Is Insomnia Normal???

Hi gordonk! I'm the same way; a complete night owl! Check and see if I'm on when you're up ~ we can chat!!
My MIL is a nurse and she says benadryl is fine. Hope that helps! Be careful though. Ask dr. if any questions.

Tink

Just an FYI - I have both Tylenol PM and Benadryl. I just looked on the ingredients, and both have diphenhydramine HCI -25 mg. So, they appear to have exactly the same active ingredient (except Tylenol PM also has acetaminophen). Unfortunately, neither one has helped me get a good night's rest! I haven't tried taking more than one Benadryl though...

I've had this problem for the last 3 weeks or so. I'm very depressed to think it may last 4 months or more????!!! OMG, I hope not!

No wonder we are all tired!!!
The insomina is also driving me crazy. I rarely had a sleep problem prior to the surgery.
I just had my 6 week TAH anniversary. At first, I slept poorly because every time I moved, the incision pain woke me. Now it is a lack of estrogen that is keeping me awake! And hot flashes too >>> luckily no night sweats. I get 2-4 hours of sleep a night and I even wake up during that.
My doctor prescribed HRT last week and also gave me an anti-anxiety med (only for 7 days) to help me sleep until the HRT kicks in. I think the HRT will need to be adjusted to a bigger dosage but any sleep is better than none. This may not be the answer for your situation but it has helped me somewhat.
Let your doctor know and s/he can help you with the sleeplessness...apparently this is normal reaction.
Good luck with your zzzzzzz's!

The benadryls are good too but they really knock me out and I can't get up in the am.

I still can't sleep all through the night at almost 8 weeks. I also have had many nightmares. Not sure what is going on but I know it must be related

Ok -- we've determined that the active ingredient in benadryl and tylenol pm are the same! I wonder why in the sam hill they don't work the same for me! Sure would be nice. I do know that right now not I'm not using the benadryl having just had surgery Monday. Tink -- I'm sure we're surfing at the same time of the night! I got laid off last week so have to start job search so most of my time is on that. Do you think stress in our lives worsens it? Duh! LOL

Wow -- nightmares. Hadn't given them much thought but you are right, Lsib. When I do sleep they are completely wild off-the-chart strange dreams. I wonder if there is a connection. I'm sure someone wrote a dissertation on the study of dreams. Maybe that will be my night-owl search topic tonight!

Cats - keep us posted on the HRT success. I am hoping to avoid that but won't be martyr if I need them!

I am not expert but after having many surgeries, I think some of the nightmare stuff is a result of the anesthesia and the pain meds. And don't forget that our physical bodies went through a tremendous amount of trauma even though we don't remember it. It's a total healing process both from the inside out, and also physically/emotionally. I am a multi-tasker and am unable to do more than one thing at a time. I have to be very patient with myself, especially when I am sleep deprived and sad from no estrogen.
I wish OTC stuff worked for me but it just doesn't.
I really appreciate this site - it has given me so much information and I don't feel like I am the only one with crazy symptoms.
Thanks and best to all reading....

I've tried the Benadryl for insomnia too. Haven't heard if it's a no-no or not. I have to say that I don't take it everynight, maybe once or twice a week when the desperation for sleep sets in.