Hi all well I could use some advise about sleep. I had RNY on 1-18-2012 and I have not slept much at all maybe 4 hrs a day. I'm doing all I should be and don't really want to take melatonin, benadryl or sleep aid RX. Im not in pain, Not drinking caffeine, I'm taking warm baths to relax, keeping a routine, exercising, drinking fluids, cutting out stimulation like TV before bed. Did anyone else have this issue? I wonder if it could be after effects of anesthesia? but 8 days out ? any sugestions woud be great. As a nurse I know how important it is to sleep in order for your body to heal. The problem is im not mentally tired just physically.

Thank You,
Alana

 I'm looking for the same answers! 

Teri -Lynn
POI

Any luck sleeping ? I see you had your RNY a month before I did. I dont know if I can go that long :)

My Dr. Said it is very normal. I was having sleep issues up to 4 weeks out. He said that when your body is breaking down the fat that it is turning it into energy. Benadryl only did so much for me...he gave me a 2 week dose of ambien and I never finished it. I also did more late night exercise (walking or elliptical)....just 5-15 minutes. I'm still new, but hope that helps. Your doing everything right, though!

Thank You for the advice it makes sence, might have to talk to the Doc at my two week post op :)

I just slept whenever I could for the first 2 weeks, which very often
found me napping during the day and wide awake all night. I
think I was back to normal after a couple of weeks and luckily I
had that time off work. Good luck!

Thank you for responding :)  I did get two weeks off so one left and I am so glad. I could never function at work on the sleep im getting. Even the grocery store wares me out :)

I also had sleep issues for a while but, strangly, I did not feel tired.  I chose to avoid exercise for a few hours before bedtime and did some of the same things you are doing.  For now, just rest when you can and be confident that things will change.  Congrats on your surgery!

Thanks :) Its weird I am not mentally tired at all but my body is tired. I have tried to exercise before bed thinking Id tire but I think those endorphins just kicked in and I was more awake.

I'm sorry you are having sleep issues!  I remember having some issues right after surgery, but I would nap when I could and do my best to stick to a routine.  I've heard it's pretty common, but if you have concerns, you could always call your doctor to get their advice.

Good luck.
Erika

Thank you :)

I had the same issue until I went back to work 1 month out. I would be wide awake all night. I would take short cat naps during the day. I tried nite time; tylenol pm and nothing helped.

Have you had any improvement sleeping since back to work ?

 I had issues the first two weeks because I wasn't a great back sleeper. Once my bruising faded I passed out easy and now it doesn't matter what position - I'm sleeping like a baby! I'm findi g my sleep improves as I lose more weight:)

Im not a back sleeper so it was tough at first. But now that the pain is gone still no improvement. I hope with weight loss my sleeps improves. Thank You :)

 I've had sleep issues after all four of my surgeries (all non-wls).  After my third week of pretty grueling insomnia, my doctor prescribed some sleep medicine.  It was her opinion that sleep is important to the healing process.   

It's up to you whether you want to try a sleep med, but in my experience, it is far better to sleep than not to sleep, if that is your choice.  (I was getting 2 hours of sleep at night, and I was scheduled to go back to work).

Good luck!

Thank You :) I think I might have to talk to my Doc. at this point.