Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTips for Better SleepSleeping PillsWhen to See a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Tips for Better Sleep
Sleeping Pills
When to See a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Insomnia(trouble sleeping) is very common in the days and weeks immediately following surgery. Insomnia after surgery can happen when sleeping in the hospital or another medical facility rather than in your own home. It can also be due to something like an uncomfortable pillow or mattress, pain from surgery, and medications you’re taking.
This article discusses why you might have insomnia after surgery and how you can sleep better during your recovery.
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Causes of Insomnia After Surgery
There can be many reasons why you are unable to sleep after surgery and it’s fairly common for this to happen. According to one study,sleep disturbances can affect both rapid eye movement (REM) and short-wave sleep (SWS) for about seven days following surgery.
Some of the most common reasons for insomnia after surgery are:
Tips for Improving Insomnia After Surgery
If you’re having trouble sleeping after surgery, it’s important to try to figure out why. From there, you can try different things to try to remedy the situation and get the rest you need.
Here are a few examples of changes you can make that may help you sleep better:
If pain medications are the problem, you may benefit from switching to a non-opioid pain reliever like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen). Bear in mind that over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers may not be as effective as prescriptions for post-surgery pain.
Weigh the benefits and potential consequences before requesting a change. Never alter a medication dose or stop treatment on your own without first speaking with your healthcare provider.
Most of all, don’t stay silent if you’re having trouble sleeping. The less quality sleep you get, the slower your recovery is likely to be.
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Using Sleeping Pills After Surgery
Many medications and supplements are available to help with sleep. However, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider before trying a sleep aid—even one that you get over the counter.
There are medications given after surgery, like those for pain and anxiety, that can make you feel sleepy (sedation). Some OTC products for sleep can also cause sedation.
Combining sedating medications can lead to dangerous decreases in your body’s drive to breathe. Even OTC medications likeBenadrylcan cause breathing problems if they’re taken with prescription pain medication.
Only use sleeping pills under the direction of your healthcare provider and take them exactly as prescribed. A big concern aboutsleeping pillsis the risk of dependence. Never use sleeping pills for more than a few weeks and only use them when needed. If overused, you might be unable to sleep without them or experience arebound effectif you stop.
You may want to ask your provider if OTC supplements such asmelatoninwould be safe for you to try if you’re having trouble sleeping after surgery.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
While you might expect to have some trouble sleeping in the days following surgery, it should gradually get better.
If you’re still having insomnia in the weeks after surgery, reach out to your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out what’s causing you to have insomnia and recommend treatment that will be safe and effective for you during your recovery.
Summary
Insomnia after surgery is common. Sometimes, it’s related to environmental factors like the noise and stress of being in a hospital. You can have trouble sleeping at home, too, especially if you’re in pain or taking medications after surgery that can affect your sleep.
Yoursleep hygienecan make a big difference in your quality of sleep at any time but can be very important as you’re recovering from surgery and need your rest. Going to bed at the same time and avoiding caffeine and high-stress activities before bedtime can help.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, it’s possible. Studies have shown that patients frequently have sleep disturbances after surgery with general anesthesia. The reasons are still being studied, but anesthesia has been found to disrupt the sleep/wake cycle. It can especially affect elderly patients and those who have some sleep disturbances before the surgery.It can vary from a few days to a few weeks. Typically, your REM sleep tends to get back to normal about a week after surgery.
Yes, it’s possible. Studies have shown that patients frequently have sleep disturbances after surgery with general anesthesia. The reasons are still being studied, but anesthesia has been found to disrupt the sleep/wake cycle. It can especially affect elderly patients and those who have some sleep disturbances before the surgery.
It can vary from a few days to a few weeks. Typically, your REM sleep tends to get back to normal about a week after surgery.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: What can we do?Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Freire C, Sennes LU, Polotsky VY.Opioids and obstructive sleep apnea.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2022;18(2):647-652. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9730American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: what can we do?.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Lin WC, Chang WH, Ya Mei Bai, Li C, Mu Hong Chen, Tung Ping Su.The risk of insomnia after surgical operation: A longitudinal, population-based, case-crossover study. 2022;85(4):519-524. doi:10.1097/jcma.0000000000000688Luo M, Song B, Zhu J.Sleep disturbances after general anesthesia: Current perspectives.Front Neurol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00629
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: What can we do?Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Freire C, Sennes LU, Polotsky VY.Opioids and obstructive sleep apnea.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2022;18(2):647-652. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9730American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: what can we do?.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Lin WC, Chang WH, Ya Mei Bai, Li C, Mu Hong Chen, Tung Ping Su.The risk of insomnia after surgical operation: A longitudinal, population-based, case-crossover study. 2022;85(4):519-524. doi:10.1097/jcma.0000000000000688Luo M, Song B, Zhu J.Sleep disturbances after general anesthesia: Current perspectives.Front Neurol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00629
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: What can we do?Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Freire C, Sennes LU, Polotsky VY.Opioids and obstructive sleep apnea.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2022;18(2):647-652. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9730American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: what can we do?.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538Lin WC, Chang WH, Ya Mei Bai, Li C, Mu Hong Chen, Tung Ping Su.The risk of insomnia after surgical operation: A longitudinal, population-based, case-crossover study. 2022;85(4):519-524. doi:10.1097/jcma.0000000000000688Luo M, Song B, Zhu J.Sleep disturbances after general anesthesia: Current perspectives.Front Neurol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00629
Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: What can we do?Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538
Freire C, Sennes LU, Polotsky VY.Opioids and obstructive sleep apnea.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2022;18(2):647-652. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9730
American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?
Su X, Wang DX.Improve postoperative sleep: what can we do?.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):83-88. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000538
Lin WC, Chang WH, Ya Mei Bai, Li C, Mu Hong Chen, Tung Ping Su.The risk of insomnia after surgical operation: A longitudinal, population-based, case-crossover study. 2022;85(4):519-524. doi:10.1097/jcma.0000000000000688
Luo M, Song B, Zhu J.Sleep disturbances after general anesthesia: Current perspectives.Front Neurol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00629
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