Graves & insomnia?
Find a Conversation
Graves & insomnia?
| Fri, 07-30-2004 - 7:58pm |
Hi everyone,
My mom has been suffering from severe insomnia for about 2-3 months now, averaging 1 hour a day unassisted and 2 hours assisted with various prescription sleeping pills which she does not like to use because of their side effects. She complains about feeling "on" all the time and that she is always tired but never sleepy. She took a leave of absence from work 2 months ago to lower stress, but is still not sleeping.
My mom has been suffering from severe insomnia for about 2-3 months now, averaging 1 hour a day unassisted and 2 hours assisted with various prescription sleeping pills which she does not like to use because of their side effects. She complains about feeling "on" all the time and that she is always tired but never sleepy. She took a leave of absence from work 2 months ago to lower stress, but is still not sleeping.
We have been focusing on her estrogen levels because she is menopausal, but now I am wondering if anyone who has Graves' disesase also had this experience. My brother has Graves' and while it is unusual in men, I now wonder if we should be asking the doctors to check for thyroid levels.
Thanks for reading. Any feedback is helpful.

As far as the insomnia, I had severe sleep disturbances before being medicated. I could fall asleep anywhere but could not stay asleep. You mentioned your mom feeling "on" all the time and always being tired but not sleepy. That is the exact feeling I had. When I'd wake up after a couple hours of sleep, my mind (and heart rate) would race. It would take me HOURS to fall back asleep only to wake again an hour or so later.
After about 1 month on the PTU, my sleep became much more restful. I have currently been on PTU for about 3 months now and those severe sleep disturbances have all but disappeared.
Your mom would be wise to have her thyroid levels checked. Sleep disturbances were one of my more severe symptoms.
Hope this helps.
Gina