sleep???: I wanted to send a quick thank you to... - Thyroid UK

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sleep???

totallyFrustrated profile image
48 Replies

I wanted to send a quick thank you to all the people who sent me links re purchasing T3. (user names redacted by admin) sent me links that the admin said were ok, so I sent the money and am now awaiting my parcel. But While I am waiting, I am wondering how many of you have difficulty sleeping and if you found something that helps?

I cannot understand why I am so fatigued and tired and bone-weary all day, sometimes falling asleep with my face in the keyboard, and yet at night I am awake, tossing and turning and consider it a good night if I get 4 hours (interrupted) sleep in total out of 24.

A lot of this has to do with profuse sweating at night. even when my body temp is only 34.1degrees centigrade, but even on a good night without sweating, I still am awake for more hours than I am asleep.

If any of you have any tips on how I can get more sleep I would be so grateful

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48 Replies
Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

I find that taking a magnesium supplement early evening helps me unwind and sleep better. I like magnesium glycinate, as this is easy on the stomach (but other members have different preferences) or use magnesium salts in the bath.

You may fine this previously post on magnesium useful

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toBuddy195

thank you buddy, as I also have B12 deficiency, I have been taking Magnesium bisglycinate for years even as much as 400millygram a day, but with this I only get 4 hours. Without it none at all. Is there anything wewlse that might help?

Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator in reply tototallyFrustrated

I’ve been through periods of poor sleep and have tried lavender sprays etc but (for me) these smelled nice but didn’t aid sleep. I try and do gentle exercise (a few easy yoga poses) to meditation type music before going to bed and have found this helpful.

I hope others will chip in with other things to try…

Obsdian profile image
Obsdian

I am edging towards menopause and take a larger dose of progesterone which is a life saver. I already worry what will happen when I hit an age when they want to taper off hrt.

Hookie01 profile image
Hookie01 in reply toObsdian

You can stay on it for life, a lot of women do.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Get your cortisol checked - 24 hour saliva test if possible.

FallingInReverse profile image
FallingInReverse

I had as GG noted done a 6 point saliva cortisol test last year for the same symptoms. In my early days of waking up tired for hours and puffy faced, GG I think noted that this grogginess that clears by noon is often our cortisol.

My cortisol awakening response was ok enough that I then chased down other things to make me awake in the morning and tired at night.

Optimizing my thyroid and taking the stress off my adrenals helped my mornings, but didn’t fix the fact that a bedtime every night I just perked up wide awake despite being exhausted.

For me these things helped 1) melatonin, 2) magnesium (which then eliminated my need for melatonin), and 3) progesterone.

totallyFrustrated I’m a few days into progesterone (bio identical progesterone, not synthetic) and it is absolutely a help for sleep.

I actually researched it because of a few things - like it is part of HRT - but originally because of my wired-tiredness. Progesterone acts in the neurotransmitters that make us awake or sleepy.

The last few days I will say that the progesterone pill actually feels like a sleeping pill. It’s not the same of course, but I was tired within 15-30 minutes of taking it.

Obsdian How much do you take now and what do you know about why they’d taper you off?

Also - I don’t think you guys can get melatonin easily in the UK, can you? That definitely works.

FoggyThinker profile image
FoggyThinker in reply toFallingInReverse

We can get 5-HTP which if I remember correctly is a precursor to melatonin, and is supposed to help with sleep and mood

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply toFallingInReverse

I buy melatonin in different strengths from Biovea in the UK without a problem. It has a European despatch warehouse & all my orders have arrived without a problem or extra charges. I might have been lucky but I’ve been using melatonin for at least 6 months. Lots of American supplements on Biovea.

Thypee profile image
Thypee in reply toFallingInReverse

I get melatonin from my GP with no problems.

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toThypee

are you living in the UK?

Thypee profile image
Thypee in reply tototallyFrustrated

Yes

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toThypee

how do you manage to get that from your GP? Which magic word opened that sesame?

FoggyThinker profile image
FoggyThinker in reply toFallingInReverse

Interesting about the soporific effect of progesterone. I found it worked a bit too well, and turned me into a zombie during the day, too, so I had to stop the HRT. I tried it before starting thyroid treatment and wonder if I'd do better with it now?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

low B12 causes night sweats

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/252...

