problems sleeping

hopefull

hopefull

Cathlete
I have been having a difficult time sleeping now for almost two years. I have thyroid problems, hypo, and am wondering if this is the problem. I have had a huge struggle finding a doctor that really understands hypothyroidism. I am not severe, 75mcgs keeps me pretty regulated except for the sleep problem. I've tried reducing my meds, but then I have other problems, like IBS symptoms,hair loss, weight gain. I have nights when sleep is almost impossible. Seems to be worse about a week before my period starts. I really have to watch supplements, because of the thyroid condition. (Melatonin is out because of this.) I am wondering if this could also be perimenopause. I am coping pretty well right now because it's summer, and I can sneak a nap in there. I can nap just fine. I about croaked during the school year, however. I was feeling like a walking zombie from lack of sleep. I can usually sleep for about 3 hours when I first go to sleep, then I wake up and it is a hopeless case from there. I work out at night, but I have always done this. Would love some suggestions.
 
Also hypo and perimenopausal and have problems sleeping through the night too. But problem for me is dry eyes that wake me and so far no solution found. First see if you can figure out what is making you wake up and not be able to fall back to sleep - room temp, etc. Maybe see your reg or OB-GYN and check out possible hormonal cause. I have used tylenol PM and that has helped me before this other problem. Just 1 is all I need. I feel for you though - I know the feeling of night after night of distrubed sleep!! Good luck. opefully soon you can have a whole night of pleasant dreams.
 
hi.. I dont have hypothyroid, but I have fibromyalgia, which affects my sleep...People who have fibro tend to sleep light and never really are in deep r.e.m. and thats why we wake up several times a night. I have been put on 50mg of zoloft (believe it or not it helps because it increases seratonin which effects sleep) and I take 750mg of a muscle relaxer at bedtime along with a warm bath...since these changes I have been sleeping thru the nite better...I understand your frustration getting up and not being able to go back to sleep and then you wake up exhausted..I used to trip over my own feet because i was so fatigued. You might look into a antidepressant because i think that people with thyroid problems have the seratonin shortage also. I would also nix the late workouts...I never workout after 6:00...cuz your wired for a couple of hours after wards.. you may have been able to do this before but as we age our chemistries change and what used to work doesnt neccessarily cut it anymore. May you have sweet and long dreams...hope I helped
:) :) :)
 
Now I know why my doctor suggested I take an antidepressant. If he would just explain why. The last time I had labs done he suggested an antidepressant, because I was complaining of being depressed. He increased my synthroid which really did help for awhile. If he had just explained why an antidepressant might help I would have been more inclined to take him up on his suggestion. I have stayed clear of antidepressants because my doctor told me they sometimes cause weight gain. My weight is a perpetual struggle. I don't need anything making it even harder. Thanks for the info.

Hopefull
 
Are you seeing an Endocrinologist? They would be the best specialists for the problems you are describing.
 
the older classes of antidepressants do cause weight gain, the newer ones called ssri's do not cause weight gain... I can only speak for myself but I look at a brownie and gain weight so I am very sensitive to weight gain, I have not gained anything on zoloft. Zoloft, Pazil and prozac are all ssri's. Usually docs prescribe the older classes of antidepressants to treat pain also (usually neurological). There have not been any studies that show that ssri's cause weight gain. it is something to look into and it will take that "edge" off and help you sleep...hope i helped..any questions ... i'll check this topic back again...good luck to you
 
Wellbutrin is an antidepressant and I have seen that linked to weight loss. Might be worth a try if your MD suggested that and maybe it would help with weight loss too or at least no gain. Good luck. Let us know if you find something that works. I'm sure you'll be jumping for joy and be full of energy with a full night's sleep!
 
I had a long bout of insmonia as well. I've always been a light sleeper. This insomnia defied treamtent and I tried relaxation and warm baths, and a number of medications. You might ask your doctor to prescribe a sleeping pill like Ambien for the short term. You need to get a few consecutive nights sleep. My doc prescribed Clonazepam, an anti-depressant/anti-seizure med. Nothing worked particularly well but I did not go off the deep end and sometimes I felt like I would. I had 18-20 hour days and terrible nights. I could fall asleep and stay asleep but I woke up at 3:00 or 3:30 and could not go back to sleep. We discussed a class of drugs developed in the 60's as anti-depressants which did not work as such but seemed to help insomniacs stay asleep. One drug, Elavil, zonked me but I was very sluggish the next day. It's very tricky but keep trying to find the solution. Insomnia can make your life feel unbearable. I think it's alot like finding the correct anti-depressant. Everyone has different brain chemistry and it takes a little trial and error to find the thing that works for you. My doctor started by encouraging exercise and nutrition but I already had that covered so we did a number of drug therapies. A sleeping pill might be necessary just to get you some much needed rest. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Insomnia is a serious and life disrupting monster. I finally began to sleep just fine and I hope you do too! Don't give up and pester your doctor as much as is necessary. Good luck to you. :)
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
I'm a hypo on 1.25 mg. I have problems sleeping when I have too many covers on and I begin to sweat or if the bedroom is stuffy from the heat. That DH always closes the windows at night, cause he hates the birds chirping in the early morning, meanwhile I'm dying. I doubt it's your thyroid if it's properly regulated. But, I'm no doctor. You may not need more medications to help your condition. Also, if you have some stress and have lot on your mind, that will be a problem. Talk to your doctor or get a different one. I have an internist that I really love. He always talks to me and explains things well. I guess I get suspicious of Dr.'s that always prescribe a pill. :) Good Luck
 
I was wondering if your sleep has come back naturally, or did you finally find something that worked. Thanks for all your suggestions!

