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17 year old daughter on anti-depression and anti-thyroid meds
I thought I posted to the doctor forum, but it didn't show up immediately, so I don't know if it went through.
My daughter was diagnosed 1 week ago with Graves and prescribed 10 mg. of Methimozole. The trouble is, the stupid psychiatrist with 40+ years of experience didn't bother to read the family medical history and prescribed 20 mg. of Citalopram and .5 mg. of Lorazepam (as needed) 3-4 weeks before I insisted on checking the thyroid levels (her dad, older sister, and I all have hypothyroidism). Anyway, my daughter who normally is a solid B+/A- student and an exceptional artist is reduced to crying herself to sleep, has vague thoughts of "disappearing", doesn't want to get better, feels like her head is exploding, and can't manage reduced homework at home with a homebound teacher. Needless to say, my husband and I have set up a schedule in which she is always with one of us and she has healthy things to do at home like reading and walking the dogs with me.
I am worried that either the order of getting psychotropic meds first and then following with Methimozole OR a side effect of suicidal thinking from the Citalopram might be going on. Does anyone have any experience with a teenager being diagnosed with both Graves disease and depression/anxiety? I am hoping that the psychotropic meds will only have to be temporary. Right now we have to wait 10 days - 2 weeks for both meds to kick in. Thanks.
My daughter was diagnosed 1 week ago with Graves and prescribed 10 mg. of Methimozole. The trouble is, the stupid psychiatrist with 40+ years of experience didn't bother to read the family medical history and prescribed 20 mg. of Citalopram and .5 mg. of Lorazepam (as needed) 3-4 weeks before I insisted on checking the thyroid levels (her dad, older sister, and I all have hypothyroidism). Anyway, my daughter who normally is a solid B+/A- student and an exceptional artist is reduced to crying herself to sleep, has vague thoughts of "disappearing", doesn't want to get better, feels like her head is exploding, and can't manage reduced homework at home with a homebound teacher. Needless to say, my husband and I have set up a schedule in which she is always with one of us and she has healthy things to do at home like reading and walking the dogs with me.
I am worried that either the order of getting psychotropic meds first and then following with Methimozole OR a side effect of suicidal thinking from the Citalopram might be going on. Does anyone have any experience with a teenager being diagnosed with both Graves disease and depression/anxiety? I am hoping that the psychotropic meds will only have to be temporary. Right now we have to wait 10 days - 2 weeks for both meds to kick in. Thanks.
Dear Debbie,
You are entirely welcome! I am glad if some of the information I shared was helpful.
I also am VERY glad to hear that your daughter does have some good moments along with the bad ones. In addition, I am hoping and praying along with you that her medications are beginning to have an effect. It was very good news to read your commment yesterday that your daughter had had three or four really good days.
You were very wise to discontinue the counseling, I think. You are so right about the risk that your daughter might have reached a point of assuming that seeking help from a counselor is always a negative experience.
In every way, it seems that you and your husband are very sensitively attuned to your daughter and her needs. You seem to be doing a beautiful job at handling an intensely stressful situation. I agree with utahmomma; your daughter is very lucky to have you (although the same could be said about utahmomma's son--he is lucky to have her!).
Please do let all of us know how your daughter is doing over time. For now, I just want to say that all of you have been in my prayers.
Sending you e-hugs,
Jenny
You are entirely welcome! I am glad if some of the information I shared was helpful.
I also am VERY glad to hear that your daughter does have some good moments along with the bad ones. In addition, I am hoping and praying along with you that her medications are beginning to have an effect. It was very good news to read your commment yesterday that your daughter had had three or four really good days.
You were very wise to discontinue the counseling, I think. You are so right about the risk that your daughter might have reached a point of assuming that seeking help from a counselor is always a negative experience.
In every way, it seems that you and your husband are very sensitively attuned to your daughter and her needs. You seem to be doing a beautiful job at handling an intensely stressful situation. I agree with utahmomma; your daughter is very lucky to have you (although the same could be said about utahmomma's son--he is lucky to have her!).
Please do let all of us know how your daughter is doing over time. For now, I just want to say that all of you have been in my prayers.
Sending you e-hugs,
Jenny
Hi, Cheryl--
Thank you SO much for taking the time to send me some sympathy and empathy. What a difference it makes to my morale!
You are right; it is amazing how the thyroid can do such things to our emotions, and the same thing is true about the female reproductive hormonal system. Then like insult to injury, a "cure" sometimes is about as bad as the affliction. It must have felt so weird to have your eyes not moving smoothly (as a result of a drug that some advocates talk about as if it is as harmless as iced tea).
I am very glad that you are past that phase of your life. Although you were echoing my thoughts when you said that it is too bad I cannot jump start the med increase, you strengthened my ability to be patient with the situation. You reminded me that one of these days, I also should be able to say, "That period of time has gone away." In the meantime, I am very fortunate to have my morale strengthened by a lot of caring people, including the people who care about me simply because they recognize my reports of what I am going through. Thanks again for sending me that form of caring. You got my week off to a good start.
Sincerely,
Jenny
Thank you SO much for taking the time to send me some sympathy and empathy. What a difference it makes to my morale!
