Insomnia!!!!!!!!!!

[lcwhitney]

Does anyone have a good cure for presurgerystressrelatedinsomnia? How do you like this new name I just created? My brain is in overload and I can't seem to get to sleep at a reasonable time oo even after being up 32 hrs at a time sleep more than 3-4 hrs at a time. This is with me taking medication that is supposed to make me sleep.

Lettitia

 

[Ross]

I have no easy answer. I'm post surgery and still can't sleep worth a poop. I sleep good for about 2 or 3 hours, then I'm up for 3 or 4. It's crazy.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Letticia,

Some nights I feel the same way. The brain is just on overload and won't slow down. It isn't as bad now that I have a surgery date. What works sometimes for me is to take that middle of the night time and lay there and start methodically going through my mental prayer list and praying individually for any need I can think of. I sorta go through my family tree and follow the branches to the very end. I pray for everyone here at VR individually and mention some of the problems they are going through and ask for them to be helped and blessed.

I never get really all the way through and so pick up where I left off the next time. When I sleep afterwards it is good sleep.

I hope maybe this helps. I hope you have a wonderful day today Letticia and a good sleep tonight.

 

[Nancy]

Many of the members here have used Diane Tusek's Guided Imagery tapes/CDs. They are wonderful relaxation tools. She sends them out promptly.

Here is a link:

http://www.guidedimageryinc.com/meet.html

 

[MelissaM]

Presurgeryinsomnia - so glad that I am not alone! This stuff is insidious. My relief from this came in the form of a care package my sister sent. Included in the care package was a cute little stuffed lion (whom I immediately named "Sym" for Sympathy), and a soothing sounds CD.

Right before going to bed, I took a warm bath, put in the soothing sounds CD and started to relax. Being relaxed inspired me to do a little stretching (it is amazing how much tension our muscles hold!) and - voila! - a decent night's sleep arrived. Last night I tried to skip out on the stretching. . .and was rewarded with a restless night's sleep.

The other thing I have been playing with is not taking my evening Lasix. Even though it is supposed to leave my system in four hours, my bladder seems to stay on alert status all through the night, waking me up. I sleep much better not taking it. Now, I've just got to check with the cardio to see if he agrees that I shouldn't take it.

Good luck!

Melissa

 

[MelissaM]

..

 

[Nancy]

Hi Melissa-

Joe takes his Lasix when he gets up in the morning and then no later than 3 PM, for the very reasons you have mentioned. Ask the card about that possibility. If you need it, you really should be taking it. Maybe just taking it at a slightly different time would work out better for you.

 

[lcwhitney]

Thanks Guys,

I have been trying a group of tape from The Monroe Institute these tape are supposed to help you sleep. I have not had any luck so far.
I always try to take my diuretics by 3:00pm because if I take them any later I run to the bathroom all night. According to a good friend of mine Lasix lasts for six hours that is how it got it's name. I also have been told on more than one occasin that it is normal for people who etain fluid like cardiac patients do to naturally diureese when they lay down at night and take the load off their circulatory system.
If you put these things with presurgery stress how do any of us ever sleep!!
I have decided to try something a little unconventional. I have a good friend who has a brother who is an anesthesiologist. He does pain management and is certified for accupuncture. He is coming home from New Orleans today for a visit. He wants to try accupuncture on me to see if he can help my insomnia. At this point I will try anything.

Lettitia

 

[Hank]

Unisom!

Unisom!

4 extra strength Unisom Gelcaps. You WILL go to sleep. And you might even wake up!

Just kidding - but thats what I take and it works.

 

[lcwhitney]

Unisom has Benadryl in it doesn't it. If it does that would like me taking speed.

Lettitia

 

[bvdr]

Hi Letticia,

I think the gelcaps have benedryl but their original formula has another drug. The original formula is the one my husband has used many times and it does work for him.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

FOUR?

FOUR?

Dang, Hank just one of them little blue beauties puts me down hard - and I'm a big guy.

Letitia, I have been exactly where you're at right now. I had the problem where I could go to sleep OK, but would wake up like at 1 or 2 AM - and the the mind starts thinking...some nights I wouldn't go back to sleep at all. Hank's right - the Unisom will do it - it's what I do in the days before the big dance.

Hang in there -

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Lasix

Lasix

Boy do I ever recall the fun After my MVR and the tamponade which is more fuild that you ever want to collect.

My nurse came in and said honey, are you ready? I replied....ready for what? Your Lasix IV push. And.....hold on your going to find out why they call it a "push" in about a half hour. I was able to get to the bathroom at that point along with my trusty IV pole. Not quick enough with the "push" so they gave me a portable, LOL. It was nice to have a nurse to humor me at that point.

 

[Hank]

Unisom Active Ingredients

Unisom Active Ingredients

The only active ingredient in Unisom Extra strength is Diphenhydramine hychloride 50mg per capsule.

 

[Perrster]

Who's This?

Who's This?

Yeah, I know, it's you, Hank! How ya been? My 3 yr. echo also managed a good "it (they) takes a licking and is still ticking" report too.

I got a question or two for ya.

1) Did ya get them biz cards ordered?
2) How often do you take them Unisom's? I presume, of course, that these are safe for us mechanical valvers? I need to take something to help sleep, but I don't want to take too much. How long you been doing these little blue helpers?

See ya in October.

Cheers!

 

[Aunt Granny]

Not sleeping

Not sleeping

Sometimes if I am really keyed up, I use my foot messager , that seems to help me relax. However I do like the thought of a warm bath, and I have an ocean CD that can sometimes helps. my doctor says baths are not addictive, I disagree!!!!

 

[lcwhitney]

That's benadryl Hank!!

Lettitia

 

[bvdr]

Doxylamine Succinate is the ingredient in the original formula of Unisom and is available in the same section as the "Benedryl" formulation. It is very effective for a lot of people but I do not know how it reacts with warfarin.

 

[Kevin M]

Many don't condone it, but the only thing I've ever found that works for my sleeplessness is having a few puffs on a joint. I am not a big smoker, but I find it allows me to stop the chatter in my head.

Kev

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Different smokes for different folks

Different smokes for different folks

Who was that? Didn't inhale?

Personally, I have one of those blow-up dollies...