thyroid and bipolar disorder

[kbrad1933]

HI, i'm new to your posting.  I am 12 years post cancer and have recieved synthroid, at varied dosages over the years and with THS so suppressed I would say I was off the chart.  So here is my situation.  I was diagnosed ADD and depression aobut five years ago. Ok, that sort of made sense.  So on a stimulant and a anti-depressant.  I continued to expereince low level of depression, anxiety, and muscle pain.   I just continued with live just living with the diagnosis and medications. Saw my endro earlier in the year I tried to ask him if I could still be experiencing symptoms related to thyroid.  He said no , if anything you are slightly on the hyper side.  So I went to mh primary care doctor who would not adjust the medications, he said that I needed to see a psychiatrist.  So off I went to the psychiatrist, who gave me the diagnosis of Bi Polar.   I have done so research on line and there is a link with thyroid and mental/psychicatric disorders.   I was thinking tha surely I am not the only one to have been expereincing this.  Please respond and tell me I am not alone or "crazy"   I am just trying to figure out what came first =, The thyroid problem or the "bipolar"  .thank

[stella5349]

Yes, I am glad you are reading about the connections.  and you're right - they are connected. In fact Bi Polar can be given and all it is - IS a thyroid inbalance.

I strongly  encourage you to read about Free T3 hormone and learn on how getting this in check and can save many people from mental diagnoises. There are many studies out there that prove - thyroid patients ( especially non thyroid gland patients/ RAI - surgery) have a high rate of non converting meds properly - which trigger mental instability.  

I was a mood elevated nut for many years until my free T3 was raised to the correct level I needed to balance out. Unfortunately my level - that is good for me - is off the charts - with a super low TSH ( as you) Many doctors would not allow my numbers to stay where they are, but I thank God I have a doctor that is definately in tune with this and knows everyone is different.

Free T3 controls many things with many parts of the body.

[ChitChatNine]

Hello and WELCOME .. I don't know enough to be helpful but wanted to wave hello and mentione that Venora is a longitme thyroid member and thanks so much for helping!

C~

[Venora Moonwind]

Hi there.

I am bi polar and throidless. I was DX bi polar in 98 and my substernal goiter with the cancer came out in 06.
I am pretty sure I have been bi polar since birth. In my research to my burning question of which came first I found that bi polars have a higher chance of developing thyroid problems.
Also I know from first hand experience that hyperthyroid is exactly like tha manic side of bi polar and hypothyroid feels just like the depression side.

I know in your caseif it were me I would change docs and see if you canget your thyroid numbers balanced before I would accept a DX of bi polar
  
Its fine balancing act to get your numbers stabilized and everyone  is different. I feel my between 1 and 2 on my TSH which my doc likes it low for the cancer suppression.  What is better for you will be different

Get your lab numbers and post them here.  there are lots of here that can help you interpret tthem.

PM me if you want I promise to answer.

I am praying for you that  its the throid for you ,not the bi polar.

Love Venora