T3 and insomnia

[Lizzigill]

Struggling with insomnia on T3. Any strategies? Feel great during the day regarding hypo symptoms

[Lizzigill]

Is CBD any help?

[Lalatoot]

Do you take any T3 at bedtime? T3 peaks at about 4am in its normal circadian rhythm. During the night our bodies are active repairing cells; gut working etc so I have come to the conclusion that we need a dose to see us through.

[Lizzigill in reply to Lalatoot]

I don't because I worried it would keep me more awake. Maybe I should try an additional 5mcg at bedtime?

[Lalatoot in reply to Lizzigill]

It is all trial and error. At the mo I take 5mcg morning, 5mcg at 4pm and 10 mcg bedtime. This evolved because I would wake up feeling dreadful and sweating between 2am and 4am quite often. Hasn't happened since I started T3.

[Lizzigill in reply to Lalatoot]

I agree you've got to try for yourself. Scarey though. No real help and support from medical profession. Thank you for that. Going to try some tonight x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lizzigill]

How about a trial of taking your dose at bedtime? As long as stomach is empty. This may help your sleep.

It is trial and error.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[jgelliss in reply to Lizzigill]

I would suggest that you try at first with 2.5mcg half of 5mcg T3 and see how that works for you .

[shaws Administrator]

How much T3 do you take. Maybe try taking T3 at a different time. Do you take one dose or split?

[Lizzigill in reply to shaws]

I take 10mcg at 7.30am and 10mcg at midday atm

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lizzigill]

I believe that 20 mcg of T3 is equal 'in its effect' to around 80 to 90 mcg of levo.

I shall give you a link and this doctor was an expert in the use of T3. He also, because of 'thyroid hormone resistance' took his one daily dose of T3 in the middle of the night so that 'nothing interferred with the uptake of it.

He also only took one blood test, for the initial diagnosis, and thereafter it was all about relieving clinical symptoms, with small doses of T3.

Once upon a time all doctors (before blood tests) knew all clinical symptoms and many got a trial of NDT due to them, plus the doctor ensuring that NDT was slowly increased until they were all relieved.

I take 25mcg of T3 when I get up in the morning and wait an hour before eating.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[SassyMH in reply to Lizzigill]

I used to take T3 at 7am and 1200 noon . I now take T3 7am and 6pm and I sleep much better, I still wake in the night but can get back to sleep. Good Luck

[shaws Administrator]

This is another link to an Endocrinologist and its no wonder he cannot take on any more patients:-

hormonerestoration.com/

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 ?

Low vitamins are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Low Vitamin D and low B vitamins can be linked to poor sleep

If vitamin D is low, B vitamins may be too. As explained by Dr Gominack

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

If vitamins are OPTIMAL

Many people find taking small dose of T3 at bedtime improves sleep

Many endocrinologists think T3 is like speed and will keep people awake...but patients actually taking T3 often find the reverse ....that taking T3 is calming and relaxing and improves sleep

[Lizzigill in reply to SlowDragon]

Oooh that's interesting. I don't monitor but take all those vitamins and supplements. Have Hashis and partial thyroidectomy two months ago due to suspected follicular cancer. Going to take 5mcg tonight.......

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lizzigill]

If taking any supplements that contain biotin remember to stop these a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results (in most vitamin B complex)

EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time of splitting of dose day before test

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Lizzigill]

Oh dear. It didn't work for me last night. Fell asleep ok and woke an hour later wide awake and wired for most of the night. I think next step will be CT3 method and try a dose at 4am. ... .

[endomad in reply to Lizzigill]

CT3M prob good idea. T3 shows up adrenal problems which often feels wired. I take 75mcg at night and sleep, my endo is amazed. I tried taking it mornings and i was exhausted, i had trouble sleeping, mine was adrenal waking every night at 3am. For some reason t3 takes about 9 hours for me to feel awake we are all different and we have to experiment to find what works. Drs really are clueless. x

[Lizzigill in reply to endomad]

Wow that's a huge dose all at once! But as you say we're all different. Wondering if upping my dose might help. Clutching at straws really and so in the dark. Trial and error and not be afraid now I think.

