Re: how do you survive the depression while waiting for thyroid meds to work?

[Guest guest]

Hi - Hang in there - From my experience the depression comes in waves and can feel so terribly random - it just happens and can be debilitating. Although it's really hard when you're in the middle of it, try to surround yourself with things that make you feel peaceful - your pet? a good friend or loved one? music? your favorite tv shows or movies or books? (I mention books but I know when I am feeling badly, it can be so hard to concentrate on reading.)

I really do feel for you as I understand (as will everyone on this board as well). Take care of yourself and eat healthy foods, avoid excess sugars or junk foods. Try to be as active as possible - even if with yoga or walks.

Call upon the boards here as you need to.

Many hugs,

Anita wrote:

i've been taking synthroid for two weeks now, but i am still sodepressed i don't know what to do. i know that this is physical, butthat doesnt help me feel any better. i know that i need to be patient waiting for the meds to get into mysystem and work, but i am so messed up emotionally, i don't know how iam going to make it.can anyone help?*Note: Information is freely exchanged on this board based on patient experiences, and should not be considered a medical recommendation. "Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot." --Chinese Proverb__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, I know how hard it it to deal with depression. Believe me, this

forum is full of people who can definitely understand what you're

feeling. I spent last summer in a sort of depressed, anguished

nightmare where I didn't have the energy to think or to lift a finger

and all i could do was feeling hopeless and in despair. All I can tell

you is: it WILL go away. Even if now it seems impossible to you, you

will feel better. Yes, you need to be patient and to wait for the

medicine to get into your system. Imagine to have a gremlin sat on your

shoulder, a gremlin who whispers negative things about your well being

and healing. Well, visualize that gremlin and whenever dark thoughts

come to your mind, you just think that is the voice of the gremlins,

it's not real. I usually tell mine: " Yes, I'm aknowledging what you're

saying but right now I can't lend you my attention because I'm busy

doing something else " . Don't fight against it. Let the dark thoughts

come your way, watch them, knowing they're not real, and let them go

away.

I was sure I would never be my old self again. Well, now I am. Grumpy,

neurotic and with renewed energy. Thyroiditis teaches us all a lesson.

We are forced to confront our limits and deal with them. You'll get

over it. Trust me. And in the meantime, come to us for reassurement and

some cuddles.

Hugs

Carla

> i've been taking synthroid for two weeks now, but i am still so

> depressed i don't know what to do. i know that this is physical, but

> that doesnt help me feel any better.

>

> i know that i need to be patient waiting for the meds to get into my

> system and work, but i am so messed up emotionally, i don't know how i

> am going to make it.

>

> can anyone help?

>

>

>

>

> *Note: Information is freely exchanged on this board based on patient

> experiences, and should not be considered a medical recommendation.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, -

I'm so sorry to hear about your anguish, hon. My heart goes out to you.

Members here have given great advice.

I too am dealing with some depression right now but I don't think it's

because of the thyroid. Just too many external things going on to

influence a bad mood. I just joined a depression support group on here

yesterday, maybe it will help a little. Just do a search on " depression "

and a number of groups will pop up.

Some members, including myself, get a mood boost from adding T3 to

our thyroid regimen. This is in the form of either a synthetic supplement

called Cytomel or Armour thyroid which has both T3 and T4. But if your

doc isn't ready to put you on T3 yet, don't despair... you may get the

same boost from taking Selenium supplements, that's what one member

here told me. I tried them and can't say they helped a lot personally

(I have a whole sealed bottle left if you'd like me to send them your way)

but we are all very different here in the way we respond to different

supplements and protocols. It may sound trite, but I find that a bit of

caffeine in the form of coffee or chocolate definitely gives me a boost too.

Dr. Weil also recommends meditation to help stay balanced and avoid

extreme highs and lows.

Wish I could be more help... the members here are right, this will pass.

Hugs

~

> i've been taking synthroid for two weeks now, but i am still so

> depressed i don't know what to do. i know that this is physical, but

> that doesnt help me feel any better.

>

> i know that i need to be patient waiting for the meds to get into my

> system and work, but i am so messed up emotionally, i don't know how i

> am going to make it.

>

> can anyone help?

[Guest guest]

> I'm so sorry to hear about your anguish, hon. My heart goes out to you.

> Members here have given great advice.

yes they have. thank you all so much for your well wishes and just

for understanding! it's so helpful.

