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Sleep issues-blood work shows high TSH, normal Free T4 & high Vitamin B12
I've been having trouble with sleep (all started with my first pregnancy 4 1/2 years ago). I have two young boys now & the sleep loss accumulation is really starting to interfere with everything everyday. I'm determined to get to the bottom of it all & get back to my normal sleep patterns without having to take meds for it.
About 3 months ago, I experienced what I felt was a spiritual/religious awakening in the middle of the night (long story, but felt light as air when a "spirit" would enter me & extremely heavy when it would leave...MANY more feelings on top of this). It was scary & prompted us to take immediate action. The first doctor said I might have had an anxiety/panic attack, but other doctors are certain way more is going on. My husband felt that we needed to get me sleeping better right away & I started taking Lunesta 2mg (sleep aide) & Clonazepam 0.5mg (anti-anxiety) 2 days after the "attack." They helped me sleep, but I still feel the symptoms of that night. I awaken with those feelings of numbness & tingling in my hands & feet, cool air at my face, feelings of fear & fast pulse suddenly at night about every 1-2 weeks since that night.
I just had some blood work done to find out what is going on inside at the request of a neurologist. The only high readings were for the TSH which was 9.340 uIU/mL (range was 0.450-4.500, also did a Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct, S & range was 0.82-1.77 with my result as 1.06 ng/dL) & Vitamin B12 which was 1338 pg/mL (range was 211-946). About 1 month ago, I weaned off of the Lunesta & am currently only taking 3/4 of a Clonazepam pill as well as vitamins, herbs & supplements. There are so many posts here that I don't even know where to begin reading! I would greatly appreciate any help & ideas. Thank you!
About 3 months ago, I experienced what I felt was a spiritual/religious awakening in the middle of the night (long story, but felt light as air when a "spirit" would enter me & extremely heavy when it would leave...MANY more feelings on top of this). It was scary & prompted us to take immediate action. The first doctor said I might have had an anxiety/panic attack, but other doctors are certain way more is going on. My husband felt that we needed to get me sleeping better right away & I started taking Lunesta 2mg (sleep aide) & Clonazepam 0.5mg (anti-anxiety) 2 days after the "attack." They helped me sleep, but I still feel the symptoms of that night. I awaken with those feelings of numbness & tingling in my hands & feet, cool air at my face, feelings of fear & fast pulse suddenly at night about every 1-2 weeks since that night.
I just had some blood work done to find out what is going on inside at the request of a neurologist. The only high readings were for the TSH which was 9.340 uIU/mL (range was 0.450-4.500, also did a Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct, S & range was 0.82-1.77 with my result as 1.06 ng/dL) & Vitamin B12 which was 1338 pg/mL (range was 211-946). About 1 month ago, I weaned off of the Lunesta & am currently only taking 3/4 of a Clonazepam pill as well as vitamins, herbs & supplements. There are so many posts here that I don't even know where to begin reading! I would greatly appreciate any help & ideas. Thank you!
That is very interesting research you have done there! I never thought about dreams that way, but it would nice to get more out of the good ones. Good move on trying to move away from any forms of alcohol & caffeine before bed. I hear if you are going to have a drink, you don't want to have anything closer than 3 hours before shut eye if you can help it. Good luck!!
First let me correct, I meant to say Lucid Dreaming. I worked for Lucent Technologies Bell Labs and so Lucent just "flows" out of my touch-typing hands.
I read a book: Lucid Dreaming Stephen Laberge whio is PhD, not an MD, at Stanford University. The book, I picked it up at my local library, has a DVD audio which I found particularly restful and mind provoking to listen to. I listened to it several times and seemed to pick up some new information almost each time. I think the voice on the DVD is Steves - don't remember checking.
The subject Lucid Dreaming is a science not religious subject as far as I know. It has some uplifting aspects as it has as a goal of one participating with their conscious minds in their dreams. The big problem making the transition to consciousness while remaining asleep. One key motivation is the idea of getting more out of the many hours of our lives we spend (waste) in sleep.
I had of my own design a method for intervention in night mares when I was about 10 years old, so I figured Lucid dreaming was right up my alley. I haven't accomplished it yet. The "dream signs" are one key the other is conditioning the mind to look at what we see, I mean really look at the colors, textures, forms and so on... in effect getting more out of our consciousness which is a win even if we don't go Lucid. I find this similar to my past interest in black and white photography (back in the days of the dark room and chemicals, not a computer) and how that makes one look at the world around them in more detail, to "see" what is underneath all the colors.
I have read we all dream, most just don't remember it. I do remember, albeit it slips away as the day progresses - but I still remember I had another set of dreams last night, and I can count on a repeat tonight. Somehow this doesn't keep me from falling asleep.
As side, but contributing issue, I am a senior male and have the typical need to get up at night for one or two trips to the bathroom, no more sleeping for 8 hours straight even if the dreaming wasn't a problem.
Sorry if I ramble, I'm here on this forum to learn how I might have less trouble with sleep. I have decided just today to not have my shot of whiskey before dinner, and no beer or wine with dinner, and no caffeine and see if that physical step makes any difference in my problem dreaming.
I read a book: Lucid Dreaming Stephen Laberge whio is PhD, not an MD, at Stanford University. The book, I picked it up at my local library, has a DVD audio which I found particularly restful and mind provoking to listen to. I listened to it several times and seemed to pick up some new information almost each time. I think the voice on the DVD is Steves - don't remember checking.
The subject Lucid Dreaming is a science not religious subject as far as I know. It has some uplifting aspects as it has as a goal of one participating with their conscious minds in their dreams. The big problem making the transition to consciousness while remaining asleep. One key motivation is the idea of getting more out of the many hours of our lives we spend (waste) in sleep.
