Question:
I am scheduled for an open RNY in 2 days, I cannot sleep.
I have gotten only a few hours sleep each night (3-4) for the past week due to my arthritis and nervousness of the surgery. I dont feel tired but am worried my body is so run down. Anyone else experience this? If I get 2 nights of good sleep - will that be enough? Plz help!! — Lisa .. (posted on April 5, 2000)
April 5, 2000
Have you ever heard of melatonin? You can purchase it at any heath food
store or a Walmart or drug store, etc. It is a natural supplement - the
enzyme in a baby's brain that makes them sleep all of the time. As we get
older, our bodies produce less and less of this enzyme. It helps you to
obtain a peaceful, quality sleep, without makeing you feel drugged when you
wake up. Alot of shiftworkers take it to help regulate their bodies when
they are working rotating schedules. It comes in 1 and 3 mg. tablets. I
would suggest the 1 mg. tablet. I hope this info helps you. Good luck.
— Cheryl M.
April 5, 2000
I use valerian root when I cant sleep. I'm not sure if it thins the blood,
so I would ask your surgeon before you try it. Good luck.
— Lady C.
April 5, 2000
Hi Lisa - try some tylenol PM. Also try some Lavender oil on your pillow -
just a few drops.
Marjie
— Marjie W.
April 5, 2000
lisa - please don't try any over the counter remedies that you don't know
how they will affect you. Please call your doctor! My doc automatically
gave me some 'Xanax' - it helped me to sleep and relaxed me. They want you
to be rested, refreshed and well - a little anxiety is perfectly normal. I
would not have slept at all without the Xanax. My best on your upcoming
re-birthday!
— Toni B.
April 5, 2000
I agree with Toni. You especially mustn't take over-the-counter or herbal
remedies without consulting your surgeon. Many of these interact badly
with anaesthesia. I just stopped taking echinacea, ibuprofen and vitamins
for that reason. My surgery is in 5 days, and my anesthesiologist asked me
to please stop taking all of these things, and use only tylenol for pain.
Try some relaxation exercises to sleep. They actually work. Lie in bed,
and tense up your muscles, starting with your feet. Then relax them. Work
up your ankles, your calves, your knees, tensing and then relaxing each
part of your body. I usually fall asleep by my knees, lol, but keep going
if you're still awake. Another one to try is the yoga technique of simply
focusing on your breathing; take deep breaths, and concentrate on them, in
and out. I figured out that this would work because I always fell asleep
in yoga class during that part of the session! Hope these work for you,
but if not, don't stress. Just try to relax, and let your body be at rest,
knowing that if you can't sleep, rest is the next best thing. Hope this
helps
— Julie C.
April 5, 2000
Hey Lisa, How about prayer? Good Luck!
— M B.
April 5, 2000
I hope I didn't sound flip or trite- prayer worked for me:)
— M B.
April 6, 2000
Hi--I believe what you're experiencing is normal, so please try to stop
worrying! (easy to say, I know--I remember how I felt before my surgery)
Xanax is good--it helped me in the days before my surgery--but please check
with your surgeon first. I'm 8 months postop, down 110 pounds--you're on
your way to a new life!! Good luck and God bless--
— charlene M.
April 6, 2000
The anxiety pre-opt is probably normal. Maybe your doctor can prescribe
something to take the edge off inorder to sleep.
Have you tried meditation or drinking herbal teas? Best of luck to you.
Cindy
— Cindy S.
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