Question:
Does anyone else preop feel like they need 10-12 hours of sleep a day?
I am always tired. I have sleep apnea but I am on a cpap and I use it faithfully and it really does'nt bother me. I guess I am one of the lucky ones in that respect. I usually get 7-8 hours of sleep but I feel like I could lay down and sleep 23 hours a day. I really get sleepy right after lunch. It is a struggle to stay awake and I am at work...not a good thing. Thanks...jane farmer. — peanutpatty (posted on April 4, 2003)
April 4, 2003
Are you diabetic? I am pre-op and I am type II diabetic and when my blood
sugars are to high, all I want to do is sleep. Also, you should maybe have
your Iron and blood sugars checked. I am on blood thinners, and when they
are off I am so tired, like I am enimanic. But, if you have low Iron you
would show signs of fatigue. Also, sorry to say but depression can cause
sleepyness. You need to go to your pcp and have some tests done to find
out why you are so tired, it could just be a simple as inceasing or
decreasing your medication, hope this helps.
— cindy
April 4, 2003
Has your sleep apnea been diagnosed? I would get up, feed the cats, shower,
go back to bed. I remember very well what that was like. Any of these sound
familiar? Snoring,loudly, all night, in any position, maybe even as soon as
you drop off. Wake up frequently, always sleepy (behind the wheel, in
class/church/work), wake up with dry mouth--maybe keep water by the
bedside, wake up with headaches, night sweats, bed is thrashed, skin tags.
Seems like the more you sleep, the more sleep you need. Have trouble
following conversations or forgetting everything. Not all for everyone, of
course, but mine was "critical", as in don't drive home from the
sleep clinic. I was lucky in that mine was caught in the pre-op work-up
and treated while I played insurance games for 11 months. Saved my life
(and sanity) til I had surgery, no doubt.
— vitalady
April 4, 2003
Has your sleep apnea been diagnosed? I would get up, feed the cats, shower,
go back to bed. I remember very well what that was like. Any of these sound
familiar? Snoring,loudly, all night, in any position, maybe even as soon as
you drop off. Wake up frequently, always sleepy (behind the wheel, in
class/church/work), wake up with dry mouth--maybe keep water by the
bedside, wake up with headaches, night sweats, bed is thrashed, skin tags.
Seems like the more you sleep, the more sleep you need. Have trouble
following conversations or forgetting everything. Not all for everyone, of
course, but mine was "critical", as in don't drive home from the
sleep clinic. I was lucky in that mine was caught in the pre-op work-up
and treated while I played insurance games for 11 months. Saved my life
(and sanity) til I had surgery, no doubt.
— vitalady
April 4, 2003
Has your sleep apnea been diagnosed? I would get up, feed the cats, shower,
go back to bed. I remember very well what that was like. Any of these sound
familiar? Snoring,loudly, all night, in any position, maybe even as soon as
you drop off. Wake up frequently, always sleepy (behind the wheel, in
class/church/work), wake up with dry mouth--maybe keep water by the
bedside, wake up with headaches, night sweats, bed is thrashed, skin tags.
Seems like the more you sleep, the more sleep you need. Have trouble
following conversations or forgetting everything. Not all for everyone, of
course, but mine was "critical", as in don't drive home from the
sleep clinic. I was lucky in that mine was caught in the pre-op work-up
and treated while I played insurance games for 11 months. Saved my life
(and sanity) til I had surgery, no doubt.
— vitalady
April 4, 2003
Has your sleep apnea been diagnosed? I would get up, feed the cats, shower,
go back to bed. I remember very well what that was like. Any of these sound
familiar? Snoring,loudly, all night, in any position, maybe even as soon as
you drop off. Wake up frequently, always sleepy (behind the wheel, in
class/church/work), wake up with dry mouth--maybe keep water by the
bedside, wake up with headaches, night sweats, bed is thrashed, skin tags.
Seems like the more you sleep, the more sleep you need. Have trouble
following conversations or forgetting everything. Not all for everyone, of
course, but mine was "critical", as in don't drive home from the
sleep clinic. I was lucky in that mine was caught in the pre-op work-up
and treated while I played insurance games for 11 months. Saved my life
(and sanity) til I had surgery, no doubt.
— vitalady
April 4, 2003
ME ME ME (jumping up and down waving my hand)....I often go back to bed
only hrs after I wake up....I have to drag my poor tired body to work...I
started taking mutlivitamins several months ago...just bought the subliqual
b-12 dots to start before my surgery (only 18 more days). I do take naps
now when I used to not.....I'm NOT a sleep apnea sufferer (been tested).
Just tired....pre-ops next Fri..hope everything is ok.....Makes me nervous
that something is NOT right. Jamie
— Jamie M.
April 4, 2003
See your PCP. Sounds like you might be depressed. Its better to get
medicared BEFORE surgery. Immediately after WLS can be tough even for folks
who arent depressed. Depression is NORMAL for MOs but do see your doc.
— bob-haller
April 4, 2003
I know what you mean. I don't have sleep apnea either. My PCP says it's
because of the extra weight it puts stress on your hold body. He says when
the weight comes off the engery comes back. I take a 1-2 hour nap as soon
as I come home from work. Feel tired all the time. Since you have been
checked for sleep apnea and cleared, its probably just the weight. See you
on the other side!!!
— Barbara S.
April 4, 2003
are you enemic???