> Some members, including myself, get a mood boost from adding T3 to

> our thyroid regimen. This is in the form of either a synthetic

supplement

> called Cytomel or Armour thyroid which has both T3 and T4.

these were my test results before treatment:

free t3: 3.7 pg/ml (lab lists " normal range " as 2.3 - 4.2)

t4: 7.1 og/dl (lab lists " normal range " as 4.4 - 12.5)

tsh: 1.2 uiu/ml (lab lists " normal range " as .3 - 5.1)

with that much free t3, it seems like i shouldnt feel this bad, but i

do! can anyone help me understand this? i've been reading mary

shomon's " living well with hypothyroidism " and she talks about

hashimoto's a bit and how you can have hypo symptoms with it well

before your levels are actually " out of range " but i am confused as to

why this happens and how to know what i need, etc.

i guess i'm kind of scared that i'm going to feel like this forever if

i'm feeling like this now with so much free t3. at this level, i feel

like my doctor would be very reluctant to add more t3. heck, i'm

wondering why i feel bad at all with that much free t3 and such a low tsh.

> But if your

> doc isn't ready to put you on T3 yet, don't despair... you may get the

> same boost from taking Selenium supplements, that's what one member

> here told me.

last week, i started eating 4 brazil nuts daily for selenium. if my

calculations are correct, this should be getting me about 200mg (or is

it mcg) per day. i heard they are helpful in combatting thyroid

antibodies, and i just read today that they can help with conversion.

we'll see if it helps. either way, the nuts are good at least.

thanks so much for your help!

rachel.

[Guest guest]

Hi, again ! Shomon is right -- basically, the

tests don't always make sense. I know it's hard to buy

but there comes a point where you just stop paying so

much attention to them. I never had a " low " free T3

and I tried Cytomel, then Armour anyway. I've only ever

taken a very low dose of Cytomel - 10 mg a day, and

now just 1/2 grain Armour. Seems to be the right

amount for me.

In any case, good for you with the Brazil nuts... sounds

like a good way to start, I didn't know about them having

selenium and fighting antibodies. Maybe I'll start eating

them! Try not to add worry about feeling this way forever

to your mental burden, nor would I worry overmuch

about your current thyroid protocol not working, since

you've only been on it 2 weeks. The T3 issue is just

something to be aware of... pay attention to whether

your other symptoms are improving too--if not, a switch

to a different thyroid med could be in order. You could

also ask for an antidepressant... I took Paxil CR for

anxiety short term and it didn't seem to do me any harm,

it is for depression too. Others here did not do well on

antidepressants at all, so that's another individual

decision. Most of all, you'll just need a lot of patience

and a great big dose of treating yourself well...

as described!!

~

> > I'm so sorry to hear about your anguish, hon. My heart goes out to you.

> > Members here have given great advice.

>

> yes they have. thank you all so much for your well wishes and just

> for understanding! it's so helpful.

>

>

> > Some members, including myself, get a mood boost from adding T3 to

> > our thyroid regimen. This is in the form of either a synthetic

> supplement

> > called Cytomel or Armour thyroid which has both T3 and T4.

>

> these were my test results before treatment:

>

> free t3: 3.7 pg/ml (lab lists " normal range " as 2.3 - 4.2)

> t4: 7.1 og/dl (lab lists " normal range " as 4.4 - 12.5)

> tsh: 1.2 uiu/ml (lab lists " normal range " as .3 - 5.1)

>

> with that much free t3, it seems like i shouldnt feel this bad, but i

> do! can anyone help me understand this? i've been reading mary

> shomon's " living well with hypothyroidism " and she talks about

> hashimoto's a bit and how you can have hypo symptoms with it well

> before your levels are actually " out of range " but i am confused as to

> why this happens and how to know what i need, etc.

>

> i guess i'm kind of scared that i'm going to feel like this forever if

> i'm feeling like this now with so much free t3. at this level, i feel

> like my doctor would be very reluctant to add more t3. heck, i'm

> wondering why i feel bad at all with that much free t3 and such a low tsh.

>

>

> > But if your

> > doc isn't ready to put you on T3 yet, don't despair... you may get the

> > same boost from taking Selenium supplements, that's what one member

> > here told me.

>

> last week, i started eating 4 brazil nuts daily for selenium. if my

> calculations are correct, this should be getting me about 200mg (or is

> it mcg) per day. i heard they are helpful in combatting thyroid

> antibodies, and i just read today that they can help with conversion.

> we'll see if it helps. either way, the nuts are good at least.

>

> thanks so much for your help!

>

> rachel.