No sleep

Hi Sue

My husband is 4 weeks today post opp and he was having dreadfull problems with sleeping, hardly any sleep and sore back and it was getting him down but has now tried sleeping sitting up in bed with lots of pillows around him incl one in between his legs and he seem to be happy, he also has no pain now and off pain killers apart from the blood clot one he take every day, he did take Amitriptaline at night to relax him but stopped that now.

let me know how you get on,I do feel for you as I know what hubby wen't through.

do try sitting up, let me know how you get on.

All the best.

Hi Sue , you have my sympathy , no sleep makes everything else very hard to deal with. Im about 7 days ahead of you so 4 weeks tomorrow since op . Like you I just cannot sleep on my back , get awful back pain and end up just lying there fretting . I know all the very sensible advice says not to worry and just to catch up in the day but thats doesnt feel that relevant when youre lying awake worrying at 3am ! I have now gone onto my non affected side ( going against advice though ) and use a sturdy pillow folded up between my thighs to keep the top operated leg pushed out a bit - i put another pillow wedged in front if my lower half so I cant roll all the way over .that seems to be working and I,m sleeping about 5 hours . Im an early riser normally so I just get up about 5 am . You say relatively pain free - that means you still have some so do take painkillers at bed time or sbout 40 mins before so they are working once you,re trying to sleep. Sleeping tablets can help you get to sleep but dont keep you there - and as you say GP,s are very reluctant to prescribe them . I dont know what your mobility is like but a short walk before bed can help . Lavender pillows are supposed to be good as well , plus old fashioned things like ovaltine etc. i never go to sleep without reading for a bit . Cant think of anything else but hope this helps a bit xxxxxx

Hi Sue,

I can empathise with you here.  Have you tried abandoning your bed and trying the sofa or the chair?  Could you roll up a rug or find something wedge-shaped and put it under the mattress at the bed end so you are sleeping in a semi-sitting position?

Could you turn on your side with a pillow between your knees and try to sleep like that rather than turning in your sleep and waking yourself up?  I know it's not strictly recommended (although there is advice to the contrary from some health authorities), but providing you ensure your operated leg does not cross the midline of your body it's generally okay.

It does get better but everyone seems to cope differently.  Grab as much sleep as you can in the day.  It doesn't matter when you sleep as long as you get some at some point.  

Above all, try not to let it get you down - I know this is hard.  You don't have to get up for work, you presumably have nowhere you have to be.  Just get into the minsdet that you are going to bed to rest rather than sleep and if sleep comes it's a bonus.

You will get past this point.

Cels xxx 

Hi Sue, 

So not such a good morning huh ... I am sorry to hear that - Didn't have a good night sleep either - 

I am not sure what I can tell you in addition to what you're already doing - 

Of course 20 days post-op is still early in recovery from this major surgery - healing is taking place and will be for some time to come -

You already mentioned that you are more relaxed about the not being able o sleep through the night, right?  You had sleeping pills and they didn't help either -

Not much left that you can do except for letting it go - Accept that right now your

sleep at night is interrupted - it is what it is - Take naps (guiltfree) during the day and be gentle with yourself - 

All in all, this has been and is a very overwhelming period in your life and you are coping with it the best you can ...

big warm hug

renee

 

Sue,

I was likethat both times, with just a 4 week break in between when I could just about manage to get on my side.  

I was always a 'turner', I used to toss and turn all night long (in my sleep) onto left, right, back and front.  Now after 12 weeks of enforced sleeping on my back, I actually prefer being on my back,   partly because my 'non-operated' side shoulder hurts from RSI with the walking stick.

It does get a bit easier, but hopefully you won't get a  second six-week period like I did.  

SOme find being propped up in bed helps, but I found I could lay my good leg out to the side, and flex that leg as much as I wanted, also I used to bring my knees up together just to change the position a bit.  I also used my iPod with the small in-ear headphones and some relaxing music when things got too bad.

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃

Ohhh Sue I know exactly how your feeling, I am 5 weeks post opp, and I think the lack of sleep is driving me mad, I have 2/4 hrs if I'm lucky, next day feel exhusted. Today is my first day out Socialising with my friends, going to Lunch, at the moment I really feel like cancelling.😡. 

I have 6 pillows practically sitting up in fed, 1 under my legs 1 under feet. So So uncomfortable , in fact this has been worse than the THR ,if you find a good idea Lets us know lol , take care x

I dont have any suggestions but I am going through same thing. I had birmingham resurfacing 5 days ago & this is my 3rd night home. My sleep problem began my cirst night in hospital. Acter my 2nd sleeping pill I wondered what was going on. I wasnt in alot of pain, I was resting comfortably , my eyes would close but i couldnt sleep. This became the pattern during my hospital stay. I finally would fall asleep from 5-8 am every morning.

It has gotten worse since I have come home. After two sleepless nights I finally fell asleep today from 1-6 pm. Several times each night I would pass out out only to suddenly wakeup startled. Each time I would think ok good im finally going to sleep. I would close my eyes but couldnt sleep. Before I slept today I was a walking zombie . this is dangerous especially for me. I live in apt with a roomate and my 5 yr old son. I have no help. My room is upstairs, 13 to be exact.

Like you I cant get comfortable. My leg is so swollen to just below the knee that it is hard to move it in bed. The position I finally found most comfortable is:

Tringular foam pad pillow between legs.

Operated leg slightly elevated wedged against triangle pillow & a pillon outside of my thigh. 3 pillows stacked up to elevate my upper body and head to about 40 degree elevation . I put my good foot under the triangle sometimes.

Should get interestng tomorrow when my son comes back from grandpa's. I am a 24-7 single dad.