Hopefull
 
Oh NO!!!! I think my DH is a bigamist! :) My DH also closes the window because of the birds and I sweat to death. Sometimes I convince him to leave it open and he shuts it after I'm asleep and I wake up wandering why it got so hot. Grrrrrrr!!!! I think we should have discussed this window issue before we got married.
 
Hopeful, I am not really sure how it happened. I was desperate for sleep and trying every method available but the drug induced sleep left me feeling groggy and tired in a different way. I finally decided to just quit taking the meds and to try to do it on my own. At first, I still woke to early but gradually I started sleeping later and later and now I am sleeping fine. I do take Wellbutrin for depression and it may have helped. I also do yoga about 5 times per week and I don't read or watch TV in bed. I also think I sort of calmed myself down and quit fretting about not sleeping so much. I am not a good relaxer and I think that was a factor but my diet is great and I exercise daily so I thought if I could stop worrying it would come and it did. My doctor was amazing too. She really worked with me first to get some sleep any way possible and then to help me realize that I could and should be able to do it on my own. In the past bouts of insomnia meant frequent waking and the early rising I was experiencing is definitely common in depression. When the depression was in check but the sleep issues remained, it was puzzling but it just took time and I have actually overslept a few times lately. I don't own an alarm clock. I have never needed one. Now I sleep until 5:30 or 6:00 and that's perfect for me.

I did have my thyroid checked and it was normal. Apparently thyroid problems can trigger depression but that checked out. Work with your doctor because it seems to me that if you can get enough sleep to feel rested in the short term, it's easier to tell yourself you can and will sleep on your own but only when you have had a chance to catch up on lost sleep. Interestingly, a few of the heavy hitting drugs made me more wakeful. I also found it interesting how many drugs that were prescribed for other conditions like depression and seizures could be used for short term sleep problems. Xanax is another drug which can be very helpful for sleeping. If you can find one that works for you long enough to feel rested, you might be able to break the cycle and sleep on your own. I hope so!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
I experienced perimenopausal symptoms that definitely affected my sleep. My thyroid's normal - as far as I know. I'd be all geared up around bedtime, unable to relax and get to sleep. If I did drop off, I'd wake up every hour or two until the wee hours of the morning. Then, I'd be dead when the alarm went off. I was also waking up with night sweats. Ugh.

Doc put me on low dose bc to even things out. I'm sleeping better now, but still wake up a couple of times a night and still get pretty warm. I know how some of you feel... my husband turns the thermostat up when he goes to bed and I wake up wondering why it's so hot. LOL

Angela
 
I don't know old you are Hopeful but your sypmtoms are classic perimenopausal symptoms. I don't know much about thyroid though.

The lack of sleep, hair loss and weight gain are all on the LIST.
 
Everyone keeps telling me I'm too young to have perimenopausal symptoms - I'm 37 - but it was unmistakeable. I think you can begin to experience them anywhere from mid 30s on... possibly younger.

And the insomnia was a big adjustment for me. If anything, I've always had the opposite problem... fatigue and drowsiness. I used to be asleep before my head hit the pillow. After a few consecutive sleepless nights, I was a wreck.
 
When I was thirty-seven, I went to my doc convinced I was perimenopausal but my blood work came back normal. That didn't convince me that I wasn't and, at 41, I have a list of symptoms that read Perimenopausal with a capital P. It's scary to think this will go on until I'm 50 or 55. Insomnia is terrible and very dangerous. I have read that it's similar to being legally drunk. Once I had reached a point where I was reluctant to drive my kids anywhere, I opted for drugs to get me some sleep come hell or high water. But it continued until it ran it's course. I won't be surprised if it recurs but at least it can be managable with proper diet, exercise and a good doctor to help out when it overwhelms!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
You might try 5-HTP - I could not sleep through the night for a long time but now I can. It is an amino acid I believe.

Davida
 
I agree that the first thing to do is to see a doc for advice. Outside of that, do everything in your power to enable a good night's sleep. For example, try a warm bath before bed. As your body temperature drops, you will start inducing your body's sleep neurochemicals. Also keep your room at a comfortable temperature and keep it as dark as possible. I always make a list of things I need to take care of the next day, before I go to bed so that my mind is not working through my agenda when it is supposed to be relaxing. A white noise machine also helps keeps sounds from the outside world out of your room.:)
 
Wow, this has been a wealth of information. Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. I think I may try the welbutrin. It is what my doc has been offering me, but I have been reluctant to take an antidepressant. I'm a fretter. Maybe it can help both.

Thanks again!

Hopefull
 
White noise is a wonderful thing. My husband introduced me to the idea of sleeping with a box fan running. If you get one that's on the loud side, it'll drown out almost anything. I find the sound very relaxing and it covers neighbor noise, dogs moving around, etc. Great if you're living in an apartment or duplex. Now, when I travel, I really miss it.
 
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