On Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:33:56 EST, Skipper Beers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>:    Andrea Briand <[log in to unmask]>
>:
 I'm out like a light by 7pm.  I'll sleep then for 2 - 3 hours, then
>that's it for a while.
>Two reasons for a hypothyroid person to wake up like that.

> 1.)  It gives you
>energy, speeds up your heart and makes if difficult to sleep particularly
if
>on too much.  2.)  Sleep apnea.  I had it for years without knowing it,
>blamed my wife and dog for always waking me up, but woke up even when all
>alone.  Then one day I choked awake and knew it was apnea.  CPAP breathing
>machine didn't help so I eventually increased from 2 to 3 grains of Armour
>and started sleeping al
l night.
>

Part of the problem is that I don't want to go to sleep at 7pm!  It used to
be that I'd get very tired, but could force myself to stay awake by working
or whatever.  Then it got to the point that I'd fall asleep regardless. So,
I prefer

>When I had apnea, ultrasound for thyroid showed it was normal, but I could
>feel it constricting my throat.  I've had ultrasounds three different times
>when feeling throat constriction and they never said it was anything except
>"normal" but on more thyroid my apnea went away. So, they were wrong.
>

I've had some constricting feelings, but always figured it was acid reflux
and an ulcer on the esophagus.  Treating that did help a lot of the
symptoms, but I noticed that I still started having more difficulty with
swallowing.  At first, I had to cut the thyroid pills in order to get them
down.  Now I don't have don't hav
e trouble with them any longer.

>throat felt constricted that might be a large part of your answer.  Also,
if
>your pusle rate is in the 80s and it wakes you up, I suspect it's still
>likely to be the answer, since that's not an abnormal rate.   Even if I
take
>Armour before bed it doesn't tend to keep me awake.
>
>Skipper
>

I have increased the thyroid medication because a lot of the symptoms that
had disappeared or decreased have been worsening again.  Also my leg had
noticeable improvements, but has aslo been degrading again. (My body
temperature is still low). If it improves again after the increased dose, I
will know the thyroid is playing a major role with it.  (with it improving
once... it could be coincidence).  Now what I've been doing is taking some
when I wake up between 5 and 6am.  Then the next dose between noon and
1pm.  I am always able to sleep again
 after the morning dose, so I don't
think it is affecting my sleep.  But with the naturopathic route it will
take a little longer before I would notice improvements.  The extreme
morning fatique never really did improve a lot, which is partly why I
started splitting dosage.  (Even though the doctor had said that taking one
larger dose was fine, it does not need to be split - but the new one I am
going to start would be better in 2 doses ... with T3).

I have on order a new supplement that has a T3/T4 combonation.  I am hoping
that it will help more and may not require as much thyroxine, and therefore
could cut back again.  From what I read it often takes some playing around
with the medication, especially in the first several months of treating the
thyroid.

A few here have mentioned a possible estrogen hormonal imbalance causing
insomnia.  I have wondered about that, but I was not informed about
t
hat...I was only informed about the thyroid.  Also, I have quite a ways to
go before menopause, so I wouldn't think that could be an issue....but??
(I generally have more trouble getting to sleep - unless I take the thyroid
to early, then I sleep for a few hours -- but too early!)

As for sleep apnea, I have no idea if that is a factor with me.  My dog
does not complain of my snoring, but then she is quite deaf and can out
snore any person!  I've never choked awake or anything...I just wake up for
no apparent reason.  But since I generally return to sleep, it is not
nearly as frustrating as the trouble going to sleep).

I just really want to get my leg better so I can go back to work and get my
life back!!  Two weeks ago when I first started that dramatic improvement,
I called and made an apppointment with my surgeon, hoping he'd let me start
back.  Then quite suddenly, which seemed to st
em from one skipped day of
thyroid, the thyroid symptoms quickly worsened soon to be followed by the
leg.  Hopefully the increased dose and soon to be T3/T4 combonation will
help restore things again.

Andrea


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