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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Depression and Thyroid Function
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Depression and Thyroid Function
by BCJB, Dec 29, 2001 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed with depression/chronic fatique syndrom/anxiety disorder - depending on which Doctor I talk to!! I also have a history of Hypothroidism. Can you tell me is these can illnesses can all be realted to my Hypothroidism? My soon to be ex Gp has put me on Synthroid 3 different times because my my Tsh levels where high and I am making anti-bodies. I have done some research and found that there is all lot of support for females witha history of Hypothroidism should be on Synthroid permanently. Whta is your opion on this??
Thank You for your help.
Brenda
Thank You for your help.
Brenda
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Dec 29, 2001 12:00AM
, Dec 29, 2001 12:00AM
I believe that the hypothyroidism can indeed account for the symptoms of fatigue and depression. The question to be asked here is whether, when your thyroid is adjusted properly to the right levels, your symptoms disappear. If so, and if you continue to need synthroid to maintain that level, then you should stay on it. You might want to consult an endocrinologist for a complete analysis of your thyroid functions.
My husband who was abusive, though I was not realizing how much so was being pretty bad. I had been putting up with it partly in frustration of not knowing what else I could do. I told him that I needed medical help. He said we couldn't afford it. I started on an eating plan based on the hellers diet. Lowering the carbs and raising the greens mainly.
I told my ex that I was going to get medical help one way or another. On Thanksgiving day I ended up flying to Montana where my family lived from Ohio.. He had been caught by myself and his sister in an intimate situation in a back alley with a young girl.
I went to my family doctor here. I told him I thought I was having thyroid problems. He said my results were that my thyroid was normal. He prescribed zoloft which was very helpful. But I ended up finding out I had a tumor, having it and my thyroid removed. Having rai.
I have been so stressed from trying to keep going trying to feel better.. and face huge financial bills from doctors and all the medical services. I have put in for disability twice. The first time around time of my surgery, second one more recently.
Both times I've been turned down. I am so tired all the time. I work really hard and it wears me out. I make about 400. 00 a month.. I have about 20 bills, and they are all wanting 25. a month. I'm living with my Mother which is not a good situation.
My endo is not behind me on my feeling that I have a disability. I feel like he is a good doctor, but just doesn't understand how bad and how much pain I am feeling. I also feel better emotionally, but I wonder if the zoloft is working as well as it was. I just feel so down. Sometimes I feel like they would rather have me dead than try to help me. I know that government is like this. But they do not care at all.
I saw a Dr. they (the social security dept. sent me to. Dr. Patricia Weber Ph.D.. She literally told me that she believed having this cancer is a disability.
Unless she was very misleading I believe they pretty much just said no for no reason. I have heard they do that as a rule. But I am just so tired. I feel like I am in a corner with no way out. I want to do so many things. I want to feel better. But I can't get it across to any one how bad I feel. The harder I try and more worn out I get the more every one seems to say .. see you should be able to do more. And they don't understand it took all I had to do that much. I do feel I am improving ..but it would be hard enough to make a fresh start after being in a very abusive marriage. But starting out on my own with these tremendous bills is just so overwhelming I don't know what to do.
It is like you are told to get out of abusive relationships.. . But our government.. at least here in Montana feels like I don't matter. I don't need help and I should just be able to walk away from that situation and deal with my cancer / thyroid while I establish a totally new career and get a place to live in alone for the first time in my life. The child enforcement agency, and directly a Lonny Olson was right down rude about the fact I had asked for help from them. Stating that since I have no children by law they could not pursue my case. My ex was ordered to help me establish myself because of the situation he put me and he was ordered to pay money for the items that were mine or ours together he stole. I have not received a dime from this man in fact I have lost money because of him. It was shown in court where I had scraped together some money to send to his sister for some of my necessities and he had sent me an old shirt of his and a bunch of trash like that left over from a yard sale we'd had right before he threatened me when he was caught in the compromising situation. There was no help in suggesting any alternative just a good luck and bye.
I have been turned down on job training funds because I have to much education. In the letter explaining the decision it states that "We understand you are concerned with your condition but we find you retain the ability to do your past work as a filer as you describe it.
This is a job I was not able to keep. I had not been working for at least 3 years and was living with my husband trying to start a word processing business but just didn't have the energy to do it so it didn't work.
I know it's just not me... there are plenty of folks dealing with this .. right? I really feel like the thyroid must have been a factor in my depression. I think just being aware of it helps so much. But I have had so many doctors say this is a good cancer..as if it's not that big of a deal. But it is something that has profoundly affected me. I think I can be a highly functioning person given some time and some help. If I start feeling better it would make all the difference in the world. But if any one ever feels that they are experiencing the symptoms of thyroid trouble and the doctor looks at you and says why do you think you might be having thyroid problems.. no no your results are normal. Don't take that as a total fact like I did. I feel so down sometimes I just have the urge to take all these dang pills they give me at once. That is totally wrong and I feel disgusted when I get like that. But it's so hard. I just have to keep a good attitude up. The thyroid tests they do, don't take into consideration your vital statistics. So please every one be aware what they consider in the normal range for you might be totally abnormal.
Thanks
theres my venting session for the morning