Insomnia

[Atisa]

I had partial thyroidectomy in 1978 with no thyroid meds prescribed afterward. I've had bad trouble with insomnia since then. I've been told I was hysterical and other forms of crazy in all these remaining years. The exception to all these hysteria dx is the psychiatrist I've been seeing since 1994. She has been working with me, trying to get a program of head meds to work. We've had some success, but not a whole lot. I told her back in the beginning that I really believed I had thyroid trouble. I've been tested, of course, with only minimal low TSH counts. All the doctors I've seen seem to think thyroid problems are akin to bigfoot, or lochness monster, or something.

Now the insomnia is getting unbearable. I have symptoms of both high and low thyroid. The last test I had, the TSH was 0.4, but again, the Dr. just wasn't concerned. My Psychatrist tried me on Ambien, but it did nothing, like I hadn't taken anything at all. She told me she was worried, and that is rare for her.

So now I'm knocking on your door. help.

[Totie]

Have you ever had a sleep study done?

[MKlacza]

You need to see an Endo ASAP! Do you have insurance now? There has to be sort of assistance to help..me let me do some research... Where do you live?

[Atisa]

I am not functioning well on lack of sleep. I can barely make it. Once or twice a month I do sleep more than four hours.

[Atisa]

Thank you so much for responding. I need a referral to see a specialist, and am hoping that will happen, but with doctors attitudes that I've seen...just don't know.

We just got health insurance. My Psychiatrist doesn't charge me anything. I think she is just holding me close to her to watch out for me, and I love her for that. I only took the Ambien for two nights. After it didn't pan out, I threw it out.

Another thing: I visited a low income clinic in 2004, and they did an ultrasound on my thyroid. I have a lot of nodules, one of them was a cold nodule. That P.A. told me I needed to see a Dr. as soon as we got health insurance. The thing is, I can't say that I know I have a pre-existing condition. But I did go to see a Dr. two days afte we got our insurance with the result that I mentioned above.

I guess I need guidance through the murky and depressing process of getting to a Dr. that acts like thyroid is actually an important organ and not some mysterious boggy-boo.

[Totie]

Ever since my TT in 1994 i have had insomnia. It has not changed one bit. I have tried Ambien, Ambien CR, and the new one Rozerem. Nothing phases my body when it comes to putting me to sleep. If i am lucky i get 5hr of sleep (interrrupted of course). I guess I am just used to it. I do not take naps, nor do i have problems the following day. I do not fall asleep at work. But this is just me, and it all started when i had graves/hyperthyroidism. In my situation, i do not think it will ever change for me. My doctor is amazed i can function, but like i said after 13 years. It is not rare for sleep aids to not affect people, everyone is different. In my case nothing affects me.

[thyroidbride]

I definitely also think you need to see an Endocrinologist if you haven't yet, and even if you have, maybe try another one.  No amount of talk therapy or mood drugs will fix your thyroid problems if they are going untreated.
Good luck.

[MKlacza]

Can I ask if you've seen an Endocrinologist?? Ambien is not going to help your hyper/hypo symptoms.. You need medication to help balance yourself. Its obvious the other side of your Thyroid is not supporting what you had taken out.