The dark has me quit unsettled at times after my CABG surgery.

[MrMusic]

I’ve notice every 5 night or so... I’m completely sleepless!!! It’s because of the reaction I’m having to the darkness. After my surgery I noticed that I didn’t like the dark anymore... I narrowed it down to some reasons that started to make sense..

1. My subconscious is traumatized and associates the dark with the darkness and loss of control of surgery.

2. Maybe my body has all of this extra energy due to increased blood flow and is just not tired.

3. Or a little of both.

They say the sleeplessness eventually stops with your strength and confidence coming back... I surely hope so! I feel so lame bothering my wife all night about my unfounded illogical fears... 😩

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi mrmusic,

It passes with time, not sure whether it is the op, side effects of pills, too much thinking but it happens to a lot of us. Get a few good books in and enjoy the peace and quiet of night time

Good luck Mark

[angedogs]

I have had insomnia for several years now, ever since I had a couple of suspected heart attacks in the middle of the night. I know with me it is not to do with extra energy because I am very tired all the time but at night I have racing thoughts that prevent me from sleeping and when I do eventually fall asleep I can never stay asleep for long and this happens every night.

It does sound like your sleeplessness is connected to your surgery and maybe having extra energy but you could try some of the usual tips which can be found in this leaflet given to me by my local IAPT service:

selfhelpguides.ntw.nhs.uk/s...

[woodbon in reply to angedogs]

We live in a very rural area and night is very dark, no street lights and a very quiet lane. As we have quite a few power cuts, my husband bought a torch that stays on its charger on our bedroom wall. The charger gives off a small amount of light and helps us find it! The light is minimal, nothing like the torch itself. We have a night light plug in the kitchen which gives enough light to find the switches.

However, have you discussed this with any medical person, GP etc. It may be they can give you advice as to how to get over this problem. Worth a try??

Not sleeping can become a vicious circle for me it the past. AS I go to bed, I start wondering if I'll sleep, then when I get into bed I try to sleep, but my thoughts all seem to lead back to how can I manage without sleep, and I tense up are really try to go to sleep which doesn't work as I'm too tense. Luckily, after a while I will be able to put the problem behind me and get back into a good sleep cycle.

Sue