How low is your B12

What’s folate result

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Many members on Levo plus small dose of T3 …..find small dose T3 at bedtime improves sleep

But initially start with small dose T3 waking

When adding 2nd dose …..roughly mid afternoon

VSHchocolate profile image
VSHchocolate in reply toSlowDragon

I find a 5mcg dose of T3 improves my sleep a lot. When I tried taking my Levothyroxine at night it really disrupted my sleep. We are all so different, as I know other people find it better if they take it at night. For me it has been trial and error to see what works best. I use Melatonin when I struggle to sleep. Git it in the States as you can buy it over the counter there . Good luck

Indigourchin profile image
Indigourchin in reply toVSHchocolate

yes i was the same 5mcg at 11 pm helps, plus melatonin spray, plus rhodiola magnolia and natural progesterone, still lucky to have more than 2 hours deep sleep and a further 3-4 light sleep

i dont but can drop off to sleep in the day easily!

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

Random thought, what are your Vit D levels like?

Hectorsmum2 profile image
Hectorsmum2

I take 5htp for depression mainly but helps with sleep.

Arlie123 profile image
Arlie123

I get exactly these symptoms when my t3 drops too low, so it may well help you.

Katherine1234 profile image
Katherine1234

I suffered with this. It is awful. Mine ended up being cortisol and lack of minerals. I did a cortisol saliva test and I was very high in the morning, flatlined all day and rose to just above normal in the evening.

I took ashwagandha and magnesium malate in the morning. Took ashwagandha again 2 hours before bed. I also took B5, thiamine B1, potassium, zinc and magnesium glycinate an hour before bed to unwind my body and prepare it for sleep.

Low thyroid causes our cortisol to over compensate. We also run low on b vits. In the day I took a muti B complex.

All that sweating makes us short on minerals. Upon waking would take a couple of grains of Celtic unrefined grey sea salt on my tongue chased down with a glass of water. I would do this another 2 or 3 times during the day or evening.

1eskimo profile image
1eskimo

Taking my cynomel when waking up around 4 or 5 am actually often helps me to go back to sleep again. I began to do that after reading studies suggesting that T3 peaks early in the morning, around 4-5 AM, in connection with the rise of cortisol, which prepares the body for wakefulness. This peak is followed by a gradual decrease throughout the morning.

waveylines profile image
waveylines

You may find this settles with the T3 added in. When ure T3 level are low the adrenal kick in to compensate. Be worth nosing at Paul Robinsons book and his talk about the circadian rhythm. Also done for get that the adrenal thyroid and ovaries arw all interlinked. If ine ir out of kilter the other two eoll try to counterbalance.

CoeliacMum1 profile image
CoeliacMum1

Have a look at information regarding circadian rhythm.

Getting early morning light on your eyes even on dreary days or sit by window for breakfast if going out is not possible, and blackout blinds curtains at night and no stimulants before bedtime or gadgets and have a relaxing bedtime routine, along with trying to get hormones in balance eg hrt maybe required.

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toCoeliacMum1

Thank you, I need to look into the HRT thing. do you think at nearly 70 my GP will even listen to me? Is there a magic word i need to use to get their interest ( apart from please, of course:P)

CoeliacMum1 profile image
CoeliacMum1 in reply tototallyFrustrated

Do lots of reading on subject go in armed knowing what you want and why… try seeing a Dr or specialist at your practice in this area most have one with specialist interest it will save repeat visits/calls to get to right Dr…look at Dr Louise Newson website there’s a list of symptoms you can download and fill in take with you … don’t let the biased TV programme put you off looking for good information on her website - in my opinion it ended up being a witch hunt disguised as looking at unregulated products, but did highlight inadequacies in NHS in this area and the need for more help and closer monitoring of people on hrt, I spoke to lady who was interviewed on the programme and unfortunately some people will have problems exacerbated by whether or not on or off medication. Myself had similar problems that was highlighted in programme but I wasn’t on hrt, so happens even without … I’m on hrt after various examinations and saw gynaecologist who has no problem with me having it (I’m 59 though) but you can have it as long as required … but given you’ve gone a length of time without I’m sure something else will be probably blamed for your symptoms so get them to investigate them and rule them out if needs be … might take a while but hopefully after alls been looked at they’ll give you 3 month trial.

Higher blood sugar, Cortisol spikes can give you night sweats but many things can, including even an overactive thyroid.

Once you take Liothyronine your TSH will most likely go low and GP will jump on that as reason fyi.

So many variables with health to say what causes what individually, advice is best coming from GP who has all your medical history… there’s no reason not to try hrt unless there’s other history GP knows of and they will explain… but not many people can’t have it…sleep for me was a progesterone thing, but also many don’t tolerate it too… all trial and error we are all different.

FallingInReverse profile image
FallingInReverse in reply toCoeliacMum1

totallyFrustrated

Among all the replies, I just wanted to boost the one about early morning light.

It is more powerful than it sounds and so much science behind it.

Sunlight or even artificial light sets off an awakening response. Facing towards the light and taking deep breaths. Even getting a little movement in - like a 10-15 minutes - activates your awakening response.

