Strange Sleep Patterns

[VSGJourneyGrandma 19]

I had my VSG on 7/5. Had complications with bleeding so didn't get home until 7/9. I still am in a very strange sleep pattern. I never sleep more than 3-4 hours at a time. I usually wake up and need to stay up for a while around 4AM. I also need to eat my "breakfast" around that time. Feel kind of hungery and light headed at that time and eating and having a dose of my pain medication does help me to feel better. Then starts my pattern - sleep 3 hours - stay up a bit - eat - drink - take pain medication - walk a bit - sleep 3 hours, ect. I tried yesterday to cut down on my pain med - but, ended up with lots of pain in my hernia repair incision area. (Which was discovered at the time of my surgery) I am telling my boss that I should be able to be back to work next Monday - but, not sure how I can do that with this pattern. Any suggestions?

[TES 858]

I would try to take another week off from work if you can. I weaned off the pain meds by taking an ibuprofen/Tylenol approval that I first made sure my surgeon approved of. Once I was off the pain meds, my sleep patterns became more regular. Are you napping during the day at all? If you can avoid doing that, that should help with sleeping thru the night, too. also, walking always makes me sleep better at night. Hope you are feeling more normal soon!

[Arts137 1,811]

Agree, take off a little more if you can. Pain Rx will certainly have an impact on wake/sleep, so wean off when you are comfortable doing so (but use as long as you need to!!!) Since I get up every day at 3 or 4 AM, always have, I understand your concern -- but it IS a nice time of day!

[Allan Cameron 98]

When I first went back to work I asked my boss if I could work a week of part time at the office and part time sick leave (I happen to have had lots of sick leave I could burn up). I spent the first two weeks back only working part time, it really helped with the transition...