The Rules of Sleep Club (for the newbies)

Posted , 9 users are following.

There are many, many posts regarding sleep (of the lack of it) post-op so I thought I would share (again), my favourite post from Kate, a fellow forum member. It is invaluable advice especially for the newbies.

SLEEP CLUB

Hi everyone, I was looking back through some old posts trying to find one about constipation if all subjects (!) & I found Kate's post about sleeping. I'm sure she won't mind as I've took the liberty of copying it again. It was such a great read & made perfect sense particularly now I'm post -op.

As I now consider myself a hip guru after two THR's wink I thought I would impart my most considerable knowledge about sleeping post op.

So as you gather in closer to the screen to read I am going to poke you in the eye and tell you the first first rule...

1) There are no rules of sleep club

In fact there are so many rules of sleep club world wide that it would be hard to confine them all but we are all victim to our country, our county and surgeons particular cruelty (I mean surgical style) when it come to how we are supposed to sleep. Anterior, posterior and lateral scars all bring their own particular delights when trying to stop doing the twist in the early hours.

So, you can arm yourself with the latest in latex support pillows, V pillows, small hand embroidered cushions that Aunty Edna gave you, mattress toppers, wedges, sleeping tablets, pain relief, whiskey cocktail or a complete hospital bed but one thing isn't going to change - your healing!

Our lives before were clock driven , getting a good night's sleep before getting up for work was imperative. Lack of sleep meant we couldn't function properly.

Now, the God of New and Shiny Hip Implants has thrown all that up in the air and we don't know where we are!

We toss and turn (very carefully) waiting for the elusive sleep that never comes or comes in annoying one hour servings. You think you have slept all night only to find that barely ten minutes has gone by since you last looked at the clock. You hobble out of bed with one eye shut, trying to fool yourself into staying asleep while you have a midnight wee and you just know that if you lie there a bit longer then YOU MUST fall asleep.

As we all know things at night are magnified to horror proportions and the sweating, the pain, the twitching, the discomfort have all become mountains we cannot climb.

So, you have read this far and you are waiting for me to give you the secret to sleeping all through the night after having part of your leg chopped off and in a position that you detest. Sorry, I don't have have those answers but what I have learned is....

This lack of sleep, is it so bad? Are you hoping to go to work in the morning? Are you leaping out of bed to go hiking, on holiday, ice sking? No.

The best cure I can find for lack of sleep is - chill out, go with it, let it happen.

Goodness knows what healing is going on inside but it doesn't confine itself to happening at night. It is imperative to rest in the first 6 weeks as it is to walk and that rest can be feet up on the sofa or a few catnaps throughout the day.

I have no problems with lack of sleep because I don't care about it.

A six weeks (today) after my 2nd THR I have learned that it is all transient. Regular sleep comes back in a position that we favour eventually and the trick is to stop worrying about it.

I sleep most of the night now, waking up between 5.30 and 6.30am. Once you find that it okay to find a sleeping place all over the house you will sleep much better as well.I was more comfortable on the sofa this time so that's where I went.

I watched all the films that no one else wanted to watch and knew that I was getting back to normal when it took me five nights to watch a film.

So, wave yourself a magic wand, stop fretting, this is temporary and I'll even go as far as to say enjoy it. For those going back to work that will come soon enough and your body regulates very quickly so in the meantime give yourself a night break, chill out - a bowl of ice cream at 3am is really rather nice!

3 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Epic repost!! Yes, " It Don't Come Easy, Ya Know It Don't Come Easy". I am 13 days post op and each day AND night provides a new surprise in my healing! Doing the PT exercises has been key.I am now able to get up onto my bed without assistance. I have ditched the walker and gone straight to a cane. (( Cane not so kind in beginning. My surgery was right hip. No left brain coordination)). Lol! As to sleep? It's all about finding your comfort zone. I sleep on my side, so at first, I was screwed! Now I put a pillow between my legs and flip over like a fish. This lasts for a couple of hours, then I hurt and move pillows under my knee and calf on surgery side, stretch out on my back, and enjoy rest once more. A true journey this has been. God bless you all!

  • Posted

    You're right. This is an awesome post!

  • Posted

    Thanks for sharing, I am 5 weeks post Right THR. Would have loved to read this a few weeks ago. I am still trying to get back into a routine of sleep. I am fortunate I'm able to continue to work from home, so my hours of work have been all over the show. I've sent emails to colleagues at 3am, 4am in the morning. Some of the responses are questioning, if I'm working internationally or holidaying overseas,,,lol. I soon respond, no just recovering from a hip replacement Op and back sleeping isn't for me. This forum is an absolute winner, I live in NZ and the timezone difference is great, there are many posts that come through in the wee early morning hours, which has kept me entertained while others in the house are sleeping...Take care...Hippie fan for life xx 

  • Posted

    HI fer lady thanks for the tip about sleeping I'm waiting for my op had my pre op but have to go and see the phisyo first that is next Wednesday so should not be long after that xx

  • Posted

    Always a good (re)read!

    L

    • Posted

      I still re-read this now at 9 weeks post-op because it really makes me laugh. Thank you to Kate (wherever she is) for writing it in the first place x
  • Posted

    Thank you for sharing Fernlady....Really needed to hear this getting ready to go in for #2 in 3 sleeps now....Will remember this and think more when I begin to get upset because I can't sleep. Wonderful advice! Barb

    • Posted

      Hi Barb, you'll be absolutely fine because you know what to expect - that is half the battle (the not knowing). You've got all of us forum friends & all of the knowledge you've already gained. Positive thinking got me through & it really does work x

    • Posted

      Thanks Fernlady.....am starting to get really nervous....less than 48 hours to go...oh gosh...

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