Sleep????

[Bellerin]

Hello lovely people,

could somebody recommend anything that helps you sleep?

For about a month now I've just been awake for hours, and I feel like I've tried everything! No screen time an hour before going to bed, go to bed same time each night, reading in bed, cool bedroom etc. I normally take Avena Saliva oat drops, but now these just aren't making any difference, I know am only getting 3ish hours, having been lying awake for hours.

If anyone knows anything that works that would be wonderful! I can't have dairy or gluten, just in case that is a factor.

Thank you

[Hidden]

Hi

I've heard talking.magnesium before bed can help with sleep! 🙂

[Bellerin in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I will try it

[ShinyB]

Taking magnesium can help to relax you and hence support sleep.

Cortisol levels can impact on sleep. Mine are high apparently and I've been told they would have contributed to my insomnia. Magnesium helps there too, plus vitamin C, and Vit B Complex, as does anything that helps to really relax you. I try to do some meditation each day, and various relaxation exercises. There are various breathing exercises that are meant to help too. I've certainly been getting better and longer sleep since trying them all out!

If you haven't already, it would be worth getting your nutrient levels checked, particularly Vit B12 and Vit D (both of which also help the thyroid, as does ferritin and folate).

Here's a link ref cortisol: livestrong.com/article/4978...

Hope you get to the bottom of it. Lack of sleep is horrible!

[Bellerin in reply to ShinyB]

Thank you It seems to go in phases, sometimes I can get to sleep no problem and others lie awake all night! But recently its happening more and more, at least the tennis is on the radio through the night, or I would go insane!

I had my cortisol tested awhile ago and it was high, but still haven't managed to find a good way to lower it. Thanks again, I'll have a look at the link

[ShinyB in reply to Bellerin]

I had one of those nights last night! I'm rubbish on lack of sleep. My brain is definitely not firing on all cylinders at the mo and I'm trying to recall what else is meant to help. Certainly there are adaptogen herbs you can take, and I think I recall something about eating adequate amounts of protein helps. And your thyroid is tied up in it too of course. Something about your adrenals compensating for low thyroid by pumping out adrenaline. So getting your thyroid levels optimised would help too. That I am currently attempting!

Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight!

[EbonyEvans]

Half a glass of orange juice. Mixed with a teaspoon of pink Himalayan salt and a teaspoon of cream of tartare. Before bed.

[SilverAvocado]

I used to have terrible insomnia with my hypothyroid. Here are things that helped me:

- Mindfulness: probably the biggest one. I do the exercise earlier in the day, and if I skip a day or two my sleep will suffer.

- Melatonin: The first time I tried this within an hour I felt sleepy! And realised I hadn't felt that way for months. I now take 6mg just before bed, but started on 3mg

- Magnesium spray: For restless legs with very tight calf muscles, I spray them and sometimes a little massage.

- Active cherry: I take a tablet of this before bed, too. Not quite sure it makes a difference.

- Audiobooks and podcasts: I make sure I've always got at least 8 hours of material available when I get into bed. These help me drop off, but also keep the stress levels down during the long wait till morning, and means I'm getting something productive done.

- Sleep hygiene: You've already mentioned this, but I did try all the conventional advice and found some bits sometimes helped

[Bellerin in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thank you, lots to think about Hope something works!

[SilverAvocado in reply to Bellerin]

Ooh, one I forgot to mention. Sometimes waking up after a few hours of sleep is caused by adrenals and linked to low blood sugar. If youre hungry when you wake up, have something to eat, and have a snack just before getting into bed or have your evening meal late to last you into the night.

This is the thinking behind the salty orange juice mentioned above. I never got round to trying this, but it's to provide the adrenals with the nutrients they need to tide you over.

[Bellerin in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thank you very much I went to see Dr Peatfield and he said my adrenals were basically shot to pieces! So this might be the issue.

[dina7]

I have the same problem with adrenals and not sleeping. Holy Basil helps, also melatonin, and PS.

[Bellerin in reply to dina7]

Thank you, I will have a look Just want something to work xx