Question:
I am having trouble sleeping

I am 8 months post op and lately I am finding that I am having trouble sleeping. I go to bed very late and get up very early, even when I don't want to. I am averaging about 4 hours a night. This is very frusterating cause I am extremely exhausted during the day. I also suffer from panic disorder and find that sometimes I wake in the middle of the night with a panic attack, and then I can't fall back to sleep. Any suggestions?    — enjo4 (posted on June 4, 2001)

June 4, 2001
I don't know if you have blood sugar issues but I've learned with my diabetes to eat equal amounts of protein and carbohydrates right before I go to bed. The carbos bring my blood sugar up to a good level and the protein keeps it there. I would do like you and wake up in the middle of the night and was constantly exhausted. Once I started eating a couple of saltines with a bit of peanut butter my problems were solved.
   — Vicki H.

June 4, 2001
Hi Eric, I too suffer from anxiety attacks that sometimes wake me up at night and, I too wake up too many times during the night and get very little sleep. I know what you are talking about after you've been in bed 8 hours and you just want to sleep more. (My mind races at night and I think all the time) In addition to my anti-depression medicine, my psych also prescribed anti-anxiety medicine and a sleeping pill for night. I don't like a lot of pills, but I followed his advice and took the sleeping pill for 4 weeks straight. I couldn't believe the difference it made. I haven't had an anxiety attack since I've started getting enough sleep. I don't know if this is the answer to your problem, but you sound exactly like me in this area. Good luck on finding the answer! *Hugs*
   — sandieguy

June 4, 2001
Hi Erin, as the last post said I have a couple of peanut butter and crackers before bed every night and also I take a herbal product called LULLABY by Starlight International. It has a little melatonin ( I take 1/2 tablet which has 1.25 mg of melatonin with a blend of calcium, kava kava, magnisum, lemon balm, and other herbs in one tablet). I sleep like a baby! If you want to try Lullaby e mail me and I will tell you how to get it. It is great! Maybe it is the pnut butter and the melatonin....Don't care...just enjoying the rest! I have been using the herbal blend for 4 yrs and only stopped when I first had the surgery and was using pain meds. Now I just use the melatonin. It is a powerful antioxidant too.
   — Marilyn C.

June 6, 2001
Hi..I take a sleeping pill called Ambien each night before I go to bed. It works like a charm. I fall asleep within 30 minutes, and I stay asleep for the night. Before the prescription, I was a terrible sleeper. I also have anxiety issues, and I got the pill from the psychiatrist.
   — Peter S.