Posted by downbutnotout on August 9, 2003, at 19:55:51
In reply to Re: New to meds/acknowledging depression, posted by trauma queen on August 9, 2003, at 19:24:14
>
>
> Now...to downbutnotout... I'm baffled about your apparent hypothyroidism. I looked in my nursing books to see if a "temporary hypothyroidism" could be possible. I read that, when hypothroidism occurs in adults, it is usually due to destruction of the thyroid gland by radiation (on purpose--due to HYPER-thyroidism). But I also read it can develop when one has eaten excessive amounts of "goitrogens"...namely, turnips, rutabagas, soybeans, skins of peanuts. There are also drugs that can inhibit the thyroid... AND, if you don't have enough iodine in your diet (from salt).
>
> Now...the side effects/manifestations of hypothroidism are mental sluggishness, inattentiveness, memory loss, lethargy--basically appearing depressed. However, looking depressed and BEING depressed are two different things...depression causes you to have negative thoughts, sadness, anxiety, thoughts of dying, low self-esteem... could depression possibly cause your pituitary gland to send out less TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and possibly lower your thyroid levels????? At the time they drew your blood and told you you were hypothryroid--were you actually FEELING depressed??? USUALLY--once a person is hypothyroid, it is due to destruction of the thyroid gland for whatever reason (atrophy, radiation) and they are on Synthroid for LIFE...you can't be "cured". SO--I am BAFFLED!!!
>
> I DO relate ALSO to your "closet depression"--I am the same way... I'm a Gemini...I like to be an outwardly jovial character. I don't want people to know that I'm truly in pain. But I got to the point where I was so incredibly sad...I didn't know *HOW* to let people know I needed help. And it was a slow transition from my happy me, to my very sad me...people hardly noticed unless they really thought about how I had changed.
>
TariAnn:Thanks so much for your input. I sure do appreciate it from everyone! Thanks too for looking up that hypothyroid business for me. I was told by the previous doctors that I'd be on Synthroid for life. When I started the Synthroid I was not as depressed as I am now but I think I was depressed. I too think that there is some funny chemistry going on in my body and the thyroid numbers will change as my depression improves. It'll be interesting to see what happens! I love my new doctor and can't believe that he read me so well so fast. He's a real gem.
> > Hope this helps. Nice to know others out here are going through what I am feeling.
> > Took me forever to find a forum that has Lexapro on it.
> >
poster:downbutnotout
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030807/msgs/249658.html