You are right; it is amazing how the thyroid can do such things to our emotions, and the same thing is true about the female reproductive hormonal system. Then like insult to injury, a "cure" sometimes is about as bad as the affliction. It must have felt so weird to have your eyes not moving smoothly (as a result of a drug that some advocates talk about as if it is as harmless as iced tea).
I am very glad that you are past that phase of your life. Although you were echoing my thoughts when you said that it is too bad I cannot jump start the med increase, you strengthened my ability to be patient with the situation. You reminded me that one of these days, I also should be able to say, "That period of time has gone away." In the meantime, I am very fortunate to have my morale strengthened by a lot of caring people, including the people who care about me simply because they recognize my reports of what I am going through. Thanks again for sending me that form of caring. You got my week off to a good start.
Sincerely,
Jenny
It sounds like you and your husband are on top of it! Your daughter is very lucky to have you.
When the pediatric endocrinologist informed my son he is looking at diabetes in the near future he gave us a whole slew of support group information (peers the same age) through the local health department, the children's hospital, and through the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Check with your daughter's endo and see if there are any support groups.
My best to you all!! Hugs to you, your husband, and your daughter.
When the pediatric endocrinologist informed my son he is looking at diabetes in the near future he gave us a whole slew of support group information (peers the same age) through the local health department, the children's hospital, and through the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Check with your daughter's endo and see if there are any support groups.
My best to you all!! Hugs to you, your husband, and your daughter.
Hello:
Thank you so much for sharing about your situation with your son. Fortunately, I have worked for 15 years in the same school system where my kids go to school, so I know about section 504 plans. We have not formally made a plan yet, but I know my husband and I can request one at any time. At the time being we have a "home bound" teacher set up. This teacher is available to meet with our daughter at the public library near the school to work on a reasonable schedule of assignments to keep up with her classes (although my daughter was not able to make the first meeting because of her depression symptoms).
My husband and I are dividing the responsibilities with our daughter: I am taking care of the medical appointments and researching the condition, and he is working with our daughter on a schedule in which he will gradually get her working on things that are currently very difficult for her manage, like homework and socializing with good friends. This arrangement works out better because I was asking my daughter casual questions that upset her, and the ordeal was very emotional for me as well. Our priorities are for our daughter to get well: her homework and room cleaning can be attended to later.
We actually began with our daughter seeing a Christian counselor for about 2 1/2 months. I've put the counseling on hold for the time being because the therapy was becoming too stressful and our daughter asked to stop it as well, and I don't want to turn my daughter off to getting personal help for herself. I'm actually thinking that what might help more right now would be a support group of other teens with thyroid or other endocrine problems. I think that currently one problem is that our daughter finds it quite confusing that she originally agreed to go for counseling for anxiety that became complicated with depression to the point that I imagine she felt she was going crazy. Fortunately, she has had 3-4 really good days, so the medicine may be kicking in now. We will ask her at some point in the future if she wants counseling again, but I think that peer support from other affected teens would be another powerful medicine to help her in her recovery.
- Debbie
Thank you so much for sharing about your situation with your son. Fortunately, I have worked for 15 years in the same school system where my kids go to school, so I know about section 504 plans. We have not formally made a plan yet, but I know my husband and I can request one at any time. At the time being we have a "home bound" teacher set up. This teacher is available to meet with our daughter at the public library near the school to work on a reasonable schedule of assignments to keep up with her classes (although my daughter was not able to make the first meeting because of her depression symptoms).
My husband and I are dividing the responsibilities with our daughter: I am taking care of the medical appointments and researching the condition, and he is working with our daughter on a schedule in which he will gradually get her working on things that are currently very difficult for her manage, like homework and socializing with good friends. This arrangement works out better because I was asking my daughter casual questions that upset her, and the ordeal was very emotional for me as well. Our priorities are for our daughter to get well: her homework and room cleaning can be attended to later.
We actually began with our daughter seeing a Christian counselor for about 2 1/2 months. I've put the counseling on hold for the time being because the therapy was becoming too stressful and our daughter asked to stop it as well, and I don't want to turn my daughter off to getting personal help for herself. I'm actually thinking that what might help more right now would be a support group of other teens with thyroid or other endocrine problems. I think that currently one problem is that our daughter finds it quite confusing that she originally agreed to go for counseling for anxiety that became complicated with depression to the point that I imagine she felt she was going crazy. Fortunately, she has had 3-4 really good days, so the medicine may be kicking in now. We will ask her at some point in the future if she wants counseling again, but I think that peer support from other affected teens would be another powerful medicine to help her in her recovery.
- Debbie
Debbie,
You have been getting a ton of great advice here. Can I add just a bit more? I've got a HUGE family history of thyroid problems and depression but this is coming from the mother of a 15-year old who is very depressed and suicidal right now.
My son was diagnosed with pre-diabetes (Type I) last fall about the time I had to have radiation for a recurrence of my thyroid cancer. I am a single mom. Anyway, my normally happy son became very depressed, mostly over the diabetes diagnosis, having to check his blood, being different from everyone else at school, etc. His grades went from As and Bs to Ds and Fs and he developed an ulcer. His pediatrician put him on Prozac - exactly two weeks later my son came to me with tears streaming down his face, handed me the prescription and all the knives in the kitchen and asked me to lock them up because he couldn't stop thinking about killing himself. I had no idea it was so bad!!
