Question:
How can I sleep more?

I'm 4 months post-op and can only sleep 4-5 hours then I'm up. I feel refreshed but toward the end of my shift (I'm on 3rd) I get VERY tired to the point of leaning on a wall and can nap if I want. My PCP has tried trazodone but didnt work well. No one seems to want to put me on Ambien or Sonata and they havent tried. Has any one ever ordered these on the internet with any luck?    — majorjohnson (posted on July 15, 2004)


July 14, 2004
Have you tried melatonin? I'm on Wellbutrin which keeps me awake and with my Doc's OK I take 3 mg melatonin before bed to help me sleep. You can get it at GNC. Check w/ your doc though.
   — mom2jtx3

July 15, 2004
My pcp gives me ambien.. it works really well at first, but then you will find it will only work for 3-4 before IT wakes YOU up! I usually sleep from 10p-2a most days and it stinks! I have tried sonata & it doesn't work worth a flip for me. I hope you find something that works! :)
   — sgeisendorff

July 15, 2004
I too have this problem. My wls was 2/24/04. I have had this problem on and off for years. A family friend who is a doctor suggested Benadryl. Its active ingredient, Diphenhydramine hydrochloride is the same thing that makes you sleepy with drugs like Excederin P.M. I buy the generic form at Wal-Mart or Sams but you can get it anywhere. Look for the generic form right next to the benadryl. I prefer to buy it this way so that I don't have to have the other medicine in Excederin P.M. which I don't believe we can take. My surgeon said this was safe as well. It is safe to take 2-3 of these. They are 25 mg. each and Excederin P.M. has 75 mg. in its dosage amount. The direction on the Benadryl or generic says to take 2 at 25 mg. each. I'd start at two and see how that goes before increasing it to three. Just make sure you have a good eight hours to sleep to avoid the groggy feeling. If that doesn't work maybe your PCP can prescribe lorazepam, a mild anti-anxiety drug/sedative that you can take as needed and not everyday. Hope I haven't confused you with too much info. By the way, I looked at your profile and you look wonderful! Your weight loss hasn't slowed down to me. You are probably on a plateau. If I remember correctly you have lost 90 lbs. since March. Ninety lbs. in four months is awesome. If you had lost that on a regular diet you would be thrilled. Keep up the good work and much luck with your sleep!
   — Erin N.

July 15, 2004
I found benadryl by accident as a sleep aid. My surgeon's office recommended it before I went to bed as a help with the nausea I was having due to nasal drip. Worked like a champ and I slept like a baby. We discovered my regular allergy drugs weren't being absorbed as well as they were and it took adding a benadryl to get my nasal drainage under control so I wouldn't be so nauseaus. Also, most vitamin stores have a sleep formula that works well for many people. My hubby has a bottle of Super Snooze from Vitamanshoppe that is a combination of melatonin, valerian and some other things that works like a champ for him when he has a sleepless night.
   — Cathy S.

July 15, 2004
Try exercising longer it makes you sleep better.
   — mrsmyranow

July 15, 2004
I second the exercise suggestion. On days when I exercise before work, I find that I sleep better, but when I exercise after work, I don't sleep as well. It's hard being on 3rd shift-- I could never function very well while working nights. Would you consider changing shifts, if possible? Nights can be so hard on anyone, not to mention someone who is still a newer postie. Are the windows in your bedroom properly blocking light and sound? Do you have "black-out" drapes? Maybe a white-noise machine?? I have not ordered any drugs over the 'net and I don't think it's a good idea to do so. Ambien and Sonata can be addictive and to try to get those drugs without medical supervision is asking for trouble. I would also suggest that you speak with your PCP about the sleep problems and be forceful about needing something to help you sleep, even if it's just for a short amount of time.
   — lizinPA

July 15, 2004
I blame my inability to sleep through the night on menopause. As someone else, said, the best thing I've found is the PM part of Tylenol PM. The brand I get is called Dormin, but I'm sure there are others. It not only helps me get to sleep, but if (well, when) I wake up in the middle of the night, it helps me get back to sleep. I've tried Ambien, and as someone else already mentioned, I sleep for 4 hours, then I'm wide awake.
   — Leslie F.

July 15, 2004
I have found ever since I had WLS I naturally wake around 4am and am wide awake. I usually will get up and then about 6-6:30 find I need to go back to sleep, which is a little bit of a mess because I need to be at work by 8:30. It's not an ideal routine but it's how things have ended up. I have a very rare daytime sleep disorder and that is why I am getting tired within a couple of hours of waking. I must use stimulant medication throughout the day to keep my brain awake. This was diagnosed through a sleep study. Ambien is addictive so that is why docs don't like to go down that road unless totally necessary. I did use trazodone in the past and the dosage would vary quite a bit at times. So maybe you just needed a higher dose. You may need to plan a short nap during your lunch break and that is how you will get through the day. There can be many things causing this. If it continues then a sleep study would be in order in my opinion.
   — zoedogcbr

July 15, 2004
I wake up at about 4AM when stressed out. Cant go back to sleep for a couple hours, then beat the remainder of the day. Fiancial stress does this to me. Having any troubles lately, or excited about your new life?
   — bob-haller

July 15, 2004
I used to be able to sleep10-12 hours a day, now at almost 11 months post..I can't sleep. I go to bed at 10pm, and wake up usually at 2am....and am wide awake...but what is there to day at 2am??? So I read, fall asleep about 5-6 then am up at 7 This happened to me about 3 months post op lasted for a few weeks, I then started easing back to my 10-7 sleep pattern....I am not sure why it happens, My doctor thought it might related to a losing cycle, but I couldn't find a pattern....What ever causes it I hope it goes away again....I NEED sleep. Jennifer aka sleep deprived GRUMP!!!!!! hugs to you
   — jennap

July 15, 2004
I exercise about 40 min on weights and 50 min of cardio every other day...and those days, I sleep MUCH better than my off exercise days. I work off hours too (go to bed around 3-4 am) and I have absolutely no problems sleeping til 11 am.
   — M. Me

July 15, 2004
I think when we are obese we tend to be able to sleep anytime all the time and now post op we dont need as much..My doctor told me..well if you wake up , get up. Sooo that is what I do...I clean house at 3 a.m. or go for a walk.Tried meds, still wake up but then feel shot all day.
   — Kathy S.

July 17, 2004
I have asked this question before also. I work 3rd shift too. I have been unable to sleep since 2 months out of surgery, and am now about 5 1/2. My surgeon never did do anything and just acted like this was normal, but when I went for a visit this last time, I asked him to put me on Ambien. He gave me a Rx for 3 mo supply. I started out using Unisom 1/2 tab, but then went up to 1 tab, and it doesn't work now. Benadryl doesn't work for me either. I am tired of lying there ALLLLLL day/night just looking at the clock. I AM REALLY tired, but can't seem to GO to sleep. I just toss and turn, and am lucky to get in 4 hrs (and I'm a person who really needs 8-10 to feel good). I hope this Ambien works. I've heard depression can make you sleepless also, so when I can I'm getting on Wellbutrin too, since I know I've been depressed for sometime as well. My sister had sleep problems also & went on Zoloft 3-4 months ago for depression. and said her sleeping problems have improved a lot. Hope you find something that works. Being chronically tired is no fun, and can be dangerous (while driving ect...) too. I've had my share of accidents because of this.
   — bufordslipstick




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