Depression (major depression)

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• January 15, 2010 8:15 p.m.

  I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on 25 mg. of Thyroxin for 7 weeks. My Dr. called and said my TSH levels are fine now, but I still am having the fatigue, ice cold, etc. I also think I suffer from depression. What should I do? Most Dr.s don't go beyond this in helping people with this disorder. Is there some type of specialist who deals with ones who have this issue?

  - Melissa

• January 4, 2010 4:38 p.m.

  I was diagnosed in 1980 with hypothyroidism by a doctor I worked for. He said at the time that it was borderline. But in 1982 I went on Synthroid. Since then insurance has their say in what medication they'll allow. So, went on Thyroxine? and since 1997 was dx with Bipolar II. So, after many years, my psychiatrist has me on 5 different meds, got me off of anti-depressants (which make one more manic) and put me on Cytomel for Bipolar symptoms and hypothyroidism. The Cytomel has been a lifesaver for me. I am much happier with my life. I'm no longer in darkness. I think because my psychiatrist was also a neurologist and specializes in medications, he's saved my life.

  - Deb

• January 4, 2010 11:52 a.m.

  This is a question for Donnah. What exactly is the "compound" medication the doctor has you on? I am trying to get as much information as possible before I go in to see my pcp.

  - Mary kay

• January 4, 2010 12:45 a.m.

  THIS IS A QUESTION FOR JANIE WHO WROTE ON CHRISTMAS DAY: I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU KNOW/HAVE EXPERIENCED REGARDING SYNTHROID. I AM TAKING SYNTHROID NOW ALONG WITH TWO ANTIDEPRESSANTS. I CAN FUNCTION WITH THESE MEDS BUT NOT REALLY WELL. I WENT TO SIX DIFFERENT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHEN I FIRST KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,FROM MY PRIMARY DOCTOR TO PSYCHIATRISTS. NOT ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG, LET ALONE FIX IT. SO THEN I WENT TO THE LIBRARY AND STARTED READING. I EVENTUALLY FOUND A BOOK THAT I FELT WAS DESCRIBING ME - THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT DEPRESSION CAUSED BY PHYSICAL (MEDICAL) PROBLEMS. THIS WAS WHAT I HAD BEEN TRYING TO SUGGEST TO MY CURRENT PSYCHIATRIST. BUT HE SAID THAT WASN'T HAPPENING, AND WAS VERY PATRONIZING, ALMOST SUGGESTING " YOU'RE THE CRAZY ONE HERE, REMEMBER?". I WAS LIVING IN NEW ENGLAND AT THE TIME, BUT ALSO KNEW THAT WE WOULD SOON BE MOVING TO TAMPA. THAT BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY A NUMBER OF DOCTORS. I FOUND THE NAME OF ONE LISTED AS LIVING IN TAMPA, AND WHEN I CAME SOUTH I LOOKED UNTIL I FOUND HIM. HE SAVED MY LIFE!! EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT I RECOGNIZED MYSELF. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SINCE LOST MY HEALTH INSURANCE, ALONG WITH MY HOME, MY CAR, MY JOB - BASICALLY MY LIFE. I AM ONLY ABLE TO GET SOME MEDS FROM SOCIAL SERVICES, AND I AM NOT WELL ENOUGH TO KEEP A JOB. I STILL HAVE ONE CHILD AT HOME, AND I AM DESPERATE FOR WORK. I HAVE LOST ABOUT TEN JOBS, AND WOULD SO MUCH LIKE TO FIND A NEW SOLUTION TO MY HEALTH ISSUES

  - MARY

• January 2, 2010 11:10 a.m.

