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If you are depressed/low energy/motivation, pls make sure to have your thyroid checked!!.

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Posted 10/16/2006 2:55 PM (GMT -8)
I was admitted to inpatient at the hospital last September for a major depressive episode.  I have had mild to moderate depression most of my 44 years, but never a major depressive episode where I couldn't eat, sleep, go to work and cried all time.  When I was in the hospital, I was currently on Cymbalta, that I had a bad reaction from.  While I was there..they ran all sorts of tests on me..EKG (because I was also having bad anxiety/panic - shortness of breath and heart palpitations) and all sorts of blood tests on me.  After all the tests, they told me I had severe depression and anxiety and put me on Remeron and Klonopin.  Although they have helped greatly..I am starting to wonder if I should have been put on antidepressants in the first place.  I have been gaining weight and told the Psychiatrist my concerns.  She said that she is confused as to why the hospital never did a simple blood test to check my thyroid. I then had my thyroid checked and it turns out I have an underactive thyroid which could be causing the depression and weight gain. I was put on Synthroid - a thirty day supply cost me $8.82 and it is a hormone that our Thyroid does not make enough of. 

If you suffer from depression, anxiety, irritability, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, low energy, concentration and motivation, sluggishness, weight gain or loss, difficulty losing weight, decreased libido, hair loss (hair, thinning eyebrows), hoarseness, dry skin etc (symtoms of underactive/overactive thyroid) - please make sure to have your thyroid checked.

Posted 10/16/2006 3:44 PM (GMT -8)

Rianna said...

please make sure to have your thyroid checked.

And, even if you bloodwork comes back "within normal range" be sure your doctors and therapist understand your symptoms.  Normal range may not be normal for You! 

Also ... some meds (lithium, for sure) does a number on your thyroid function.  Another reason for having it checked.

:-)  

Posted 10/16/2006 10:34 PM (GMT -8)
I had it checked a few years back and everything was fine. Could this be something you might develop later on in life? I might ask to have it done again, just to see.

Thanks for the advice. It's certainly something to think about.
Posted 10/17/2006 9:31 AM (GMT -8)
My gastroenterologist (I have crohn's disease) found my thyroid problem thru blood work. I was hypothyroid because I am growing nodules on my thyroid and they are slowly killing it. I take Synthroid also. I think a thyroid test should be done yearly.
Posted 10/17/2006 6:17 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Rianna, I'm so glad you brought this topic up so that it can be addressed. I found out I had hypothyrodism when I was schelduled to have quad bypass surgery. It came back that I could possibly be pregnant. I knew that there was no way that I could be pregnant because I had gone through menopause at a young age(42). They took blood tests and found out I had thyroid disease and a goider. Besides all the symptoms you have mentioned, this disease can also effect you emotionally. I still have severe mood swings even though I take levothyroxin. I've been taking it for almost 5 yrs now. The mood swings this disease can cause are the worst part for me to cope with. The hormonal imbalance it causes can cause alot of symptoms(like being pregnant)lol! Thanks so much for bringing this topic up, I know it will help alot of people.

Wanda
Posted 10/21/2006 8:22 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for all your replies. I am getting ready to start the Synthroid (levothyroxine) and am hoping there will be no nausea or side effects.

Wanda..have you talked to your Doctor about your mood swings and been screened for Bi-polar disorder?
Posted 10/21/2006 8:31 AM (GMT -8)
I'm going in on the 30th for a check up and the doc is going to test my thyroid then, along with some other things. Not sure if I need a different med or not, on prozac now and sometimes it seems to help and other times not so much. Then I think it's just me brining it all on anyway and no drug will make it better.
Posted 10/21/2006 8:46 AM (GMT -8)
To Suzy:

Well, no drug will make the real problem go away. Drugs help with the physical elements of the depression, by boosting serotonin and what not, but depression is often brought on by external factors that need to be dealt with in order for a person to truly recover and get better. So drugs are only part of the solution. There is a lot one can do to help the process. Even though at times it feels completely useless to try... That's the vicious cycle of depression unfortunately. Being aware of it is half the battle...

