Sleep Sleep I need Sleep

[Susan Allen]

Hi everybody,
Now that the surgeon is picked, valve and date I only sleep a few hours each night. With surgery still about 4 weeks away I can't go on like this. I went to my regular doctor and had to endure a 30 lecture on treating anxiety (well DUH !! - I could write a novel and teach him a thing or 2)). He prescribed Klonopin (hope I spelled it correctly). That was awful - 1/2 a pill and it took me two days to get my head back.
I feel better after I talked to the surgeon and very confident on my choices. I cannot seem to get more than 3-4 hours per night - over the counter has not helped - get to sleep quicker but still wake up.
Do I have to go through my GP or if I call the surgeon can he prescribe something? I have good control on the anxiety during the day and early evening it's actually laying down to sleep.
I just afraid of if it's this bad now how will I be 1 week before - 2 days before??
Would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks
Susan

 

[nadi]

Sleep

Sleep

Hi Susan,
I am sorry you are having a hard time sleeping. Is it because you can't seem to turn the worry switch off or is it physical?
I remember one of my Dr's asking if I was having trouble and I think it was the surgeon so you might ask him, if not maybe the cardio would.

Try and get some rest,
Nadine

P.S. Where is Horseshoe Bay?

 

[Ross]

Ah my old friend Klonopin--NOT. See if your GP or PCP can get you some Paxil. By the time I came out of lala land with my last surgery, they had my body addicted to Ativan (I was told they ran a 21mg continuous I.V. of it) and I had major withdrawal. They substituted Klonopin and weened me down over 3 months. That is not nice stuff.

 

[Susan Allen]

Hi Nadine,
Right now I guess it's worry -
Horseshoe Bay is about 70 miles east of Austin TX on Lake Marble Falls and the Colorado River. There is a big golf resort here and that's about it. We are 5 miles from the big Metropolis of Marble Falls. San Antonio is about 80 miles south so we can pick where we want to go when we go to the BIG city.

Susan

 

[Christina L]

Ativan

Ativan

Susan,

My cardiologist gave me Ativan and I am only taking it when I get anxious, which is starting to become more frequent - I find myself very hyped up these days.

I have had several people (heart patients) tell me, "hey whatever it takes" - take medication, whatever, anything to help you calm down and sleep. Sleep is VERY important for all of us. We are a very sleep-deprived world any more if you ask me.

I sometimes also take Benadryl which knocks me out like a light. However, I do wake up sometimes early in the morning after the drugs have worn off and lay there and worry.

Try deep breathing and also the relaxation tapes that are mentioned on another thread - Guided Imagery tapes (www.guidedimageryinc.com).

I am a big talker here - I am just as scared as you are, but hope these things will help you.

Chris
(pending mitral valve repair/replacement in about 1-2 months)

 

[Gisele]

Susan,

Susan,

My cardiologist recently gave me Ambien. I was having difficulty sleeping at night as my mind would wander between the fear of having a stroke at any moment and the fear of returning to have my valve replaced. I don't use it every night, but it certainly comes in handy on those nights that I find myself just tossing and turning. I find that it works pretty quickly and it keeps me asleep for the entire night.

Try asking your doctor for an Rx if you feel you want to try a sleeping pill.

Good luck,

Gisele

 

[Susan Allen]

Thanks you guys I am going to call the cardiologist Mon. - didn't think about him - he will probably understand better than the GP.
I want something to fall asleep - not something that effects me all day. I am lucky I have a job that keeps me busy all day and an
11 year in the evening.
Thanks
Susan

 

[Sunshine susan]

Hi Susan in Texas from Susan in Florida........

It is hard to have trouble sleeping, going to a full time job, and taking care of a pre-teen (and probably other family mmgers as well)---add to that your natural fear of your upcoming surgery. It can and does take a toll, and I have been there (and return more than I would like!). Have you ever tried aromatherapy? Some lavender essential oil ( NOT fragrance oil) on a couple of cotton balls under your pillow will work wonders. Lavender is very inexpensive. Couple it with a good book and you can get very relaxed. Another thing I use is "white noise"--I have a sound machine that does ocean waves, rain, etc. as well as a small portable fan just for the sound. If you find you wake up in the middle of the night (frequent for me and worries want to take over), begin at your toes and relax your body, then beginning with the toes, tighten the muscles and relax them, moving up your body, one muscle set at a time--you may never remember making it up to your head. Also, though relaxing at the time, alcohol is not a good sedative as it may help you fall asleep, but you may also wake up in 3-4 hours. And your surgery will be just fine and you will feel much better afterwards--it's not nearly as bad as it seems. Good luck, Susan

 

[MelissaM]

A friend of mine who is a nurse practicioner with sleep issues recommended Ambein. I myself was on Ativan. As Christine says, "whatever it takes". Good sleep is sooo critical. Hopefully your cardio will be more helpful than your GP.

