Still have insomnia despite my blood tests improving slowly. Driving me crazy now. Still feel very shaky.

Have been refered to see endo. Will see go on Monday to my gp . this is ruining my life . Had temazepan 10 mgs but it doesn't' keep me asleep all night. can anyone recommend a better sleeping pill just to take while I have these symptoms please.

[Hidden]

Hi Lindseyj, I have insomnia too, I find it hard to sleep even with sleeping pills. In the past i've used Zopiclone, but by the 3rd night I was awake again. Sleeping pills do make you sleepless when you come off them though.

I don't have any answers, my cortisol is high at night, have you done the Adrenal Stress Profile? Do you have chronic pain? I find if my pain is more under control I sleep better.

I don't have lie ins which I know can mess you up, if I try and sleep before 3 am i'm just then up longer in the night. If I have sugar late at night that keeps me up, caffeine after 4 pm can cause insomnia, too much light in your room, using a PC late at night leaves you wired. I guess you've tried every thing. You have my sympathy. Hugs. X

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Just a thought lindseyj is your B12 OK? That's another culprit for insomnia.

Do you try and get outdoors much? The daylight helps reset your body clock i've read.

Have you tried melatonin? I was going to give that a go.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for reply. I don't know my cortisol level or B12. My last tsh was 0.2 (0.300 - 5.000). I get the hot thing mostly. Occasional joint pain, but mostly i am just awake! I love walking but because i have felt so rubbish recently hardly get chance ( also the weather!) I have heard about the new Z drugs for insomnia and wondered if they worked. I know anything will be a short fix for now but i need relief. Don't have the caffiene drinks late, either..See endo for first visit on 14 April so have a few weeks to wait. Will check out your other suggestions. Many thanks

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Hi lindseyj, is it worth trying melatonin as it's kinder on your system? That's my next move as i've read it's good for getting dhea levels up too. I'm in no doubt my muscular pain is through lack of sleep, also know my tinnitus gets louder the less sleep I have.

I'm on my own quite a bit and I think my brain doesn't get tired by conversations etc. I go to bed really wired, the only thing that makes me get more sleep is gabapentin. I use it for bladder pain, it's sedating, used for epileptic fits. It damps down your brain function if that makes sense so quite calming. Trouble is like with most drugs you need more and more and i'm not prepared to go there. At the moment if i'm in pain I'll obviously uses it, but for sleep it's very much a last resort!

I wonder if the end will have any answers? Get him/her to do your B12, Folate, Iron, Ferritin bloods, wouldn't do any harm.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much. Hope you get some relief soon.

[Aurealis]

I've had chronic problems, got some improvement with alcohol free and caffeine free diet and very regular routine, black out blinds, large bed etc. best improvement of all followed increase in Levo ( on Levo /T3 combination)

[Hidden in reply to Aurealis]

Yes, all tried. Alcohol especially cut out as it made my body temperature rise. Interesting about the levo. Gp had to stop it as I went hyper again. Do people who are hypo get insomnia as well? Hmm. Seems there is no cure.

[nickym1]

My insomnia began a few weeks before I discovered my goiter. Had never had thyroid probs before. Was given temazepam due to sleep probs and extreme stress due to possible cancer, then actual diagnosis. Insomnia hasn't gone away 15 months on. My sleep has improved with med changes. Put on iron recently and that helped a lot. (Still taking temazepam though). Due to start sleep therapy soon to see if it helps. A program of sleep deprivation, to re-boot my body clock (-apparently!) We'll see. I think my insomnia is pysiological rather than psychological, so not convinced I'll benefit.

I'm interested in learning more about the melatonin. Do gp's prescribe?

I really hope you get some relief soon.

[Hidden in reply to nickym1]

Thanks Nicky.

[mumcat2]

Hi! I agree with the suggestion about melatonin. I'm hypopituitary as well as hypothyroid and actually getting to sleep was a monster issue. My endo in Sheffield suggested I should try it and gave me a prescription for it. The problem I came across with it is that it's only prescribable in certain parts of the country;not ours, so to avoid a 70 mile trek to Sheffield I now buy it online via eBay. You can buy it initially cheaper from the USA (totally legally)but you have to pay import duty and handling charges. There are legit UK suppliers on eBay;it doesn't need a prescription and my 5mg taken late evening works out at about 14p a day.

I do also take one of the z prescription drugs -zimovane -because I find that melatonin alone doesn't keep me asleep, but it definitely helps me fall asleep.

All the best!

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Thanks Muscat. Will post what gp says tomorrow.

[carefulkate]

Have you thought about acupuncture it can be really good for insomnia It was one of the worst things I suffered from when I was first diagnosed still get the occasional night where I don't sleep at all but much less now and acupuncture always gives me a good nights sleep x

[Hidden in reply to carefulkate]

No didn't know it could help. But thanks. See gp today.

[Hidden]

Saw gp yesterday and she has given me propranol x 2 daily. Already feel more peaceful but it is 2 30 am and I am wide awake again. I know it is very early to judge but not optimistic. 6 weeks off seeing endocrinologist and I,m being patched up till then. Have next blood tests in 2 weeks. Oh well. Here.s hoping!