slowly
Posted 10/21/2006 8:50 AM (GMT -8)
That's why I know that no drug will take my problems away. No matter what I'm on, the problems will still be there. I know that I do tend to over worry, and that's my problem too. I just can't get past the doom that I feel is coming.
Posted 10/21/2006 7:19 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Rianna, I have started taking lamictal for a mood disorder. The psyshyatrist didn't diagnose me with bipolar, just a mood disorder. I've only been taking lamictal for a month, it seems to help a little, but I still have severe mood swings. I went off of it for 2 weeks and have just started taking it again. I hope it helps. I know it takes time for the medicines to work. I am also taking levothyroxin for my thyroid. It seems to work very well with no side effects. I've been taking it for about 5yrs. and every time I get my blood test, it comes back ok. Good luck to you I hope it helps you as well.

Wanda
Posted 10/22/2006 10:39 AM (GMT -8)
The point about checking thyroid function is very important. Also food intolerances can cause depression, the commonest being wheat.
Posted 10/25/2006 10:01 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Suzy35,

In my opinion..I really do think that drugs really help. When you feel better emotionally..then you feel more motivated to make changes in your life. I know that before antidepressants..I would get in to arguments with people..co-workers, everything was a major issue that I would turn into a crisis. Some of my friends would tease me saying I was a drama queen..and they were right. I did not like myself at all, and felt I was worthless..nor did I like too many people. My relationships with men were also short lived and turbulent.

I felt I had no hope for the future and everything was bleak..in other words, I was severely depressed. Even if someone looked at me funny..would send me into a tailspin and would ruin my day. I always thought people were talking behind my back as well. Along came the (after many trial and errors) the right antidepressant..and I no longer want to argue or fight with friends, no longer feel the paranoia that I did..I like myself again and no longer think of myself as a "loser" or "worthless". I get along well with friends and co-workers now, and the "crisis mode" and constant chaos and crying all the time is no longer there. I don't "PMS" as bad as I used to as well.

I guess all in all..the antidepressants did make most of my problems go away, because I feel I can function so much better and feel normal for the first time in 40 something years. I hope this makes sense. I also think therapy does wonders, and when I can get some health insurance, will be looking into it again, as I still have some issues to resolve - such as jumping to conclusions and impulsiveness which destroyed my last relationship. I feel antidepressants are an excellent starting point, because when someone is depressed or not on the right antidepressant, it is tough to want to work on other problems in our lives.

You said that you tend to overworry..it may be caused from an anxiety/panic disorder..I know I always worried and panicked about everything. Klonopin (Benzo - anti-anxiety/panic medication) has really helped with that, as well as the Book called "10 days to Self Esteem" by Dr. David Burns.
Posted 10/29/2006 3:33 PM (GMT -8)
Just an update on the Synthroid (Levothyroxine) that I am taking for underactive thyroid. I am feeling great for the first time in decades. This is only my second day on it..and I feel like I want to go out dancing and meet a man and new friends! (most of my friends here have moved away). This is the first time I have felt like this in ages. The Remeron was great for the depression, but I still felt tired, sluggish and didn't have much motivation. Usually, on weekends, I feel a bit low..no motivation..sluggish..tired, and don't feel like getting out and meeting people. I would feel lonely but at the same time, just didn't feel like getting dressed up to go anywhere. It is Sunday evening, and I want to do something! I feel excitement and joy and I can't believe I am feeling like this..it is too good to be true..all because of a tiny (25mcg) hormone pill for an underactive thyroid??

So, here is hope for depression...please have your thyroid tested if you are feeling down (even on antidepressants), sluggish, tired, no joy or motivation.
Posted 11/8/2006 11:57 PM (GMT -8)

EVERYBODY PLEASE LOOK OVER THE LINKS ON:

http://thyroid.about.com/od/alternativeholisticinfo/

THERE IS SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE TO THIS THYROID THING

Just recently diagnosed Hypothroid myself,but have done EXTENSIVE research on all of my "issues".

Let me just suggest - IF YOU ARE MISERABLE and have found this chat room.... and are Depressed- Yes- research Thyroid Imbalances.

If you have been diagnosed with a Thyroid Imbalance - You may become depressed! You MAY be given the wrong(or not ideal) Thyroid Replacment drug on the market...

