Re: any hints about getting to sleep? + midnight cortisol result

[Guest guest]

hello

I have chronic insomnia so i can totally sympathise with how your feeling. I and many otherd found the supplement 5HTP (Available over the counter at most high street health stores) very helpfull in aiding sleep,and it does'nt appear to interact with any prescribed meds etc.

Hope this helps

From: patersonia <patersonia@...>Subject: any hints about getting to sleep? + midnight cortisol resultthyroid treatment Date: Wednesday, 25 November, 2009, 14:36

Hi all,Does anyone have any hints about getting to sleep. I have tried using melatonin, valerian, etc but they don't seem to work at all. At the moment I have only slept about 7 hours in the last 48hours, so I am a bit delirious from lack of sleep. It is 1am and I've got a busy day tomorrow but again, it is 1am and I'm not able to sleep even though I'm very tired.Earlier today I through to my endo's office to get my midnight saliva cortisol result from the receptionist.My result was 'less than 8' (it didn't have an exact amount on the result form - that is the way the lab does the test). They said that anything 13 or above was indicative of Cushings Syndrome so THANK GOODNESS I didn't have that! Trouble is that I still don't know why I can't sleep. I kind of thought that my midnight cortisol levels would be high because I am continually fatigued, but I'm generally not tired enough to get to sleep before 1 to 3 am.

Hope someone can comment on my cortisol result and/or give me some hints for getting to sleep.P xo

[Guest guest]



Hi _ Id be interested in knowing more about your experience of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave you feeling hungover etc?

Hi also Patersonia - I was going to suggest Melatonin which works very well for me but unfortunately seems to make me feel a bit depressed - I noticed that I felt like crying for no reason when taking it.

I remember watching a programme about insomnia some time ago and one therapy is to stay awake completely for one night and by the next you should, in theory, sleep and helps reset your body clock or something. however, Im not sure that this works for the sleep disorder that many of us with hypoT seem to have - not that I really understand this, or why etc, so anyone who does I will be interested to know more!

Gill

I have chronic insomnia so i can totally sympathise with how your feeling. I and many otherd found the supplement 5HTP (Available over the counter at most high street health stores) very helpfull in aiding sleep,and it does'nt appear to interact with any prescribed meds etc.

.........

Does anyone have any hints about getting to sleep.

[Guest guest]

Hello Gill

Yes 5HTP did help me fall asleep and i did'nt feel any hungover/side effects in the morning, or in general.

I buy the "Solgar" brand which cost £5:34 for 30 tablets,but Holland Barratt has there own brand in its shops too,and both are available online

I dont know much about the product science, but i know it works.

Hope this helps.

From: Gill <gilljohnthurgo@...>Subject: RE: any hints about getting to sleep? + midnight cortisol resultthyroid treatment Date: Wednesday, 25 November, 2009, 18:13

 Hi _ Id be interested in knowing more about your experience of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave you feeling hungover etc?

Hi also Patersonia - I was going to suggest Melatonin which works very well for me but unfortunately seems to make me feel a bit depressed - I noticed that I felt like crying for no reason when taking it.

I remember watching a programme about insomnia some time ago and one therapy is to stay awake completely for one night and by the next you should, in theory, sleep and helps reset your body clock or something. however, Im not sure that this works for the sleep disorder that many of us with hypoT seem to have - not that I really understand this, or why etc, so anyone who does I will be interested to know more!

Gill

I have chronic insomnia so i can totally sympathise with how your feeling. I and many otherd found the supplement 5HTP (Available over the counter at most high street health stores) very helpfull in aiding sleep,and it does'nt appear to interact with any prescribed meds etc.

.........

Does anyone have any hints about getting to sleep.

[Guest guest]



Hi Russ - thanks a lot I will give that a try - I think if I could just crack the not sleeping well I would be pretty much sorted!!

Cheers,

Gill

Yes 5HTP did help me fall asleep and i did'nt feel any hungover/side effects in the morning, or in general.