Melissa

 

[Susan Allen]

Great suggestions Susan.
You also reminded of something. I had a customer one day come in and tell me about aroma therapy and using natural plants and herbs (the oil not smoking it ha ha !!). I see him regularly and I will ask him. Don't get me wrong at this point I would take someone shooting me with a tranquilizer gun to sleep but I am somewhat of a last resort on medication if I can seek a different solution.
Is sunny Florida as hot as Texas??? We got a cold front now the high is only in the lower 90s.
Melissa - a big congrats and and a big hug on the success of your surgery. I have been meaning to tell you this for a couple days but I have to admit I have been self absorbed. I do want to tell you I've read many of your presurgery posts and I really liked your attitude. I have a much better acceptance here lately and can only hope to have yours and several other great supporters on this board great strength the closer surgery gets. Keep on healing. When my time comes I'm calling Betty for pointers.

Thanks Much
Susan

 

[LoraW30]

i had trouble sleeping for a while after my last surgery. This was after i was released. i wasn't given any prescriptions and told not to take any over the counter. it was awful. i would wake up at about 4:30 every morning for quite some time, and this was after tossing and turning for hours trying to get to sleep. i finally started taking certain recommended allergy medicine to knock me out at night.

 

[HFK]

Hi Susan,
Ambien is a great drug hlps you fall alseep fast without hangover the next day. Sleep is so critical it affects hormones,mood, and lowers your immune system if you dont sleep. Dr's sometime prescribe blanket doses of these types od drugs . For instance I am very sensitive to drugs and alot of people are , My DR prescribed 10 mg of ambiem I found I do great on just half (5mg). You can try to adjust the dose for sleep that doesn't make you feel weird. The weeks before surgery I kept myself VERY busy if I had alot of time on my hands my head would go in the gutter ,so I kept busy and took the drugs to get me by. No one should suffer anxiety , this is abig thing and we have all I am sure been there. I know I have. Talk to your DR and ask him about the different opions. take care HFK

 

[Granbonny]

Tylenol P.M.

Tylenol P.M.

helped me sleep after surgery. Remeron is prescribed by doctor's to take one at bedtime for sleep. Now, I don't need anything. I fall asleep but wake early ( 6 a.m.) but nice to get up early and check on Ross. bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

For Christina and Susan

For Christina and Susan

Start making a Xmas list..Maybe even do some shopping now. Neither of you will feel like fighting the crowds in Nov.Dec. Decorate for Halloween. Wash your windows That is something you won't feel like doing for several months Stay busy and forget about your surgery. Remember the morning you check in. first thing they do. give you a goodfeel shot. Then it's over and you are in a private room. Thinking, why did I spend all that time worrying Prep-nurses, Mine was a cute male nurse. After the good feel shot. I knew what he was doing down there but wasn't embarrased at all.(hint. razor)..He brought all the family back..and we had a fun time.. Then, zonk. Bonnie

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Lordy, Mercy Bonnie....

Lordy, Mercy Bonnie....

You crack me up woman...

 

[Ross]

Re: Lordy, Mercy Bonnie....

Re: Lordy, Mercy Bonnie....

You crack me up woman...

Remind me to never hand her a credit card.

 

[ccrawford]

Janie - Whatta we gonna do about that girl ? I bet that male nurse was scared to death !! Maybe Ross's therapist needs a therapist ???

 

[ccrawford]

Ross - Bonnie lost her credit card, but her husband didn't turn it in for three months. The guy that found it spends less than she did !!

 

[Granbonny]

Ross and Chris

Ross and Chris

Yall are soooo jealous. Bet you are both saying. Gosh, I wish I could have been her male nurse. Bonnie

 

[RobThatsMe]

HI,

I vote for Ambien too! Great for a good sleep without the groggy aftereffects of other sleeping aids. In fact, my doctor told me that if I was on a 4 hour flight, take a half, sleep through the flight, and I'd wake up fine when we landed.

The doctor also said that he is cutting down on his prescriptions of it because people do like it so much, and that taking it every night is not good for you.

Hope you get some shut-eye soon!

Rob