Okay, fast forward one month (to today) and jump to the point - not only is he seeing a psychiatrist now who has him on Celexa and is *closely* monitoring it (even asked for his thyroid lab results - wow!) but he is seeing a psychologist every week for talk therapy (which *REALLY* helps), sees his school psychologist and counselor weekly, and is on a 504 program at school to help him make up lost time.
Two major points: your daughter needs someone to talk to - a professional to teach her coping mechanisms while the medication is working. Please consider a social worker or a psychologist to help her through this. There are also great group therapy sessions where your daughter can see that she's not the only one going through something like this.
*If* you live in the U.S., and because your daughter has a medically diagnosed "disability", according to Section 504 of the Civil Rights Law your school must make special accommodations to help your child. You need to ask (or demand) a 504 plan from your daughter's school though. No one is going to volunteer one. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm
For my son's 504, we have arranged for him to have a "safe" place to go (school psychologist's overwhelming him and he is getting extra time to make up his assignments and one-on-one help after school.
A major medical diagnosis is tough for adults but for teenagers it can be devastating. There *IS* help out there that will make her stronger for the future.
It's tough for us moms to have to turn to someone else to help our kids but that's what teamwork is all about!
Hang in there and (((HUGS))) from one teenager's mother to another.
You have been getting a ton of great advice here. Can I add just a bit more? I've got a HUGE family history of thyroid problems and depression but this is coming from the mother of a 15-year old who is very depressed and suicidal right now.
My son was diagnosed with pre-diabetes (Type I) last fall about the time I had to have radiation for a recurrence of my thyroid cancer. I am a single mom. Anyway, my normally happy son became very depressed, mostly over the diabetes diagnosis, having to check his blood, being different from everyone else at school, etc. His grades went from As and Bs to Ds and Fs and he developed an ulcer. His pediatrician put him on Prozac - exactly two weeks later my son came to me with tears streaming down his face, handed me the prescription and all the knives in the kitchen and asked me to lock them up because he couldn't stop thinking about killing himself. I had no idea it was so bad!!
Okay, fast forward one month (to today) and jump to the point - not only is he seeing a psychiatrist now who has him on Celexa and is *closely* monitoring it (even asked for his thyroid lab results - wow!) but he is seeing a psychologist every week for talk therapy (which *REALLY* helps), sees his school psychologist and counselor weekly, and is on a 504 program at school to help him make up lost time.
Two major points: your daughter needs someone to talk to - a professional to teach her coping mechanisms while the medication is working. Please consider a social worker or a psychologist to help her through this. There are also great group therapy sessions where your daughter can see that she's not the only one going through something like this.
*If* you live in the U.S., and because your daughter has a medically diagnosed "disability", according to Section 504 of the Civil Rights Law your school must make special accommodations to help your child. You need to ask (or demand) a 504 plan from your daughter's school though. No one is going to volunteer one. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm
For my son's 504, we have arranged for him to have a "safe" place to go (school psychologist's overwhelming him and he is getting extra time to make up his assignments and one-on-one help after school.
A major medical diagnosis is tough for adults but for teenagers it can be devastating. There *IS* help out there that will make her stronger for the future.
It's tough for us moms to have to turn to someone else to help our kids but that's what teamwork is all about!
Hang in there and (((HUGS))) from one teenager's mother to another.
Hi!
First off, you sound like an amazing mom!!! And what an incredible familly you all have. Your love and support of each other is so wonderful to read about!!!! And I want you to know, I too have you all in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Now, then, it sounds like you all are doing teh right things for your daughter, exercise, baking, playing with little sis, and the dog, and keeping stress down... that is awesome!!! So, my only suggestion to help her mental state is to ask her Doctor to do some "different" blood work to make sure there is nothing else going on there. I found an incredible Doctor (finally!) at one of teh best hospitals in the country, here in Newport Beach, CA @ Hoag Hospital (I write that in case you are in California...I hope!) anyhow, I had to have 11 viles of blood taken, but they included all of my thyroid and in addition she ordered magnesium, intracellular magnesium, candida, mercury, and there were more, but I can't remember off of teh top of my head. The point being is, nutritional deficiencies can cause huge problems. But you really will have to ask or find a doctor who will order these tests. The blood lab I went to had never even heard of half of the tests, and they see over 200 people every day!!! Busy area! Anyhow, if she is not taking a good multi vitamin in addition to a good calcium/magnesium supplement you might want to ask teh Doc which vitamins they recommend for her age and weight. I hope this is maybe an avenue you haven't explored yet, and that maybe just getting some better nutrition will make a huge difference. Oh too, many med's interfere with teh absorption of nutrition, so if she is eating crazy healthy, one of her med's (especially anti-depressants) could be blocking it.
Please take care!!! My heart goes out to you!!!
abl
P.S. personal experience, after test it was confirmed that I am Iodine Deficient, and magnesium deficient. One caused a goiter, and the other hear palp's.
