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How to Sleep Post Liver Transplant in Initial 30-Day Recovery?
Hi, all! Please share any tips on how to GO TO/FALL asleep and STAY asleep after liver transplant surgery during the initial 30 day recovery period. Here’s more details on my experience so far:
I’m a bit over a week post-transplant surgery and currently going through my initial 30-day recovery period. As a 21 year old transplant recipient, I was able to recover enough movement and other things to be discharged from the hospital 5 days after my transplant surgery. Since I’ve been home, I have not been able to sleep. Initially, I knew it was because I was used to the hospital’s inclined and remote controlled bed and also going from the hospital’s constant waking you up and noises to the silence of my home with no major/constant sound disturbances is an adjustment. However, it’s been almost a week since out the hospital and I’m struggling because I am only getting bursts of sleep— an hour here, wake up at 2 am and can’t go back to sleep, and be up at 3, 4, 5 am sporadically, all the while having to make sure I’m up by 6/6:15 am to get ready to go to labs 3x during the week. I’m not sure if I just need to give it another couple of days and Lord willing I’ll see some improvements, but it’s been really hard to need to be up early now (which I’m not usually up super early in the morning but now HAVE to be) yet I’m not getting deep sleep of any kind. I’m definitely not getting 7 or more hours of sleep (I don’t even know if I’m getting 6). Managing this sleeping issue the past week has been difficult, and I really would like to be able to lay down at night and fall asleep, and then stay asleep for hours, not constantly waking up in the middle of the night MULTIPLE times and then struggling to go back to sleep AND also struggling to get comfortable while trying to go to sleep because that’s been another issue too!! I’ve taken melatonin practically every night, and pain medicine if it’s ever needed. I use a pillow to cushion my side or back (depending on which I’m laying on to try to get sleep); I’ve used this firm back bed pillow I have to try to mock the hospital bed’s incline and then put pillows in front to cushion it. That worked a few times but now isn’t really working.
Overall, I am just struggling with being able to comfortably position myself and going to sleep and staying asleep since I’ve come home from surgery and would appreciate any tips from fellow liver-transplant recipients that dealt with this same issue during their recovery period. Thank you!
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Good morning
I'm a liver transplant patient, just celebrated my 4th transversary. I remember those days and nights. I like you was discharged after 5 days, and went for blood work every 3 days. I couldn't sleep either. Part of it was the comfort issue. I couldn't find a comfortable position. I have one of those reading pillows so I turned it upside down and used that. It seemed to help. I also thought of that time as similar to when my children were newborns and slept when I could. Sleep during the day, afternoon, evening. Just grab 40 winks when you can. And I know it's difficult but eat. Eat lots of protein it helped me. And it does get better, believe me. It's just it's in God's time not yours.🙂🇨🇦🍁🥰
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2 ReactionsHello again
Sorry I was just heading out to my labs appointment. I wanted to add keep up the walking. I used a walker for probably the first 3 weeks and it helped a lot. 🙂
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2 ReactionsHi, Thank you for responding and sharing your experience! I have a reading bed pillow as well and have used that before, but it hasn’t been working for me lately. I haven’t tried turning it upside down though. I absolutely love how you included your experience with getting less sleep/sleeping when you could when you had your newborns. For me, that really highlighted how every season of life will look different. We don’t know what each season will entail. However, God is faithful to see me through; This was my reminder of something I continually meditate on from Matthew 6:34- taking it one day at a time. “It does get better… It’s just in God’s timing, not yours.” Absolutely! Thank you again!
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1 ReactionThank you for this tip as well!
@kenadysanaa, My first 30 days was while I was living at the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester MN. That was 15 years ago, so the only thing that I remember was pillows and rolled blankets for support. I gradually was strong enough and brave enough to roll slightly to my side with support of pillows and blankets. That was a big accomlishment because I am a side sleeper! I do remember wanting to, "just sleep all night' after release from hospital. Unfortunately that had to wait a while longer.
After returning home, I remember how good my own bed felt! And like, footballmum, I needed naps. Daily naps were on my daily agenda! Gradually the naps became less frequent.
One thing that I have learned to limit in my diet, evem today, is anything with caffeine. So that might be something for you to consider.
@kenadysanaa, I realize that you are still recovering from your liver transplant surgery and that you do need to take it easy. However, if your lack of sleep continues to be a problem, or if it disrupts your daily life, please discuss it with your transplant team. Will you be having a 4 month follow appointment?
Hi! Yes, pillows have been helping me a lot, and as the days have passed since posting this, I am starting to figure out more how to position the pillows and my body to get sleep. I still wake up at night here and there, but there’s been some progress in the comfort area and getting to sleep :)! & Yes, I update my transplant team on my condition. I haven’t reached 1 month post-op yet, so I see someone weekly at the moment.
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1 Reaction@kenadysanaa, It certainly sounds like you are making progress!
In the initial stages after transplant when my husband struggled to sleep in the middle of the night, we would play meditations off the phone app. That usually got him back to sleep.
I can’t tell if you’re male, but if so, we also continued to use the urinal so that he didn’t have to get out of bed - deal with pain of sitting up and walking to restroom- allowed him to stay drowsy and more easily get back to sleep. You can buy the chucks on Amazon to keep the bed clean.
But try the meditation apps, it distracts your mind from whirling around and thinking about all the things that make you anxious.
It is a season in your life, accept and embrace the new beginning. Soon you’ll be playing pickleball, skiing, bike riding- whatever your thing is- and you’ll have no trouble sleeping. Wishing you all the best.
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2 Reactions@lynnecp, I want to recognize and thank you for sharing your caregiver experience that made your husband's recovery more comfortable! As a recipient, I know that you went thru every phase of his journey alongside him.
How long ago was the transpant? What are both you and he enjoying now as you embrace and becin your new life together?
That’s my wife posting about me! Mediation apps definitely helped, the bedside urinal avoided the pain & discomfort of getting out of bed in the middle of the night. Music also helped distract me - both while I was sick & waiting for transplant, and definitely after.