[Hidden in reply to Lizzigill]

I'm struggling with this currently too! I'm definitely undermedicated, trying to raise everything in the morning, I take 112 levo and 15 t3, last night tried to split to take 5 mcg t3 at night, it didn't work then took 10 mcg t3 this morning and I'm feeling really low! Going back to 15 t3 tomorrow and them most likely going up to 17.5 or 20...

[endomad in reply to Lizzigill]

I found it difficult in the early days with no dr/endo support, once i found what worked for me, they were happy to follow my lead. It is a leap of faith but for me I couldnt have felt any worse than I was at that time, so i had nothing to lose. Left to my drs i would still be house bound with fatigue, chronic pain, IBS, burning feet, massive weight gain (the list was endless) levo made me feel even worse! We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. x

[nettecologne in reply to endomad]

Could you tell me when you had burning feet and when exactly did that go away?

[endomad in reply to nettecologne]

I had burning feet for 2 years after TT I was severely under medicated. B5 eased it and once I started NDT the T3 did the rest. I am now T3 only and it hasn't returned, it was miserable and I still remember the first morning I got out of bed and walked to kitchen instead of hobbling, I cried, walking was unbearable. Get a good quality B5 and I had a heaped tspn of marmite every day. My feet felt like I had 2 steams irons pressed to the soles of my feet.

[VintageMustard]

Do you take levothyroxine as well?

[Lizzigill in reply to VintageMustard]

Morning! No purely T3. Levo didn't agree with me.

[Lovecake]

Magnesium? Do you take it? That can have a relaxing effect too.

Need to research though as not all forms are good (eg some make you constipated, others make you go too much).

I use the magnesium sleep lotion from BetterYou. I use it most nights and it does help me sleep more deeply.

Maybe put quiet gentle music on in your bedroom, it might help you to relax too. You can put a timer on some gadgets to turn off after a couple of hours or so, that might help you?

[Lizzigill in reply to Lovecake]

I do take magnesium yes but in the morning. Will swap thank you x

[Eddie83]

1) Where is your FT3? If you have a blood-draw in the morning before taking T3, are you higher than, say, mid-range? You don't want to be over-range.

2) You might want to try the Paul Robinson protocol in which you reinforce a T3 peak about 4am. Look at recoveringwitht3.com.

3) Do you have sleep onset insomnia, or middle insomnia? You should tell us which one.

4) A classic naturopathic trick to reinforce sleep is to use the free amino acid tryptophan, or its metabolite 5-HTP. (Amino acid absorption from your diet decreases with age.) I already know my T3 dose is about right. So when I wake up in the middle of the night, I take 10mg tryptophan per pound body weight, then I eat a small carbohydrate snack to help tryptophan get through the blood-brain barrier. (Some people claim combining tryptophan with collagen also potentiates the tryptophan.)

5) Sometimes I take a dropper of high-dose CBD oil to reinforce sleep, also. Both my spouse and I have found this helpful.

6) If you have Hashi's, have you researched any of the info on dietary factors and environmental exposures which elevate thyroid antibodies? Gluten is my personal Kryptonite.

[Polly91]

I’ve learned you need energy in the form of thyroid hormone to help you sleep. I didn’t quite believe it until I started taking my thyroid replacement in the evening.

Also need to take supplements that stimulate the immune system like vitamin C or B complex early in the day as these can keep you awake.

[Biddy51 in reply to Polly91]

Do you all take T4 too? 😉

[Lizzigill in reply to Biddy51]

Hi there T3 only. T4 didn't agree with me!

[Biddy51 in reply to Lizzigill]

Ok thanks!

[Polly91 in reply to Biddy51]

I take one dose in the morning and one at about 7pm. Helps with sleep.

I also take liposomal melatonin (quick silver). Works for me.

[Cincolo]

I would test female hormones and adrenals with a cortisol saliva test before trying T3 at bedtime or during the night. It gives me energy and I definitely know it would keep me awake. Test female hormones first (cheaper).

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

[Lizzigill in reply to Cincolo]

I am actually post menopause and on HRT?

[Hidden]

Hey Lizzigill, I thought I'll post an update, as I had the same problem as you with falling asleep and I have increasing my dose of t3 (I take 20 t3 and 112 Levo in the morning). The last few days I started to fall asleep and having much deeper sleep . I thought I'd mention it,it seems an increase has helped me