Hello out there :) Need seem help with sleeping ...

... always been a very light sleeper. Diagnosed with Hashis 2 & a half years ago. 75mcg/100mcg alternate nights. Before the uat, I had breast cancer/chemo/radiotherapy & I was given some zopiclone to help me sleep (didn't take all of these) Have used these maybe once or twice a month just to help with the miserable feeling of tiredness. GP said that 'we must address any underlying problems before prescribing any more because they're addictive' - I know this, therefore only take them when desperate!!! (Hashi - overtired - cannot sleep - need my sleep - gets me down - duh!) Tried the usual warm milk/relaxing bath/same bedtime & getting up.

Would be so grateful for some help please.

Helen x

[babymaker]

HI I feel for you as my sleep is not great either and i am on 75 levo......M x

[Hidden in reply to babymaker]

Thanks so much for your reply - let's hope we can get this sorted - have you tried nytol or anything similar?

Hx

[Jackie]

Hi Zopiclone is OK for short periods, one of the newer prescription drugs. Lots of alternatives, chemist, on line etc. Some work reasonably. Also if you can put up with it, camamile tea is very good.Sorry cannot spell it, dyslexic.often lack of sleep is thyroid disease, quite a difference between Hypo and Hyper, basically Hypo , doze 10 mins or more, then awake 4 hours and start again. Make sure you have an up to date blood test for thyroid for the right treatment. It must be TSH, T4 and Free T3, always have a print out with ranges, GP often has different views to us! If he will not test all 3 bloods, then on line, you may need T4 ( levo) and T3., possibly different strength of Levo, up or down, depending on results.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie!

Chamomile (just did spell checker ) tea is good but makes me need to get out of bed more often which definitely doesn't help the sleep pattern! I don't seem to be able to fall asleep easily except after I've taken Zopiclone ... or after a glass or three of vino!

Just had blood tests - only TSH - the labs won't test T4 unless there's a large difference from the last test - I was taking 75mcg - TSH 0.35 (0.27-42) 25/1/2013 & my last test 5/6/2013 was TSH 2.6, same range. My doctor reluctantly said I could trial 75mcg/100mcg because I said I was feeling so achey/fluffy headed & this always happens when I need an increase. In fact the aches & fluffiness are better than they were thank goodness

Can't afford online blood tests - I've been caught with the so called 'Bedroom Tax'/Rent increase/Council Tax increase - on benefits & not well enough to work - they moved the goal posts & although I'm 60, can't claim a pension yet!!! Sorry for the ramble - feeling a bit better now.

Thanks for your reply & hope you're OK.

Helen x

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Helen, if your tSH is rising, not ideal way of telling but probable that you would benefit from a little T3 with the T4, perhaps even less T4, trial and error really without proper results. Yes, money is a nightmare when ill, NHS sadly lacking.Make sure you have had the other tests that effect the thyroid and have similar symptoms. GP will do those and should be annually, vit D ( hormonal) ,if low, corrected calcium before treatment, script, ferritin/iron, should be well in range, diabetes, autoimmune and hormonal, and ditto for B12+ foliates, needs to be high in range. If these are low ,they could help the thyroid a lot. I use Asphalia on line, Amazon now I think, but really although good ,itPC at night, you will notice loads of TUK people are too!

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden]

Hi Jackie

Thanks for all the info I've had tests for vit D ferritin B12 etc & all seem OK/high in range, except the vit D which my doctor has sorted supplements for Not sure about adding T3 yet - should you be on a high dose of Levothyroxine before starting this? It seems each time I get the aches - including cramps & muscle/pain in one foot & my thigh (both of which I've injured before the uat) & fluffiness etc - my TSH has gone a little higher, & things seem much better than before when my levo is upped.

Will google Asphalia & see what it's all about

Many thanks again

Helen x

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Helen, Catch 22. Normally you go by the 3 thyroid tests, ideally T4 should be in top third of range and FT3 near the top, to feel well. Therefore it depends on how high the t4 is, ideally the FT3 too. however, usually only low tSH, may mean T3 not desirable or needed, even that no way to be sure treatment with T3 does lower the TSH, bur if T4 good it should convert in the body to FT3, just does not often.. Vit D, hormonal, does helps the thyroid and can improve the bloods etc. You may be bale to get the GP to do T4, fairly routine, they always did FT3 too, but the managers,in lots of NHS decided not needed, costs! That is why a lot of us have to pay on line, for safety etc.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi again Jackie - Will keep all this in mind (?!?! - as in bookmark ) It would be so lush to have our own GP - as in thyroid related

Amazing site & thank you all for your help

Helen x

[PinkNinja]

You may benefit from taking magnesium at night. Low magnesium levels can cause insomnia among other things. You need to check there is no reason for you not to take it and start slowly as it has different effects on different people. If you can't tolerate oral magnesium, epsom salts in the bath will give you the magnesium as it is easily absorbed through the skin.

