I'm so tired!!!

I'm two weeks post-op (TAH) and I can't sleep!!! It's 4:30am and I've spent the entire night tossing and turning and trying to keep my eyes shut. My recovery seems to be going well - pain is getting less each day. I can't explain why, but I'm so tired, and for some reason, I can't seem to fall asleep! I've never had any trouble sleeping before.

Any advice?

s

Same thing happened to me....as with many.

Are you napping during the day? I was....and enjoying them......so, I just slept when my body wanted to do so. It was difficult to train myself to sleep at night, preparing to return to work, though.

Fatigue is our body's way of insisting we slow down, so that energy can be focused on healing. If you have trouble sleeping at any time of the day or night, you might want to ask your doctor about taking an over-the-counter aid, like TylenolPM.............has just a tad of Benadryl in it to put you down, but keep you from being groggy after waking.

Hope you find what works for you, and soon. Take care, Princess...................Deb

you might want to ask your dr for a sleep aid like ambien or lunesta to help you rest. your body needs sleep to heal properly.

I don't know if you're on estrogen, but I am, and in a while my dr. will put me on progesterone. He said that when the balance is straightened out, I will be sleeping better! But for now, my family doctor gave me a script of ambien. I teach school, and I HAVE to sleep. I sympathize with you. I hope to be on this for a short time only. Maybe you can talk with your doc.
Grace

I have the same problem, and it even affects my naps. I get very sleepy (especially right after lunch), but I have trouble actually sleeping. I mainly just rest. However, it has gotten better the last couple of days. I take Tylenol Simply Sleep at night (I only take 1, but the dosage can be 1 or 2 pills). It's the same as Tylenol PM, but without the Tylenol. Since I'm taking 800 mg. ibuprofen, I don't see the need for the Tylenol as well. It's been working quite well as I've been sleeping approximately 6-7 hours the past several nights. I also try to drink herbal tea shortly before bed. There are several brands and names that are meant to help you relax. I think the one I have is called Sleepytime. Good luck.

I was the world's best sleeper before my TAH. Now my schedule is so messed up. Bedtime rolls around and I am not sleepy at all. One night this week I stayed up watching TV til 6am. I try to take a nap, but even then it's not much. Yes, it has really affected my sleep! I've got to get back on track soon or going back to work and getting up at 5am is going to kill me! I don't understand what causes this, I kept my ovaries.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Pauline_TX I'm two weeks post-op (TAH) and I can't sleep!!! It's 4:30am and I've spent the entire night tossing and turning and trying to keep my eyes shut. My recovery seems to be going well - pain is getting less each day. I can't explain why, but I'm so tired, and for some reason, I can't seem to fall asleep! I've never had any trouble sleeping before. Any advice?

This is me! I was sleeping just fine pre-op... now I can't fall asleep at night. Last Saturday night, I didn't fall asleep until 7am! I've given up trying to force myself to sleep before I feel like I can do so.

Yesterday, I was talking to my boss about it and she suggested that I send DH out to find some Tryptophan supplements. I'm not sure where I'll find those, though, not likely to get over to the natural foods store in Delaware anytime soon.

I have my 2 week post-op today, though, and I'm going to talk to my doctor about it. Since I'm still taking narcotics (especially at night), I'm leery of taking Benadryl or Tylenol PM or Simply Sleep or anything... and I thought about asking her to prescribe me something, since I'm going to have to go back to work very soon and I can't be doing this.

I too got a sleep aid, for the first time in years I finally knew a good nights sleep!! One added thing, my OB refuses to give me any progesterone, I was using the estroial patch but it gave me bad rashes after a few months...so wanted new script of HRT.. I also asked for Preogesterone she says there is a new study done for women without utties best not to give progesterone. I have read the study and yes, it does say women do better cancer wise with out it, but I feel I have estrogen dominance which I can feel for sure my skin is so dry and my mind so fuzzy, I read up on all of it and for now will not press the issue, she wrote a new script for some estrogen with a little testosterone will see if that helps my skin and fuzzy thinking, if not have to go back to see her and present my side....anyone else have their doc say no to progesterone?

I have experienced exactly the same thing. No HRT as I still have one ovary. So, not too sure of the hormonal factor. Didn't take many naps either, but up til 2 or 3 am! And I would take Tylenol PM, still no go. Doc prescribed Ambien and tonight will be my first time taking it. Hopefully it will provide some relief!

Thank you all sooo much for your thoughts and advice. I tried the Tylenol PM Simply Sleep last night and it worked wonderfully!!! I got the best sleep I've had since the surgery!

I had my 2 week exam yesterday... I explained that when I try to sleep, I feel like I have wrestless leg syndrome throughout my entire body, added to being either cold or hot to one extreme or the other. He said it's normal and should go away once we get the right dose of estrogen in my body. (He gave me a shot of estrogen before I left the hospital two weeks ago which was supposed to last for a month, but I'm thinking it only worked for me for a week, then tapered off fast. So yesterday, he prescribed Primarin (.625 mg) to start me out. He will not be prescribing progesterone, as I have a family history of breast cancer and don't need the added risk.

The doctor explained that the first year will likely be a year of transition, as the surgery is the easy part... getting the HRT right is more of an art and takes a while to get it right.

I hope you all find rest and relaxation! I'll be thinking of you!