Sleep patterns post-op
So I've been Googling this site, and around the internet for an answer to this but I'm not coming up with anything concrete - I appreciate any advice, etc, in advance. :)
I've always been a great sleeper - fall asleep minutes after putting my head to a pillow, and sleeping right through the night for 7-9 hours, waking up feeling rested. While I was in the hospital post-op, I didn't sleep well, even with the meds - I'd feel like I slept for hours, but it'd be 20 minutes at a time...or I'd be in good sleep and my hospital roommate would be having issues and I'd wake up. And of course, I'd be asleep for about an hour and the nurses would pick that time to poke and prod me. I didn't think much of it, because I figured that was normal to sleep frequently but for short amounts of time while in the hospital.
Then I went to my parents' house when I was discharged because it was December 23rd and we had family functions the next three days, and it just made life easier. I slept in a recliner the first 2 nights, on a couch the next 2, and in a bed the remainder of my stay (I stretched it out over a week). Not one of those nights did I sleep a "full" night - I'd go to bed around 10-11, lay there and cat-nap...wake up in the middle of the night for a few hours at a time and not be able to fall back to sleep, and finally wind up getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep in a 12-hour span. I'd nap through the day - half an hour at a time, but never hitting close to the 8-hour mark. Tonight/today was the worst of it, as I've been awake except for two separate 30-50 minute naps in the last 24 hours. I don't take Tylenol PM or Benadryl because I've had bad reactions to them in the past (sleepwalking with Tylenol PM, and hives from Benadryl...go figure).
It's not that I'm in pain when I sleep...I'm used to sleeping on my stomach but I've been relegated to my right side, because it's uncomfortable to sleep on my stomach right now - I've slept on my side pre-op, too, without problem. I just can't stay asleep or get on a normal sleep pattern. I go back to work tomorrow too, which should be interesting.
My overall question is, is sleep pattern disturbance part of this whole post-op experience? I'm not complaining...I know I'll get back on a good cycle at some point, hopefully soon, but knock on wood I'm OK with everything else. I get in my fluids and proteins without problem, I'm able to eat about half of a pre-packaged serving of sugar-free pudding or 2 oz Greek yogurt before I "feel full", no reflux, no constipation, no mood swings, no liquids at least an hour before I lay down for the night... I just can't sleep!
I've always been a great sleeper - fall asleep minutes after putting my head to a pillow, and sleeping right through the night for 7-9 hours, waking up feeling rested. While I was in the hospital post-op, I didn't sleep well, even with the meds - I'd feel like I slept for hours, but it'd be 20 minutes at a time...or I'd be in good sleep and my hospital roommate would be having issues and I'd wake up. And of course, I'd be asleep for about an hour and the nurses would pick that time to poke and prod me. I didn't think much of it, because I figured that was normal to sleep frequently but for short amounts of time while in the hospital.
Then I went to my parents' house when I was discharged because it was December 23rd and we had family functions the next three days, and it just made life easier. I slept in a recliner the first 2 nights, on a couch the next 2, and in a bed the remainder of my stay (I stretched it out over a week). Not one of those nights did I sleep a "full" night - I'd go to bed around 10-11, lay there and cat-nap...wake up in the middle of the night for a few hours at a time and not be able to fall back to sleep, and finally wind up getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep in a 12-hour span. I'd nap through the day - half an hour at a time, but never hitting close to the 8-hour mark. Tonight/today was the worst of it, as I've been awake except for two separate 30-50 minute naps in the last 24 hours. I don't take Tylenol PM or Benadryl because I've had bad reactions to them in the past (sleepwalking with Tylenol PM, and hives from Benadryl...go figure).
It's not that I'm in pain when I sleep...I'm used to sleeping on my stomach but I've been relegated to my right side, because it's uncomfortable to sleep on my stomach right now - I've slept on my side pre-op, too, without problem. I just can't stay asleep or get on a normal sleep pattern. I go back to work tomorrow too, which should be interesting.
My overall question is, is sleep pattern disturbance part of this whole post-op experience? I'm not complaining...I know I'll get back on a good cycle at some point, hopefully soon, but knock on wood I'm OK with everything else. I get in my fluids and proteins without problem, I'm able to eat about half of a pre-packaged serving of sugar-free pudding or 2 oz Greek yogurt before I "feel full", no reflux, no constipation, no mood swings, no liquids at least an hour before I lay down for the night... I just can't sleep!
-Kristi
I didn't sleep well at all for the first 2-3 months. Thankfully, things eventually returned to normal! The one thing that did help me was sleeping with a bed wedge...not because of reflux or anything, just because it was a bit more comfortable for me - especially for getting in and out of bed!
My journey: http://abowlfullofjelly.blogspot.com/ w/ March 2011 Sleevers List
"Sleeve Santa Sleeve!"
HW: 309 ~ PreOpW: 306 ~ SW: 293 ~ CW: 184
"Sleeve Santa Sleeve!"
HW: 309 ~ PreOpW: 306 ~ SW: 293 ~ CW: 184
(deactivated member)
on 1/1/12 9:08 pm
on 1/1/12 9:08 pm
3 weeks out and I'm BARELY sleeping. I'm up all night and then I sleep during the day, but even then, it's not for very long. I am trying to get back to a normal sleeping pattern but it doesn't work. I also take prescription sleep meds and they don't seem to have any effect on me anymore. I don't know what's going on with me...
I have always been a good sleeper as well. I take sleep medication before bed and used to sleep through the night. Today, I'm 2 weeks post-op and haven't slept a full night yet. Between 2:00-4:00, my eyes fly open and I may as well get up because laying there wide eyed is no fun! When I was taking the pain medication, I did sleep better, but there is no need to take it now. Although, to be honest, I've thought about it! Seeing that others are still having sleep issues 2-3 months out is a real bummer.
funny, I think I sleep better since the surgery (a month ago). Maybe it was the worry for the few weeks before the surgery, but since, I feel I fall asleep faster and sleep longer and feel more refreshed in the morning.
To the original poster, I'd say see how it is for a few weeks in your own home and in your own bed. You referenced hospital sleeping (which isn't good at all since they come in and wake you all the time and you had the noisy neighbor), and then you were in your folks' house sleeping on a couch and then a chair and then a bed.
I'd see how it goes in your own bed and in your regular routine.
To the original poster, I'd say see how it is for a few weeks in your own home and in your own bed. You referenced hospital sleeping (which isn't good at all since they come in and wake you all the time and you had the noisy neighbor), and then you were in your folks' house sleeping on a couch and then a chair and then a bed.
I'd see how it goes in your own bed and in your regular routine.
Oh, I'm trying my own bed...have been for the last 3 nights, and no good. I'm hoping the regular routine of getting back to work will help, but I'm also terrified of being exhausted and not functioning well at work... I work with kids, and when I'm tired, I tend to be a little cranky and the last thing I want is to take my exhaustion out on them, or to have it negatively affect the services I provide. (I'm kind of a perfectionist at work lol).
-Kristi
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