First off, you sound like an amazing mom!!! And what an incredible familly you all have. Your love and support of each other is so wonderful to read about!!!! And I want you to know, I too have you all in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Now, then, it sounds like you all are doing teh right things for your daughter, exercise, baking, playing with little sis, and the dog, and keeping stress down... that is awesome!!! So, my only suggestion to help her mental state is to ask her Doctor to do some "different" blood work to make sure there is nothing else going on there. I found an incredible Doctor (finally!) at one of teh best hospitals in the country, here in Newport Beach, CA @ Hoag Hospital (I write that in case you are in California...I hope!) anyhow, I had to have 11 viles of blood taken, but they included all of my thyroid and in addition she ordered magnesium, intracellular magnesium, candida, mercury, and there were more, but I can't remember off of teh top of my head. The point being is, nutritional deficiencies can cause huge problems. But you really will have to ask or find a doctor who will order these tests. The blood lab I went to had never even heard of half of the tests, and they see over 200 people every day!!! Busy area! Anyhow, if she is not taking a good multi vitamin in addition to a good calcium/magnesium supplement you might want to ask teh Doc which vitamins they recommend for her age and weight. I hope this is maybe an avenue you haven't explored yet, and that maybe just getting some better nutrition will make a huge difference. Oh too, many med's interfere with teh absorption of nutrition, so if she is eating crazy healthy, one of her med's (especially anti-depressants) could be blocking it.
Please take care!!! My heart goes out to you!!!
abl
P.S. personal experience, after test it was confirmed that I am Iodine Deficient, and magnesium deficient. One caused a goiter, and the other hear palp's.
Once your daughter gets properly treated for Graves' disease, and at the correct thyroid levels for her to feel her best through thyroid medication, she will be so much better. She might temporary need a little antidepressants to help her through the rough areas of Graves' or she she may not. The treatment and thyroid meds may be all that she needs. Believe me this is not an easy disease, and it can effect every aspect of our body and mind. Only a Graves' person really knows what this disease is truly like. However, it is treatable and it does get better.
There is light at the end of the tunnel for your daughter and with your help and wisdom, the help through God, prayers and positive thoughts, she will get through it, and, with a smile too.
If you have any more question or concerns, we are here.
God Bless.
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect
There is light at the end of the tunnel for your daughter and with your help and wisdom, the help through God, prayers and positive thoughts, she will get through it, and, with a smile too.
If you have any more question or concerns, we are here.
God Bless.
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect
P.S. Just in case someone reading this thread makes a comment aimed directly at me, I want to say that I do not have internet access at home, which is where I am headed now. If I had read someone else's description of depression that was similar to what I wrote this afternoon, and if the person then became completely silent, I would feel a little unnerved. ;o)
One more P.S. I will be back on Monday, is what I meant to say in my last comment, but I will be silent until then. By the way, Debbie, I feel SUCH empathy for your daughter's struggles with her schoolwork as well as for her heart-wrenching depression. As you can see by my having needed to write a postscript to my postscript, I currently have a thick layer of fuzz around my brain, which I think is a common experience for people with a thyroid difficulty. If a person is doing something academic (which I need to do in my line of work), it can be impossible to even begin to keep up.
As so often is true, GravesLady had a very wise comment to make. There is always tomorrow for catching up with whatever a thyroid problem has forced a person to allow to slide. All that matters now is concentrating on the journey back to wellness. It sounds as if you and your husband see that clearly, which is a true blessing for your daughter. Cookie-baking sounds like a perfect occupation for your daughter at this point. I agree with GravesLady, though; I wonder who is consuming the finished products!
As so often is true, GravesLady had a very wise comment to make. There is always tomorrow for catching up with whatever a thyroid problem has forced a person to allow to slide. All that matters now is concentrating on the journey back to wellness. It sounds as if you and your husband see that clearly, which is a true blessing for your daughter. Cookie-baking sounds like a perfect occupation for your daughter at this point. I agree with GravesLady, though; I wonder who is consuming the finished products!
Debby, What I meant to say, if the two medications are taken hours apart from each other they should not effect each other or at least very little. However, once antidepressants are taken into consideration with thyroid med. adjusted to compensate, the two medications should be ok. The main issue is consistency. Once the consistency is broken, regardless what it is, then med. dose might need readjustment to reflect or compensate for it. But you are correct in asking your doctor.
A lot of us Gravers who are either taking ATDs or T4 are taking antidepressants with thyroid meds. and levels compensating for it.
Your daughters healing is more important right now, so if she gets behind in school/work, so be it, there is always tomorrow for make-up/catching up. Get her well first or at least on her way to wellness. Tell her to keep baking cookies, but what I'd like to know who is eating them all ;)
God Bless you all and a speedy recovery to your daughter.
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect)
A lot of us Gravers who are either taking ATDs or T4 are taking antidepressants with thyroid meds. and levels compensating for it.
Your daughters healing is more important right now, so if she gets behind in school/work, so be it, there is always tomorrow for make-up/catching up. Get her well first or at least on her way to wellness. Tell her to keep baking cookies, but what I'd like to know who is eating them all ;)
God Bless you all and a speedy recovery to your daughter.
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect)
I know you are offline 'til Mon but wanted to share that a few yrs back I was going thru awful perimenopausal symptoms (with normal TSH, etc.) and I would be depressed for 4-5 days a month just as you describe .. would cry, take things very personally, unable to concentrate, etc., etc.
They tried Prozac and it was not good for me .. did nothing to help and caused side effect of eyes not moving smoothly (weird, huh?) ..
