Did anyone else take medication to help

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M

MNmom

with sleep/lack of and anxiety before the surgery? I believe aussigal mentioned valuim (sp). Does anything work, and is it safe? I suppose I just need to ask my Dr rather than look at OTC meds at this point. Just wondering what has maybe worked for others. Or is it rare to need medication? Its hard to just tell myself to go to bed though, when I lie there and feel my heart beating, which im sure is normal, but I get hyper focused on it. So nice to have a place to post such odd questions...
 
Meds

Meds

It's not at all uncommon for doctors to perscribe meds to help with sleep and stress issues for those facing surgery. My cardiologist offered to write a Rx for valium to help me with those pre-surgery issues, but I declined his offer. Other members will confirm that they took meds to deal with stress and sleep issues prior to surgery and are no worse for wear for doing it.

Yes, the realization that you're going to have heart surgery really tends to create a focus on your heart beating. If you're like many of us, I suspect you'll be focused on your heart beating even more after your successful surgery. Eventually, this tends to settle when you realize you're okay.

-Philip
 
Hi MNMom,
I personally did'nt take any meds before surgery. Read alot went on vr.com alot
and kept pretty busy during the day. So I was pretty sleepy but I was on oxygen 24/7. That might make a person a bit more sleepy. I would wake up some at night and start thinking about the surgery I tired to focus on other things that I had to get done before surgery.
Having this forum sure did help talking to people that went through the same type of surgery. You take care and try to rest....;)
 
I didn't. I vividly remember the beating heart thing though. I remember when I could talk after the surgery one of the first things I said was that I could no longer feel my heart beating. It was amazing! I had thought it was totally normal to feel your heart beating all the time.
 
My cardiologist willingly prescribed the Ambien generic, and getting a good night's sleep helped--six hours was the most sleep I got from it.

I wish I had asked for something for stress, too. We had another situation that was very stressful going on, and I was so distracted I probably wasn't safe driving around, and went to surgery day much more run down than I would have liked.

So my advice is take whatever it takes to get you through!
 
I was given ambien to sleep which I took after my surgery. only used it for 30 days . I was also given lorazpam for anxiety but didnt want to take it long term so I switched to paxil which has helped me deal with my health issues. I will take a lorazapam at bed to sleep sometimes but dont use the ambien it made me feel too tired the next day.

jim
 
Hi there,
My dr. said that he would prescribe something like valuume (cant spell today)or whatever,..when it gets closer to my surgery date, like a week or two before, and I am going to take him up on it. Even if I dont use it, I know that I have it incase, although I believe I will need it. My biggest fear is the ride to the hospital the morning of my surgery, Id like to be medicated so that they can get me out of the car and through the door! :eek:
 
6 for Sarah said:
I didn't. I vividly remember the beating heart thing though. I remember when I could talk after the surgery one of the first things I said was that I could no longer feel my heart beating. It was amazing! I had thought it was totally normal to feel your heart beating all the time.
Click to expand...

So, its not normal to be hearing your noisy heart beating when its quiet and your laying in bed? I didnt know that? Why do we hear it? Is it because of all the pressure due to blockage/stynosis? :confused:
 
The blood is being pumped at higher pressures due to your cardiac muscle working so hard to keep you going. Your carotid arteries have particular resonance since they are routed close to your ears and the amplifying bones of your skull.

Most people without coronary health issues don't hear their noisy hearts simply because they don't have noisy hearts.
 
Some of our members reported taking Xanax for anxiety.
It is available in regular and time release forms, both name brand and Generic.

Ask one of your Doctors about it's use and side effects (or a pharmacist or GOOGLE).

I'm not fond of valium (which I had for some outpatient procedures) because it leaves me feeling groggy for a day or two afterwards.

You could also do a SEARCH on VR.com for "Xanax" to read what others have said about their experience(s) with it.

Almost everyone agrees that the Waiting Before Surgery is the Hardest Part of the whole process. There is nothing to be ashamed of asking for a little help getting through that stressful time.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Please ask your doctor for something today. Don't suffer, why wait!

I became pretty hyper that last few months. I got some diazepam from my GP. I think it's just an anti-anxiety, but it is very calming. I used it to go to the movies since my family loves the intense variety and it was giving me such palpitations (the intensity) that I was very ill after each outing. I still have some around (didn't even use up the whole first Rx) and have been known to pop one here or there.

I had a lot of trouble going to sleep...the noise!! And the fear. Not of the surgery...I was strangely never afraid of the surgery or the outcome....I was afraid I would die before the surgery!!! On those days when I had worn myself out and was so tired and sick feeling I would lie awake so that I would be there in the morning!

For me, the Diazepam is the equivalent of having someone draw you a nice cozy bubble bath and bringing you a "hot toddy" and watching out for you that you didn't fall asleep in the tub and drown. Do you get my drift? A doctor who knows you and will prescribe the correct type of relaxant and then keep tabs on you that you don't use too much! Best of all worlds.

Don't wait another day!

:D Marguerite
 
I am three months post op. I was on lexapro due to a family crisis for about six months prior to surgery. when I spoke about getting off of it to my GP. he said no wait until after your surgery. When I went for my checkup a couple of weeks ago I wanted to wean myself off and again he said it's too soon after your surgery. I really want to get off of it. I only take 5mg.

I do take ambien CR for sleep and was taking it prior to surgery. Both my cardio and my GP want me to stay on it awhile longer.

Don't hesitate to take something even short term. It does help.

Earline
 
I really thought I would need something, I had asked my surgeon and he would not prescribe it, but said he had no problem with me taking something. I could ask the cardio or PC for some, but all of a sudden felt I did not need anything. It is very strange but a calm came over me about 3 days before and lasted until I went into the OR. I had realized I did all I could, I researched, I prepared, I prayed and there was nothing more I could do. I had to have this. It was now in someone elses hands.

I have heard it said before and it is true a peace and calm comes over you. You realize others sicker than you have had this and are here to talk about it.


xoxo
Just
KathyM
 
About 10 days before OHS, I got a one week Rx for Ativan, just in case I had trouble sleeping or freaked out. I never needed it since the hospital called me 3 days early and offered to move me up.
 
I'm the mom of the patient. His first surgeries were emergencies and I didn't even think to ask about taking something during the 3 weeks he was in the hospital. As his 3rd surgery got closer I asked for xanax and ambien. I'm not sure that I could have gotten through the waiting without it. I only took them at night to sleep, but darnit sleep is important when you are facing something like this! Like others have said, many times just knowing it is there is enough - there is no sense being miserable before your surgery.
 
I absolutely took Xanax. There were days that I just really needed it, and others I was fine without it. It helped me sleep at night if I needed it, but so did Tylenol PM which my Dr. told be was fine to take as well.

I also have noticed a huge difference in "feeling" my heart beat. I think I have felt every beat of my heart for my whole life. It is freaking me out a little now that at three weeks out, there are times when I actually stop to feel it with my hand to make sure it is still beating! I also used to hear it beating at night when I went to bed (similar to what it sounds like when they do an echo and turn the volume on) and now I don't hear anything at all.
 
Hi there,

For some reason, even though i'm scared of having my AVR surgery sometime in June, i haven't really had much trouble sleeping at all. I did last Friday night after the dr. called me at home and told me i had a "slim to none" chance of getting off the ventilator after surgery, but 1/4 of a Tylenol PM made me sleep the whole night away. I'm really sensitive to medication so i don't need much to make me sleep.

Take whatever you need to help you sleep. It's important to be well rested for the surgery.
Dawn-Marie
 
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