Insomnia

[Degs58]

Hi everyone

Does anyone suffer with insomnia?

Seems to be the worst symptom for me, although I can be ok for a week or so then it suddenly starts again.

Sometimes have trouble getting to sleep then I can get off but wake up early hours and can’t go back to sleep .

I can cope with the other symptoms but not sleeping well is awful.

Derek

[rjb112]

"Does anyone suffer with insomnia?"

Yes. Very much just as you described it.

If you find an answer, please post......

[Kitten44 in reply to rjb112]

Me too... As tired as I may be, I sometimes lay awake hoping for it to be morning so I don't feel so bad about being wide awake...

[Nanaedake]

Are you on the correct dose of thyroid medication?

Otherwise there was a very good BBC documentary on sleep. The conclusion seemed to be that you need to get out into daylight every day in the morning for at least 15 mins, that includes the weekend. Even when cloudy there is enough light to reset your body clock. The other thing is to ensure a regular sleep pattern, go to sleep and rise the same time each day. I can't remember the rest!

[Degs58 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks I’ll try those and see if it helps

[Hormone-hell]

It was terrible for me when first diagnosed, but now it is on and off.

Apart from the change in my thyroid levels I found the following helped a little for me on the worst days.

- Avoiding bright light before bed helpful (you can get apps which can dim your screen to a red colour)

- Meditation sleep videos on Youtube

- Tulsi tea before bed

I am not an expert, but there could be a number of factors which you can ask your doctor to investigate or check yourself if you haven't already..

- High evening cortisol (which the Tulsi can help)

- Vitamin deficiency (mainly vitamin D)

- Thyroid levels not being optimal

I hope this helps, sorry I can't offer anymore guidance. 🙂

[Degs58 in reply to Hormone-hell]

Hi

Thanks

I’ll try those things all I know is I had no problems before starting on 50 mgs of levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your recent post shows your extremely under medicated with TSH of over 6

Have you had 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine?

Low FT3 can be cause of insomnia

Low vitamin levels, especially low Vitamin D can be cause too

Your vitamin D was far too low. Are you now supplementing

drgominak.com/vitamin-d/

[Degs58]

Hi thanks

No not had increase supposed to be another two weeks before blood test I’m taking a vitamin D spray and B12

Had no problems before I started on levothyroxine though

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Degs58]

Post 8 days ago says your new test results showed TSH over 6

See GP ASAP for 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase dose slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

Have you got your Vitamin D mouth spray and started supplementing too

Aiming to improve to at least 80nmol, but around 100nmol may be better

Once we start on Levothyroxine our own thyroid production packs up, so we need to be on high enough dose of Levothyroxine for all your needs

[Degs58]

Hi thanks

Going docs today having only had 2-3 hours sleep.

Difficult remembering all these things never knew it was so complicated with thyroids, a few people I know are hypothyroid and don’t seem to have had a problem sleeping so not sure if there’s another reason, don’t think they test for T3 so don’t know the levels.

Just getting tired of it tbh was fine on 25mg only since increases I’ve had problems

[Flossie71 in reply to Degs58]

Hi Degs58

I've also had problems sleeping since I was first on levo and then on NDT and I slept really well before having either of them. So frustrating! I found magnesium chelate helped before I raised my dose last time but I've gone back to waking every 2 hours again now. I have found that I have high evening cortisol so I need to find something to remedy this but I don't suppose anything will work til I can get my TSH a lot lower than it is now. Sorry I can't really help but just wanted to say you're not on your own.

Floss

[Degs58]

Hi

Yes it’s horrible, I’m off work again due to it, hopefully it’ll settle soon, I’m up to 100mg now due a blood test in just under 4 weeks see where I’m up to then.