Some years ago, I had begun to wake up after initially falling asleep, and then being unable to get back to sleep.
I’d often wake between as little as a quarter of an hour, or even up to two hours after putting my head on the pillow and actually falling asleep.
Having woken, I’d then be unable to fall back to sleep. Sometimes for an hour or so, sometimes at all. Many nights I waited until it was approaching the morning and simply got up early.
Obviously, this leaves anyone feeling horribly tired much of the time. Obviously, very frustrating.
This went on for a long time. Years later, I can’t remember if it was many months or a few years.
Eventually, unlike so many who suffer insomnia, I got a real answer.
Alongside insomnia, I had several other issues which had developed. Plantar fasciitis. Reduced ability to cope with oncoming headlamps. Less stamina.
Someone close suggested that I should ask for a TSH test in case these were caused by thyroid issues. With each additional issue, I’d ask for another TSH test. Each test was higher. I went from around 2 to over 5 in a steady progression. Put on a simple graph, it was a straight line going up over time. And it was this graph I showed to my GP. Initially sceptical, when it went up again at the next test, and went above the local reference interval, he requested Free T4 as well as TSH. My FT4 was right at the very bottom of the reference interval. And TSH had gone up further.
At this point, he prescribed levothyroxine. Although nothing is ever quite as simple as this, as my dose increased, my sleep improved. By the time I’d been taking it for a year or so, I was sleeping quite well. Indeed, I think most nights I sleep better since being treated than for many years before.
I’m not going to say that insomnia alone points at a thyroid issue. But it should be considered.
Most importantly, this goes against the simplistic view that people who are hypothyroid become tired and sleepy. Yes, I became tired and sleepy but much of that was because of the impact on my sleep!
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[i][b]helvella - Personal Insomnia Experience[/b]
How hypothyroidism and levothyroxine treatment affected my sleep.
Last updated 10/02/2025[/i]
Link to blog:
https://helvella.blogspot.com/p/helvella-personal-insomnia-experience.html
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