I buy the "Solgar" brand which cost £5:34 for 30 tablets,but Holland Barratt has there own brand in its shops too,and both are available online

Id be interested in knowing more about your experience of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave you feeling hungover etc?

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

>

> Does anyone have any hints about getting to sleep.

I don't know if this will help but I was taught a visualisation technique when I

was in college many moons ago...

Basically it's a way of slowing the mind and your breathing so you drift off to

sleep. Get comfortable, then with your eyes closed imagine a clock with just one

hand, which is going round - if you're wound up the hand is going really fast...

so concentrate on the hand and visualise it going round slower and slower and

slower (and your breathing should slow too). If you're tired you drift off to

sleep...

It's worked for me for years. Anything is worth a go once

HTH

Cat.

[Guest guest]

Hi P What is the bottom of the hospital's ref range ie what does less than 8

actually mean?

I must say I am surprised in that I did not know that NHS endos did saliva

tests? It is an NHS endo???

You really need to know the range in order to decide if your cortisol is high or

low at that time.

have you had an ASI done P? I suppose you must have done?

What were your midnight levels then if you have had one done?

If you have not, then way to go I would suggest.

Mo

ps 5HTP, Valerian, Passiflora, Melatonin, that allergy stuff that is the

drowsy-making type, sorry cannot remember the name... Nytol it is, the

non-herbal one.

Dr M suggests taking the Valerian, the 5HTP AND the Nytol together is one of

them on their own does not work after giving them a fair trial.

I have done this because of serious insomnia which, for me, in recent times

anyway was not related to high cortisol.

P. Serine brings down high cortisol as does whatdoyoucallit? Blessed Thistle?

No, some name like that... sorry cannot remember.

A drop of organic Lavender oil in a tot glass or orange juice I have used as

well.

Now they say in this country that essential oils should not be taken internally

but they do in France without any issues. So??? I took it anyway and it helped.

ALSO - a snack at bedtime of protein with complex carb like cashew butter on an

oatcake or rice-cake, this will keep your blood sugar steady and help to keep

you asleep in the night if you are waking up too soon or middle of night.

Are you taking any adrenal support?????????

Some people take 2.5 mg hydrocortisone at bedtime to stop cortisol dropping in

the night which causes adrenaline to rise and wake one up.....

Mo

again, it is 1am and I'm not able to sleep even though I'm very tired.

[Guest guest]

Check out Inositol as well!

Mo

:

>

> Hi Russ - thanks a lot I will give that a try - I think if I could just crack

the not sleeping well I would be pretty much sorted!!

>

of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave you

feeling hungover etc?

>

>

>

>

> .

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mo,

Holland and Barrett are selling their powdered inositol cheap to run down the

stock (being withdrawn)....

will let you know how it goes

best wishes

Bob

>

> Check out Inositol as well!

>

> Mo

>

> :

> >

> > Hi Russ - thanks a lot I will give that a try - I think if I could just

crack the not sleeping well I would be pretty much sorted!!

> >

> of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave

you feeling hungover etc?

[Guest guest]

Hi Mo,

.....also, see 'Mo Example' in the Links section

Bob

>

> Check out Inositol as well!

>

> Mo

>

> :

> >

> > Hi Russ - thanks a lot I will give that a try - I think if I could just

crack the not sleeping well I would be pretty much sorted!!

> >

> of 5HTP - does it help you fall asleep in the first place and does it leave

you feeling hungover etc?

[Guest guest]

Well thank you Young Man, a little lateral thinking goes a long, long way. Very

much appreciated.

Mo

>

>

> ....also, see 'Mo Example' in the Links section

[Guest guest]

Really? Is that online Bob? My local two H & Bs only sell the HUGE tabs so I

bought those to try 'em out initially then bought a shed-load on EBay at a good

price, pharma grade powder.