Getting an adequate dose of levo will help too

Carolyn x

[Hidden in reply to PinkNinja]

Hello Carolyn

I have had a lot of help with the cramps/muscle pains using the magnesium oil spray on the various places that I've had problems - really does help after evening bath

Having an increased dose of Levo seems to help when my blood tests say so but still not sure how much is a high dose before T3 should be introduced. Just wondering if a herbal remedy might help, as in nytol or equivalent - suppose I ought to try it

Helen x

[rosypo]

Hi Helen,

Might be worth trying self hypnosis cds or downloads. There are some free ones online. I don't have a thyroid problem, I am on this site for my son who does, so I don't know how well they will help with hypo insomnia (my son refuses to try them!) However I am insomniac and they work very well for me. I've tried a few and Glenn Harrold 'Deep Sleep Every Night' is the best I've found. I use them through ear phones (just one if you lie on your side!) and even if I don't drop off into sleep, it takes me deep into relaxation so I feel Ive had a sleep

x di

[Hidden in reply to rosypo]

Hello rosypo

This sounds like a really good idea - thanks so much! Will now have a google - listening to someone else trying to help me to sleep seems so much better than listening to myself & trying to sort out my problems instead of drifting off to sleep!!!

Thank you again

Helen x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi helen, l have had a lot better sleep since l listen to classic fm ,it starts at 10pm relaxing classics till 2am,gets me off quite quickly on a low volume, tried lots of things but the music does it for me, good luck, eve x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much gemini - will try this - don't usually listen to the radio - but hearing something other than the questions trying to be answered by myself, & tunes that hopefully won't want me to get up & dance around my bedroom, sounds a brilliant idea

Helen x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your welcome, l know how horrible it is when you need sleep and it just won,t come,thyroid disease robs us of a normal life thats for sure! but we must keep on looking for answers, take care eve x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hugs

xHelenx

[puncturedbicycle]

This isn't exactly a complete solution - I understand that you have to go to sleep in order to stay asleep - but when I've had trouble sleeping I used earplugs. I like wax (the foam ones aren't as effective and they hurt my ears). They're annoying until you get used to them but if you're sleeping lightly they seem to help you descend into that deeper level of sleep and they prevent you from being awakened by noise. Even very loud noises aren't as disturbing when I have my earplugs in and noise loses the effect of being startling and emotionally upsetting.

I hope you can get to sleep so you can maybe try the earplugs to help you stay asleep.

[Hidden in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thank you so much punctured bicycle - this is something I haven't tried so will definitely give it a go

Helen x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Hidden]

Oh, and I take my t4 at night before bed which seems to help me get a better night's sleep. (And I have tried melatonin - recommended by Zabby below - and it worked for me too.) Good luck! x

[Hidden in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Hello again!

Yes I take my t4 at bedtime too - tried going back to mornings a few months ago to see if it would help - but it didn't!

Will certainly look into melatonin too - thanks so much!

Helen x

[Zabby]

Have you tried melatonin? My (private) doctor gave me some and I found that when I took it it was really hard to keep my eyes open while I was reading before going to sleep! You can order it online from America.

[Hidden in reply to Zabby]

Many thanks Zabby

Another thing to put on my list of helpful remedies

Many many thanks to everyone who have taken the time to reply - much love to you all

xHelenx

[foxglove]

Hi Helen53

I find Sleep Aid (manufacturer Kirkland) works really well It contains the anti-histamine doxylamine succinate(SPELLING?) Strength 25mg I understand Boots do their own brand with same ingredient and strengtht, don't know name

I buy from Amazon, good quick service and free p&p... Two birds with one stone if you're a hay fever sufferer!!!!

Hope this helps and you find a solution. Think sleep deprivation was once used as a form of torture and can understand why

[Hidden in reply to foxglove]

Hello foxglove

I haven't heard of this one & I suffer from various allergies too, including hay fever!

Thanks so much - wonderful site & wonderful people - such a shame we're all having to suffer one way or another

Hugs to you all

xHelenx