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Is there any hope for sleeplessness post kidney transplant?

Posted by benedict66066 @benedict66066, Jun 13 4:27am

It’s been 6 months now post kidney transplant and I’m beginning to feel hopeless with regard to my lack of sleep. It’s 2:30 am and it is this way every night. I’m allowed to take Ambien but it does not overcome the sleeplessness caused by my suppression meds. There’s no way to rejoin normal life after only 3-5 hours of sleep every single night. Has anyone else experienced this?

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craigcraig | @craigcraig | Jun 15 11:07am
In reply to @sarah232 "@craigcraig I think it would depend on your ability to fall asleep at bedtime. If you..." + (show)
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@craigcraig I think it would depend on your ability to fall asleep at bedtime. If you fall asleep easily and that doesn’t change with a nap, then the nap may be helpful. If you struggle with falling asleep, then going for a gentle walk when you feel sleepy in the afternoon may be something to try to help build up your sleep pressure for bedtime. Good luck

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@sarah232 Makes sense. Thank you !

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | Jun 16 6:06pm

@laurawyn I’ll check it out!

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Shannon | @22shannon | Jun 20 11:58pm

For me, I have to work out, to get rid of evening anxiety then listen to a podcast till I fall asleep. One that turns off on its own so you don't have to move to turn off yourself.

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | Jun 21 10:10am

Yes, thanks for this. So far, I keep waking up when the timer goes off on my "boring history for sleep" but I keep trying. Appreciate your suggestions.

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Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 1 4:36pm
In reply to @craigcraig "@sarah232 Thanks again Sarah. A quick question. I have not gotten the book yet but read..." + (show)
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@sarah232 Thanks again Sarah. A quick question. I have not gotten the book yet but read some of her thoughts online and her sharing "trust your body". Both Mayo and someone from Harvard were not big on naps during the day. For some reason I feel exhausted and even fall asleep sometimes around 3pm before my wife makes dinner. Most days I just power through it with no nap but either way seem to wake up between midnight to 3 AM most nights. Would DR. Wu's "trust your body" encourage afternoon naps if that's what my body feels ? Thanks again.

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@craigcraig - I also need naps, usually in afternoon, but especially after several very busy days! I have discovered that if I set my alarm for 30 minutes, I benefit from the nap and feel refreshed afterwards. However, yesterday, I went to our extra bedroom which has the darkening shades and slept (napped) without an alarm!!! It was intentional because the exhaustion of last weeks hiking vacation in Great Smokey Mountains caught up with me. I slept for 2-3 hours, and then slept soundly last night, too.

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | Jul 1 6:10pm

@craigcraig. Happy you are doing so well that you can go on a hiking vacation! Sleeplessness and exhaustion remain with me for now. Thanks for chiming in!

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