sleep, please

[saved]

Been 8 months now since my AVR - (metal) can anybody please tell me what their experience has been like trying to get to sleep and stay asleep? Do you know of any good natural remedies and also if there is anything natural to replace metoprolol? My heart rate rarely goes below 90 - 80 would be nice. I've been on so many different prescrip meds, I really want off.
thanks.

 

[Ross]

Here I am at 2 am! I have nothing to tell you. I've tried it all and nothing works for me. I take tiny 45 minute naps from time to time, but I haven't had a good nights sleep in what, 5 years?

 

[saved]

ross

ross

have you tried any prescrip meds? Do you take metoprolol - does it help?

 

[Ross]

You name it, I've tried it. They won't give me an outright tranquilizer. I've done xanax, ambien, rozerum,melatonin, bunch of herbal things, nothing works for me.

No I don't take metoprolol.

 

[lieb2101]

They've got me on metoprolol but I only take it in the morning. I'm just over 2 weeks out of surgery and I've found that I sleep well about every other night, regardless of what drugs I'm taking. My heart rate is also around 90 where before surgery it was in the 60-70 range, I'm hoping that as I am able to increase my exercise and cardio training, that I'll be able to get it back down again.
For the record, I've never slept well my whole life but now I can literally feel my pulse pound through my body. I was worried about my blood pressure at first but it's been normal/low.
One thing that I recently found is that I unfortunately tend to sleep better propped up on the couch than I do in bed. I tried sleeping in bed again last night and all I did was toss and turn all night
I've also found that meditation (while difficult) sometimes helps me calm my mind when I'm still awake for mental reasons.

Let me know if you find anything that helps...
When you're having trouble trying to fall asleep, check your SpO2 level if you have a pulse oximeter. It could be sleep apnea? I'm sure that's part of my problem.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Lieb,

MANY of our members report that sleeping in a Recliner or on a couch propped up with lots of pillows (and / or a Wedge Pillow) works better than trying to sleep in bed for the first few (several?) weeks.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Superbob]

A good many of us have problems getting back in the sleep pattern we had before the surgery. Maybe it will help you at least to know that. I don't have any magic remedies. I do sleep fairly well now using a low dose of a prescription sleeping aid. Don't recommend that course. Try everything else first -- the soft music, new pillows, tiring yourself out, relaxing mentally before bedtime (that's probably my downfall; I do a lot of mental work at night).

I guess most of all, don't let it bother you too much. Know that the problem is common and it most likely will pass of its own accord.

 

[Freddie]

I was taken off metoprolol around 8 months post-op - so I can't help you with that. In regards of sleeping, I asked my doctor to give me something so I could sleep.......and was given a mild sleeping pill. Started with a full tablet, then on my own slowly decreased the dosage.

 

[saved]

thanks everyone, sounds like we are all somewhat in the same boat. I think I have to do a slow but steady wean off the prescrip meds. I do take metoprolol, but again, during the day it makes me sleepy - but SLEEP doesn't actually come!!! What has helped is the tempurpedic body pillow that I got to put on my bed, I can't lay on my left side - my heart pounds loud and the valve is very loud, but the body pillow absorbs some of that and I keep an overhead ceiling fan on - it's also loud - the noise helps - someone suggesting trying to sleep with an ipod on, but I have teens so that's not an option!
Altogether I just figure that this will be a process of trial and error. It's just so great to "talk" to those who know!

 

[Ross]

If you ever find an answer, please, please let me in on it. I can find no reason why either. Everything makes me sleepy, but I don't sleep either, just doubled on tired.

 

[Superbob]

One other thing, if I were in Hawaii, I would use the sound of the surf to lull me to sleep. Actually, I do have a little sound machine beside my bed that I use every night to distract me from the ringing in the ears (another little irritating problem) and help me relax and sleep, at least off and on....

 

[JAJ99]

I've been having sleep problem since my surgery. I can usually fall asleep but can't stay asleep. I am not on any heart medications. Ambien does nothing for me. Benadryl helps some which has the same active ingredient as Tylenol PM and Advil PM. I sometimes take Unisome tablets which has a different active ingredient. They work wonders but I feel groggy the next day. I'm trying an antidepressant to see if that will help, although I don't feel depressed. It's a generic form of Celexa. I'm hoping it will work. I'll keep you posted. Wish I could be of more help. Try the Unisome tablets. Goodluck.

