unable to fall asleep - Sleep Disorders Message Board

scinamon · 08-07-2008, 09:37 AM

I am unable to fall asleep for about a month. I don't get drowsy where you can't keep your eyes open,but I am very tired and yawn. When I try to sleep and feel like I am about to fall asleep I get this rush feeling going thru my whole body and I jump awake almost. My sleep is very! light as if I am napping waking constantly. I was not on any drugs when this started. I am now on sleeping pills from my doctor. I might be hypothyroid Tsh @ 5.35, but that should make me sleep. I am wondering if I have other hormone issues as I do have syptoms of hypo and perimenopause symtoms. My doctor says he does not know. I am trying to get an appt. to an Enocrinologist. Any ideas would be helpful as it could be months before my appt. I don not have a wandering mind when trying to sleep. I am not stressed. Please help.

bethsheba · 08-07-2008, 10:21 AM

scinamon,

Welcome to our boards!

Although I have experienced difficulty in getting to sleep at times, it was due to the side effects of medication so I have nothing to offer you there.

However, the 5.35 tsh, from what I've read, is out of line and I suspect that when you address that issue, your sleep will get back to normal...

While waiting for your endo appointment, you could bone up on your reading of thyroid conditions to see how they impact sleep.

Bethsheba

T4T3hell · 08-09-2008, 03:45 PM

What other thyroid tests did they do?
I have primary (Hashimoto's) and secondary (pituitary) hypothyroidism---and I'm sure it's all related to my sleep problems.
Have doctor order TSH (they have a highly sensitive test version now)
and FREE T3 and Free T4---these are the tests recommended to help distinguish some types of thyroid problems. The only problem is---too many endos (pretendos) don't know or don't care to keep up on thyroid and more complex endocrine issues.

I'm on my third and final (hopefully) sleep doctor. I've had problems since I was a kid---and I just found out in the last couple of years (I'm 52), that I've had complex endocrine issues all my life---including thyroid, adrenal fatigue and insufficiency, and more.

I've had too many doctors blame all sorts of things for my problems.

Your TSH level is high. Ask for copies of your labs as far back as you can go----and double check to see what the doctors may have never told you about.

bethsheba · 08-09-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T4T3hell

Your TSH level is high. Ask for copies of your labs as far back as you can go----and double check to see what the doctors may have never told you about.

Nothing says it better than someone with experience!! Thanks for the info, T4T!

Something so simple as for asking for copies of the labs is critical. Too often things are overlooked or misinterpreted...and/or never mentioned. I would also add that some results can be "false" due to the conditions and environment in which the tests were administered....so variations should be evaluted to see if the tests were done appropriately. T4T's advice here should apply to all of us!

Bethsheba

T4T3hell · 08-09-2008, 06:56 PM

Just a quick note---
my TSH levels were bouncing all over the place---and then they'd settle down---and then they'd start dipping down or bumping up.
I heard tons of misdiagnoses---bipolar, depressed, old, crack addict (yes---one doctor accused me of being a crack addict----I told her I was the fattest crack addict ever---and I'd be more than happy to test for every and all illegal and or illegal drug or substances).
At one point---I wondered if I may have been poisoned accidently due to exposure to lawn and garden pesticides.
I've learned to listen to the doctors---but check and double check---after going through years of medical records---it's amazing that there were things---low potassium and low sodium---that were never mentioned to me.
It was almost like they didn't want to share with me anything they didn't know or understand. What??? Grrrr...
Good luck!