Insomnia is my main problem. Why? On medication... - Thyroid UK
Insomnia is my main problem. Why? On medication for hypothyroid and over 6 months I still do not sleep. The more exercise the less sleep...
Hi Cook
I know from experience on this forum that you'll get lots of really helpful advice from highly experienced members about your blood levels, how & when you take your meds etc. & I'd prefer to leave that to those more expert than I am! There have also been previous postings on HU that may offer some explanation & assistance for your situation.
However, I'm wondering whether there may also be multiple other reasons as to why your insomnia continues - you don't say how long you've experienced difficulties around sleeping? Also, have you ever taken (& followed!) advice/ guidance from self-help guides or seen a therapist specialised in dealing with sleep disorders? They'd look at whole lifestyle - diet, exercise*, hobbies & habits all of which can impact on our ability to reprogram our minds & bodies to develop healthier sleep patterns. (*For example, you may not be aware that rather than exhausting you to the point of sleep, too much exercise taken at the wrong time of day can seriously disturb our bio-rhythms & actually prevent restful sleep?!)
I do hope you will find that a few simple lifestyle changes alongside whatever other thyroid specific advice you get here will make all the difference...
A common problem for thyroid sufferers is problems with cortisol production. It could be too high, too low, or it could be up and down like a yoyo throughout the day. In order to feel well and for our bodies to make use of our thyroid hormones (either natural or taken as medicines) we need the right amounts of cortisol to be produced at the right times of day. Cortisol production should start off quite high and then should diminish as the day goes on. During the night it bounces back up again a couple of hours (?) or so before we wake up.
Taking lots of exercise increases cortisol levels, and if you already produce a lot, then the exercise could well be making things worse.
Any problem with cortisol will cause sleeping problems and you have to find out what issues you have in order to work out the treatment you need. In order to work out which issue you have you need to get a 4 part saliva test done. (Spit into a tube, on four separate occasions throughout the day, freeze the samples, then send them off in the post to have them analysed.)
I had this test done :
I think it might be possible to get a discount on the test price if you give Thyroid UK as your practitioner. Hope someone else can confirm that. Once you get the results, then you can post them here and get advice on how to boost or lower your cortisol levels, whichever is necessary.
Hope this helps, and good luck. 
Edit : I think that you have to order by phone if you want the discount, rather than ordering by email. Payment/card details aren't asked for until you send back your samples.
A friend, and fellow thyroid sufferer, has had this problem for years and only found out two weeks ago (due to starting work again) that if she eats her main meal at lunch time, and just has a snack at tea time, the she sleeps a whole lot better.
Might be worth a try.
Moggie x
Oh how I sympathise!
When I was put on Levothyroxine I quickly found I couldn't sleep more than once or twice a week. And even on nights when I did sleep, I found that my sleep was not restful. Most nights I spent half awake until 4 or 5 in the morning. I began to dread going to bed and did so later and later. Fortunately I am able to sleep until 10 a.m. or so (although that's not a particularly helpful habit to get into). This went on for more than 5 years. The doctor told me lack of sleep wouldn't kill me. Actually, I've since seen research that contradicts that.
Sleep therapy doesn't seem to be something that the NHS does. Not round here, anyway
I changed to NDT and almost at once my sleep improved dramatically. It is the only real improvement I have noticed from Levo. The boon of restful sleep is immense. Even on the nights when I don't sleep well (which are still once or twice a week) I don't wake feeling like a wrung out rag.
Good luck
Having worked in the fitness industry for many years exercise has always played a part in my life. About 2 years ago I was running 20 miles a week. You would have thought that I would sleep like a log but this was the opposite, I was often waking up in the night. Now I am on optimal thyroid medication and have stopped the aggressive exercise regime I sleep really well.
I still exercise, but a more gentile approach. I am now convinced too much exercise can cause adrenal insufficiency and for me it's had a detrimental effect on my thyroid. In fact I'm slimmer now than when I was exercising so much.
I try to eat a good diet and avoid sugar whenever possible as this can also cause insomnia.
See the link below.
I found that my sleep improved very considerably when I started, and further as I optimised my levothyroxine dose. But I take mine at bed-time and some people seem to find that helps.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Rod
