Hypothyroidism and anti-depressants
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| Thu, 06-17-2004 - 6:28pm |
I am a 28 year old mother of two young children. I was on put on Zoloft one year ago, switched now to 10 mg of prozac every other day (this is a very low dose) for the treatment of tension headaches. I quit taking the Zoloft about 4 months ago because, I gained 15 lbs. Well, my weight keeps creeping up and I am excercising and eating right (pretty much, I'm not perfect but, pretty darn good!) I've always been fit and trim and in the past year I've creeped steadily from the low 130's to 160 lbs! My fat gut is making me and my husband sick!! Other risk factors I display are:L
LOW bbt (need to check for a few days but, this is historically true)
mild depression
irritability
memory loss
fatigue
digestive problems
painful ovulation (this started in the past 8 months)
the fat seems to have deposited itself mainly in my stomach, butt and thighs.
Does anyone know anyting about anti-depressants and hypothyroidism? I am worried about permanent damage. Just looking for stories and ideas...Any resources ya'll have are welcome, I have a feeling that this is the issue, the idea hit me like a ton of bricks this afternoon when I sat down to relax for a few minutes, an epopony (Spelling, I know)perhaps.
Best,
Amy

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Now the part that discussed the link between bi-polar disorder and thyroid malfuntion that really raises my eyebrows. I had read info from John Johnson on about.com about people who have a hard time utilizing the mineral copper--trace mineral found in some vitamins or taken on its own. So if the person has too much copper in their system because they cannot utilize it, it can cause the person to have schizophrenic symptoms. "Sometimes there is adequate copper in the body or even too much copper. At times there may be an excessive amount of copper seen in the hair and there is probably a buildup of copper in the liver and other organs. In some copper toxicity diseases such as Wilson's disease there is seen a buildup of copper in the cornea of the eye causing copper pigmented rings to be observable at the outer margin of the cornew. These rings are called Kayser-Fleisher rings.... Generally people with hyperthyroidism who have this inability to utilize copper have some schizophrenic characteristics to a lesser or greater degree. Several studies have shown that a relatively high percentage of patients diagnosed with manic-depressive schizophrenia also have hyperthyroidism. It seems that these two diseases share many of the same nutrient deficiencies." (John Johnson used a nutritional approach to control/cure his hyperthyroidism.)
Our bodies are so complicated and delicate. And unfortunately most MD's --who are NOT qualified to diagnose mental disorders- are prescibing the more "gentler" and more advertised (prozac-zoloft-albuterol) versions of anti-depressants to patients. Be careful because a MD does not have as much education on the effects and interactions those drugs can have as a psychiatrist or even a pharmacist. (my own opinion on this leans towards the cynical side when it comes to MDs diagnosing/prescribing anti-depressants)
Many people do have their mild symptoms of depression alleviated with the use of those drugs, but there's more to it than mild depression for some people. And for you ladies who are questioning the link between thyroid malfunction and depression. There IS a link, a physical (in your body) link. Educate yourself as much as you can and make the best decision for YOU.
There are many holistic or natural things you can do to alleviate depression, but you can have a physical ailment (thyroid) that can aggrivate or accelerate it.
I am not hypothyroid myself, although I do suffer with an autoimmune thyroid, I just want to learn as much as I can about my disease to help myself and to help others who have similar problems too. I know that I am not suffering with what you ladies are suffering with, I just wanted to let you know that what you are feeling is real and there is a reason for it and the more that you know the better you will be able to help yourselfs, and others. And any time you need it I am here to support you. Thanks for listening, sorry I've written another novel! LOL... --lisa
Here's what's interesting about that, though. Back in January, when I had to wait til June for this new doc's appointment, I started taking supplements to support my thyroid. Well, they didn't decrease my tsh level but they did help me to feel a whole lot better with overcoming the fatigue, getting a better night's sleep, feeling less bloated and having a more regular even-tempered personality througout the month. So the supplements were good but they can't replace the hormone!!
