Trouble sleeping every night

[Andy_c]

I suffered a heart attack in April this year and had two stents fitted, recently i am having problems sleeping it takes me a while to fall asleep and then after 4 hours sleep i wake up and have a job to get back to sleep, i have also noticed that i need the toilet more often during the night. Any advise please.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Andy_c

After my heart attack in December 2018 I had the same problem, took forever to get to sleep then woke up after a few hours and struggled to get back to sleep, and keep getting up to the toilet in the night.

The toilet issue was the diuretic tablets (Furosemide) I was taking, 1 in the morning and 1 about 4pm - doctor said to take both in the morning - that was that problem solved.

I don't know what the issue was about waking up in the night, I suspect it was a mixture of anxiety after the event and my body getting used to all the medicines - after about 4 /5 months it went away.

Have a chat with your doctor

[Andy_c in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks very much for your reply.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Andy_c]

Join the Positive Wellbeing during Self Isolation which was created during COVID-19 lockdown Andy! Lots of people on there! Check other communities too here on healthunlocked.com, sure you will find lots of friends on here 😀👍🌈🌄

[Andy_c in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Thanks i will have a look at that in the morning.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Andy_c]

Cool 🌈👍🌄

[Snowdrops_17]

Takes time to get used to the meds Andy! I felt tired after my heart attack last year! Takes time to build strength and stamina up again too! Don't know what meds you are on, but try relaxation techniques in the evening! But we are all different, right! As long as you get some sleep whenever, take it as it comes!🌈

[Andy_c in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Thank you.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Andy_c]

You will get there Andy, lots of people here gone through this! 🌈

[Ocset]

The cardiologist recently changed one of my meds and now am on Ramipril, things changed from day one mainly change in sleep. I will be lucky if I have two hours now. Contacted my GP to discuss this and other side effects caused by ramipril and waiting to hear from them.

[Ads568]

Hello Andy_c,

It's still early days for you, so be kind to yourself. Who knows what's going on in our minds when a life event happens, but hopefully it will sort itself out given time. I've had a lot of sleep issues during my heart health journey. Sometimes listening to an audio book, restful music or meditation can help get me back off to sleep eventually. There are some really good apps available, and plenty of clips on you tube (just to listen to, not start googling stuff!) It might be worth you having a search around to find a voice or music that you like. I like the voice of Deepak Chopra, and he has loads of clips for you to fall asleep to, or at least fully relax to. His silky voice might not work for a bloke though!

Sometimes the stress of not sleeping is worse than the lack of sleep itself! So if you can just relax it will help; your body will be resting, even if your mind isn't.

As already mentioned, I think your GP might be able to suggest different timing for your diuretics, which hopefully will resolve the getting up for the loo issue, but definitely worth speaking to them about this anyway.

Good luck & best wishes,

Adsterp

[Andy_c in reply to Ads568]

Many thanks for your nice words and i will look into your suggestions.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

There is a free app available

Insight Timer

It has lots of meditations, breathing, relaxation techniques, music and nature sounds.

insighttimer.com/

I hope you find a way to relax and sleep soon.

[Tessie28]

Andy, am post AVR so don't know but suspect anxiety is keeping you awake. Try a relaxation app as people are saying. Be kind to yourself you have had a terrible shock, takes time. You will sort it,

Teresa

[jon22]

Hi Andy.

Prior to my HA I had not been a particularly good sleeper. After my HA it became worse and my doctor referred me for CBT counselling, which has helped with my anxiety I think caused by a combination of :

a) my HA,

b) the fact I could not continue with my workaholic life (10 hour days +),

c) the death of my father just prior to my HA and sorting things out,

d) plus the tablets I was put on (bisoprolol, ramipril, in particular).

My doctor said that sleeping tablets was not the answer.

I recently made the decision to retire after being off work for the last 8 months after my HA.

I was looking to blame the tablets for my sleep problems and perhaps they could have been in some way part of the problem but I had to take a look at other possible causes.

I am hopeful that with CBT counselling and the changes I have made to my lifestyle (lost 3.5 stones, exercise more, more time for family, etc) then I will eventually sleep better.

Also the relaxation techniques help as already mentioned and the app headspace (but its not free but there are plenty of free alternatives).

Good luck on your journey and remember to come back to this forum for help and advice.

[tommywaits]

Hi Andy,

I had a heart attack and a stent fitted 11 weeks ago and am on the usual meds. I also am not sleeping as well as before and am up three or four times a night. Usually I can drop off again but if I am still awake after ten minutes or so I get up and do 10 minutes of stretches. After this i invariably sleep soundly. I have tried doing the stretches before going to bed but this doesn't work for me.

On the plus side I don't feel the heat as much as before (I live in the tropics) and I don't need an afternoon nap. Win some lose some I guess.

[45sue]

My sleep has been disturbed i n the way you describe since I went on Bisoprolol and tablets for bp (Losartan) .

[Andy_c in reply to 45sue]

Hi i was on Bisoprolol but only for a short time, the hospital told me i only needed to take them if my pulse went above 60 but at the moment it is steady at 58.

[santisuk]

Male age 61 and waking up to pee twice a night? Could be a coincidence that you have BPH (your prostate) kicking off. No need to panic, slow developing/easily treatable and if you only have a couple of night-time pees and none of the other symptoms of BPH (feeling of not clearing your bladder with a pee, slow urine flow, sudden onset of needing to pee, uncontrolled minor leakage) BPH is very unlikely and you can safely continue to consider the meds/post op stress to be the real issue unless/until such time as more BPH indicators do arise.

If after reading this you suspect BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) you can search on 'bph' and satisfy yourself that this does not mean you are on the point of developing protstate cancer, but you should then seek a consultation with your GP (UK) with a view to having a consultation with a urologist who deals with aging male issues. Expect an expert finger up the rear, a blood test for PSA levels, maybe an ultrasound scan and possibly medication/long term monitoring recommendations depending on her/his findings.

Been there - done that!

[Andy_c in reply to santisuk]

Hi and many thanks for your message i will keep an eye on things and if i become concerned i will contact my doctor as you advised.

[Handel]

Hi Andy. I remember my hubby having the same sleep problems plus getting up 4 or 5 times a night to use the loo. These gradually resolved when he realised he didn't need to panic and worry about his heart. He gradually took control by losing a bit of weight, eating sensibly and getting out for long walks.

Taking a long walk after the evening meal made him feel a lot better (plus a mug of Horlicks!!). His sleep patterns gradually improved.

You'll do OK xxxx

[Andy_c in reply to Handel]

Hi Handel

Thanks for your message and i will take on board the things you mention and see how it goes.

Andy

[Superdar]

Sounds about right Andy........hang in there it gets better!!