Simple free and naturally aligned with our bodies. I will say it’s not always as easy as it sounds when you can’t get your head off the pillow. But it is definitely a habit everyone should build.

FoggyThinker profile image
FoggyThinker in reply toFallingInReverse

I'm getting quite good results with a SAD light too

FallingInReverse profile image
FallingInReverse in reply toFoggyThinker

Which did you get?

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toFallingInReverse

can't remember, I went for the cheapest, and it hasn't arrived yet.

FoggyThinker profile image
FoggyThinker in reply toFallingInReverse

Mine is a Lumie Mini - I think they're discounted at the moment

Lovecake profile image
Lovecake

Hi, if you are adding T3, you might find you actually sleep better with it.

I have magnesium capsules around 9pm. Sometimes a small amount of magnesium sleep lotion on my feet and calves. Lavender essence can help too.

But I also take 5mcg of my T3 when I wake during the night. That seems to helps me sleep too.

It’s not amazing every night, especially if I have worries like my mum falling and breaking her arm………but in general I sleep quite well. 😊

Lolalottie profile image
Lolalottie

I also suffer with the same. The sweats are worse at night but I also get them in the day. Have started taking B12 at the suggestion of this site. Have tried the Calm Carry which works for some to aid sleep but unfortunately not for me. I am awaiting an endo appt with a view to adding T3 but it is a long wait.

Doris11 profile image
Doris11

I sweat at night 🙈 only started when I became Hypothyroid 😔😔😔

Slowrunner1208 profile image
Slowrunner1208

Hi, I empathise with the sleep and the sweats! I don’t sweat just wake up feeling like I’m cooking from the inside. I’ve worked on vitamins, take supplements as advised on here and take T3. I’ve gone back on HRT in the last 2 weeks so am hoping this will make a difference.

Good luck with your issue and I think the T3 will be really helpful 😊

Loseley profile image
Loseley

I just looked up re body temp 34.1 C and this is what nhs says: Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35C (normal body temperature is around 37C). It's a medical emergency that needs to be treated in hospital.

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toLoseley

Thank you Loseley, So glad I am not the only one who thinks this, but whenever I mentioned it to a GP they just look at me as if I lost every last one of my marbles and ignore it and me. It never even made it into my notes.

Loseley profile image
Loseley in reply tototallyFrustrated

I’ve looked up some more and your temperature counts as mild hypothermia. I feel horrible when my temperature drops down in the 35s. 🥶

northshorerescue.com/educat...

What are the 5 stages of hypothermia?

Treating Hypothermia

HT I: Mild Hypothermia, 35-32 degrees. Normal or near normal consciousness, shivering.

HT II: Moderate Hypothermia, 32-28 degrees. Shivering stops, consciousness becomes impaired.

HT III: Severe Hypothermia, 24-28 degrees. ...

HT IV: Apparent Death, 15-24 degrees.

HT V: Death from irreversible hypothermia.

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toLoseley

When my temp is that low, I am sweating buckets. My pygamas are dripping wet ( yes, if I wring them out they drip) and all my bedding is soaked and the mattress is so soaked right throught that there is mould growing on the underside of it. I DO NOT feel cold at the time, only during the day am I cold and my feet feel like iceblocks all the way up to my knees.

On the other hand when I get into a red hot bath, the bits in the water turn lobster red and the bits outside the water have goosebumps and I am shivvering so hard for the first 5 minutes I have to be careful not to swap all the water out of the bath. maybe that is why my GPs think I am nuts

Hello, oh you wonderful people, I would love to reply to every one of you, but forgive me, I just don't have the energy.

I am so please to hear that you all suffer, or have suffered from similar symptoms. No, not happy you are suffering too, but happy that I am not the only one and totally bonkers, which is what my GP makes me feel like. To give you some idea what my relationship with my GP surgery is like: I had been conplaining about lack of fertility in my 30's, was put on cannot remember was it clomid? made me fat but not pregnant. In my 40's I complained about excessive fatigue to the point where I went to work, came home , went straight to bed. No life other than sleep and work was possible. In my 50's said I really am sure my thyroid is in trouble, family history of mother and both grandmothers and possibly further back. Blood tests allegedly normal. I plagued them every year and eventually they agreed, I needed Thyroxyn. My TSH at that point was 38. And the first time they gave me a number. Levothyroxyn lowered my TSH but my symptoms became so much worse. I was told it's because we haven't got the dosage right you need more. Long story short, I got worse and worse, and every upping of the dosage made it progressively worse until I decided enough is enough and I refused to take it anymore. They sent me to an endocrinologist who said I needed T3 with my Levo, so maybe I ought to take armour, but cannot get on prescription with the National Health so need a private prescription and pay for the T3. I said ok, please write me the prescription and I will do that. He said the GP with write you the prescription. When I asked my GP he said: if the endo wants you to have that, then let him write the prescription. So nowhere to go. To make matters worse, from then on, every time I went to the GP for migraines, or back pain, or anything else, his first question was: are you taking your thyroxin, I said No, and he said in that case I am not interested in anything else. Go away and come back when you are talking your thyroxin. About 10 years ago I found a lovely Doctor while I was visiting my Mom in Europe and he immediately said you are one of those you need T3. He gave me a prescription and I have been taking T3 for thyroid ever since +iron, + magnesium, + D3K2, +Zink + selenium and for the last 2 years, I am self-injecting B12 every other day and have been pretty good on all that. But since that doctor passed I am without T3, basically went cold turkey, and feel like I am about to die. I appreciate you people telling me to get tested, but my GPs are just not interested, and now, nearly 70y old my state pension makes it very difficult. I even asked the GP and then separately the nurse, if they would take my blood and give it to me so I could send it to a private lab. No go. I am keen to hear more about the menopause hormone helping with sleep but hold out little hope of the GPs even listening. Are there maybe any magic words I don't know that I need to say to make them listen?

