Cannot sleep after CABG

[stevetheadi]

I've always found it difficult to sleep. Over the last few years I've only ever had 3/4 hours sleep per night.

Like all insomniacs I've tried everything, from medication, supplements to CBT-i but nothing really helped. In the end I accepted it and functioned happily enough from day to day.

Since I had a triple bypass last Tuesday (25th June) I seem to have lost the ability to sleep completely.

In the hospital that's not so surprising but I've been home for three days and all I do at night is move from bed to chair, chair to bed. Uncomfortable, itchy, tired but never sleepy.

Also, my tinnitus has got worse since the op so I need to play masking sounds at night.

If anyone has any tips that they can share, I'd be grateful. I'm a bit worried about the effect 'no sleep' will have on my recovery.

Thanks.

[Snowflake01]

It will get better! I'm 3 weeks post CABG and sleep has just started to improved greatly, feels like I'm turning a corner. The first week post CABG was very broken and disturbed sleep (trying to find comfortable positions, aches/pains, leg itchiness etc). The second week was a gradual improvement for me, but slow.

Some of the things that made it easier for me: Paracetamol helped to dull any aches/pains; pillows and v-pillow to support the body (mainly lying on the back or at a slight tilt to the left or right); making sure I was tired enough when going to bed.

The first week was the worst for me by far - it has got a lot better, time is the healer 🙂

[stevetheadi in reply to Snowflake01]

Thanks!

It's been pretty horrible not sleeping, can't get comfortable, aches/pains, worrying.

Everything seems a lot worse at 3am!

Good to know it will get better I just need to be patient.

[Snowflake01 in reply to stevetheadi]

Just take it easy and get sleep where you can. I took my Paracetamols around 10pm and then 2-3am to try and improve the sleep (kept the 24 hour dose within the guidelines, just more spaced out in the day). The tourment of itchy legs does ease as well (nobody warned me about that one as the hairs grow back!).

[stevetheadi in reply to Snowflake01]

Thanks

I don't seem to feel sleepy like I used to. I'm always alert.

I'll try some meditation tonight, see if that helps.