Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
It occurs to me, is poor sleep a result of a disease, or more frequently the actual cause, of the start of the underlying problem?
So, looking the other direction, if we want to get healthier, and we get better sleep, can we actually "Fix" or improve the underlying health issue?
I had a very high stress job, and yeah, of course, had really crappy sleep to go with that. I look back and wonder if the Health Issues I had started because of poor sleep, and never getting enough rest to recover.
So, the question, if we are able to get more, quality sleep, by any means necessary, will we feel better?
(I'm thinking non medicine interventions, Epsom Salt baths, massage, meditation, new age music, etc)
So, looking the other direction, if we want to get healthier, and we get better sleep, can we actually "Fix" or improve the underlying health issue?
I had a very high stress job, and yeah, of course, had really crappy sleep to go with that. I look back and wonder if the Health Issues I had started because of poor sleep, and never getting enough rest to recover.
So, the question, if we are able to get more, quality sleep, by any means necessary, will we feel better?
(I'm thinking non medicine interventions, Epsom Salt baths, massage, meditation, new age music, etc)
Love your pic with the baby because I have a similar one of Brad holding our son Kevin just that way 38 years ago !
I've had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis diagnosis in 2005. As you were musing, I also wonder what began my sleep disorder- the disease or the stress of life since I have had stress also.
I found a simple herb tablet that helps from Hyland Homeopathy company. But when I went to their webpage to look for you all I found were complex formulas. I'll phone them tomorrow and ask if they still carry "Chamomilla 30X". These are tiny tablets but one or two before bedtime produces drowsiness. Or in the midnight one helps me to go back to sleep. They don't leave a hangover but I do feel a little different the next day so don't use them every night. I hope they still make the kind I have with only the chamomile and nothing else. I'll let you know if I find out.
gloriabornagain
The reason I was musing on problem vs cause, is, my stress level may have started the problems, but retirement turned out to be the best solution. Between better eating, regular gym visits, and now LDN, I am sleeping so much better. I wonder who can get a good nights sleep with the types of high stress jobs we all have today.
My question is more to illicit some discussion on what starts us all down this path of (poor) health issues.
generally for me its anxiety, likely caused by dysfunction between the thyroid/adrenal/neurotransmitter axis. basically i suffer getting to sleep, staying asleep and getting back to sleep.
there is sleep CBT you can try, its about retraining your sleep, give it a google.
for me i had to take a tablet to get to sleep and another tablet to stop my ptsd related night terrors waking me. it works but its not a good long term strategy as the drugs arent good for your brain in my opinion as it increases my memory loss and brain fog.
another option would be rigourous exercise daily, not within 5 hours of sleep, that should work to get to sleep. if thats your only problem, that might be a good option. if staying a sleep is a problem, then id recommend meditation 20 minutes before bed. learning mediation isnt hard, but it takes time to get good results.
I was a project manager in technology prior, I had to give up my career.
i know there is a strong connection between gut health and hashimotos, but i also suspect gut health and sleep disturbances.
none of thats advise as such, just my experience.
sleep is SO important.
oh lastly, sometimes i can get to sleep my hugging my loved one and listening to them breathing. its almost a meditative thing.
He told me, and in confidence, and to never repeat what he said to me to any other doctor, that sleep deprivation is most likely one of the major causes, along with environmental issues, for most illness today.
We were discussing thyroid/adrenal disease specifically, and his op was that lack of sleep, stress in our lives causes or makes worse most of our problems no matter what. He specifically blamed sleep deprivation for adrenal malfunction, and thus thyroid malfunction.
FYI
FYI: I tend to agree with your specialist. Sleep deprivation and stress trigger many, many diseases - especially Auto Immune diseases.
My endocrinologist (I think the best one out there!) said he thought there was something else going on. He thought a sleep disorder. I said no but agreed to go for a study. Even after the study showed I was borderline narcoleptic I said NO! It's my thyroid. I tried many things over the years -natural and otherwise when I could not sleep or when I was sleeping too much more recently. Nothing worked.
I was approved to take Xyrem and then refused to fill the prescription. So about a year and a few months later, still with many health issues, my thyroid looked good for a few months; I agreed to try Xyrem since my excessive daytime sleepiness had only partially lifted. (The part that the thyroid contributed.) I was told if I don't have Narcolepsy it won't do any good. Well, I have Narcolepsy. I woke up for the first time EVER feeling refreshed. (I'd told every doctor I went to since I was 20 that I NEVER wake up feeling refreshed. Not one suggested a sleep disorder.
I kept trying to find the missing puzzle piece and that was it! Sleep disorders can run in a family but be different in each person. As is the case of my mother, brother, sister and me. My eldest daughter has the same one my mother does. I now feel fantastic and have lost all of the weight I gained plus some. I, for the first time in many years, can eat more calories (the amount I should eat for my height) and not gain weight. It's harder to do than you might think because I've eaten that way since I was 17 (55 now).
Out of all of the sleep disorders I think this one is AWFUL but I'm so glad I have the medicine that helps me because all of my health issued have improved. I am taking less Synthroid too. I'd love for that to go away but all in all most of what I take is all natural. I'm fortunate to have doctors that don't just push pills on me!
Good Luck! I don't wish a sleep disorder on anyone but if you have one and you can treat it naturally then that is great! I couldn't but I'm very happy to have treatment as I was ready to die if God wanted to take me (not suicidal but was just ready). Now I want to beat my Grandmothers record of 103 1/2 years old!
Along with fellow B vitamins 12 and 9, B6 helps regulate levels of the amino acid homocysteine (associated with heart disease).
Pyridoxine is a major player in mood and sleep patterns because it helps the body produce serotonin, melatonin and norepinephrine, a stress hormone. Some studies suggest Vitamin B6 can reduce inflammation for people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Get it from: Chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, lentils, sunflower seeds, cheese, brown rice and carrots