I just want to say that mine was female hormonal driven (not thyroid in my case) and the the feeling was awful .. just awful .. and reading your post reminds me of just how I felt and was so so sad yet not sad about anything and no need for therapy bcz there was nothing lurking ..just down and depressed yet not true depression & would lift after my monthly cycle (like you .. afetr that homone level rose in system and in your case with increased meds)!
That period of time has gone away and I oftentimes recall how awful I felt ... I wish you could jump start the med increase sooner vs. later so you can feel better .. it is amazing how the thyroid can do such things to our emotions!
Cheryl 47 for another few weeks :)
They tried Prozac and it was not good for me .. did nothing to help and caused side effect of eyes not moving smoothly (weird, huh?) ..
I just want to say that mine was female hormonal driven (not thyroid in my case) and the the feeling was awful .. just awful .. and reading your post reminds me of just how I felt and was so so sad yet not sad about anything and no need for therapy bcz there was nothing lurking ..just down and depressed yet not true depression & would lift after my monthly cycle (like you .. afetr that homone level rose in system and in your case with increased meds)!
That period of time has gone away and I oftentimes recall how awful I felt ... I wish you could jump start the med increase sooner vs. later so you can feel better .. it is amazing how the thyroid can do such things to our emotions!
Cheryl 47 for another few weeks :)
I realize that you are offline until Monday, but I wanted to answer you back. Thanks for all that you shared. You might be glad to know that my daughter DOES have some good times during the day. She followed her dad's schedule today and seemed to avoid any overt stress, so I count that as a victory. She also markedly perks up with her 12 year old sister (even though they are nearly 5 years apart, they are extremely close and have a great time together).
In reading posts from you and other folks I realize how fortunate I am. I did suffer from depression from the time this daughter quit nursing at 8 months until she was 6--but a very small dose of amitriptyline (25 mg.) has controlled my depression and suicidal thoughts quite well for almost 11 years. Also, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 8 years ago and have been very stable at .075 mg. with no noticeable symptoms since I started the meds (even if I switch to generic brands). I seem to be in perimenopause right now, but it doesn't seem to affect either my depression or thyroid.
Thanks and God bless.
- Debbie
In reading posts from you and other folks I realize how fortunate I am. I did suffer from depression from the time this daughter quit nursing at 8 months until she was 6--but a very small dose of amitriptyline (25 mg.) has controlled my depression and suicidal thoughts quite well for almost 11 years. Also, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 8 years ago and have been very stable at .075 mg. with no noticeable symptoms since I started the meds (even if I switch to generic brands). I seem to be in perimenopause right now, but it doesn't seem to affect either my depression or thyroid.
Thanks and God bless.
- Debbie
Dear Debbie,
In your first set of comments, if you were projecting your frustration at the psychiatrist, who could blame you? I can only imagine the heartache you are feeling as you see your beautiful, accomplished daughter suffering to such a degree.
I am VERY glad that she is being seen at a pediatric endocrinology clinic that you are happy with, I think. At least, I had a sense from your comments that you think your daughter is getting good care at the clinic, and that matters immensely.
In case it is helpful to you, to your daughter, and/or to your husband, I am writing with a comment about thyroid problems and emotional symptoms. Before I was diagnosed with mild hypothyroidism, I knew intellectually that psychiatric symptoms could have a solely physical cause, but I had no firsthand experience. I had spent a long spell in psychotherapy in my 20s because of my upbringing (in a definitely dysfunctional family, even though the term was not yet tossed around in those days). I certainly knew what depression was like--even severe depression--but in my life, it always had come from an emotional scar that needed to be healed, and it always had faded away as the healing was accomplished.
Fast forward more than twenty years: Long out of therapy, and after a lot of personal growth and seeking of the path that God intended for me, I was in the happiest time of my 55 years of life when my hypothyroidism was diagnosed. I still felt relatively well, both physically and emotionally, when the diagnose was made. In addition, I had never known what it was like to have my mood affected by hormones. I never had PMS, for example. I understood that many women were tearful or grumpy or otherwise affected emotionally by their reproductive cycles, but I could not imagine what it would feel like to go through it.
That was then; this is now. As symptoms of hypothyroidism began to creep in, I was amazed to learn how thoroughly a person's mind can be messed up by a body part that is not even as big as a box of teabags. When one of my thyroid medication increases caused me, after a few days, suddenly to snap back to being my usual self, I looked backward in time and jotted down all the cognitive and emotional effects that my thyroid problem had just finished (for the time being!) having on me. The sheer length to which the list grew was a little startling.
I am blessed by having the sense of perspective that comes with being 56 (a number that does not gibe with the 55 I mentioned earlier, because I have had a birthday since my hypothyroidism diagnosis). I feel deeply for your daughter, and also for you and your husband as you support her through this difficult time, because I remember so well what it was like to be an adolescent and find it difficult to imagine that I ever would feel any different from what I was feeling at that moment.
Coincidentally, I have spent this week developing the symptoms that--through five increases in my thyroid medication--I have learned to recognize as signaling a need for another increase. My endocrinologist says that although my pattern is unusual, he sees about two patients a year who have it: a pattern of increased well-being followed by a return of symptoms. For me, it takes four weeks before my thyroid gland seems to realize that although it appreciates the medicinal support I am providing for it, it is not getting enough.
