Sleep apnea and Adrenal/Thyroid issues - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,242 members166,488 posts

Sleep apnea and Adrenal/Thyroid issues

greenmug profile image
8 Replies

Does anyone have this combo, and if so can you share what worked for you as well as the what the link between them might be? I believe that both of these issues started for me at the end of my first pregnancy (quite a long time ago now).

I understand the extra weight/airway collapse connection, but beyond the mechanics, does anyone know any other reason that they occur in tandem?

My guess has always been that the pregnancy weight gain and hormones caused the apnea, which caused the adrenal fatigue, which in turn caused the thyroid deficiency.

I have never been able to get back down to my pre pregnancy weight (and in fact am very far away from it now) so have not breathed normally at night since before my first child was born. I have tried mouthguard, tape and even trialled a cpap at one point - OMG, how I hated that:(.

I still wonder if I could somehow get my weight down to what was originally if it would cure the apnea, but with chronic pain and long term, sometimes extreme sleep deprivation, that kind of weight loss has been out of my reach.

Written by
greenmug profile image
greenmug
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

The Thyroid Pharmacist website has good info here

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

greenmug profile image
greenmug in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you!

debjs profile image
debjs

I used to wake at night gasping for breath & have found it happens more when I am under medicated. Also the lovely Dr Skinner (sadly no longer with us) advised me to take a small dose of my Armour Thyroid in the evening which helped enormously. Hope things improve for you.

greenmug profile image
greenmug in reply todebjs

That's really good to know, thanks for mentioning it. I'm glad it helped you to do that - I may just give it a try.

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

I've often thought it might be down to lack of muscle tone which would be down to not being optimally treated but that's just my train of thought.

greenmug profile image
greenmug

I've wondered about this too but also have been told that I am hypermobile and have read that can cause sleep apnea too.

Hypermobility caused other problems in pregnancy for me too and until recently I blamed my muscle pain and stiffness on it.

It wasn't until I was told that I had severe adrenal fatigue that I even looked back in the direction of underactive thyroid as a possible cause for all of my symptoms.

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply togreenmug

My neighbour has sleep apnoea and he uses a cpap and has lost about 10 stones. He hasn't changed his eating habits, just sleeps properly and the weight has just kept going down It has taken about a year for the weight reduction but he still weighs just over 20 stones and although he is about 6 foot he still has a way to go. It might be worth trying again.

Jo xx

Treepie profile image
Treepie

There are various causes . Mine together with mega snoring ceased once on levo so being hypo was the cause.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Sleep Apnea

For a while i have been waking up in the night choking like my heart had missed a beat and then...

Carbimozole and sleep apnea?

Hi all.. please bear with me as I'm new to all this, and I've not had anything explained to me, and...
JackieOR profile image

Sleep Apnea and Hypothyroid?

I was diagnosed with hypo in August, 2017 and right around that time started experiencing gasping...
Tsh123 profile image

Sleep Apnea - any experience or advice.

Hello everyone , It seems after seeing my " thyroid doctor" to asses my neck swelling , goitre and...
FrogieBear profile image

Sleep apnea

I have started getting a very scary sleep disturbance, where I feel a sinking feeling, as if I am...
dylansmum profile image

Moderation team

See all
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.