Insomnia

Any ideas on dealing with insomnia? I have tried sleep meds and melatonin and nothing works. Has anyone had this resolve once their levels were normal, or is this going to be long term?

[shaws Administrator]

Do you have a copy of your latest blood tests with the ranges. I used to have insomnia and even now I sometimes have a non-restful night but, in general I am now happy.

I've been fortunate to be able to try different methods of treatment and found that both NDT and T3 helped. I do know, however, that many doctors wont prescribe. Maybe your GP will allow you to add some T3 on a trial basis to see if that works for you. Sleeplessness does get you down.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

My last results were 9.1 TSH (range .45-4.5) and Free T4 was 1.1 (range .82-1.77). I had been on 75 mcg of levothyroxine and switched to 100 5 weeks ago. Some symptoms are better, but I guess it takes a while for it to reach all the areas of the body. I have been hypothyroid for 10 years and this is the first time I have been stopped in my tracks from symptoms. I feel like the insomnia is keeping me from fully feeling well again. It causes anxiety that I have trouble controlling in the middle of the night.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Mary, anxiety is probably due to your high TSH. I was prescribed a mild sleeping tablet 7 x month to help with insomnia as I was hallucinating after 2 or 3 completely sleepless nights. They helped. Once thyroid medication was optimised I was able to sleep without the sleeping tablets.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status and for most people this is when TSH is just above or below 1.0 with FT4 in, or near, the upper quadrant of range.

You should have a thyroid blood test 6-8 weeks after any dose adjustment to check levels. Leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw which should be a fasting test (water only) early in the morning when TSH is highest.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Clutter has made an excellent response. You have become very hypothyroid with a high TSH so definitely need a larger dose of levo or even ask for the addition of some T3 which might be helpful as well.

[Hidden]

Thanks for all the replies. I just need to know there's a light at the end of this tunnel. This is one of the hardest things I have gone through.

[Joyia]

Mary it's worth having your adrenal levels privately tested as many do here, sometimes this is the cause of insomnia/anxiety and getting this sorted (takes time and patience) can make a huge difference too.

[Aurealis]

Insomnia is a ymptom that will resolve once you're on the correct dose for you, with practice you'll learn which way to adjust your dose when you cant sleep. Hope you're feeling better soon