Anxiety and Sleep starts

[deefrances]

Has anybody else had this problem:  I had a 7 hour abdominal surgery a few weeks ago, and ever since the surgery (even in the hospital) I would doze off, then jerk myself awake - I believe it's called myoclonic jerks.  This goes on all night long, so I don't sleep at all.  I've had that lump in the throat feeling and of course, I'm very tired.  The doctors put me on Xanax at night which has helped, but they don't want me to stay on it longer than 14 days, which is up this Friday.  Then I will have to be switched to something else.  The idea of taking some other addictive drug scares me to death.

I can't find any info anywhere or anyone else that this has happened to.  I've never had this problem before - maybe an occasional jerk as I fell alsleep, but it certainly didn't go on all night!  I can't help but feel that it's related to the trauma of the surgery, but I've searched and searched the internet and nothing definitive shows up to explain it.  

Any thoughts?

[tiredgirl2010]

I am having this problem after an abrubt discontinuation (cold turkey) of clonazepam (klonipin) which I had been taking for about a year for anxiety.   Never had the jerks before cold turkey on clonazepam.  

On the forum www.***********.***, there is a discussion and a few other people have also experienced this after withdrawing from benzos (clonazepam, valium, xanax).   I am still having this problem daily.  For the others it does seem to subside but can take 6 months to a year for it to resolve after discontinuation of the benzo, and it still may occur occasionally after that.  

The theory with the benzo withdrawl is that the nervous system is in an overexcited state because the benzos suppressed the nervous system for so long and now it has to readjust.  Also, anxiety may play a part in this symptom (cold turkey from clonazepam is very anxiety producing, please read the Ashton Manual online for tapering advice if you are considering quitting a benzo after long term use!!! - do it very gradually).  

I also heard from someone to whom this happened after childbirth with no other cause (similar to your case of after surgery), and it mostly resoved itself within the course of a year - so I do wonder if anesthesia can play a part in this - afterall, anesthesia will mess with the central nervous system and could possibly trigger some strange reactions like this - it is  the nervous system which is acting up.

DeeFrances, if you are still watching this thread, please respond and let us know how this resolved for you - since I still have this problem I am trying to gether information on what happens with others who have experienced it.
Thanks!

[lost_myself]

i actually used the lucinda bassett program (cbt) you can do at home it was a big help ...once i got some tools to work with I just am tryin to grit my teeth and get by .I HATE pills but had to take 1/2 a valium today ..havin a rough one but tomarrows a new day ..:}

[deefrances]

I am so glad that you are mostly anxiety free without meds!  did you see a counselor for a time to help with that?  I started seeing someone last week and I am so glad I did.  It has really helped to have a sounding board.

[deefrances]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I will be having all of that checked out after my body "calms down"  The docs say that there is no point in checking my hormone levels via saliva test until things settle down.  I can have the thyroid checked at the same time.  I've had no appetite at all and have lost about 10 lbs. since the surgery, but I was a little on the heavy side, so it was 10 lbs. I could do without.  Still, it's a good idea.

Merry Christmas!

[Venora Moonwind]

Have you had your thyroid checked? a malfunctioning thryoid can cause this especially if you are feeling a lump in your thraot. get ti chaced and let me knowhow it comes out.
love Venora

[lost_myself]

Hey there I'm am 85% anxiety free ,I am med free other than beta blockers for my heart..I hate pills ..I had a massive panic episode out of left field in sept of this year it put me down ..like in bed for 3 or 4 weeks ..house bound for 3 months ..i fight everyday .....and am getting better..sleep started to return at about 3 weeks and after 5 or so it was normal............

[deefrances]

Thank you, thank you!  It is such a relief to know that someone else has experienced this!  Did this occur after surgery as mine did?  And are you anxiety free now, without medication?  How long did it take you to get back to your "normal sleep"?  I can deal with it if I know that there's an end in sight somewhere down the road.  So glad you responded....

Merry Christmas!

[lost_myself]

The first 3 weeks of my aniety I was the same way  even to doze for a cat nap during the day.It sucked *** and got worse the more it happened..then one day i was so tired i fell asleep for 4 or 5 hours..then krappy for another couple days then slept again for 4-6 hours ..eventually I'm back to my normal sleep........not much help other than knowing it'll get better ....without the meds..;}