[♥Ashley♥]

On a normal night? I have major sleep issues and I dont know how to fix them. I almost want to cry today im so tired. I have SUCH a hard time falling asleep, then staying asleep. From the time I get into bed until I actually fall asleep is normally around 2hrs...and then if im awaken for anything throughout the night, I have to start the process all over. It SUCKS. Just last night it took me even longer to fall asleep and then Jason woke up in the middle of the night because he has stitches in his hand and they were hurting, but of course this woke me up (even the smallest, most quiet noises wake me up) and then I couldnt go back to sleep for like 4 hours and it was already starting to become daylight before I got SO tired I just passed out. Then my alarm went off what felt like 5 minutes later. My mind races at bedtime, I think about anything and everything going on in my life and things I need to do. This may sound a little crazy, but it is 100% true, I can feel my heart almost beating out of my chest at night time...I guess because im thinking about all kinds of things I need to do.

So today im running on about 2 hours of sleep add to that the few ive gotten over the past few days and its getting really, really hard. I dont nap during the day (I wish I could) at all, so I cant recoup the sleep im missing. I just keep going and going on less and less sleep everyday. I dont know what to do? Is there anything I can do? I dont want to try sleeping pills, and then love the amount of sleep im getting so much that i take them often. I just dont know. You all probably think shes nuts for wanting a baby! What a weakling! I know its hard with a baby and you get NO sleep, but right now its just for no reason. I mean over the past 3 days ive gotten like 9 hours of sleep cumulative. I have some anxiety issues, and overall im always stressed. I have slightly high blood pressure, im sure it has nothing to do with it, just thought id mention. I just dont know what to do to fix this, and I dont know why (at night) my heart races soooo fast. I dont know... i may just be blabbering, I just wanted to see if anyone has any problems like this. Or if anyone knows something I can do. Im tired


Oh, and im sure someone will ask. Yes, the wedding is causing stress but this started way before I even got engaged.

Oprah's heart would race at night and it turned out she had a thyroid porblem. Or was it menopause? I dunno, I don't watch Oprah

The anxiety you could try seeing a doc about and getting on some meds. A little meds can do the body good in some cases. Otherwise maybe try warm milk, a back massage before bed, sleeping with earplugs, sleeping with a noise machine, or watching something really boring on TV like c-span.

Do you have a bedtime and nighttime routine? They aren't just for 4 year olds, some people need that sorta thing as adults too.

[♥Ashley♥]

Oh yes. We have a "night time" routine for just that reason. It worked for awhile but not anymore. I have to be in bed by 9 pm SHARP if I want to be asleep by at least 11:30 or so.

Okay I shouldnt have done this, but I just looked up thyroid issues and I have almost every symptom. I know im probably just freaking myself out here for no reason, but I want an answer SO bad!

10. Muscle and Joint Pains, Carpal Tunnel/Tendonitis Problems. Aches and pains in your muscles and joints, weakness in the arms and a tendency to develop carpal tunnel in the arms/hands and tarsal tunnel in the legs, can all be symptoms of undiagnosed thyroid problems. I have lots of problems with my shoulder, the joint specifically.

9. Neck Discomfort/Enlargement. A feeling of swelling in the neck, discomfort with turtlenecks or neckties, a hoarse voice or a visibly enlarged thyroid can all be symptoms of thyroid disease.

8. Hair/Skin Changes. Hair and skin are particularly vulnerable to thyroid conditions, and in particular, hair loss is frequently associated with thyroid problems. With hypothyroidism, hair frequently becomes brittle, coarse and dry, while breaking off and falling out easily. Skin can become coarse, thick, dry,and scaly. In hypothyroidism, there is often an unusual loss of hair in the outer edge of the eyebrow. With hyperthyroidism, severe hair loss can also occur, and skin can become fragile and thin. Over the past 3 years or so (I know its been only since ive moved out of my parents house because I never noticed it when I lived with them) I have hair loss like CRAZY. When i take a shower there is hair falling and you can see it at the bottom of the shower. And when I blowdry my hair I literally have to sweep the floor when im done, it covers the bathroom floor and even the sink.

7. Bowel Problems. Severe or long-term constipation is frequently associated with hypothyroidism, while diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with hyperthyroidism.

6. Menstrual Irregularities and Fertility Problems. Heavier, more frequent and more painful periods are frequently associated with hypothyroidism, and shorter, lighter or infrequent menstruation can be associated with hyperthyroidism. Infertility can also be associated with undiagnosed thyroid conditions. (For More Information) (We all know about my multiple miscarriages )

5. Family History. If you have a family history of thyroid problems, you are at a higher risk of having a thyroid condition yourself. You may not always be aware of thyroid problems in your family, though, because among older people, it is often referred to as "gland trouble" or "goiter." So pay attention to any discussions of glandular conditions or goiter or weight gain due to "a glandular problem," as these may be indirect ways of referring to thyroid conditions. (My mom has thyroid issues -and lupus and my aunt)

