Another Thyroid Thread.... (Redux)

[emily_in_nc]

I actually tried Benedryl and it did the exact opposite..I took it at 9pm, fell asleep and was wide awake by about 1030 that same night. I guess some people it does that to. I have tried Ambien...does not work at all..I have tried it several times without luck. My Dr started me on a different one on Friday...no luck with it yet..I will give it some more time. I just really really want to know what it is like to sleep again. It has been way too long..several weeks.

The one sleep aid that worked like magic for me was Lunesta. I requested an Rx after my dad died and I just could NOT sleep. It put me to sleep fast but wore off early enough that I didn't have any "hangover" feeling. I went off it because it was expensive, so I switched to generic Ambien instead. That worked pretty well at putting me to sleep fast, but I'd still sometimes wake up in the middle of the night. There's now an Ambien CR (continuous release) that is supposed to counteract that problem, but it's more expensive and was not available in generic at the time. I found Ambien to be slightly habit-forming, though, and there was definitely a rebound effect when I stopped taking it: my insomnia would be very bad for a couple of weeks. So it really shouldn't be used long-term but can get you through a rough patch.

Benedryl doesn't put me to sleep quickly but it seems to help me fall back asleep instead of lying awake worrying when I wake up in the middle of the night, and it helps me sleep a little later in the morning.

Good luck -- insomnia is not fun.

[indysteel]

Sigh. Latest bloodwork still shows that I'm hyper. I was hoping that when I went off Synthroid, that my TSH would go back up. My new doc is steering me toward RAI/ablation. I don't know how I feel about that. On one hand, I haven't yet has good luck with Methimazole in that it put me into a hypo state no matter the dose. On the other hand, ablation seems so permanent. I know that thyroid eye disease (which I have not yet been diagnoses with) can get worse after ablation. I haven't actually talked to the doc yet, so nothing is set in stone. I still feel so lost as far as really trusting my docs. I have only met the new one once, and don't know that I feel confident enough in her to destroy an organ based on the strength of her advice.

[Catrin]

Sorry to read this Indy, I know it's been a long road for you. For me it was a great relief after my surgical thyroid removal, but my situation was far more advanced. I had the bulging eyes, among other things, and that went away after the surgery. I've been told one still actually does protrude a tiny amount but no one can tell without special tools.

I know you won't let her rush you into something you aren't comfortable with and you will tell her your concerns. Hang in there and I hope you are able to get this under control soon regardless of the method.

[redrhodie]

Indy, that's so frustrating. I'd be hesitant to proceed on that course as well. I'd lean towards waiting and seeing, especially since you've been feeling better since stopping Synthroid. Maybe see what the next blood tests say, buying time to get to know the doctor better.

[Kerry1976]

I am coming to this thread very late, but I also have Hashi's. I had to fight my PCP just to be tested. It was my psychiatrist who actually put all the pieces together (long term hypo, colitis attack, etc.). One thing that may help is going gluten free. Apologies if this has already been brought up in this thread. Thyroid issues are simply miserable, as is Hashi's. it is hard to deal with a moving target.