Neuro Symptoms From disrupted Sleep??

[DaiseySis]

My question is in regard to the fact that I have had my present job for the past 12 years. I get about 3 or 4 hours of sleep before going on this shift, then 3 or 4 hours after getting off the shift.
I'm getting 7 to 8 hours per night of sleep but it is broken up. A few years ago, I developed Hashimoto's Thyroiditis/hypo but it is treated now with correct dose of Armour (may yet be adding small amount of T-4).
My symptoms that I suspect are sleep related, rather than from the thyroid, are: occassional muscle twitches, hot pin ***** nerve type pains, fatigue, eye-sensitivity to light, numbness/tingling in hands/feet especially during night in bed (also muscle cramps in arches of feet), senstive nerve type sensation on scalp (intermittent), short bouts of blurred vision (sometimes in one eye), shakiness in limbs, digestive problems, liver enzymes (ALT) elevated consistantly only 1-point above normal and low cortisol level.
Is it possible, all of these are sleep deprivation related neuro symptoms and that my thyroid is only a contributing factor, due to it requiring me slightly more sleep than the average person??
I've been concerned about ALS or MS but beginning to think I may be overlooking the obvious!
Please Advize & God Bless.
DaiseySis

[tdister]

I don't have any suggestions, sorry, but I do have some questions. I have had the same symptoms as you for ~6 months, though they come and go (they come more than they go). In additon I notice numb/tingling spots on the ball of my foot sometimes, I have been able to manipulate it by pressing in a certain area to make it worse/better. It could be totally unrelated.

My main question, and sorry to hijack, is if this can be caused by bad sleep as well. It seems like I get enough time-wise, It's just that I remember having very vivid odd dreams, often nightmares, for a while and lots of them. It seems I have them most all the time, not just a certain point in my sleep cycle. Any suggestions?

/again, sorry if this is considered rude, I'm running out of options and this is driving me crazy.

[charley1986]

just a question: You said that your cortisol level was low?  I am in the midst of waiting for my levels due to possiblity of adrenal gland problems.....in my case, as to what I've read, stress - continued stress can cause low cortisol levels and that in turn could end up being a disorder of your adrenal glands - wreaking havoc on your body.  Just a thought. Hope it helps.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

You are certainly correct in your last sentence - common things are common is a saying we medics use. MS and ALS are rare, and your symptoms do not suggest either, although I cannot give you a formal opinion over the internet, adn you should see a neurologist. Ms occurs in discrete attacks and ALS doe snot have snesory symptoms.

We are understanding more about fragmented sleep and neurolgical problems. For example, narcolepsy, a disease characterized by daytime sleepness, hallucinations at night, falls, among other things is caused by fragmented sleep. We need deep sleep or REM sleep to function normally, this type of sleep only starts after 90 minutes, and is present more often in the last 4 hours of an 8 hour sleep. Two 3-4 hour periods may mena you are not getting enough REM sleep.

Lack of sleep or fatigue could cause the symptoms, although not digestive problems or ALT elevation. But a neurolgist should evalaute this, and monitor over time, or if you develop new symptoms this would need to be evaluated.

Trying to improve you sleep schedule, even if it means changing job (and your symptoms are bad enough) may be necessary to confim the diagnossi and reverse the symptoms. IF youdrink a lot of caffeinated beverages you should cut down. A consultation with a sleep neurologist and/or polysomnogram may help.