Sleep Issues?
Has anyone had any issues with their sleep Post-Op?
I am 8 weeks PO. First month I slept great! Since then I sleep for about 4 hours at a time & then am wide awake. I don't drink anything with caffeine. I don't turn the lights on when I wake up. I don't go on my phone or turn on the tv. It's dark & a comfortable temperature in my room. I have the bed to myself. I literally just get up to go pee & go straight back to bed. But I will literally lay there for hours. And by the time I fall asleep, it's time to wake up for my workouts & then get ready for work. ?????
I started melatonin several days back. But now I wake up because they make me have crazy dreams.
Normally I get up in the morning at 5am for my workouts & then to get ready for work. I skipped the workouts today because I was so tired.
I did blood work yesterday for my 8 week Post-Op that is next week. And I am going to talk to my surgeon then about my sleep.
Anyone have similar issues? What helped you? Do you know the cause of your sleep disturbances?
on 7/14/22 4:36 am
I don't think of it as sleep issues, but I typically only need 4 to 5 hours a night of sleep. This was true pre WLS as well as post, but I think I feel more rested now. If I wake up, I get up and get on with the day. I also don't take melatonin because of the crazy dreams; I did add a weighted blanket years ago and that made my short sleep cycle more restful, but didn't change the fact that I just don't sleep as long as other people. Since I feel rested when I wake up, I don't really consider it an issue.....although there are days when I think 2 or 3 am is way too early, lol.
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
I skipped the melatonin last night. No crazy dreams! Slept for about 5 hours straight. Been up since & am already sleepy. So annoying! I used to aim for 9 hours of sleep since I felt the most rested then. Now I would give anything just to get 7.
I might try the weighted blanket idea. Thank you for that!
on 7/14/22 5:13 am
They can be really warm so if you sleep hot, its worth looking for one that says it used cooler weighted bead-things.
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
I also wake up much earlier but more rested for the most part post-WLS. I do use melatonin, early on I had crazy dreams (I kinds liked them though) but not anymore. Maybe try a smaller dose of melatonin. I started with 1mg, now I use 3mg. Another suggestion is to ask for hydroxyzine for sleep (it is a prescription). It can be used for anxiety but also helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. I have been using it for several years now and seems to work well without side effects like drowsiness.
HW 296 SW 267.8 GW 130 LW 128.2 CW 131.6
Age 55 5 ft 4 inches
Roux-en-Y 3/24/21
Internal Hernia 1/14/22
Gallbladder 3/22
Volvulus 10/7/23-Reversal of RNY 11/19/23
The last of the human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. (Frankl, 1946)
Has anyone had any issues with their sleep Post-Op?
I am 8 weeks PO. First month I slept great! Since then I sleep for about 4 hours at a time & then am wide awake. I don't drink anything with caffeine. I don't turn the lights on when I wake up. I don't go on my phone or turn on the tv. It's dark & a comfortable temperature in my room. I have the bed to myself. I literally just get up to go pee & go straight back to bed. But I will literally lay there for hours. And by the time I fall asleep, it's time to wake up for my workouts & then get ready for work. ?????
I started melatonin several days back. But now I wake up because they make me have crazy dreams.
Normally I get up in the morning at 5am for my workouts & then to get ready for work. I skipped the workouts today because I was so tired.
I did blood work yesterday for my 8 week Post-Op that is next week. And I am going to talk to my surgeon then about my sleep.
Anyone have similar issues? What helped you? Do you know the cause of your sleep disturbances?
I have sleep issues pre and post wls. I don't think there is anything about wls that would csuse sleep issues.
mine are related to anxiety and have improved greatly with tools learned on therapy.
if you are in therapy that's what I would suggest.
Initially, it may be. Specially when we are on a limited diet - limited calories.
When I'm now fasting - I have problem sleeping more than a few hours. Its a normal phenomena. When body on a very restricted, low calorie diet - some of us make more cortisol to help us to keep BS stable. Cortisol is the awake hormone, so that can cause issues with sleeping, falling asleep, or staying asleep.
Here is a simple explanation about IF and insomnia. That can also apply to reduced calories intake. The first few weeks, if not months - we practically live in a state of severely reduced calories intake - semi fasting.
https://snoozeuniversity.com/intermittent-fasting-insomnia/
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
My Rny was 9 yrs ago; I maintain a good weight and am very active every day, training for races through the year. A couple of years before my surgery I realized I'd gone from a normal solid sleep pattern to one where after laying down for a few minutes I'd jump up and that was it for the night, no matter how hard I'd worked or how tired I was. The day of my surgery was the best nap in years.
I still have sleep issues but have RX that helps me get at least a few (broken) hours of sleep. My PCP has recommended an in-depth sleep study, and I may do it...but I'm well aware it's anxiety in my case because, well, horrible high-stress, frightening reasons. My brother assures me that even a few minutes of broken sleep may be all I get, so don't worry about it. That doesn't sound so good, but it actually relieved some of my worry.
H.A.L.A.B. shared some good info on IF and I hope you'll look into it. Good luck in reaching your goals :)