All day long, I have been so depressed, I have felt as if I could barely hold my head up. I am deeply depressed because of...nothing..absolutely nothing. It is THE weirdest feeling in the world. As was true a few months ago, I definitely am in the middle of the happiest time of my life. Needless to say, it is extraordinarily bizarre to feel that I have little reason to go on living when all I have to do is look at the objective facts of my life and know how ludicrous it is to feel even mildly sad, for I am a woman who truly has it all (with the exception of a fully functioning thyroid gland).
A large part of what gets me through these times, until the next medication increase has a chance to have an effect, is knowing that my feeling is not real, even though it feels as real as any down-and-out depression that I experienced during the most difficult times in psychotherapy. As I said, I wanted to tell you this in case it is helpful to your family. Knowing that feeling completely down and out is not "real" does not at all reduce the feeling. Your darling daughter probably will continue to cry herself to sleep until her medications have had a chance to have an effect. Maybe it will help her, though, to be reassured that her awful feelings will not last, and there is nothing she has done (or failed to do) to get herself into this situation.
I say that because at first, my common sense wanted to argue that I could not be feeling so terrible over absolutely nothing. Now I know that I certainly could, and your daughter obviously is, too. I agree with Venora. You might consider some counseling for your daughter, just as another form of support until she is through this really horrible storm and has walked into the sunshine again. Counselors are a wonderful resource for helping with life's difficult times, not just for "making repairs."
Sending you a hug and a prayer,
Jenny
In your first set of comments, if you were projecting your frustration at the psychiatrist, who could blame you? I can only imagine the heartache you are feeling as you see your beautiful, accomplished daughter suffering to such a degree.
I am VERY glad that she is being seen at a pediatric endocrinology clinic that you are happy with, I think. At least, I had a sense from your comments that you think your daughter is getting good care at the clinic, and that matters immensely.
In case it is helpful to you, to your daughter, and/or to your husband, I am writing with a comment about thyroid problems and emotional symptoms. Before I was diagnosed with mild hypothyroidism, I knew intellectually that psychiatric symptoms could have a solely physical cause, but I had no firsthand experience. I had spent a long spell in psychotherapy in my 20s because of my upbringing (in a definitely dysfunctional family, even though the term was not yet tossed around in those days). I certainly knew what depression was like--even severe depression--but in my life, it always had come from an emotional scar that needed to be healed, and it always had faded away as the healing was accomplished.
Fast forward more than twenty years: Long out of therapy, and after a lot of personal growth and seeking of the path that God intended for me, I was in the happiest time of my 55 years of life when my hypothyroidism was diagnosed. I still felt relatively well, both physically and emotionally, when the diagnose was made. In addition, I had never known what it was like to have my mood affected by hormones. I never had PMS, for example. I understood that many women were tearful or grumpy or otherwise affected emotionally by their reproductive cycles, but I could not imagine what it would feel like to go through it.
That was then; this is now. As symptoms of hypothyroidism began to creep in, I was amazed to learn how thoroughly a person's mind can be messed up by a body part that is not even as big as a box of teabags. When one of my thyroid medication increases caused me, after a few days, suddenly to snap back to being my usual self, I looked backward in time and jotted down all the cognitive and emotional effects that my thyroid problem had just finished (for the time being!) having on me. The sheer length to which the list grew was a little startling.
I am blessed by having the sense of perspective that comes with being 56 (a number that does not gibe with the 55 I mentioned earlier, because I have had a birthday since my hypothyroidism diagnosis). I feel deeply for your daughter, and also for you and your husband as you support her through this difficult time, because I remember so well what it was like to be an adolescent and find it difficult to imagine that I ever would feel any different from what I was feeling at that moment.
Coincidentally, I have spent this week developing the symptoms that--through five increases in my thyroid medication--I have learned to recognize as signaling a need for another increase. My endocrinologist says that although my pattern is unusual, he sees about two patients a year who have it: a pattern of increased well-being followed by a return of symptoms. For me, it takes four weeks before my thyroid gland seems to realize that although it appreciates the medicinal support I am providing for it, it is not getting enough.
All day long, I have been so depressed, I have felt as if I could barely hold my head up. I am deeply depressed because of...nothing..absolutely nothing. It is THE weirdest feeling in the world. As was true a few months ago, I definitely am in the middle of the happiest time of my life. Needless to say, it is extraordinarily bizarre to feel that I have little reason to go on living when all I have to do is look at the objective facts of my life and know how ludicrous it is to feel even mildly sad, for I am a woman who truly has it all (with the exception of a fully functioning thyroid gland).
A large part of what gets me through these times, until the next medication increase has a chance to have an effect, is knowing that my feeling is not real, even though it feels as real as any down-and-out depression that I experienced during the most difficult times in psychotherapy. As I said, I wanted to tell you this in case it is helpful to your family. Knowing that feeling completely down and out is not "real" does not at all reduce the feeling. Your darling daughter probably will continue to cry herself to sleep until her medications have had a chance to have an effect. Maybe it will help her, though, to be reassured that her awful feelings will not last, and there is nothing she has done (or failed to do) to get herself into this situation.
I say that because at first, my common sense wanted to argue that I could not be feeling so terrible over absolutely nothing. Now I know that I certainly could, and your daughter obviously is, too. I agree with Venora. You might consider some counseling for your daughter, just as another form of support until she is through this really horrible storm and has walked into the sunshine again. Counselors are a wonderful resource for helping with life's difficult times, not just for "making repairs."
