Severe Insomnia

[GrandmaDawn]

I am a 52 year old Grandmother that is desperate to get some sleep.  I have several diagnosis which includes Sleep Apnea, Fibromyalgia, Restless Leg Syndrome, Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and several others.  I feel like a walking catastrophe.  I joke with my husband that I wouldn't blame him if he traded me in on a younger model but the truth of the matter is nobody would take me in a trade in!!! ha ha.  But really this is no laughing matter.  Recently (August 22) I had my sixth surgery since 1998.  I had the left lobe of my thyroid removed due to a jellybean size calcified nodule removed.  It was benign...thankfully.  However. ..My insomnia, which I have been suffering from the past three years is even worse.  It is worse in the fact that even the antidepressants that the doctor prescribed will not work.  He has changed it at least three times in the past month.  Frankly....I don't think that they work all that well anyway...as it is a hit and miss thing.  Sometimes I go as long as four days without sleeping at all.  It is horrible as it makes me so anxious and irritable.  I recently had my blood tested to see if my thyroid was working.   My doctor claims it is okay and I can wait another six weeks to test again.  However...everything I have researched says I am for sure hypothyroid with a TSH at 4.599 and my T4 at 5.0 and the T3 uptake at 29 and Free Thyroxine Index at 1.5.  Is anyone out there aware of hypothyroid causing insomnia to be worse and not reactive to medications?  I am really frustrated with my doctor as he will not recognize the American Association of Clinical Endocronologists guidelines of a TSH over 3.0 as hypothyroid.  I think that I am hypo at this time and it is causing a great deal of anxiousness and depression....and far more fatigue than I have ever felt being a Fibromyalgia patient since late 1999!  I cannot get into an Endocronologist until the end of December even with a referrel from my doctor.  I am so miserable not sleeping and am considering taking prescription sleeping pills but I am worried about them interferring with my hormones that are already a mess!  Any suggestions out there would be very much appreciated.  

[noops01]

Hi,
Hypothyroidism can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Patients with hypothyroidism are asked to avoid canola oil, cabbage, cauliflower, lima beans, soy, brussel sprouts. So you can try making some dietary changes and see if they work for you.

[hoy]

I have had profound insomnia for many years. Several times I have gone seven days in a row with not a minute of sleep. It is life altering. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars and trying all imaginable routes to cure my insomnia. In all my homework I discovered (not my doc) that I had severe undiagnosed approx20 year hypothyroid history.Although it is not the cause of my sleeplessness. I also discoved I have Fibromalgia. Fibro and sleepless go hand in hand they are frequently assosiated with hypothyriod. In other words,if you have one you have the other two as well or eventually will.Fibro worsens with no sleep. If I can keep the Fibro in check the insomnia is not as severe. Fibro;drink lots of water,(but not just before bed) say no to others; less stress. eat healthy,Recovery powder 2 times per day in juice. Essencial fatty acids ie; flax seed oil. 5HTP-one at dinner ,two at bed. Good for sleep available at vitamin  store.good luck

[Connie 1]

Grandma, it's sad you see Dawn before sleeping for four days in a row!  That would make anyone anxious and irritable.  I would trust my doctor to interpret lab tests.  My friends with hypothyroid say they sleep more, but still feel more tired.  They certainly don't sleep less.  Your anxiousness and depression about the TSH over 3 even if it does represent hypothyroidism, wouldn't make you less sleepy, only more.  Ask your doctor for more help.  The antidepressants help many of my friends get more sleep