— harleigh2002
April 4, 2003
As soon as you have this surgery, your energy will skyrocket - I assure
you! I used to sleep at least 12 hours a day, now 6-7 and I feel great! I
slept in the other weekend (I got up at 9:30) and felt like I wasted the
day away! Pre-op, I would have slept until 2:00! Good luck!
— jengrz
April 4, 2003
Hi, Jane! Two thoughts here just from my own personal experience: First,
when I becoming more and more hypothyroid after having part of my thyroid
gland removed, I felt so tired all the time that I found myself sitting at
my desk job, hoping the day would be over soon so I could go home and crash
on the couch! I slept a lot, and felt like you-know-what. The other thing
was when I started looking at metabolic reasons for my obesity, I came
across metabolic syndrome. I got interested in INSULIN LEVELS (not blood
sugar (or blood glucose) levels). My PCP ordered one to humor me, and it
came back in the high normal range. Luckily, I happened to go to an
awesome endocrinologist about my thyroid issues, and she said, 'Well, we
have two things to talk about - your thyroid and your insulin level".
As it turned out, my fasting high insulin level was not so normal! She
said that after I ate something, I would pump out even more insulin, so it
would actually be sky-high! That's why I would be on the blood sugar roller
coaster - highs and lows all day, and it accounted for the fact that I
would eat meal and get sleepy afterwords! She started me on Glucophage XR
and my PCP was surprised, but my insulin levels went down and I started
feeling better (and eating less, although I never lost a significant amount
of weight because of it.) I have to tell you, the residents at the hospital
where I had my RNY, could not get past the fact that I was NOT diabetic
(nor did I have PCOS), but I was on Glucophage. They even went so far as
to order finger stick blood sugars checks every 6 hours post op! Of course,
they were always normal, except for one time, and they gave me 2 units of
insulin to bring it down. Meanwhile, they were pumping in and Dextrose 5%
and Lactated Ringer's solution - no wonder it was up! So, see your doctor -
there could be many reasons for the sleepiness!
— koogy
April 5, 2003
I always feel like I could use more sleep! Carrying around the extra weight
has a hand in it. The more you carry the faster you wear yourself out.
Thats how I see it. I also have fibromyalgia and there is a sleep factor in
it where I don't get the good sleep I need. Don't feel bad about needing
extra sleep.
— kellyparrett
April 5, 2003
I would highly recommend seeing your Primary Care Doctor ASAP. Make sure
nothing is going on that would seriously affect your surgery. I know the
feeling too. Besides my job in EMS with the screwey hours, when I am off
duty, all I want to do is lay around a sleep/nap. I've been blaming it on
mental fatigue, but recently I believe I am heading down the road to sleep
apnea (increased snoring, restlessness, etc.) This was one of the factors
that has led me to seek WLS (besides 400#). I take heart that most
everyone post-op seems to have an abundance of energy.
— emtp435
April 5, 2003
Just to toss another possibility your way - I was tired all the time and
was sure I had sleep apnea (had many of the symptoms) when I went for my
sleep study - I did not have sleep apnea and they had me stay for the nap
test - it turns out I have a form of narcolepsy - the doctor gave me meds
(provigil) and is hopeful that the symptoms may decrease after I lose the
weight - although weight is not the major cause.
Good luck and be sure to get this checked out.
— laura J.
April 5, 2003
I have chronic fatigue syndrome and I'm always tired. I tell people that I
feel like I was born a slug in a human body. I have lost 132 pounds and I
still have zero energy and want to sleep all the time. Yes, depression does
play a big role in it, but I'm on antidepressants and STILL feel drained.
If I could sleep all day and night I would...
— candymom64
April 5, 2003
Have you had your glucose levels checked? Pre op, I would always be tired
after a meal...and because I was a borderline type II diabetic, it
coinicided with meals...it was because I was eating wrong and my blood
sugar was spiking up really high and then crashing down really low. It was
my body's inability to produce insulin and use it properly. Take care and
Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
— Mustang
April 5, 2003
Regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--this name is simplistic and a misnomer.
The Syndrome does not consist of "just" being tired all the
time; there are several definite physical symptoms including an inability
to process information, confusion, chronic sore throat, difficulty
sleeping, and chronic mild to severe physical pain. Just being tired is
NOT Chronic Fatigue Syndrome! I know only too well; I have lived with it
for over thirteen years and my life is very limited because of it. Do have
your doctor or an infectious disease specialist check you if you think you
have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but please don't trivialize it by saying you
have it when you are just tired. Tiredness can be the initial symptom of
other problems and they need to be addressed, if present, or excluded if
you are to have a proper diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. And I
would not wish such a diagnosis on anyone, not even my ex-mother-in-law!
Yes, it is that bad. Nina in Maine
— [Deactivated Member]
April 5, 2003
i should have explained that i have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue
syndrome. it's not something made up in my mind. i know the symptoms that
come with it and struggle with them everyday. i would definately contact
your doctor.
— candymom64
April 5, 2003
I was the same way before surgery. I needed about 12-14 hours of sleep a
day to function and even then I was always tired/sleepy. I was on CPAP
also. Once I lost weight, my energy increased and now I'm good with 7-8
hours of sleep and no daily naps.
— Lynette B.
April 6, 2003
I need 12 hours of sleep also. My 4 year old was going to sleep at 1 am
and getting up at 8am. During the day I would find myself falling asleep
on the couch. I would be doing the dishes and just get so sleepy. Now I
have got my daughter to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and wake at 7 a.m. I feel
so much better. We have been doing this for a month so far. With this
time change Lord only knows when she will be going to bed now.
— Cameron Van Winkle
Click Here to Return