Questions about sleeping....

I am 11 weeks post op and i am having some real issues with sleeping. Does anyone else have this problem? I know i am dealing with alot of stress in my life dealing with work and my ex..... so i know that is playing a huge factor. I heard Ambien is good. Has anyone used this? Any side effects? I had gone to my reg physician.. but never see him only the nurse practioner.... she told me to speak to my surgeon which i will do when i see him on friday for my 3 month post op visit. If ya have any feedback on Ambien or any other meds to help sleep..... i am all ears! Thanks Christine

Hi!I too was having trouble sleeping for the first couple of months after surgery but didn't take anything.They told be it was my body getting used to all the changes.I had my surgery on Jan 15th and for the last 3 weeks i have been sleeping like a baby.I also drank a cup of decaf sleepy time tea and it seems to help me.

hi christine i was on ambien for a few weeks last summer -- it worked for the first week and then nothing -- back to waking up again -- but i was on ALOT of medication then and that could have had some impact -- i think i would try some other type of anti-anxiety medication first to relieve the stress and see if that helps -- you have to devote at least 8 hours of rest time for ambien -- and how many of us sleep for 8 hours anyways haha good luck to you roberta i moved 5 and half hours away from my ex it did wonders for my stress level

Christine: I have taken Ambien for about 4 years. I have no side effects and it works within 1/2 hour of taking. However, on the nights that I am really stressed out they don't even help. I presently take 10 mg. but your PCP can prescribe 5mg. In the beginning I used to cut the 5 mg. in half. My surgeon was OK for me to use it and I started back on it 3 days post op. I am 10 months post op. Jeanne

Hi Christine! I too was having problems falling asleep and/or staying asleep through the night for some months after surgery. I'm not a big touter of taking prescription meds (although the big ass bottle of liquid Percoset that my doctor prescribed to me after surgery was wonderful!), so I actually took liquid Tylenol PM, vanilla flavor. It was GREAT! Helped somewhat with the pain, AND I was able to get some shut-eye. Maybe mention it to your surgeon and see what he has to say about it! Hope you're able to get some zzzzz's soon...I know I'm a cranky girl when I don't get mine! Hugs, Wendy

I am not a fan of sleeping medication I don't like the way they make me feel in the morning.m How about trying some Sleep MD or Valeria these are over the counter sleeping herbs they work for me! Lauretta

Christine~ I take Ambien, I have no side effects the following day. I have taken it on and off for about 7 years. I hadn't taken it before surgery for about a year. After surgery I couldn't sleep at all, I was awake all day and then all night too. It made me nuts. It was OK for the month that I took off from work, but when I had to get back to work I needed my sleep. So, about a month after surgery I started taking 5 mg. Ambien right before bed. They work FAST! If you do get them, take the tablet as you are climbing into bed, otherwise you will walk like a drunken sailor, these are potent and work fast! I used to take a 10 mg. before surgery and it would knock me out all night. Now, if I take a 10, it works about as long as the 5 does, and that's about 4 hours. I guess because the size of my stomach being so much smaller, it doesn't last all night. But it's a good start. Good luck, you sound like me when it comes to sleep-I NEED it! Michelle Brennan

My husband sometimes takes Melatonin which can be purchased at GNC or any place that sells vitamins. It is non-prescription. Of course, I would check with the doctor's office first.

I've taken ambien for at least 4 years and have had no problems with it. Like others have said, be sure you take it as you get into bed. It works quickly. No side effects the next day. Judy