Post op recovery & ambien sleeping pills

Good evening ladies,
I have an issue that I truly need help with. I had a pre-existing problem prior to surgery. Sleeping problems. I have been taking tylenol PM for a long time. Then somewhere along the line in my life, I discovered ambien sleeping pills. I brought up the subject of insomnia to my medical doctor and it was then I was introduced to ambien sleeping pills. I fell in love with them because they helped me to sleep SO WELL
and wake up the next day feeling so rested. By now, I don't really know exactly how long I have been on them. All of this year I do know that much. 7-6-2004. I had my surgery. TAH/BSO and a bladder procedure. I am not as well informed as others as to exactly what my surgery involved. Anyway, I had my surgery due to large fybroid cyst. I requested that everything be removed. Uterus-Cervix-Tubes-Ovaries etc. I was put on Vivelle Dot .1mg. in surgery. I was home on medical leave for 6 weeks. I take 5 mg of ambien every night. I break a 10 mg in half. Now I have been back at work for 4 weeks. The surgery itself really did knock me down quite a few notches. The pain greatly improved over a 3 week period. Ok, so, Now that I am back at work full time. I am feeling severely groggy the next day. Now my state of mind has taken a nose dive. Instead of focusing on the positive I am slipping down to the negative attitude. My thinking and behavior is (by the afternoon the pitts) So, I am torn between is this hormone/surgery related or the sleeping pill after effect or both. Yes, I did have a similar problem with this before surgery. Maybe I didn't realize it while out on 6 weeks because I had time to sleep it off. Now I feel sabatoged. I know the simple solution is try to stop taking the ambien. But, then insomnia is back. I cannot do without the hormone patch but I can try to put down the ambien and tough it out. ( something is also making ill-angry-and sometimes hateful) I just was wondering if anyone else has any info or experience with this. I guess I have to try choosing between the lesser of the two evils. Being sleepy and tired the next day and not hateful and grouchy or being sleepy but rested and grouchy and mean. What do ya'll think? Sincerely, Sunshine48

You know I have to recommend that you talk to your doctor. I guess I am replying because I too, love my ambien. It doesn't leave me groggy and is a life saver on those awful nights.

I had my surgery the end of June. I don't use ambien every night. Only twice since the surgery. But now that I am back to work I know that number will go up! I think I didn't have to take ambien during the first weeks cause I could sleep when I wanted. Being on a schedule wasn't important. You know?

Ambien is only supposed to be taken for 30 days at a time. Maybe you are just reacting to ambien. I don't know. I really think you should call a doctor. I find xanax helps me sleep too and I take so little I am not groggy. Another suggestion. Yes, I too have insomnia!!!!

I didn't notice my patch to effect any of these. But you never know! Good luck....
ronni

Hi. I have taken ambien too since my surgery (for many years off and on I have had insomnia.. I am just a BAD sleeper in general) Have never taken ambien as much as I have since this surgery tho.. My Family doc prescribes 10 mg. and I have been breaking them in half. SOme nights I sleep ok without them, I usually try to sleep without them, and then if an hour goes by and I am still awake, I take it. Lately, I have just been taking 1/3 of one instead of half. Maybe you could try that.. The third of one actually does help me sleep better than nothing, and it is a tiny dose. Make sure you get in bed early enough. I've heard and read that if you take ambien to make sure you get 7-8 hours sleep. Try getting in bed just a little earlier and see if your daytime drousyness doesn't improve. Also, you are only 8 weeks post op. I felt really still very fatigued at 8 weeks. I had to go back to work full time at a day short of 5 weeks and I was exhausted... The fatigue lasted a LONG time.. I still feel a little more tired than normal I think... But gradually improves. The first 3 months, definately I was very tired!! This surgery takes a good long while to recover from and really kicks your behind I think! But the No more periods and pain and bleeding is WONDERFUL!!
Good Luck... Get a little more rest, honey, OK?? Kathie

