Aa
Surgery/Thyroid/Sleep Issue/Med Problems
have had sleep issues since October '05. This was several months after
brain surgery to remove a benign tumor, and just after being diagnosed with
Hashimotos Hypothyroid. Started with a mild twitching /startling sensation
just as I was going to sleep. This gave me a fright as I have been vigilant
to the possibility of seizure since the brain surgery. The neuro tested me
quite thoroughly, including 2 EEGs, one awake and I asleep. During both
these events ocurred but the result was no seizure activity. He named this
a benign fasciculation if memory serves, and prescribed 10mg ambien. I also
have had night time peripheral neuropathies in hands and more prominently
in feet- I call this "fire ant " feet :) And for quite some time since the
thyroid diagnosis, I have awakened with this upsetting feeling of
adrenaline rush, sense of "dread", wired/tired, shakiness, just a bad way
to waken every day. This seems always to abate when I get up and move about
getting ready for work. Within 15-20 minutes its gone. It has however,
become increasingly difficult to cope with this awful AM feeling.
In any case the ambien seemed a godsend, at first. After a few weeks I
noticed it was not working as well, at this point I tried ambien cr. This
also worked well at first ( 6 weeks or so) and then came the Nightmares.
This did not do much for that bad waking sensation. I am told by internist
the restlessness and other AM feelings are likely the result of having very
low ferritin levels- hovering between 6-9 when I am told it should be well
above 50. Its taking a LONG time to correct this and I am not at all sure
the ferritin is the only culprit.
Finally told neurologist of nightmares, he took me off the ambien
straightaway. Then it was klonopin, which worked very well for a few
months before nightmares again kiked in. I was having 6-7 hrs of solid
sleep before the bad effects began.
The bad morning sensations and neuropathies had seemed better when the
klonopin worked well. It was a shame to have to give it up. O yes in
between this tried a VERY short course of Lunesta. Immediate and long
lasting taste of pennies in mouth made this med go byebye very quickly. It
also seems to exacerbate daytime anxiety.
I have been on a course of ativan since shortly after the brain surgery,
1mg 2-3 times a day. Works well for anxiety problems and also has
anti-seizure properties. I have not needed any increase in dosage in the
more than 2 yrs I have taken it. So now , the suggestion was to add
1.5-2mg ativan at night, for sleep. And thats where I am now. The ativan
,after about a month of taking at night, not very helpful anymore. Not so
much nightmares, but very odd and vivid dreams and waking 4-5 times a night.
All of this on top of the myriad continuing thyroid symptoms has made
something of a small battleground in this part of my life. But I will not
give up. There must be a reasonable explanation and solution for this.
Dealing with the brain tumor seemed a cakewalk compared to this ;)
It has been suggested on a thyroid support forum that adrenal problems
could be contributing to this nighttime and early AM distress. I dont know
but now am going to call internist this week and insist on adrenal function
tests. Been put off on that before. If he won't do them, I will have to go
elsewhere. Any other suggestions or comments greatly appreciated. Thank so
much for having read any part of this very long post.
brain surgery to remove a benign tumor, and just after being diagnosed with
Hashimotos Hypothyroid. Started with a mild twitching /startling sensation
just as I was going to sleep. This gave me a fright as I have been vigilant
to the possibility of seizure since the brain surgery. The neuro tested me
quite thoroughly, including 2 EEGs, one awake and I asleep. During both
these events ocurred but the result was no seizure activity. He named this
a benign fasciculation if memory serves, and prescribed 10mg ambien. I also
have had night time peripheral neuropathies in hands and more prominently
in feet- I call this "fire ant " feet :) And for quite some time since the
thyroid diagnosis, I have awakened with this upsetting feeling of
adrenaline rush, sense of "dread", wired/tired, shakiness, just a bad way
to waken every day. This seems always to abate when I get up and move about
getting ready for work. Within 15-20 minutes its gone. It has however,
become increasingly difficult to cope with this awful AM feeling.
In any case the ambien seemed a godsend, at first. After a few weeks I
noticed it was not working as well, at this point I tried ambien cr. This
also worked well at first ( 6 weeks or so) and then came the Nightmares.
This did not do much for that bad waking sensation. I am told by internist
the restlessness and other AM feelings are likely the result of having very
low ferritin levels- hovering between 6-9 when I am told it should be well
above 50. Its taking a LONG time to correct this and I am not at all sure
the ferritin is the only culprit.
Finally told neurologist of nightmares, he took me off the ambien
straightaway. Then it was klonopin, which worked very well for a few
months before nightmares again kiked in. I was having 6-7 hrs of solid
sleep before the bad effects began.
The bad morning sensations and neuropathies had seemed better when the
klonopin worked well. It was a shame to have to give it up. O yes in
between this tried a VERY short course of Lunesta. Immediate and long
lasting taste of pennies in mouth made this med go byebye very quickly. It
also seems to exacerbate daytime anxiety.
I have been on a course of ativan since shortly after the brain surgery,
1mg 2-3 times a day. Works well for anxiety problems and also has
anti-seizure properties. I have not needed any increase in dosage in the
more than 2 yrs I have taken it. So now , the suggestion was to add
1.5-2mg ativan at night, for sleep. And thats where I am now. The ativan
,after about a month of taking at night, not very helpful anymore. Not so
much nightmares, but very odd and vivid dreams and waking 4-5 times a night.
All of this on top of the myriad continuing thyroid symptoms has made
something of a small battleground in this part of my life. But I will not
give up. There must be a reasonable explanation and solution for this.
Dealing with the brain tumor seemed a cakewalk compared to this ;)
It has been suggested on a thyroid support forum that adrenal problems
could be contributing to this nighttime and early AM distress. I dont know
but now am going to call internist this week and insist on adrenal function
tests. Been put off on that before. If he won't do them, I will have to go
elsewhere. Any other suggestions or comments greatly appreciated. Thank so
much for having read any part of this very long post.
Hi,
You need to get your thyroid levels checked and consult a specialist for your thyroid problems. You need to see a sleep specialist so that he can help you with the doubts you are having. Try Vitamin supplements esp Vit B12 and neurobion and see if that helps. Also get your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly.
You need to get your thyroid levels checked and consult a specialist for your thyroid problems. You need to see a sleep specialist so that he can help you with the doubts you are having. Try Vitamin supplements esp Vit B12 and neurobion and see if that helps. Also get your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly.
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