Is it normal to need 4 hour naps?

[smirkymonkey]

Even when I get 8 hours of sleep? I just seem to be exhausted all the time. And freezing cold too. I am hypothyroid, but being treated by 100mg of Levoxyl. I never really felt like it did much for me, but lately I am feeling more and more exhuasted. I just don't seem to want to do anything but sleep and occasionally eat - but not during the day, only to comfort myself at night.

I make myself go for 80 block walks every weekend and I walk about 20-40 blocks per day during the week, usually w/ no problem, but more and more I just can't wait to hit my bed. My naps used to be 1 hour or maybe 90 minutes, but now they are lasting at least 3 but closer to 4 hours on weekends and days off.

Does anyone have any comments before I go to my doctor? Should there be anything specific I should have her look at?

Thanks in advance!

[mopinko]

1. sleep

do you snore? do you wake up with a dry mouth, or a sore throat? do you have a partner that can tell you how you sleep?
sleep is really, really, really fucking important, but you sure wouldn't know it from talking to doctors.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Go to stopthethyroidmadness.com

and read up. Most doctors want to adjust your dosage so your TSH reading will be normal, but many people, me included, still have classic symptoms of hypothyroidism, which include being cold all the time, being tired all the time and having to sleep a lot; having your hair become dry, even feel like straw; having your hair fall out (not all of it, but enough to make it thinner); losing the outer third of your eyebrows, not being able to remember things or think straight at times (a feeling of "brain fog".) I'm probably leaving something out, but you're certainly having two of the symptoms.

Doctors used to increase the dosage until the patient felt better but now they want to stick by the tests. Don't be surprised if your doctor refuses to raise your dosage.

Some people say that Armour natural thyroid is better than the synthetics because it's actual dried out thyroid glands, from pigs. I'm a vegetarian but I'm taking it. I need a higher dosage, though.

I've got to find a new doctor. . .

At the site I mentioned, you'll find a link to another site's "Top Thyroid Docs" list at about.com and will be at Mary Shomon's site about thyroid problems, where you can find a lot more info than just top thyroid docs, which are recommendations from patients who write to Mary.

[kdmorris]

3. I'm going to have to go with DemBones

Find a doctor who will not treat you by your TSH alone. It's hard to find one, but worth it when you do.

My TSH has been .001 for about 3 years now, but it's the only way to get my Free T3 and Free T4 up so that I will feel better. When I was treated by TSH alone, I always felt awful.

I take Naturethroid now, 6 grains, (like Armour) which has T4 and T3 in it. I just don't seem to convert T4 into T3 no matter how much T4 I take.

[sandnsea]

4. Could be blood sugar

Thyroid can make other things go wrong. Probably best to get a full blood workup.

[smirkymonkey]

5. Thanks everyone - I have actually made an appointment w/

a thyroid doc in NY that prescribes Armour Thyroid and also T3/T4 combined. Lately it's been getting worse. I am so cold all the time I can barely function - It's still summer and I wear wool sweaters, long pants and a shawl. I go to bed at 8:30 at night and get up at 7:30am and I am still exhausted. Dry skin and hair, low blood pressure. I can't even stay awake to watch a movie anymore at night. I don't feel sick, just exhausted and cold.

Thanks for your advice everyone - I'll let you know in a few weeks if the different meds made a difference. (my appt. is not till the 23rd. ugh! )

[The empressof all]

6. Get a complete blood count (CBC)

You could be anemic. I've had both hyper and now hypothyroid for years and need to take an iron supplement or I'll just have no energy. Also if your blood counts are good you may want to get a sleep study. You may have apnea or other type of sleep issue.

[mopinko]

7. and the doc will not suggest a sleep test, in my experience

all doc pay lip service to sleep, but few will order a test unless the patient asks. they are expensive, i guess. but treating a sleep problem can change your life.