Good Morning,
Well, right now I have some good news. (I made my post last night before going to bed, thinking I would not sleep) Anyway, I did not take the ambien. I took a benadryl instead. I DID SLEEP.Although I was up until midnight and got up at 6:00 am because my brother and family stayed over, returning to Palm Beach, Fla. I am at work and I feel good right now. I am not groggy and my head feels clear and not foggy. What I have been upset about is, something was/is sabatoging my thoughts. I could just sit around and think about certain people and get angry. It is hard to explain. I am trying so hard to get back on track. I WANT MY HORMONE PATCH TO WORK. I chose the surgery because I was tired of the heavy, heavy bleeding and down time from it. ( 3 weeks a month ) Pms-Bleeding- Weakness afterward.!!!!!! Once I found out about the fybroids and uterus the size of a 5 month pregancy I said, OK that's it. I have had enough here. I am 48 years and don't have a clue as to what age I would have gone thru menopause. Time is precious to me. My Dad died at the age of 48 - 27 years ago. Heart problems and numerous heart attacks. So, I feel blessed to still be here. I have been calling in to my OB's office and talking to the nurse. She has been so kind. She has truly stressed to me that removing your female parts - uterus- ovaries- cervix, tubes,etc. Is such a BIG DEAL in a woman's life. But, it does not have to be a bad thing. I just want women to understand that getting a hysterectomy CAN be a positive move ( A NEW LIFE ) so to speak. I want us ALL to try to make the best we can of it. We need to go easy on ourselves. If it takes a WHOLE LOT of time to heal. Then so be it.Maybe the hysterctomy is not responsible for absolutely everything that ails us. In my case, Maybe the ambien has turned into something toxic for me. Maybe this is God's way of telling me. NO MORE of it. I can only try the new way. I am just gonna pray for us all for healing and peaceful sleeping. You all have a Good Day. I am so thankful that I have electricity at my home in Ga. The poor people in Fla. are suffering so. NO ELECTRICITY-NO WATER- NO A/C and they have to be off the streets by 8:00 pm or they go to jail. Ya'll please say a prayer for them and have a good day!! Thanks so much for the replies for my post. I hope that you all keep me posted on your recovery. It is so very important. Sincerely, Sunshine 48

I am also a long time insomniac. I have been taking tylenol PM for years, quite often and when I told my dr he doesn't seem to think there is a problem.
Did you know that tylenol pm and benadryl have the SAME active ingredient to make you sleepy?

I have also been taking ambien for three years now! I usually take the entire 10mg. pill. Since the surgery I have been having strange dreams and feel very forgetful during the day. I also didn't know if it was the hormonal change from the surgery or maybe a build up in my system of ambien since I feel so sluggish since surgery. I have been breaking the ambien in half since surgery. I also bought tylenol pm to try but could not sleep.
Last night I woke up scared because I heard the squeeking of the screen door being opened-----I don't have a screen door though I have a heavy storm door! LOL
Weird sleep patterns since surgery.

Hi,
After my mood plummeted yesterday afternoon and the fatigue took over (although knowing I am still recovering) I decided that I had a choice to make because I WANT TO GET BETTER. Try stopping the ambien or the hormone patch. Stopping the patch is out of the question so I am trying life without the ambien. It is almost noon on Thursday 9-9-04 and I am clear headed and alert. Better than I can say for yesterday. Ambien made me sleep so good that I could not get enough sleep. I work 2 jobs. One full time as lab manager and part time Sunday mornings and Wed. night at a church nursery. So, yesterday was my 12 hour day. And I feel good today!!!! What a victory. I guess I can handle the little sad or empty feelings that every now and then come and go. But angry and ILLY BILLY... NOT!!!! That is just not me. I am usually happy go lucky and don't complain.. So, as I say. I pray that we ALL.. GET BETTER.. GET RE-VITALIZED-- AND HEALED!!! Because we are all WORTH IT and DESERVE IT for all we have been thru!!!!
Sincerely, Sunshine 48