Sorry for the very long post. Just so glad to get all this off my chest for a bit. Thank you all for listening

FoggyThinker profile image
FoggyThinker in reply tototallyFrustrated

Please don't worry, I think we've all (or most of us anyway) been there with the lack of energy! Hope you're feeling better soon

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills

How is your blood sugar? You could be having hypoglycaemic episodes at night. Hypothyroidism makes sugar control more difficult. GPs love to test for diabetes so you could ask for a test . Maybe you have a Medichecks or similar result that shows a Hb1Ac result?

You could try eating slow release carbohydrates & protein late in the evening. The cold sweat & waking can be caused by a shortage of sugar & subsequent adrenaline rush. T3 dosing can increase blood sugar problems. Berberine is a useful supplement to try for increased sugar control

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toBertwills

Hello Bertwills, I will try that. the sleeping problem in the past was sorted when I started self injecting with B12 and took my T3. It only came back in the last 6 month or so, since I have been without T3, but I shall try your advice right away, I am desperate and would try anything at this point. And a carb richt meal with protein is easy to administer :P

I will let you know tomorrow morning how it went.

oh yeah, it's not cold sweat, i am burning up, as if there was a fire inside. Just when my speaking clock said it's 2am and 8 degrees centigrade i thought that cannot be right and took my temp to find it was just 34.2. Been checking most nights since and it;'s always around that. First thing in the morning it even reaches as hgh as 34.8

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply tototallyFrustrated

So 34 degrees is way below normal body temperature which is why I thought cold sweat. It’s a hypo symptom but you are at the extreme low temp level. You shouldn’t be sweating. I think it’s adrenaline which is why you feel hot. That’s also a symptom of hypothermia. People throw off their clothes when they’re hypothermic. You body is distressed. So are you taking no thyroid hormone at all? Can you take T4 & T3? It gives a smoother effect.

totallyFrustrated profile image
totallyFrustrated in reply toBertwills

the GPs in this country give only T4 and that makes me worse. When my doctor in europ was still alive I took only T3 and that worked well. my T4 stayed withing the normal range throughout without talking any. I can purchase T3 only with prescription, and GP's in england refuse. This sirte helped me a few days ag ith asource of T3 withoout prescription and I am waiting with baited breath for my parcel to arrive....Keep your fingers crossed for me, as it did work in the past and I so hope it will do again

Sunflower535 profile image
Sunflower535

Like you I was getting very little unbroken sleep. Not sure if it has any link or not but I started using a SAD lamp bought from Amazon and my sleep has improved a lot. I can get 6 hours which is a big improvement. It's not perfect yet but getting there. I used to go to bed at 10, sleep immediately then waken at 2am and then take about 2 hours to get back to sleep again. Now I'm getting one block of unbroken sleep. I do still be tired but nowhere near as bad. Could be nothing to do with my new lamp but thought I would mention. Hope you get sorted.

GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator in reply toSunflower535

Getting morning light or using a SAD lamp or equivalent has really helped me too. Can recommend. You can get light 'glasses' that you wear which makes it easier and not tied to sitting or lying by the lamp.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I've recently started taking this form of magnesium and it is helping with my sleep.

onbuy.com/gb/p/magnesium-gl...

I had previously been taking magnesium citrate alone, mainly for constipation, but it wasn't much use for sleeping, so I like my new magnesium tablets and am using other ways to deal with my constipation when necessary.

The dose for the magnesium combo I've linked is 2 capsules per day. I think I will take the whole of the first bag, with two capsules a day, and then will experiment with one a day for my next bag, and see what happens.

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