And I couldn't agree with you more about taking ourselves and our symptoms seriously. These things are NOT in our heads!! They are caused by actual deficiencies or overabundance of thyroid hormone and other things and we need to take them seriously. It's a long road, sometimes, but I think it's really important to the overall state of our health. I think because this is a disease that affects mostly women, we tend to get shuffled off to the side and not taken seriously. And because we're women, we don't like to stir things up with our doctors but it's absolutely essential to do it! So "Stir it Up" and get the help you need!!!! :) Cathy
That's how we should end all of our posts.. Stir it up!
I never realized how important it is to enforce the feelings you have about your illness to your doctor until last year.
In march of 2003 I went to my family doctor because I was sick, flu symptoms, swollen glands, absolutely zero energy, and it was getting worse. But when he felt my glands he kind of went hmmm, hmm, hmm, he came back with a big glass of water had me swallow some felt my throat and said you have a goiter. I said, "a what?" He of course said why I was feeling so bad was probably a virus, blah blah blah, he decided to run some bloodwork. My thyroid bloodwork came back NORMAL nothing else showed. 2 weeks later I had missed 5 days work over the course of 2 weeks, I had parents at school asking me if I felt good. It was weird. It got to the point where I couldn't do anything. I'd come home on my lunch break, sleep for 20 minutes, go back to work, come home and go back to sleep for a few hours. It was awful.
When I went back to the doctor I was very upset because I knew something was wrong and it was getting worse and I didn't know what, I was scared I had CANCER--this is how sick I was. I wasn't going to leave without answers. It came down to me being so upset with my doctor I started crying because I was so upset. Come to find out after me demanding more bloodwork (specifically to check for mono), I had mono. Yah! hip hip hooray--I was so relieved to finally know what I had and that I was going to be sick, but I'll get better sooner with the more rest I had. I took more time off from work, and slept and slept.
Now, spring 2004 I see a new doctor because I'm getting that sick mono feeling again and very achy joints, she immediately noticed the "goiter" and had my bloodwork drawn there at the office and sent me out for a ultrasound and made me an appt w/ the endo.
Unfortunately now its a waiting game to see if I'm going to go hypo or hyper because my condition is autoimmune thyroiditis.
My endo seems to be good. She practices in an office where the other doctor was named one of the best of detroit a few years ago, and even though she seems rushed I trust that she is knowledgeable and for me it may have been confusing because I was expecting more info instead of a run down and a "wait and see". Doing my own research I feel much more in control of what's going on with me. I know that what she told me about waiting is the way to do it. But she couldn't tell me what I could do nutritionally or give me advice on vitamins or herbs that could help.
But that is why as a person you should research your health issues. And I don't mean every cold you get or if your sick with bronchitis. There is a lot of research out there and I feel that if I know more about my health I understand it much more.
My experience with my thyroid makes me wish I knew more about it a year ago. The info I've learned about supplements and dietary advice have been great and it gives me the information to help me choose the best path to health. Each person has to make their own decision about how to help themselves when it comes to their health. Some people feel that it is best to follow the doctor's advice and others research for other methods. But please don't settle if you feel your concerns are not being taken into consideration.
Stir it up! (Cathy...)
thanks for listening, ladies keep up the good work! --Lisa
I've tried those herbs--the Quercetin & Bromelain. They came in a capsule together! That makes it easier to take! The first two days I kind of felt like a weird feeling in my stomach and thought maybe it was them, but I was having stomach problems anyways. But as of today i've had 3 or 4 doses and I think it's helping a little. Today the pressure in my neck isn't aggravating like it has been (or it could be doing it on its own! LOL) I don't care as long as it goes down! Also my father in law started taking it too because they are recommended for sinusitis, allergies, & arthiritus, and he said since he started taking it he hasn't had any more sinus problems.
After reading through some of the posts here, I'm sure that what I have is hypothyroidism.
Blessed Be!
Laure- co-cl on Migraines & Headaches
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