Hypochondria? Maybe not?

[loonylupinlover]

So, uh, I've been falling asleep in all my classes. Like, 80% of the time I can't make it through a whole class without becoming incredibly drowsy and falling asleep for 15-30 minutes at a time. I've tried stabbing myself with my pencil to stay awake and it totally doesn't work. I get a decent amount of sleep, usually around 7 hours, but still

Comments

[peacebone]

Huh, the eyebrow thing is definitely strange. (Tangentially, one has to wonder what that has to do with the thyroid and why it just affects that part of the eyebrow and not other places with hair... but that's for later.)

Yeah, it sounds like a good idea to check and make sure. I hope it isn't anything serious, and that either way, the doctor can suggest something to help with the sleepiness.

[loonylupinlover]

Yeah, I mean, I knew thinning of the hair in general/hair loss/dry hair was a symptom of hypothyroidism, but eyebrow hair in particular? o_O

Me too. I mean, yeah, my classes aren't super exciting, but I am overall getting more sleep than I did at Willamette and back then I slept in a class maybe once every 2 weeks. So... wtf. Not normal.

[snow_wind]

I definitely agree you should check with a doctor, just in case. Thyroid disorders are tricksy. Maybe they didn't catch it the first time around? Feeling sleepy all the time can really suck. :( If you're having trouble staying awake, have you tried stretching or moving around a little in your chair during class? That sometimes helped me stay awake if I was extra sleepy, just constantly moving or fidgeting.
And wow. Vanishing eyebrow. How does that connect with the thyroid at all? Weird.

[loonylupinlover]

Ben's dad is hypothyroid but his pituitary was masking low thyroid levels so they didn't catch it right away. I'll make sure to ask for a full thyroid panel just in case that's the case with me.

Occasionally I've tried to stand up and go to the bathroom, but I'm really groggy when I do that, and then I can come back and fall right back asleep again. And it sneaks up on me -- one minute I think I'll be paying attention, then it's 15 minutes later and my head's twitching involuntarily.

Well, thyroid issues can cause hair loss and dryness, but I always assumed that would show up on the head... but apparently it's specific to the eyebrow as well.

[themeadowlark]

I have to say, though, that's like one of the best gina-faces ever. :) Well, here's to hoping you get a correct diagnosis and get something to do about it. I hear you on the not being able to stay awake through a lecture, I've had so much trouble with that this year. Maybe our seminars are just really that boring.

there was a discussion just recently over on the lj-community apothecarium (you can find a link on my user info page, sorry, don't know how to do spiffy links in comments) about hypo and hyper thyroidism, and ways to help it with diet and all.

[evilnel]

I have hypothyroidism and yeah, that sounds about right. Actually, I've been out of medicine and failed to get a refill, so aside from the eyebrow thing, it's pretty similar to how I feel right now.

[loonylupinlover]

Hmmm... :-/ We shall see, I suppose. I forgot to call in for an appointment today but hopefully I will remember on my lunch break tomorrow.

[samhobbits]

Weird. Be sure to let us know how it goes!