleep might
improve the picture.

I appreciate your help, Kaye!

This my 2nd attempt to answer--wrote out a long response and was knocked
off-line just as I was about to send it--aahhh aol...anyway,
I do understand your concerns re memory and concentration.  I am not so sure
that sleep makes that much of a difference, per se because I don't think
studies have controlled for hormonal changes that co-occur.  I guess I don't
have much of a problem--although not sure how someone would view my sleep
patterns, objectively.  I fall asleep during movies, plays--whenever I sit down
and am passively taking in information--including afternoon lectures--coffee
doesn't even help...

Ann, some chocolate candy has some caffeine content.  Caveat
chocoholic. - Tony

if it's a tricylic sleep med (which are long-acting) example Elavil/amitriptyline
(and there's others)  it can cause:
dry mouth and groggy, so you would perhaps need:
heated humidifier for your CPAP
take it split at night: half around dinner time, the other half as usual before
bedtime, so less groggy in the a.m.
oh and when I was on those, I had to go to bed by 10 to be up at 6a.m and drink
lots of coffee to wake up, so I wish I'd known at the time about splitting the
dose in case it would have made a difference.

(it's clear to me you are not getting good quality sleep, even if you are going
back to sleep quickly)

Tricyclics can cause/exacerbate RLS (restless leg syndrome) which can cause
frequent wakeups.
The only way to know for sure on perhaps all of those is a sleep recheck on the
medication(s) and trial of heated humidifier, and they put wires on the legs to
check for Restless leg syndrome. If that's the case, a different type of sleep
medicine is better.
(of course, sometimes the dose is too high also)

Do you take both? My brother and many others do, as long as there's no
contra-indcative reasons.

One night, the staff ordered out pizza for some of us who were at the end of the
line on the preparation (wires etc)
Yummy, but I still can never sleep good in those places, I prefer my own bed.
J

ROTFLMAO
I thought you were referring to the patients filling out paperwork etc.(and I
wondered if you'd asked their permission to take their photos first).
Duh me !

J

I have yet to reach an age when it doesn't.
I find the world makes a lot more sense if you assume everyone is slave to
hormones.

Tim