Not sleeping normally since I got over the flu - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Dark Stranger · 01-16-2008, 09:08 AM

Last week, I contracted what I think was the flu or a very bad cold. During my days of worst illness, I often found myself unable to sleep because I had such bad chills. This only lasted a couple of days and now I've gotten over my sickness, but I still can't sleep.

How things have been progressing every night for the past five or so days is I'll go to bed tired, pass out normally, and then wake up 2-3 hours later and be completely unable to fall back to sleep. I'm not cold, I'm not stressed, I'm not anxious, I'm not hungry and I'm not too warm. And yet, I toss and turn for most of the night, attempting to get to sleep.

Previously, I may have had one restless night like this a month on average. Why all of a sudden am I unable to sleep every single night? This is beginning to interfere with my schooling and I'm focusing more on staying awake than I am on my work.

Do I have insomnia or some other kind of sleep disorder? And why did it happen only after my sickness passed?

mkgbrook · 01-16-2008, 10:04 AM

Well you still maybe recovering from your illness. How is your sleep hygiene? Have you tried the chamomile tea and melatonin options?

Next when was the last time you had a blood chemistry profile drawn and your thyroid checked out? There are many reasons but your body maybe trying to tell you something. If following the good sleep hygiene guide doesn't help you should most likely go to a sleep specialist and tell them of your recent illness and the result. Some thyroid issues can be caused by viral/bacterial illnesses. Normally the transition and manifestations of problems is slower though.

MG

Dark Stranger · 01-17-2008, 06:24 AM

What's sleep hygiene?

And no, I have not tried any teas or melatonin options (whatever those are...).

I had my thyroid checked about 6 weeks ago and found out that my results were 'acceptable' - I was never told my actual hormone levels. But what do sleep problems have to do with the thyroid? I thought, if anything, thyroid issues can cause fatigue rather than sleeplessness.

On the plus side, I think I may be getting back into my normal sleep routine - I woke up again last night at around 2:45 a.m., but I managed to fall back to sleep until my alarm woke me up at 7. I don't know if it's the end of my restless nights, but I'll see how things turn out.

mkgbrook · 01-17-2008, 03:20 PM

Sleep hygiene is the rules sleep MDs give people to achieve optimal sleep conditions. Look to the stickied post at the top of the page.

Thyroids regulate everything. Hyperthyroid and hypothyroid can cause insomnia, sleep apnea.. and much more. It has to do with chemical regulation of your sleep.

Thyroids are one of the most under treated beasts out there. Never accept normal.. with out checking. Normal range may not be normal for you. And often normal is far from optimal.

Optimal thyroid numbers are ~1 fot TSH. Higher than 2.5 and you are showing hypoT trend.. lower than .6 and you are showing hyper trends.

FT3 and FT4 levels are optimal if they fall in the 50-80% range of normal and you have no symptoms.

I am glad that you are getting back to your normal routine. You should check your thyroid results to make sure they are optimal. If so.. look over the sleep hygiene post and see i f you can improve your sleep any. Good luck returning to normal.

MG