INSOMNIA!

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I need some help. I cannot for the life of me get sleep, which as we

all know, is desperately needed to help the adrenals & thyroid

recover. I have persistent, unrelenting, horrible insomnia that

doesn't respond to any sort of meds/supplements, and I was NEVER

insomniac before they started me on and off a bunch of different

treatment/meds back in July 2007.

My background: I am 30 and have always been very physically active,

but in June 2007 noticed exhaustion, sleeping 14 hours a night on

weekends, calling in sick to work from pure exhaustion 1 day a week,

lightheaded, dizzy, lost 14lbs., low blood pressure, freezing cold all

the time, emotionally spent, headaches, etc. I was diagnosed as

hypothyroid finally in August 2007 (nobody mentioned adrenal fatigue).

Mostly, I wanted to and could Sleep ALL the time. I have never had

problems before this sleeping.

I tried Synthroid for about 2 months (july - sept 07) and I started

getting bad hyper-like symptoms, including RELENTLESS insomnia. Tried

Xanax, melatonin, Ambien, Trazodone, everything, and couldn't sleep.

Doc had me go off Synthroid and about 2 months later - after my sleep

FINALLY returned to normal - I tried Armour at 1/4 grain. My body

freaked out on Armour, heart went into major spasms and felt like i

was having a heart attach and anxiety attack at once. I went off

Armour after 5 days. Doc told me I needed to see a shrink b/c I

couldnt tolerate the meds so I fired him. Insomnia crept up again.

Finally, I saw another doc who properly diagnosed me with adrenal

fatigue, no wonder I couldn't tolerate the thyroid meds.

He put me on cortisol in Jan 08(5 mg once a day to start) - I freaked

out to this too - anxiety, hyper, insomnia. I went off after a few

days, and finally have started Isocort - just now at 2 1/2 pellets,

and on a very aqueous diluted solution of T4 (with no fillers)

prescribed by Dr. Langer (of Shomon's book). I take 1 mL

a day and increase every 3 days. 1 mL is like 1/20th of a regular dose

of T4, diluted. Langer uses this for VERY sensitive people who cannot

tolerate thyroid meds.

While I FINALLY started feeling a bit more energy last week for the

first time in months, it has literally been MONTHS since I have slept

without a sleeping pill. I CANNOT sleep - even though I'm exhausted by

9 pm, my body will NOT let me sleep. Some of it feels like anxiety -

some of it just a hyper state of being. But when I do fall asleep, it

is NOT deep sleep - very in and out, like I am half awake. I cannot

understand why. Is it too MUCH cortisol? I'm only on 2 1/2 pellets

Isocort and 1/2 tsp. licorice daily plus a negligible amount of

thyroid. Is it still to LITTLE cortisol? I don't get it!

My ASI saliva test said my cortisol at 11 pm was normal - very low. I

have tried EVERYTHING - warm baths, Trazodone, Ambien, Lunesta, Xanax,

Melatonin, valerian root, Restoril, meditation tapes. I cannot take it

anymore. I cannot heal if I cannot sleep!

any suggestions on WHY this is happening or what to do would be

greatly appreciated. Again, I never ONCE had insomnia in my life

before July 2007 when I started the thyroid meds and this whole cycle

of on and off meds. I did recently go to Mexico for 4 days and being

in the sunshine really reset my clock and i was able to sleep for 3

nights without pills!!

But back again home, and I am in misery.

Thank you so much for reading my long message!

Metta