After 3x CABG, does anyone else’ Mind feel tired but your body just won’t “let go” and let you fall asleep?

[MrMusic]

Seems like after my surgery I’m having night time anxiety, hyper vigilant for no reason, I understand my body has gone through hell, but I feel better so why does my mind send me negative feelings?

[jimmyq]

I think everyone goes through this after major ops. Ask your GP or the surgery if they have or know of any support groups you can join. Talk to family and friends about your op, thoughts, feelings, etc. It all helps.

[MrMusic in reply to jimmyq]

Thank you J, and YES.. I talk my wife’s head off, cry, complain and so on... God bless her.. but from time to time (like now) it seems my subconscious remembers the darkness of anesthesia,the loss of control & trauma .. and it won’t let my body rest... I nod off and get julted back awake with off rhythm breathing which is very concerning and sometimes freighting.

When does the anxiety STOP???

[jimmyq in reply to MrMusic]

It takes time. Try learning some relaxation techniques: helpguide.org/articles/stre...

Scroll down to the "Practicing progressive muscle relaxation". Do it when you get in bed and if you wake up in the night. A lot of times I was asleep before I finished the stretches.

[MrMusic in reply to jimmyq]

Thank you.. but it’s not so much my body as it is my mind.. I think my subconscious is still scared of the dark (of my surgery) hopefully as I gain more confidence and get back to the BEAST me... that fear will subside permanently

[jimmyq in reply to MrMusic]

Doing the stretches takes your mind off your thoughts and makes your body relax.

[MrMusic in reply to jimmyq]

My mind has a mind of its own... knowing myself I’d be obsessed about why I’m stretching & that will keep me tense... I’m a mess after CABG

[Zena166]

Hi. It may be helpful to go to a counsellor or health psychologist. Talk to your GP. I did both and it helped although I still have bad nights but I have learned coping strategies to deal with those. You can also contact Talking therapies which maybe helpful. As Jimmy says talking it out is good. This is a self referral to a telephone assessment and they take it from there. Yoga maybe an option. Also the usual pre bedtime preparations. No reading phone beforehand. Soothing music and smells no high octane movies. No caffeine but camomile tea. Worth a try to get in a relaxed state. Hope it helps and you find some inner peace. Take care

Zena

[stevejb1810]

It’s perhaps of little consolation but you are very far from being alone with this. It takes time, but it does get better but there is not set time frame - some find it easier than others. Try relaxation techniques (there are a number of apps available on iPhone and android), you could try talking therapies (as has already been mentioned , find a counsellor).exercise is also good. As a last resort, you could also try medication, see your GP. If you are taking a statin at night, try taking it in the morning (there is some anecdotal stuff out there that suggests statins might cause sleep disturbance) - ok to do this with Atorvastatin but not sure about others (see your GP).i could offer you the advice ‘try not to worry’, but that is so much easier said than done.

Hope you settle down soon

Steve