Question:
I am having a sleeping problem! Any Advice??

I am 3 months post-op open DS and down -71 lbs, I had sleep apnea before surgery. My issue is that I seem to be going to be around 10 or 11 pm and then I wake up at 4:30 am. The most recent time I slept past that time I went to bed at 1am and slept till 7:30. I have even taken an anti-anxiety to help and I still wake up. I have tried to sleep with my CPAP and without it and I still wake up, any ideas? Thanks,    — Kim M. (posted on December 16, 2003)

December 15, 2003
I've been sleeping much less since surgery too but since I feel wide awake and ready to go when I wake up, I haven't worried about it. I actually changed my schedule and start work earlier.
   —  SCbabe B.

December 16, 2003
Kim, It's my understanding that a reduction in carb intake can reduce sleeping hours and increase energy. I had surgery 1/13/03, am at goal (141 pounds lost), no longer use c-pap, sleep 5-6 hours and wake up feeling fabulous w/ energy to burn. Life is Wonderful!
   — Mileah S.

December 16, 2003
Only one: I wouldn't go without the CPAP until your doc OK's it... I am still using mine after 116 pounds lost (59 to go!). I also use Ambien regularly, so I may not be the best one to give sleep advice! :)
   — Tim W.

December 16, 2003
If you are waking up and not feeling tired during the day, maybe your body only needs the 6 hours of sleep. I know I usually only sleep 6 hours a night, that is what is normal for me.(I never even use an alarm clock) if that's all you need, then don't worry about it! If you're feeling tired during the day, maybe you should talk to your doc about it.
   — Patricia T.

December 16, 2003
Hey I was like that! Its called extra energy! Just go to bed later and relax, its normal for many of us,:) Preop 8-9 hours of sleep a night post op just over 6. more time to live:)
   — bob-haller

December 16, 2003
I was that way during the first 6 months or so postop too. It does get better...although I find that I still need less sleep than before. Evenings are hardest for me. If I go to bed before midnight I'm up at 4 or 5 am. Too early for me!
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 16, 2003
My suggestion is that you should mention this to your doctor next time you see him/her. Months before I had surgery, I was having problems falling asleep, then when I did, I would wake up after a few hours, eventually fall asleep again, wake up, etc. Since I was 46 at the time, I was thinking it was due to hormonal changes. I did mention it to my doc, and he put me on a low dose of Celexa, an antidepressant. Wow! Did that ever make a difference! I started at 10mg, half the lowest dose, and increased to 20mg, but dropped back to 10mg since 20 made me a little sleepy in the morning. It's not a sleeping pill - it didn't knock me out, and it did take several days (and nights) before I was sleeping well again. I know where you are coming from with the anti-anxiety med to help with sleep - I tried that , too. Now, the only problem is that i have too much to do, so I don't get enough sleep! (And recent studies have shown that if you don't get enough sleep, it affects weight loss!)
   — koogy

December 17, 2003
Call your wonderful, kind, loving, supportive friend in California, she'll bore you to sleep with the latest news and drama in her life....
   — Jeanne S.

December 17, 2003
One is checkable, the other is not. Check your B vites, esp B12. I know DS may not have a problem with it, but you might have pre-op and then postie just pushed on down. The other is clinical depression. I did not FEEL depressed, was not sad or anything, but had all the physical symptoms of it. Shatter sleep, could not go to sleep, stay asleep or wake up. Wanted to just stay in bed all the time. My doc wanted me to take anti-depressants, which I didn't believe in. LOL!. Well, he finally dug in his heels and said he'd run any labs I wanted, but I had to at least TRY the Wellbutrin for 3 weeks. So, to humor him, I did. I had no side effect from them AT ALL< except within about 2 weeks I turned into me again. I have always had sleep issues, since I was a kid and it's not perfect, but I usually stayed asleep once I got there. He was right. I was wrong. (hafta let him win sometimes, ya know?)
   — vitalady

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