I think I tried GABA itself before that and there is some controversy as to

whether it actually crosses the blood/brain barrier I believe.

Did I mention the book The Edge Effect recently? With questionnaire in the book

about assessing the state ofone's n/transmitters, the main ones anyways???

Dr braverman is the author and this book helped me esatbalish thaT i was

most likely most low in GABA of the four main neurotransmitters and then next

came serotonin...

So I am working on thw 'wrost' one by increasing GABA.

Did I also mention (I certainly meant to and should really now I realie have

started separate thread about these two things..... ooops............. I WILL

become computer litate in the end, I Promise LOLOLOL

Rhodiola?

I started this a few weeks ago and oh boy! Energy up, mood up, sleep better.

I think I may have mentioned this before in which case I will just shut up now

for fearing of driving everyone nuts.

IF I have not mentioned these two thingees then pse check 'em out, both really

good and helpful thingees )))))

Mo

>

> Holland and Barrett are selling their powdered inositol cheap to run

[Guest guest]

<<I think I tried GABA >>

Gaba is converted in the body from glutamate with B6 and magnesium. You

could try supplementing with those 2 supplements if you haven't already

tried that route.

Mo schrieb:

>

> Really? Is that online Bob? My local two H & Bs only sell the HUGE tabs

> so I bought those to try 'em out initially then bought a shed-load on

> EBay at a good price, pharma grade powder.

> I think I tried GABA itself before that and there is some controversy

> as to whether it actually crosses the blood/brain barrier I believe.

>

[Guest guest]

if your cortisol is high at night you could try seriphos.

chris

[Guest guest]

Thanks . I appreciate your advice. I will look into it and mention it

to my doc.

P xo

ps - I hope you don't suffer from insomnia for too long into the future.

>

> hello

> I have chronic insomnia so i can totally sympathise with how your feeling. I

and many otherd found the supplement 5HTP (Available over the counter at most

high street health stores) very helpfull in aiding sleep,and it does'nt appear

to interact with any prescribed meds etc.

>  

> Hope this helps

[Guest guest]

Thanks Mo. I will look into it. P xo

>

> Check out Inositol as well!

>

> Mo

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have never heard of seriphos. What is it? Apparently my cortisol isn't high

at night. Do you think it would still be worth trying?

P xo

>

> if your cortisol is high at night you could try seriphos.

>

> chris

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Cat,

I will try it. Thanks so much for letting me know about it.

P xo

> I don't know if this will help but I was taught a visualisation technique when

I was in college many moons ago...

>

> Basically it's a way of slowing the mind and your breathing so you drift off

to sleep. Get comfortable, then with your eyes closed imagine a clock with just

one hand, which is going round - if you're wound up the hand is going really

fast... so concentrate on the hand and visualise it going round slower and

slower and slower (and your breathing should slow too). If you're tired you

drift off to sleep...

>

> It's worked for me for years. Anything is worth a go once

> HTH

> Cat.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi P, The problem with this test is that it only shows a snapshot of your cortisol level at midnight. It is the circadian rhythm that is important as well as the amounts of cortisol released, the highest levels should be at 8 am. If you have low cortisol durng the day then it is the circadian rhythm that is disturbed- which tends to happen when the body is under stress- which can be as a result of poorly controlled hypo. Do you feel sleepy during the day? It may be of more benefit to do a salivary cortisol at 4 times during the day to really see what is going on. > thyroid treatment > From: patersonia@...> Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:36:36 +0000> Subject: any hints about getting to sleep? + midnight cortisol result> > Hi all,> > Does anyone have any hints about getting to sleep. I have tried using melatonin, valerian, etc but they don't seem to work at all. At the moment I have only slept about 7 hours in the last 48hours, so I am a bit delirious from lack of sleep. It is 1am and I've got a busy day tomorrow but again, it is 1am and I'm not able to sleep even though I'm very tired.> > Earlier today I through to my endo's office to get my midnight saliva cortisol result from the receptionist.> > My result was 'less than 8' (it didn't have an exact amount on the result form - that is the way the lab does the test). They said that anything 13 or above was indicative of Cushings Syndrome so THANK GOODNESS I didn't have that! > > Trouble is that I still don't know why I can't sleep. I kind of thought that my midnight cortisol levels would be high because I am continually fatigued, but I'm generally not tired enough to get to sleep before 1 to 3 am. > > Hope someone can comment on my cortisol result and/or give me some hints for getting to sleep.> > P xo> > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Hi , Yes I know. Sheila just mentioned that on another message that I

