Do you use a sleep app?

Kmanr

ive been using one that is free and had me put my phone at corner of my bed (I use duct tap to hold it there) and it senses movement and give me some indication of how well I sleep. I track that. My sleep is about my worst symptom now a days.

melissafiesty

I'm not good with apps,gadgets,etc. So no,I don't have a sleep app, but will agree that sleep is my worst symptom also since thyca.I actually have my best workouts at night. I figure if i'm wide awake I might as well DO something productive.

Kmanr

Ya, it's frustrating... I'm doing a tough program given me by a sleep specialist now where you intentionally don't sleep enough (never nap) but go to bed and rise same time every single night / morning. The good is I'm up at 630 (historically 8) so I have time to workout in an now. Those sleepless hours i'm filling with advanced math review in prep for advanced physics and chemistry review, and eventually getting into biochemistry deeply. But, I feel like a zombie most of time since starting this program. With 2 months, allegedly, I'll have the perfect sleep for me tuned in and running strong... Can't wait and hope it's true.

melissafiesty

I hope it's true for you too with that demanding work load! I waitress(just so you know what kind of brain your dealing with). I will say, I am a year out of TT and I have learned how to adjust.Have too.I have had mild brain fog as a symptom too,so I really hope with that math/physics brain you don't suffer THAT symptom..brain fog. I wish you well Kmanr. Tell me in 2months your results.

ljpark

The brain fog is tough. Am about to discuss alternate med combinations with my specialist to try and address that (and a few of the other, less fun side effects of below average T3).

ljpark

I have always been an insomniac - waking up at least 2 x per night for as long as I can remember. A bad night is 4 x. I can normally get back to sleep, but there is still a time lag. I am normally up between 5-5.30am to start the day, and hence crash out very early! The fatigue on top of that does not help at all.

Kmanr

You guys sound a lot like me. I wake up, have trouble getting back to sleep sometimes. Bad night is 4 wake ups, 3hrs total sleep. Drives me nuts. I have suffered brain fog for so many years! Sometimes to point where I try to avoid others because I'm totally clueless, forget names of people I see every day and words are hard to get into speech... Then some days I'm on top of my game??? Hope it was all hashi related. So far no brain fog since rai. Cautiously optimistic.

Kmanr

Melissa, by the way, you sound like you're putting yourself down with waitress comment about who I'm dealing with. Please don't ever do that internally or externally. Waitress demands a lot of social ability along with the rest of the job and dealing with variety of people effectively there is one of most difficult jobs. I also think it's a good choice as with tips, can often make good cash and hopefully enjoy it and meet a lot of other souls too. Many more than a corporate job enables. I bartender my way through college and gained immensely from doing so. I had other friends bartending or waiting that couldn't leave it due to money being too good to do so for regular post college jobs. Anyway, you're dealing with tough medical condition and positivity trumps all else, be happy with you, and never let yourself out yourself down! Please!

melissafiesty

Hi kmanr. You are so sweet. That's why I joined. You rally and cheer people on. I wasn't trying to put myself down. Just u up . I am so happy to hear you forget peoples names and words for your speech. Happy in a way I don't feel alone. If that makes sense. The hardest thing for all of us thyca people now is figuring out If its thyroid based,med based,or something related. I'm 51 yrs old and my issues are menopausal too. But I can't figure out what issue belongs in what group. Definitely the sleep thing is thyroid base I know. I never had a problem sleeping through the night.
Thank you for all the kind words. You really seem to "get it'. I still wish I had your discipline for diet and exercise. Take care.

ljpark

OMG, that is so me re people/speech/brain fog. It is great to hear form both of you on this. Melissa, you definitely have it much harder with your constant interaction with people!
Unfortunately kmanr, the brain fog can return. It is a side effect of the Hashi's. But if your T3 is not right, and your T4 is also off, it can return.
In my mind I just sacked my Endo yesterday, who did not care about my hypo symptons, which are impacting my ability to work. All of this because my TSH, FT3&4 fall within the normal range. In addition, she will also only prescribe synthroid, and none of the T3 meds.
I messaged BiomedEE on the thyca site and over night received some great feedback. I am going to try and work with my GP next week to address these issues and try to get my blood work right for me.

Kmanr

Yep, good decision to fire that endo, hopefully you can find a good one. Seems ideal one would be willing to give you at least T3 along with T4, and possibly several other things too, to experiment with their guidance. I guess there's likely inherent "risks" which is probably why so many endos don't want to stray from T4 only and only move in extreme cases... But that's likely not best for many of us. I'm convinced the blood markers only matter some (be within a reasonable range), but how we feel should be the real gauge of the right mix. Especially since we are all so different in so many ways. I'm very concerned about brain fog coming back. Had it for at least 15yrs so now not having it is remarkable. I will have to fight off serious depression if it comes back now that I know what feeling free is again. I can tell you, if it does come back, I'll try every possible drug / diet, etc concoction I can to get rid of it even to point of putting my own life at risk... Brain fog is no way to live!!!!! Thankfully, I know now I can be free of it, just gotta ensure it stays that way. Good luck with new endo! I bet yelp has people like us rating great endos like one your looking for, not sure what countries yelp is in though.. Very heavily used in Silicon Valley where I'm at.

ljpark

Hi Kmanr. You give me hope that this degeneration (brain fog) is recoverable! Thank you It has been a very stressful year on the medical front so far . I have always read the posts on the thyca site where others have discussed their Endo issues, and felt very confused at the illogical approach of these so called specialists. It was very confronting to be faced with it personally, and I was not prepared . Unfortunately, nothing on Yelp in Australia. However, I have received a recommendation from a friend. At this stage, I want to try to work through this with my GP, rather than try and establish a new relationship. If that does not work, then I will have to "start again". Monday is new day

ljpark

So far, I am going to have to start again with a new Endo. My GP has no experience with Tertroxin. I am hoping her colleagues do, but if not, the earliest I can see the new Endo is July. I can do this. I am working through my plan of action

Kmanr

What I can tell you guys is that in the last 16 days, I've only had 2 days where I'm a little dull (compared to almost every single day in past). Unfortunately, I really don't know why, it seems rai "fixed" me, at least to a big extent. Having spent 15yrs in a fog, I can now tell you it's worth giving everything a shot to get out of it. If mine comes back, I will do everything possible even crazy stuff that may kill me, to get out of the fog. Life without fog is incredible when you've been stuck with fog. Force your Drs to try EVERYTHING!!!! Hopefully I never have to give
Practical advice on this as if I do, it means I provably got fogged again and had try everything!

ljpark

Hey Kmanr! That is great news It is a fight for your life, and only you can be motivated to fight it, 'cause no one else will do it for you I felt quite threatened (amongst many other things) when I discovered that the Endo would not help me. I very quickly moved on to plans B to E inclusive after that

ljpark

Hey! I now have a GP who understands what is going on! Nothing like family perspective to engender understanding I feel better already, just knowing that there is a professional out there who can help. Am now on the journey of stabilising the new meds and looking forwards to living again.

Kmanr

Fantastic!