  I have been hypothyroid for 20 years. Found my a Nurse Prac. during a routine papsmear. My depression however has been throughout my childhooe and into adulthood. I am 45 years old. As i get older my depression seems to get worse. Being hypthyroid for so long I feel like I know my body ver well. I know my thyroid meds are off right now but cannot get my pcp to change my meds. Loss of hair, cold all the time, need for sleep, hearing things different than everyone else, these are the sighns I look for. My depresion has increased dramatically in the last three years. I have suicidal thoughts every day. I have bee changed from Effexor, which caused me to gain 20 pounds of the 30 pounds I lost during a bout of severe depression (this was a good weight gain), to Prestiq. This seemed to wrok well at first but now its not working so much. I was a teacher and am now studying to be a nurse. I have to be very careful of diagnosis because the medical field can denie you for some types of illnesses expecially psycological disorders. My family is suffering just as much as I am and I feel like it is very unfair for them to have to go through this as well. I feel bad for them and dont want them to have to deal with me. I am always trying to run away from them. I am a good actress and have faked out a lot of people. I am getting too tired to do this anymore.

  - Mary Kay

• December 30, 2009 9:55 p.m.

  Note to Steve...there are two active sites with great communities dedicated to those with thyroid problems. There are many men in these groups. And you are right--males have differences that need addressed by physicians. Good luck to you.

  - Donnah

• December 30, 2009 9:51 p.m.

  The first psychiatrist I saw would not treat me until I had a complete blood panel. He, not my pcp, found I was hypo. In and out of bouts of depression for the last several years have been hell to deal with... After the Synthroid fiasco, then the Armour reformulation, I'm on a compounded prescription. It's made such a difference in my life! My motivation has returned, and I no longer feel cold all the time. I do make an effort to stay current with treatments and techniques to help me through the times of depression. My well being comes from more than a pill.

  - Donnah

• December 25, 2009 5:56 p.m.

  Biggg mistake if you think hypothyroidism can be caught by the TSH lab test, which most doctors do. It can be normal for years before it rises high enough to reveal one's hypo. Then when it does rise high enough, doctors tend to put you on the lousy T4-only meds like Synthroid. And guess what becomes rampant on T4?? Depression.

  - Janie

• December 23, 2009 4:27 p.m.

  I took thyroid as a twentysomething who had fertility problems and then had two children. Now, after menapause in my sixeties I was coping with depression and went to a thyroid specialist for hypothyroidism. He put me on thyroid and I feel 100% better. My PCP wouldn't do it because my THS was average but I knew something was wrong. Don't give up! Get someone to help you. The thinking about depression has changed from the 1990s because allot of SSRIs dont work.

  - Alexandra

• December 23, 2009 6:30 a.m.

  I've had 1/2 of my thyroid removed for nodules and became hypothyroid. I've suffered from a large weight gain despite exercising and walking every day. I also suffer from Bi-polar but find this has helped somewhat as the medication controls my depression. I am finding by trial and error the eating habits that are working for me. The weight loss is slow but as long as i stick to it, I loose and thence, no depression!

  - Barbara

• December 22, 2009 11:28 p.m.

  I have hypo thyroid, I fine depression is getting worse. and the meds for depression I can not take. I also notice most research on the affect of hypo thyroid is done on woman, and not men. so I am having troubles on what to expect with this thyroid.

  - Steve

• December 22, 2009 10:48 p.m.

  Don't I know it!! I lost my thyroid, thymus and some lymph nodes to cancer 21 years ago. I was a very happy, high energy person before the surgery. Since the surgery, I am monitored well but regardless of the medical balance of thyroid hormone in my system, I have been living in hormone hell. The endocrine system is more major and delicate than I ever imagined. Once I went into a surgical menopause, I felt like I was on a roller coaster from one extreme to the other re: body temperature, weight gain, skin sensitivities and depression. Bless my friends who understand the insidiousness of my situation; I'm not sure many of my doctors do.

  - Diana

• December 22, 2009 7:34 p.m.

  Even in spite of taking thyroid medication for 25 years I will have to say there is still bouts of depression. I began as a very happy young person. When I was diagnosed as hypothyroid I still was pretty cheerful. But noticed as time went on that it was getting exceedingly more difficult to be upbeat. Having no thyroxine at all it has always been an uphill battle to stay ahead of what I feel. As you get older you find out more about how the thyroid gland not working will cause problems in later life even in spite of the medications. Many things are written about it that taking a simple little pill will help... it does only to a small degree and that is give you a little bit of metabolism. It does cause more than is said.

  - Lynn