thyroid problems or depression?

[cadogan27]

i was trying too see if this is more depression symptoms or a thyroid problem.i started feeling kinda "off" around when i was about 14 years old.from what i read both depression/thyroid problems are really similar.my symptoms are brain fog,major depression/anxiety,memory problems,feeling tired/weak,constipation,memory problems and the cold seems too effect me.

iam 27 now and still feel the same problems as i did before.i have had a blood test when i was 25 that came up negative for hypothyroidism.just from doing some research most gp's don't check for certain things like:
free T3 free T4, T3 uptake and thyroid antibody's.i had also noticed the lymph node gland in my groin area felt swollen.i'am just tired of feeling like this,and would like anyone's advice on what i should do.i dont have health insuarance so iam hoping the free health clinic can do the testing.thanks your help.

[CCB1991]

My 16 year old daughter is experiencing the same problems,  depression/ anxiety, impulsiveness.  She is stugglng in school and trying so hard to  make the grades to get into college, but is about to give up.  Her tsh was tested and it was 0.8. So her doc says she is fine. She takes cytomel and synthroid combined. I recently put her on concerta to help her stay focused, but she is extremely depressed and angry all the time. I am very worried and frightened.

[TamraW]

I wonder why a total thyroid workup isn't standard, too? It would save us many years of unexplained suffering. These endos need to get with the program!!!
:) T.

[cadogan27]

i wish i still had the paper with all my bloodwork info on it. :-( i got it when i was at kaiser permanente.too bad i cant get a copy of it.from what i remember reading,everything seemed normal.but then they just sent me it online,and i had too figure it out myself.lol.iam gonna call the clinic today and try too see if i can get an apointment tommorrow.ill post what it says after i get it.i was wondering why haven't those things ever been included in the standard bloodwork tests?seems like it would save people a lot of problems.thanks

[TamraW]

What was your blood test at 25? TSH? My TSH looked 'normal' but I ended up having Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Yes, your symptoms could be hypothyroid/hashimotos. I have your symptoms, too. But we won't know for sure unless you get the bloodwork.

Don't rely on the TSH test to paint the entire picture. My TSH was a 2.74. The lab said anything over a 4.5 means hypo, so my doc just sent me home with Tylenol. To many in this forum, anything over a 2.5 deserves a second look. When I convinced my doc to run an Anti-TPO test, my Hashi antibodies were a 221 (anything over 35 is considered Hashi's.)

See if the free clinic can give you these blood tests then come back to the forum and post your actual numbers, not just if the doc said it was negative.

FT4
FT3
TSH
Anti-TPO
TGab

Take care...
:) Tamra