4. Cholesterol Issues High cholesterol, especially when it is not responsive to diet, exercise or cholesterol-lowering medication, can be a sign of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Unusually low cholesterol levels may be a sign of hyperthyroidism. Dont know about this

3. Depression and Anxiety. Depression or anxiety — including sudden onset of panic disorder — can be symptoms of thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism is most typically associated with depression, while hyperthyroidism is more commonly associated with anxiety or panic attacks. Depression that does not respond to antidepressants may also be a sign of an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. (As mentioned above, i have anxiety issues. My sister calls me anxiety Ashley. I stress over everything and cry because im stressed alot)

2. Weight Changes. You may be on a low-fat, low-calorie diet with a rigorous exercise program, but are failing to lose or gain any weight. Or you may have joined a diet program or support group, such as Weight Watchers, and you are the only one who isn't losing any weight. Difficulty losing weight can be a sign of hypothyroidism. You may be losing weight while eating the same amount of food as usual — or even losing while eating more than normal. Unexplained weight changes and issues can be signs of both hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. I am currently on a diet (and have tried them numerous times in the past) and havent lost any weight besides an initial 2 pounds. Ive gained about 20 pounds since high school.

1. Fatigue. Feeling exhausted when you wake up, feeling as if 8 or 10 hours of sleep a night is insufficient or being unable to function all day without a nap can all be signs of thyroid problems. (With hyperthyroidism, you may also have nighttime insomnia that leaves you exhausted during the day.) (definitely true for me, when I actually DO get sleep, I could wake up from a 12hour long sleep stretch and still be sooo fatigued.

[♥Ashley♥]

I just read another checklist of symptoms and saw these:

____ My heart feels like it's skipping a beat, racing and I feel like I'm having heart palpitations
____ My pulse is unusually fast
____ My pulse, even when resting or in bed, is high

[**jessie**]

I can sympathize with you. I get the same way whenever I am stressed, which happens way too easily. It's horrible to toss and turn all night, just to be exhausted the next day. It's a viscious cycle. For me, I have to stop everything by 8-830 pm (no chores, no eating, no TV past 9pm, no studying). I always take a shower at night to relax. In bed by 930 pm- I find reading a novel for at least an hour helps a lot. It's entertaining and stress relieving. I can't watch TV- it jazzes me up for some reason. It's a pain because it takes up so much time.

I know you said you don't want to take sleeping pills, but have you considered melatonin? It's sold over the counter and is a substance naturally produced by your pituitary gland. It naturally elevate in darkness (night) and is involved in your sleep/wake cycles. When I'm in a rough bout, I find it helps get me back on track. It's not extremely potent, so there is no 'hangover' effect the next day as long as you allow yourself a full nights sleep. It's just a suggestion. Hope you get some rest.

Uh oh, I didn't mean to freak you out! At least thyroid levels are easy enough to check if you suspect it. There is a thyroid disorder board on JM that can tell you all the tests needed. It ends up being a few vials of blood, and I think I had my TSH, antibodies, and T4 checked.

Try not to freak yoruself out though! I had mine tested under the old guidelines of a normal TSH level being anything from .5 to 5 and was told I was fine. Then for quite a while I noticed my hair thinning, heat intolerance aand irritability. Of course I had a long time anxiety problem too. So when I got tested for fertility reasons they used the new TSH guidleineso of .3 to 3.0 and I was at the cusp at 3.2. I started low dose meds and after a month I felt better, and after 3 months I felt better then better!

Of course, maybe your thyroid is fine. I hope you get some kind of solution so you can get some sleep.

[♥Ashley♥]

I cant watch too much tv either Jessie, I dont know what it is but just like you it gets me all hyped up and trying to sleep is even more of a disaster. Isnt it so annoying? Its like you have to work just to sleep. Im going to try the melatonin, thanks alot for the suggestion!

And I too have heard good things about melatonin

[freesiangel]

I have a hard time falling asleep, so what I do is make sure I take a hot shower before bed and that usually gets me groggy enough to at least stay relaxed for an hour or two in bed before I fall asleep... If that doesn't work for a few days, I'll do pilates before bed and that will help me relax. Breathing exercises also work... Then there are also nights that nothing works and I toss and turn all night long (last night, ugh). If that gets too bad, then I usually resort to Tylenol PM - well, it's not actually Tylenol PM, it's whatever the PM part of Tylenol PM is, but without the Tylenol (why take Tylenol if you don't have a headache?). Anyway, if my sleep gets really off I will take that for 2-3 nights in a row and that's usually enough to get me back on track for a few months or so, so it's not like I've ever become dependent on them. I don't think I've even taken one of those since last Fall!

[*Mrs.J.2011*]

i dont have any answers, but I hope it gets better soon so that you can get some darn sleep!

[BaconsMama]

I would get your thyroid checked just incase...I have hypothyroidism and once I was put on the correct dosages all of my symptoms have disappeared *including anxiety!* and I am like normal again. It's easy to check with a quick blood test, I'm sure if you were to call your doctor they would happily send you a script to get it checked. I hope you get this figured out!