Sending you a hug and a prayer,
Jenny
Thanks for your comments and resources. I'll have to sift through them in the coming days and weeks.
Yes, my daughter is seeing a pediatric endrocrinologist. She has the oversight of an M.D., but we are doing most of our communicating with a P.A. who is quite responsive to call back when I leave messages. Yes, we did start anti-thyroid med treatment the same day my daughter went to the clinic. Blood levels will be checked 3 weeks from beginning treatment and every month thereafter for at least a couple of years.
I don't understand one thing: you said that an antidepressant and anti-thyroid med should be taken hours apart, yet you said that the anti-thyroid meds do not interfere with the anti-depressant. I'm going to ask the psychiatrist on Tuesday.
We are doing our best to keep our daughter from stress. Even before we knew about the thyroid problem, my husband and I sensed that we needed to keep the stress down, so we took her out of school for 2 weeks. She continues to stay out of school and we now have a "home bound" tutor who can meed our daughter at the public library, but we are having our doubts that she can even keep up with that. She may have to take 2-3 major classes in the summer and just be content to keep up with her art class. For now we have her stay home and bake cookies, etc. while someone is home with her.
Thanks,
- Debbie
Yes, my daughter is seeing a pediatric endrocrinologist. She has the oversight of an M.D., but we are doing most of our communicating with a P.A. who is quite responsive to call back when I leave messages. Yes, we did start anti-thyroid med treatment the same day my daughter went to the clinic. Blood levels will be checked 3 weeks from beginning treatment and every month thereafter for at least a couple of years.
I don't understand one thing: you said that an antidepressant and anti-thyroid med should be taken hours apart, yet you said that the anti-thyroid meds do not interfere with the anti-depressant. I'm going to ask the psychiatrist on Tuesday.
We are doing our best to keep our daughter from stress. Even before we knew about the thyroid problem, my husband and I sensed that we needed to keep the stress down, so we took her out of school for 2 weeks. She continues to stay out of school and we now have a "home bound" tutor who can meed our daughter at the public library, but we are having our doubts that she can even keep up with that. She may have to take 2-3 major classes in the summer and just be content to keep up with her art class. For now we have her stay home and bake cookies, etc. while someone is home with her.
Thanks,
- Debbie
I just wanted to add to give the antidepressent time to get the full effect.celexa takes about 4 to 6 weeks to really kick in.Maybe try seeing a therapist too will help.Its hard enoough being a teen without thyroid trouble,
I wish you the best.Keep posting this is a wwonderful forum.
Love Venora
I wish you the best.Keep posting this is a wwonderful forum.
Love Venora
One of the symptoms of antidepressants for children and teenagers is suicidal thoughts and your health provider should be notified if your daughter is having these thoughts, as you no doubt already aware of. Perhpas your daughter would do better on a different brand of antidepressants or a combo to two types. Unfortunitly the younger the thyroid patient the more symptoms and the harder the symptoms hit. It is not unusal for even adults with thyroid issues to become depressed and need antidepressants to help get through the rough spots of thyroid. Thyroid meds and antidepressant should be taken hours apart from each other. Plus thyroid test are done regurally and adjusted accordingly, the two medications should not interfer with each other. However, it is important that her thyroid treatment should not be delayed or put off. Keep her mental and physical stress at a minimum because stress can have an impact on her conditions, both thyroid and depression.
I hope you are going to an Endocrinologist for her thyroid issues, one who works with many thyroid issues/patients per year and perhaps one experienced in child/teen thyroid problems.
Also get copies of her test (TSH, FT-4 and FT-3) with Labs reference range, in which you can keep up with her thyroid progress and have more of an input to her treatment and doctor.
This is not an easy situation for adults, let alone for teens and their family. Get the right medical that fits each condition, and, be patient and understanding. Like I said this is not an easy situation for all involved.
Below is all my resources, I hope they will be of some help to you (family) and your daughter.
Good Luck!
Children With Graves' Disease
http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic899.htm
Pediatric Page on Thyroid Disorders in Children - from California ... A Brief Synopsis
http://www.cpmc.org/advanced/pediatrics/physicians/pedpage-105endocrin.html
Graves' Disease (Hyperthyroidism)
http://www.thyroid.ca/Guides/HG09.html#6
Clinical Trials Resource Center - Thyroid Disorders in Children & More
http://www.centerwatch.com/ctrc/MagicFoundation/
Children with thyroid conditions can be ostracised by their classmates -
stories from children / young people with the condition
http://www.chronicillness.org.au/invisible/thyroid_b.htm
8 year old Katies Graves' Disease and RAI Story
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/katie.html
14 year old young lady's Graves' Disease and surgery story
http://www.thyroid.org.au/Stories/Graves14.html
Jenny Moore - Fifteen year old who has leukemia and thyroid cancer
http://members.aol.com/romachavo/Page_2x.html
This is a site about growing up with medical problems ...any ole type. Its goal is to help people understand what it's like, from the perspective of the children and teens who are doing just that. These kids have become experts at coping with problems that most of you have never heard of. They'd like you to know how they do it, and they hope that you'll be glad you came to visit. I've divided the contents into three ponds; one for kids, one for teens, and one for adults. Figure out which you are, and jump in!