 

[harleygirl528]

Wow, I thought that my sleeping problems would resolve within a few months but I see you are 8 months out and still having issues! I am only 3 weeks post op so I just anticipated having difficulty sleeping. I too have tried all kinds of sleeping remedies including Ambien, Xanax, Temazepam....and I still wake up every couple hours! Part of my issue now is just getting comfortable so I realize that is a different issue. I also have fluid in my lungs which creates painful breathing so I wake up in pain a lot! I have been sleeping in my own bed but I may try the couch or recliner tonight as I am sure I am keeping my poor husband awake as well. Interesting that many of you note an increase in your pulse after surgery, my heart rate has actually decreased since surgery. I now run in the 60's or 70's whereas prior to surgery I had a heart rate over 100 before starting medication and even with meds usually in the 80's or 90's. Hmmm....wonder why that is. I also have a very low bp right now and have discontinued all the meds except for 25 Atenolol. Even though I had a valve repair my heart beat is very loud and I can feel it pulse through my body. I thought that was a phenomenon reserved for those with mechanical valves but I still have my native valve!
Anyway, just wanted to put my two cents worth in although I realize my issues are probably just related to the surgery being so recent. Anyone have any advice on getting comfortable?

 

[Susan BAV]

I'd like to start this post by saying that I'm not recommending a chiropractic visit to anyone, especially not to anyone recently out of OHS.

That said, however, I have found that sometimes if I'm having troubles staying asleep, that a visit to my very gentle and intelligent chiropractor can help me to sleep better.

My cardio cleared me to see my chiropractor about 3 months post-op, after I assured him that mine was a gentle chiropractor, but the cardio involuntarily cringed and his lip curled at my request.

 

[starrman]

I am 12 weeks post-op with an aortic valve and root replacement. The first few weeks I slept in a recliner and woke up off and on all night. Then I moved to the bedroom and had and still have lots of issues with falling asleep - this may endear you with your spouse but probably not. I was told that once your pericardium is breeched, your heartbeat feels much stronger and as such, you are much more aware of it....not to mention the ticking. This is very true in my case. However, with that said, I appreciate the ticking over a second OHS in a decade or couple decades from now. I am hoping that in time this will all get better.

 

[ruth]

Hi all.

I had horrible sleep problems for at least the first 3 months. For me, and I won't say this applies to anyone else just something to think about, my sleep problems faded right after my cardioversion. I've often wondered if it was just a coincidence or if the AFib was keeping me awake. Another factor was that while in AFib my HR was way high, above 100 so I was on lots of Atenol to bring it down. After cardioversion the HR started to drop too and I was *finally* able to exercise. Thankfully for me the sleep issues went away but while it was going on I would be awake until 5-6-7 am every night, dog tired but unable to actually fall asleep. It was very strange and absolutely no fun. Boring fluffy fiction novels helped a bit but never enough.

Peace,
Ruth

 

[marky]

I too share in the can't sleep..feeling hungover the next morning club! It doesn't help that I sleep next to a large snoring husband

I have tried xanax and it does help me to secure about 4 hours, however my gp doesn't want to prescribe it anymore so I need a new solution.

sorry I have no advice..just thought we could comiserate together

 

[witzkeyman]

just received my wedge pillow from relaxthebackdotcom. works wonders.

 

[saved]

Hawaii surf's no help!

Hawaii surf's no help!

Hey everybody, well I can't say that I'm not glad, really, to be living in Hawaii - especially with some of the weather issues on the mainland - but I live in the middle of the island so I can't hear the ocean roar but that's a thought - thanks! My pericardium (sp?) is also gone, and I'm thin, so of course the heart and valve noise is soooooo profound, but I would also like to say that I am thankful for this "new" life post op. When I look back over the last 8 months I think if I HAD to do it again, I would have prepared myself better for post op.
As I read through this thread I realize that so many are going thru the same "stuff." Wish I had found this site pre op. Oh well, hindsight....
I think I'm older than most of you (50) and really the whole reason the aortic stenosis developed was because of the radiation treatmen (Hodgkins) and that was 33 years ago. Never thought I'd be here today.
By the way have any of you tried "natural" sleep stuff. Like melatonin? Let me know.
Mahalo from the islands!

 

[saved]

oops

oops

Just re read Ross's post, re melatonin, okay scratch my prior ?