have posted about my endo dumping me. I am sleepy through the day 95% of the

time. I am always fatigued. I can't remember the last day that I had good

energy ): I'm not sure who I can get to order the test. I had a test ordered

before but I waited too long to do it (because of my doubts about the testing

method) and now the order is 'out of date' so I can't use it. I will see if it

is possible to get another test request. From whom? I have no idea! I live

in Oz, so the testing places in the UK aren't relevant over here.

P xo

>

>

> Hi P,

> The problem with this test is that it only shows a snapshot of your

cortisol level at midnight. It is the circadian rhythm that is important as well

as the amounts of cortisol released, the highest levels should be at 8 am. If

you have low cortisol durng the day then it is the circadian rhythm that is

disturbed- which tends to happen when the body is under stress- which can be as

a result of poorly controlled hypo. Do you feel sleepy during the day? It may be

of more benefit to do a salivary cortisol at 4 times during the day to really

see what is going on.

>

[Guest guest]

It's supposed to lower cortisol

prob not worth trying unless you have high night time cortisol.

http://www.diligent-supplements.co.uk/online-supplements/stress-endocrine/Seriph\

os.html

if your cortisol is high at night but low at night, i read that this is because

your body is trying to 'flog a dead horse' in your adrenals and try to get them

to work, and it takes them all day to produce anything - hence it being higher

at night (not that you said yours were high at night)

chris

>

> Hi

> I have never heard of seriphos. What is it? Apparently my cortisol isn't

high at night. Do you think it would still be worth trying?

> P xo

[Guest guest]

Thanks Chris. P xo

>

> It's supposed to lower cortisol

>

> prob not worth trying unless you have high night time cortisol.

http://www.diligent-supplements.co.uk/online-supplements/stress-endocrine/Seriph\

os.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Gill,

I buy the Now brand one from iherb.com http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-L-Ornithine-500-mg-120-Capsules/735?at=0 , but have previousley bought it (different brand) from nutricentre. Be careful to get just ornithine rather than the one which combines with arginine as they have opposite effects in that arginine wakes you up whereas ornithine relaxes. The reasoning behind this is that ammonia causes us to not be able to sleep, and ornithine helps with this. It is part of the dr hulda clark regime. I used to sometimes take arginine first thing if I needed a boost to get me going, but if you take too much arginine (several times a day) it can make you edgy.

Val

Ive never heard of ornithine - be pleased to know your experienceof it and where you get this from.

[Guest guest]

Hi Val

thanks very much that's helpful. I came across Dr Hulda for the first

time last night after doing a search for ornithine. Ive not come across the

idea of amonia being a cause of lack of sleep but anything is worth a try!

thanks,

Gill

> I buy the Now brand one from iherb.com

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-L-Ornithine-500-mg-120-Capsules/735?at=0 , but

have previousley bought it (different brand) from nutricentre.

[Guest guest]

Hi Gill,

This is a download of her best known book.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3280515/The-Cure-for-All-Diseases

Val

I came across Dr Hulda for the first time last night after doing a search

[Guest guest]

Hi Val

thanks very much - looks interesting - thanks very much. I wonder if anyone else has experience of her work? Id be interested to hear if anyone has.

Gill

This is a download of her best known book.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3280515/The-Cure-for-All-Diseases

I came across Dr Hulda for the first time last night after doing a search