sleep problems

Does anyone or did anyone have problems with their sleep.  I have chronic insomnia but I take medications for it. Since my surgery it doesn't seem to keep me asleep more than 6 hours.  I'm wondering if this is a side effect from the surgery (17 days ago) or if it is because I've eliminated a lot of my medications that were sedating.  I seem to get tired when I used to - 8 p.m. and go to bed but then I'm up anywhere from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and can't fall back to sleep.

I'm sorry to hear about the insomnia; I battled with it over 10 years.  Since my surgery, I'm actually sleeping better than I was prior although it's still not a full 8 hours every single night.  I looked at your profile and see that you are only a few weeks out from surgery.  It took several weeks before I started sleeping better.

Is it possible that you have built a tolerance for your sleep medication?  It could also be that it isn't working as well due to malabsorbtion.  In any case, get in to see your doctor to discuss it with him. 

I hope you find some answers.  Good luck!

Colleen

I have my one month check up on the 17th - will mention it then.  Yes I've had insomnia for 20 years; ever since I got injured severely in an auto accident and herniated 2 discs in my neck.  I contribute it to the medications I was given at the time.  One of which was a sleep aid.  I think my body just leaned not to put me to sleep.

I feel good when I wake up but depending on what I do during the day I tire easily.  I know I'm only 18 days out so I'm figuring on that being normal.  My concern is when I have to go back to work on the 16th.  I need to have enough energy to do my job.

Hello! I have to say I agree with the thoughts Colleen shared with you. It should improve with time, or possibly due to the malabsorption, you need a higher dose to get enlough of the med to be more effective. You way want to talk to your doc about if it may be appropriate to adjust the dose. I know with my antianxiety, I had to get my dose raised a bit to get the same effect. Good luck.

Thank you.  I take a medication that is an anti-depressant but causes me to sleep so this may be the case.

I can relate to the insomnia too.  About 2-3 weeks out from surgery, I was whining about waking up at 2 am and being up for a few hours.  I tried some childrens benadryl liquid for a few days and because I was still so fresh out from surgery just went with the flow.  Check with your MD before adding/adjusting any meds.  The middle of the night insomnia has resolved partially.  I attribute part of the insomnia to working straight night shift duty.  My body is now used to being awake in the middle of the night.  The insomnia resolved after a while.  Now back to my usual state of rest.  Make sure that you are getting your rest at some point, even if napping during the day.  Nothing strenuous just before bedtime.  Best of luck.

Thanks Kathy.  I'm not changing anything until I speak with my doctors.  Not to worry.  I do nap some but worry it might keep me up so I try to stay up.  I figure that there are many changes to the body as a result of this surgery and I will just have to adapt as they come along.

Any chance you take trazadone for sleep help? Bet this is the cae if the sleep med is an antidepressant. Good luck.. think an increased dose may be what is needed.

Yes that is my medication.

i take trazadone and lorazopam (ativan) for my sleep. i have had trouble off and on for over 21 years, since i quit drinking. now i take 200-300 mg of trazadone and 2-4 mg of lorazapam.  i'm really worried about what i will do when my shrink retires. hoping my family doc will write the script. even with these massive doses i only get about 5-6 hours sleep.  i think that is due to malabsorbtion.  before surgery i got 8-9 hours sleep on the same doses. good luck to you. vick