The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Can't Sleep [Anxiety]
Slider
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Some of you may know that I recently had surgery last week.
Well, when I got back home on Saturday, I discovered that my sleep habits had mutated into something...unhealthy. Basically, I'm unable to close my eyes and sleep for more than a few hours; sometimes it's less than a few minutes.
I abruptly wake up with an extemely anxious/nervous/nauseous feeling, which passes after I get up, take a few deep breaths and walk around for a few minutes.
This is the third day I have struggled with this new challenge and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
Well, when I got back home on Saturday, I discovered that my sleep habits had mutated into something...unhealthy. Basically, I'm unable to close my eyes and sleep for more than a few hours; sometimes it's less than a few minutes.
I abruptly wake up with an extemely anxious/nervous/nauseous feeling, which passes after I get up, take a few deep breaths and walk around for a few minutes.
This is the third day I have struggled with this new challenge and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
Slider on
0
Posts
I did some googling and found out there is such a thing as 'Post-Operative Depression', You should see a doc.
It is a singularly disturbing experience that I don't want to repeat if I can help it. Unfortunately, it's already happened about 3-5 times tonight.
If it's causing you this much trouble why not see a doc?
When is your next post-op appt? Bring it up then if you can.
It's anxiety reducing, works really well at keeping you asleep once you've fallen asleep (not as useful for trying to get to sleep) and getting really good deep sleep. Highly recommended. Just don't use it more then 4 or 5 nights a week, or you may start developing a tolerance to phenibut (the main ingredient).
It works better then ambien in my experience, as long as initially falling asleep isnt an issue.
Don't know much about this, but I take seroquel and its pretty much the best sleep-aid out there. You don't need to keep increasing the dosage and you won't become tolerant to any ingredient. The only downseide is prolong usage can cause increased blood pressure.
Of course, you need a prescription for it, and it is pretty expensive if you don't have good health insurance.
I finally slept for a few hours after I forged through the nausea and anxiety by simple will alone. I would wake up, feel a little sick, ignore it and then go back to sleep.
Some times I wake up in the night with acid reflux. While the main source is usually anxiety and stress, acidic foods can compound the situation. You can cut down on acidic foods or drink plenty of milk to counterbalance this to help make it less intense. May be worth a shot in your case.
I've found I get incredible sleep if I first fall asleep from 9pm-10pm. Anything after, the quality really suffers.
These things work well for me in getting to sleep early, not eating/drinking any stimulants, turning off the TV around 8, taking a shower, reading, keeping the lights low, and not talking loudly.
But, now it seems as if I need a completely peaceful environment. The problem isn't "getting" to sleep. The problem is "staying" asleep and not waking up feeling hot, nauseous, and anxious.
seriously try the z-12. I used to have a problem of waking up 4 times a night, and I'd be all alert, and eventually the lack of REM sleep started taking its toll. Ambien CR worked, but long term the effects are terrible. Z-12 worked way better in every way.
Some of the symptoms can be traced to pain meds. If you can live with lighter doses, try it. I've always discarded the high end pain killers the docs give and try to go it on simple tylenol/advil if I can stand it. Vicodin (spelling) makes my stomache upset .
Also, not being able to work out will cause some pent up stress (feeling idle, "losing progress" etc.) Try a little meditation/stretching - even if you don't sweat, getting your blood moving will ease some of your anxiety.
Try warm water/bath before bed. Get as much circulation into the areas that you need it as possible (assuming your incisions are healed enough for submersion). Having blood pooled in the legs is bad because so much traffic goes through there and your body can freak out.
I don't think jumping to Ambien or sleep pills is a great idea just yet.
They gave me an anti-inflamatory that supposedly had no side-effects, it made me hallucinate and get all freaked out. My mom was really upset because I'd be fine one moment and I'd be all freaked out and paranoid shortly after they would give me the injections. After a few episodes of this I managed to come to my senses and tell them to stop giving me the stuff.
Finally, yes your body is all screwed up right now and eventually the anxiety will pass. If you are anything like me, you are questioning any little strange thing that is happening and wondering if its something abnormal...that in turn freaks you out and causes a host of other stress-related issues. Try to take it easy the best you can, if you aren't on any new meds you are just getting used to not being bothered every hour.
Thanks!
I'm not on any pain medication or other drugs, because I'm not experiencing any pain.
I've never had anxiety or sleep issues until now, so yes, this freaks me out a bit; and since I'm feeling perforated, any little thing makes me nervous. I mean, taking a deep breath, yawning, sneezing, laughing...basically, anything that puts pressure upon these stiches makes me nervous and slightly uncomfortable.
When I was in the hospital, they DID interrupt me roughly on the hour! It was so annoying, because I just wanted to sleep. I don't think I slept or ate anything for two days. When I got home, I weighed myself and had lost 10lbs.
The anti-inflammatory they gave me only hurt my hand/forearm that had the IV. It felt like the drug would just sit there in my arm for a few minutes, build up a lot of pressure and then dissipate.
Also, those f**king blood pressure sleaves that they wrap around your arm are sh*tty. Since my blood pressure was too high, these things would practically squeeze the life out of my arm before they started to slowly released their grip.
It was also pretty fun when I was sleeping and a nurse would come in to stab me with a needle and take my blood. That was a nice way to wake up.
A friend of mine had a heart transplant, so I've been asking him a lot of questions, too. Thanks again for your help.