I've heard great things about the Melatonin!

I have quite a few nights just like the ones you describe, but usually only when I'm stressed out in my day to day life or have a lot on my mind. There have been years in my life where it was almost constant. I talked to my doc about it, and he gave me a sample of Ambien CR. Wow. It worked WONDERS. However, I am really paranoid of becoming dependent on drugs, so I never filled the prescription. If you need help though, by all means, talk to you doc. You NEED to sleep. It's not healthy to function on just 2 hours.

I also second sleeping with white noise, like a fan or cool mist humidifier. Also, a sleep mask.

[HopeWishWait]

I have a hard time falling asleep when I get stuck on a certain subject and I can't stop thinking about it. Here's what I do...

Count.

I don't picture sheep or anything I just try to have a totally blank mind and then very slowly "1..2..3...4...5" and on and on and on until Im asleep. It blocks out whatever I was thinking about and actually calms me down and puts me to sleep faster. I did this CONSTANTLY the first few weeks of Conner's life.

[peaches84]

WOW you just described my exact sleep pattern, so I can sympathize. It takes me the same time to fall asleep due to thinking of things I need to get done and just random stupid stuff that doesn't even matter. I have read that writing down everything before you go to bed so you don't think about it will help. I have never tried this because I just don't think it would work for me, but worth a try. the past few days I have been feeling extremely anxious (don't know why) and have been sleeping extra crappy

I should also mention that I have had hypothyroidism since I was a wee one. I take meds but still have all of the above mentioned symptoms. I was told to take melatonin by a nurse at work and I tried this and as the others have stated it works well to help you fall asleep kind of makes me feel like I've taken nyquil, but it doesn't help me stay asleep it seems short acting but hey sleep is sleep. one drawback to the melatonin is that I was having very vivid dreams or rather nightmares, there were people (scary ones) standing in my bedroom, my bathroom door making the creepy creaking sound etc. so now I only taken them on weekends when my fiance is home if I need them.

absolutely no taking naps, throughout school I lived on naps and am finding it hard to break the habit now.
exhaust yourself througout the day and you will sleep like a baby, when I work 12 hr shifts I come home change and am asleep within like 10 min it's lovely

good luck I hope you find something that works for you. keep us posted on whether or not you are finally getting your zzzz's

[soImarriedAnerd]

Talk to your doctor about it. They will most likely check your thyroid for you, also taking some sleep meds (the new ones aren't really addictive) to get you on a schedule maybe just what you need, melatonin I have heard good things about for people who have light issues (you sound past that though), also try keeping a pad and pen next to bed and write down the "things to do" when you think of them---it helps "release" that thought. My mom does this because she has some sleep issues at times. Don't eat/drink caffeine 3hrd before bed, avoid alcohol before bed.

[♥Ashley♥]

Thanks everyone. I was so busy yesterday I didnt get any of that melatonin, but im hoping I can get some tonight. Another night of sh***y sleep

[amazing_love]

I'm sorry you haven't been sleeping! I think you should talk to your doctor. I have the same problem with my mind racing and thinking about a million things while trying to go to sleep. I've stayed up for hours before because of this also, but it's never as bad as what you're describing. I found a solution but you've already ruled it out based on your other post. I can fall asleep within 15-30 minutes (often times sooner) if i have the TV on. I know it sounds strange and my DH doesn't like me having to depend on the TV but hey IT WORKS! I turn it down really quiet so i can barely hear it and put the sleep timer on so i don't have to turn it off myself. I don't quite understand why it helps so much but my mind doesn't race when it's on. At first i thought it must be all in my head and it couldn't possibly be the TV that's helping, but every time i try without it i'm awake for at least an hour and then i'll end up turning it on and can go to sleep. I know you already said the TV makes it worse for you, so it obviously wouldn't be able to help you like it does me but i just thought i'd share. I know you'll be able to find something that will be able to help you.

[petalfuzz]

This is what I use when I get insomnia:
Swanson Condition Specific Formulas Sleep Essentials 120 Caps - Swanson Health Products
It's a melatonin herb blend and is great. If I feel like I can't calm down, I take it an hour before bedtime so I'll fall asleep faster. Otherwise if I take it in bed I can fall asleep within 2 hours. And if I wake up again in 2 hours I can take another one and it's totally safe.

I totally sympathize with you because I hate insomnia! It used to be way worse for me, but I just can't beat it! I lay awake and typically fall asleep in an hour. But sometimes I'll still be awake 2 or 3 or more hours later. I went through a spurt where I fell asleep within 30 minutes. It was heaven: I thought I was healed! But the insomnia came back... And it's not that my mind is racing, I let my thoughts wander and think about tv or books or fantasies but never about myself personally or my stressors or problems.

I used to visualize myself in a white room (a cube). And if a thought entered my head that was from outside the cube, I'd open a door in the cube and throw it back out. I'd try to not think of anything but 6 white walls. It helped to shut my mind down from a busy day.