please help

[LBMom]

My 26 year old daughter had her thyroid removed last August -papillary cancer.  Since then she has suffered from increasing depression and mood swings.  Doctors have been "throwing" stronger and stronger antidepressant meds at her seemingly without consulting one another and she is in a downward spiral.  Tired, loss of appetite, weight gain, memory loss, insomnia are common symptoms We have tried to get someone to clarify test results and some help for her but it all seems to be more medications or hospitalization for depression.  She is functioning every day doing the regular things life requires but isn't feeling any better at all.  We are three states apart and she has no family or adequate support system near by.  Any suggestions or similar troubles???

[FTB4]

Is she on thyroid meds? Its hard for members here to comment without thyroid lab results, Depression and anxiety are symptoms of thyroid, the hard part is getting the meds at the right dosage, it takes 6 weeks between labs, for the body to adjust to the dosage changes in hormone medications, Is she being treated by an Endocrinologist or a GP? Have they been testing her levels every 6 weeks? If you can Post her lab results here with a header that reads"Please help with Lab Results" Members will try to explain them to you and maybe offer advice based on there experience. The first step is to get her med/dosage to the right level, when that is done the symptoms should ease up and maybe the anti-depressants will not be needed.  Good Luck FTB4

[Rite760]

Hi I agree with FTB4, about the endo and everything else really. But I just wanted to add, has she had her female hormones checked too? As they were closely with the thyroid hormones, and changes in the thyroid can cause changes in the female hormones. This can also affect mood swings greatly. So it might be a good idea to get her FSH and Oestrogen done.

[stella5349]

If the depression is severe as you say the first thing any medical professional should be looking at is her Free T3 levels with some Vit B and D and magnesium testing

Me - with no thyroid left either - not from cancer  - but RAI.  I was a walking  sad - zombie and horrible with depression and panic until my Free t3 level was raised to the maximum on the reference scale of labs.  I was horribly addicted to the Xanax and taking them like candy - per doctors order. - I was on them for 4 years of constant increase or stronger ones - until Free T3 was adjusted.

I would have her work fast on getting that lab done and finding out if raising the Free T3 would help. I suffered extreme withdrawals - all by myself  - weaning myself off those anti depressants still suffereing from hypo symptoms too. It took months but I can happily say I am anti depressant free now for almost 6 mths and ALIVE again now that my Free T3 is back to normal.

Tired, loss of appetite, weight gain, memory loss, insomnia are common symptoms of exactly what I went through. It was like a death for me, and after I found someone who really knew their stuff  I was in a vicious cycle of  increased meds and constant illness and just "there" but not living anymore.

If she is alone and has no one there to be a strong thyroid advocant for or with her, this road to getting back to what really is wrong will be very hard for her. She needs a support system to help guide her and get her the help she really needs. Find a support system for her that understands all hormones and thyroid labs and can go with her to suggest appropriate testing which is sometimes very difficult. She is not in a mental state or able to be - being on these meds - to fight this on her own. I only wish I would of had someone to help me. It can be done alone, but it was the hardest thing I have ever did in my entire life and I would never want to see anyone in that position.