Depression and Anxiety way worse - is it thyroid meds?

[bluefaery]

I know that this awful hypothyroid disease causes depression and anxiety.  The past week has been HORRIBLE, it started with my husband doing not a damned thing for me for my birthday, and he's has continued to show me he doesn't care.  We had a big blow up last night.

But what's going on with me is that every little thing seems to cause anxiety, and probably most of the things that are bothering me really shouldn't.  I have PTSD too and have been given some xanax to deal with said anxiety and smoke pot when not at work (it sure helps me stop crying), and I finally took a xanax last night so I could get to sleep without being too much of a wreck.  I'm kind of thinking my husband is reacting to my attitude.  I just want to curl up in a ball and cry way too often.  Already had my anti-depressant upped, neurologist tried to add another to help with my nerve pain and it made it worse instead so I stopped that almost two weeks ago.  I had only been taking it for a few weeks.

I'm having problems concentrating at work.  I had to go take a test to renew my Notary license and actually cried before I left home because I was so worked up.  I have a job that I just can't make mistakes.

I've always been the rock in my family and could deal with pretty much anything thrown at me.  Not anymore, and I don't have a husband who can pick up the slack (I think he's undiagnosed Aspergers and ADD, my daughter has high functioning autism, ADD and probably more, and he shows the same issues).  My good friends all live too far away to just pop over and help.  I don't have family nearby and the husband has no family really at all.  I'm also the only one working, my husband makes a little here and there (and has actually been doing better at that, but not enough to matter yet).  So no, I can't really take time off work.  I have an awesome job working for the best people I've ever worked for and I don't want to risk it.  I am in therapy, which so far is only making me more mad at my husband.

So anyways...I've only been taking the thyroid meds since July/August.  I got it adjusted about two weeks ago to add the T3 and will take a blood test in two weeks.  I feel less tired than I did a month ago.  I'm just more depressed and anxious.  I can't deal with this feeling.  Will it get better?  Do I need a higher anti-depressant?  I don't want to go back to my internist doc because when I saw her a month ago she totally blew off my thyroid stuff.  I'm also tired of taking MORE medicine, I take too much already.

What's typical of the mood rollercoaster that I'm on?

[craigdog]

I had a synthroid increase 8 weeks ago and a second tweak 11 days ago.  After the first increase, I defintely got worse before I got better.  I still feel pretty lousy, but I have to remind myself how bad it was 5 weeks ago.  I was literally going nuts.  I have a lot of the same depressing, angry thoughts but I'm able to fight them off now.  I just hope to get a tiny bit better every day, and hope to heck that .137 is my perfect dose.  I also completely gave up on expecting any mental improvement in days, rather I look at weeks and months.  It's depressing to think that way, but it helps me to be more realistic.  My wife has been pretty solid for me, so I really sympathize with you having a spouse to deal with as well.  It's hard, but please be patient and go through the motions.  I keep telling myself to act like you know you should and it will come natural very soon.  8 weeks of my life gone to this disease, and I'm hoping not many more.  I sincerely wish you all the best!

[bluefaery]

How do you deal with the anxiety?  My therapist just basically said "take your Xanax".  Not what I wanted to hear.  Anxiety is new to me and I'm not sure how to deal with it.  I'm crying too much over stupid stuff.  Everything works me up.  

And how long will this last?  How long does it take for one's body to typically get used to the meds and figure out that everything is okay.

If I can't get a handle on this, I'm going to end up killing my husband!!  He just doesn't get that I can't control myself lately.

[Kristina538]

My Doctor warned me it would be a 'bit of a roller coaster' until the meds were adjusted.  The Levo accumulate so it takes 4-6 weeks to feel any benefit of the dose  (although I believe the liothyrine is instant?)   When I was first hypo, I found myself tearful, easily angered and depressed.  Now I recognise the symptoms more easily and ride it out as silently as I can, trying not to react, or put myself in stressful situations, as it's 'uncopable' otherwise.

(My hubby and son bought me a gift voucher for my birthday - I was disappointed after what wonderful gifts they'd previously bought, but had to temper it with the fact that we'd all been really busy.  Because I knew my hormones were out I just made a few joking comments about their lack of imagination over the next week).     Historically people were misdiagnosed as mentally ill, when in fact, they had a thyroid condition, and I loved that one member of this forum told me that she would say to friends and family 'excuse me I'm hormonal' which I adopted.

Get copies of your blood tests so that you can bring them on board here, and also to plot your recovery.  

[bluefaery]

First TSH was 8.45, second one was 2.7ish, they did a couple others but i can't remember the numbers right now and apparently since they weren't the free Ts it didn't matter.  My Endo added Hashi's to the blood test I'm taking in a couple weeks so I'll find out then.  She did do an ultrasound and said that if I had it I was in the very early stages as this was all caught by chance.

I first took 75 Levothyroxine, then it was changed to 50 mcg Levo and 5 mcg Liothyronine (which was about 2 weeks ago).

[Barb135]

While hypothyroidism can cause depression/anxiety, it seems that you might have more than that going on, as you, apparently, have a lot on your plate.  

Do you have the latest thyroid lab test results?  We'd need to see those, in order to get a better idea of your situation.  Be sure to include reference ranges, since those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.  Also, please let us know what thyroid medications you are taking and what their dosages are.

It's not unusual for some hypo symptoms to get worse for a while after beginning medication.  It takes the body time to get used to having the hormones again and you've been on them a relatively short time, considering that it takes 4-6 weeks for the medication to even reach full potential in your body.

Do  you know if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?  Hashi's is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body sees the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies t0 destroy it.  You should ask your doctor to test you for thyroid antibodies. A thyroid ultrasound would also be helpful to determine if you have nodules on your thyroid.