Esp. if you pull/pluck your hair -bite your nails or pick,perfectionatly at your skin or Itch.... All Thyroid & Brain Chemical

& oh yeah... DIET!!!!!!!!!! RELATED!!!!!!!

BY THE WAY - DIET IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

"Leave Your Drugs In The Chemist 's Pot if you can Heal The Patient With FOOD" - Hippocrates 460-370BC.

No one here I will Promise you - will ever get better with Any Pill - if you do not change the routine way we all have set into of what we put into our bodies...

No Wonder We Are All Screwed Up!

Itching, Hair-Pulling - Anxious - Tired , Aching & more...

in Virgina!

 &

Lord Willing...On my way to beating this Hell!

Posted 11/11/2006 3:00 AM (GMT -8)
I'm a 20 year old guy and I've been suffering for about 3 years, when I read your post Rianna it almost brang a tear to my eye, lol, I'm very happy for you. I’m also getting my thyroid checked and I would can only hope that something will be detected and treated to achieve results like your own.
Posted 11/11/2006 3:39 AM (GMT -8)

boostinggtir said...I'm a 20 year old guy and I've been suffering for about 3 years, when I read your post Rianna it almost brang a tear to my eye, lol, I'm very happy for you. I’m also getting my thyroid checked and I would can only hope that something will be detected and treated to achieve results like your own.

Hi boostinggtir, I wanted to welcome to healing well forum, we are happy to have you.  I am sorry that you have been suffering from depression for 3 years.  I know it is hard.  Something I recommend to everyone and this is also something I do myself is to get a check-up every year by their primary care physician.  Sometimes there can be a medical problem going on and left undetected it can present with some depressive symptoms such as your thyroid just as one example.

I have had depression for many years so I know that I actually do have a chemical imbalance in my brain.  However, 5 years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which did increase my depression and then last yr diagnosed with an autonomic disorder.  So medical problems can most certianly feed off of depression and vise versa.

I do hope you seek treatment for your depression if you havent already and also continue to post here as we would love to hear more about you.  This is a great site for information and support.  Take care

Posted 11/11/2006 4:28 PM (GMT -8)
Well..another update..so much for the "giddy" feeling I was having. It has passed. However, I really do feel the thyroid medication is working, even on the lowest dose at 25mcg. One really good thing, is that before I started taking it, I had Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even on antidepressants, I would still feel depressed in the fall and winter months with the shorter days. I would crave carbohydrates and just feel tired and down. I feel the thyroid medication has helped with that, because I don't feel down now when the days are shorter, and I no longer crave pasta and carbohydrates. I am thinking that a Multivitamin I am taking (Centrum) is also helping, maybe because it has vitamin D in it? I have also bought a small SAD light, which may also be helping a bit. Thanks again for all your responses. I am glad that my post has helped people. That really means a lot to me.

Post Edited (Rianna) : 11/11/2006 5:31:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/12/2006 1:46 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for this post! I read Hypothroidism Type 2 by Mark Starr and it says all that you have said...but the author/Dr recommends desiccated thyroid hormone replacement...not synthetic.

A lot of illnesses are linked to low thyroid function. I've mentioned this book a couple of times on this board, but I have decided to stop because I don't want to seem pushy...because I'm not.
Posted 11/12/2006 5:09 PM (GMT -8)
I don't have a thyroid glan and have been on synthroid (levothyroxin,sodium) since I was three days old. only in the last couple of years have I started having symtomes of deppression, they've been slowely increasing in severity sad This is the first time somone has pointed out a connection, thank you I will be sure to have it checked again. And maybe if its in the right rang I'll tell them to make sure its a little higher, just to see if there an improvement.
Posted 11/15/2006 2:55 PM (GMT -8)
Rianna, what type of test proved that you are hypothyroid. Was it the TSH?
Posted 11/17/2006 4:56 PM (GMT -8)
Yes, I had the TSH and it said 5.29 which was outside of the normal range.  Can you tell me more about the other type of medication you mentioned?  It is alternative - supplement or herb?  I am low income and can't afford a lot of medications, whether prescription or alternative.  I only pay $4.00 right now for the synthroid..hopefully, it will do the trick..have been on it for almost a month now...thanks for the info.
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