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/index.html
Thyroid Disorders in Children
http://members.tripod.com/~TDmagicmom/main.html
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect)
I hope you are going to an Endocrinologist for her thyroid issues, one who works with many thyroid issues/patients per year and perhaps one experienced in child/teen thyroid problems.
Also get copies of her test (TSH, FT-4 and FT-3) with Labs reference range, in which you can keep up with her thyroid progress and have more of an input to her treatment and doctor.
This is not an easy situation for adults, let alone for teens and their family. Get the right medical that fits each condition, and, be patient and understanding. Like I said this is not an easy situation for all involved.
Below is all my resources, I hope they will be of some help to you (family) and your daughter.
Good Luck!
Children With Graves' Disease
http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic899.htm
Pediatric Page on Thyroid Disorders in Children - from California ... A Brief Synopsis
http://www.cpmc.org/advanced/pediatrics/physicians/pedpage-105endocrin.html
Graves' Disease (Hyperthyroidism)
http://www.thyroid.ca/Guides/HG09.html#6
Clinical Trials Resource Center - Thyroid Disorders in Children & More
http://www.centerwatch.com/ctrc/MagicFoundation/
Children with thyroid conditions can be ostracised by their classmates -
stories from children / young people with the condition
http://www.chronicillness.org.au/invisible/thyroid_b.htm
8 year old Katies Graves' Disease and RAI Story
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/katie.html
14 year old young lady's Graves' Disease and surgery story
http://www.thyroid.org.au/Stories/Graves14.html
Jenny Moore - Fifteen year old who has leukemia and thyroid cancer
http://members.aol.com/romachavo/Page_2x.html
This is a site about growing up with medical problems ...any ole type. Its goal is to help people understand what it's like, from the perspective of the children and teens who are doing just that. These kids have become experts at coping with problems that most of you have never heard of. They'd like you to know how they do it, and they hope that you'll be glad you came to visit. I've divided the contents into three ponds; one for kids, one for teens, and one for adults. Figure out which you are, and jump in!
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/index.html
Thyroid Disorders in Children
http://members.tripod.com/~TDmagicmom/main.html
Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!
GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 - IED - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 - A/ITP (suspect)
Thank you so much for your reply. I posted an abbreviated version and realized I left out some details. My daughter WAS referred to a pediatric endocrinology clinic after her TSH blood test came back with no level on 2/14, and by 2/23 (last Friday) I had my daughter in to see them. The very kind and informative P.A. told us that there were no nodules, thyroid does not look enlarged on physical exam, but the continued no level reading of TSH and the numbers from the thryroid (sorry, I am new to this and couldn't follow all the details, but I'm going to get a book to try to get more of a handle on it) indicated that it was a generalized disorder in the thyroid that was overproducing thyroid hormones (as opposed to a problem with her pituatary gland or a pseudo-thyroid condition). I am told the .5 mg. of the anti-thyroid med is a low dosage to start out. We have to wait until March 16th (2 weeks) in order to get an accurate thyroid level from her blood test.
My daughter also WAS prescribed Celexa (and we just got a generic form of it) by the psychiatrist. I think I may be projecting my frustration over this whole situation with my daughter at this doctor. He probably wasn't all that bad, but I just wish he had led the way on exploring a physical cause for my daughter's anxiety and depression.
I find that it really breaks my heart when I see my daughter crying herself to sleep, etc. She was in National Honor Society, lots of leadership clubs and taught Bible clubs for kids, and she was just awarded her 3rd silver key (a type of 2nd place group award) Scholastic art award in 4 years for a painting of herself that looks like a photograph from a distance. Thanks for your encouragement, and especially your prayers. We are Christians and believe that God answers our prayers.
Take care,
- Debbie
My daughter also WAS prescribed Celexa (and we just got a generic form of it) by the psychiatrist. I think I may be projecting my frustration over this whole situation with my daughter at this doctor. He probably wasn't all that bad, but I just wish he had led the way on exploring a physical cause for my daughter's anxiety and depression.
I find that it really breaks my heart when I see my daughter crying herself to sleep, etc. She was in National Honor Society, lots of leadership clubs and taught Bible clubs for kids, and she was just awarded her 3rd silver key (a type of 2nd place group award) Scholastic art award in 4 years for a painting of herself that looks like a photograph from a distance. Thanks for your encouragement, and especially your prayers. We are Christians and believe that God answers our prayers.
Take care,
- Debbie
Bless you and your daughter.Have you got the thyroid tested yet.Mental health is so closley tied in with thyroid health as I have discovered.Let us know when you get her thyroid tests results back.I will keep you and your family in prayer amd bi polar myself with thyroid issues and I dont know now which came ffirst.So now I am thyroidless and bi polar.
I would also take daughter to see an endocrinologist that specializes in thyroids as well as maybe changing the anti depressent.I take celexa that work wonderful with none of the side effects that come with other anti depressents.Just a thought .
Good luck and post back here on how it goes for your daughter.
LOve Venora
I would also take daughter to see an endocrinologist that specializes in thyroids as well as maybe changing the anti depressent.I take celexa that work wonderful with none of the side effects that come with other anti depressents.Just a thought .
Good luck and post back here on how it goes for your daughter.
LOve Venora
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