I had of my own design a method for intervention in night mares when I was about 10 years old, so I figured Lucid dreaming was right up my alley. I haven't accomplished it yet. The "dream signs" are one key the other is conditioning the mind to look at what we see, I mean really look at the colors, textures, forms and so on... in effect getting more out of our consciousness which is a win even if we don't go Lucid. I find this similar to my past interest in black and white photography (back in the days of the dark room and chemicals, not a computer) and how that makes one look at the world around them in more detail, to "see" what is underneath all the colors.
I have read we all dream, most just don't remember it. I do remember, albeit it slips away as the day progresses - but I still remember I had another set of dreams last night, and I can count on a repeat tonight. Somehow this doesn't keep me from falling asleep.
As side, but contributing issue, I am a senior male and have the typical need to get up at night for one or two trips to the bathroom, no more sleeping for 8 hours straight even if the dreaming wasn't a problem.
Sorry if I ramble, I'm here on this forum to learn how I might have less trouble with sleep. I have decided just today to not have my shot of whiskey before dinner, and no beer or wine with dinner, and no caffeine and see if that physical step makes any difference in my problem dreaming.
Hi Jerry,
Thank you so much for your reply! I was waiting & waiting for some response & was happy to have yours! After that night, I really whipped my young family (husband & 3 & 1 year old boys) into shape religiously! We now go every Sunday & I'm thankful for it. I feel peace & strength when I go even though I still have the side effects at night every 1-2 weeks. I did speak with a priest about this & he was quite interested (didn't pass me off as a lunatic). We recently had our house blessed & I will be baptized very soon. I'm very excited about this!
I have also spent lots of money (too much) to get to the bottom of it with lots of doctors of all fields (family doc, sleep psychiatrist, sleep neurologist). I will be doing a sleep study soon as well as an MRI & EEG. I'm hoping they'll find a simple problem & solution so I can move on & sleep in peace. Ever since that night, we sleep with low lights in our bedroom.
That's very interesting what you have discovered about your dreams. You must be very in tune with your unconscious self! I know that feeling of not wanting to sleep for fear of picking up on the same dream. I'm no expert, but you may consider doing a sleep study. Thank you, again, for your reply!
Thank you so much for your reply! I was waiting & waiting for some response & was happy to have yours! After that night, I really whipped my young family (husband & 3 & 1 year old boys) into shape religiously! We now go every Sunday & I'm thankful for it. I feel peace & strength when I go even though I still have the side effects at night every 1-2 weeks. I did speak with a priest about this & he was quite interested (didn't pass me off as a lunatic). We recently had our house blessed & I will be baptized very soon. I'm very excited about this!
I have also spent lots of money (too much) to get to the bottom of it with lots of doctors of all fields (family doc, sleep psychiatrist, sleep neurologist). I will be doing a sleep study soon as well as an MRI & EEG. I'm hoping they'll find a simple problem & solution so I can move on & sleep in peace. Ever since that night, we sleep with low lights in our bedroom.
That's very interesting what you have discovered about your dreams. You must be very in tune with your unconscious self! I know that feeling of not wanting to sleep for fear of picking up on the same dream. I'm no expert, but you may consider doing a sleep study. Thank you, again, for your reply!
Sorry you are not getting any responses, most of us reading here have some sleep disorder, that's why were here. Many of us don't have any answers, not even to our own situation.
You statement: " I felt was a spiritual/religious awakening in the middle of the night" set me back the first time I read your post. But I will offer if you are a member of a church or even just have one you can go to you may want to discuss your "awakening" with the minister/leader. I believe there are many people who have experienced something similar, I am not one of them.
Your post has a lot of medical technical stuff, too so I assume you are getting medical/technical advice from that appropriate source.
If I interpret your post correctly you don't have a problem going to sleep, but have trouble staying asleep. I am in the second category myself and the mechanism that seems to wake me up is dreaming, trouble-mares, which make me emotionally uncomfortable/depressed when I wake up. This along with some nasal congestion problems (another subject in itself) makes it hard for me to go back to sleep, in fact sometimes I don't want to go back to sleep and pick up were I left on in a dream. I've worked a little on accomplishing what is called "Lucent dreaming"... knowing I am dreaming while I am dreaming. Seems easy enough as I have lots of "dream signs" to watch for.... but when asleep I seems I am not watching. This may be something similar to situation, but I'd not call mine an "awakening" which I think is mostly reserved for religious experiences. That may be just what I need. .
You statement: " I felt was a spiritual/religious awakening in the middle of the night" set me back the first time I read your post. But I will offer if you are a member of a church or even just have one you can go to you may want to discuss your "awakening" with the minister/leader. I believe there are many people who have experienced something similar, I am not one of them.
Your post has a lot of medical technical stuff, too so I assume you are getting medical/technical advice from that appropriate source.
If I interpret your post correctly you don't have a problem going to sleep, but have trouble staying asleep. I am in the second category myself and the mechanism that seems to wake me up is dreaming, trouble-mares, which make me emotionally uncomfortable/depressed when I wake up. This along with some nasal congestion problems (another subject in itself) makes it hard for me to go back to sleep, in fact sometimes I don't want to go back to sleep and pick up were I left on in a dream. I've worked a little on accomplishing what is called "Lucent dreaming"... knowing I am dreaming while I am dreaming. Seems easy enough as I have lots of "dream signs" to watch for.... but when asleep I seems I am not watching. This may be something similar to situation, but I'd not call mine an "awakening" which I think is mostly reserved for religious experiences. That may be just what I need. .
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