Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 38335

Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Just checking in!

Posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

hey guys!!

Just checking in.. had a pretty shitty weekend... went home to mum ansd family for the weekend, and has decided now was the time to open up and tell them all the problems I'm having. Was gonna start with my brothers at a barbeque we were having. Anyway, one brother ends yup haviung a huge row with his wife... slapped her (something he detests and has never done before), getting pretty hysterical, wlaking out, and threatening all kinds of things.

Guess who was left to pick up th epeices, and look after a near hysterical 12 year old (brothers daughter) who desperastely wanted to get out of the house (she is hius child fromprevious marriage and lives with brother at weekends). He came home about midnight and me and husband left straight away.

But now brother isn't talking to me, cos I told my neice that she could call me anytime if she needed anything, wanted to talk, was scared etc! What else could I do.. I had rto calm her down, and I also believe I was doing the right thing, and helped calm her down alot.

Well, as a result, I've had a crappy day today, been horrible to everyone, and feel like a huge black cloud.

Well, I've wibbled and got it off my chest... thanks guys. I'df promied I wasn't gonna use this as a sound off board any more... broken that promise already eh??

Oh, and a quick though - Is there something that would be the opposite to Anorexia.. You know, Anorexics look in mirror seefat person... But I look in the mirror and see solmeone slimmer than me!!! It always shocks me when I realise how fat I am..

Cheers people

Nikki x

 

Re: Just checking in!

Posted by v on June 26, 2000, at 6:25:12

In reply to Just checking in!, posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

i'm always way surprised by how heavy i've become - when i recently saw photos of myself, i was shocked... i think it's a common way of coping and possibly for me at least, when i tell myself i'm not really so heavy, i'm giving myself the green light to keep eating. of course, when i recognize the damage i've really done, then i eat out of self-hatred and anger... sigh... it's a no-win situation for me

sorry to hear your weekend was so rough..

v

> Oh, and a quick though - Is there something that would be the opposite to Anorexia.. You know, Anorexics look in mirror seefat person... But I look in the mirror and see solmeone slimmer than me!!! It always shocks me when I realise how fat I am..
>
> Cheers people
>
> Nikki x

 

Re: Just checking in! » NikkiT

Posted by Kerry on June 26, 2000, at 23:41:26

In reply to Just checking in!, posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

Nikki-You deserve two BRAVOS. ONE, because you decided to open up to your family--though not met w/ the best response, it's a start. They are most likely thinking about you and worried and will approach you again in the future (let's hope. if not, then try again--family denial of mental illness/whatnot sooooo common). TWO : you were there for your niece. You offered your love and support in a time of need. What's up with the bro? You did absolutely nothing wrong!! He doesn't own his daughter's problems. You are a trusting family member and he should be grateful.
Why NOT use this as a sound off board? Who's complaining? We're here for you.

 

Re: Just checking in/and how were your tests?

Posted by Abby on June 26, 2000, at 23:52:14

In reply to Re: Just checking in! » NikkiT, posted by Kerry on June 26, 2000, at 23:41:26

Oh Nikki,

What a nightmare. Absolutely you did the right thing by talking to your niece. All children should have adults other than their parents--be they aunts or godparents---with whom they have good relationships. If your brother and his ex-wife were both killed in a car crash. I'm sure that he would want his daughter to have someone she could trust.

I was just wondering whether you got any of your bloodwork back and what the results were? Do you have a thyroid problem? polycystic ovary disease?

Hope everything is coming together.---Abby

 

Re: Just checking in!

Posted by Janice on June 27, 2000, at 0:14:17

In reply to Just checking in!, posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

Hi Nikki

Although I've never heard of what your talking about as being referred to as an eating disorder, about 10 years ago I used to watch American talk shows with overweight people on them. I often noticed that many women would say they had no idea how high their weight was until they had seen a picture of themselves or saw themselves on TV. Maybe this is something similar to what you are experiencing except to a lesser degree --these women were very obese. One of my sisters weighs about 75 kg (maybe more at times) and has always run around unselfconsciously in a bikini, and, me, I stopped running around in one after weighing 50kg.

how you are sounds pretty good to me,
Janice.

 

Abby - tests!

Posted by NikkiT on June 27, 2000, at 5:19:43

In reply to Just checking in!, posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

Hi,

well, I've got all my blood work back.. Thyroid still the same... "At the bottom of the limuts, but still just within them".

My hormone tests are all over the place, so I have another hospital appt tomorrow for further scans etc. Great - my boss is obviously really happy with me and all my time off.

Nikki x

 

Nikki---the limits lie

Posted by Abby on June 27, 2000, at 22:56:07

In reply to Abby - tests!, posted by NikkiT on June 27, 2000, at 5:19:43

Nikki,

What were the results exactly of the thyroid tests? The range is statistical but not necessarily optimal. What was your TSH? What about the other numbers? Check out this link.

http://thyroid.about.com/health/thyroid/library/weekly/topicsub6.htm

And then tell me what your lab results are.----Abby

P.S. I'll keep on you until you tell me.

 

Re: Nikki---the limits lie

Posted by noa on June 28, 2000, at 15:54:53

In reply to Nikki---the limits lie, posted by Abby on June 27, 2000, at 22:56:07

I'm with Abby on this one.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is often overlooked, because if the doc only looks at statistical norms, and adheres rigidly to the statistical cut-off numbers, they will not see that for many people, slightly elevated TSH with normal thyroid hormone levels is an indicator of hypothyroid that could have an essential effect on treatment for depression.

Once identified, the treatment goals are different than they would be for some other hypothyroid patients, although, again, many docs stick too rigidly to the statistical norms. So, for example, statistically, a TSH of between about .5 and 5.5 is considered normal. But for many people, a TSH over 2 is high and is associated with some distressing hypothyroid symptoms, mostly the psychiatric ones, or fatigue. ( There is one doctor from England cited on Mary Shomon's website who claims that per his review of the literature, a TSH over 2 is highly predictive of future diagnosis with hypothyroid).

I only started to feel better when my TSH was suppressed, through thyroid hormone replacement, to below 1.
Let me quote from the letter my endocrinologist wrote to my GP:

"Some patients with depression and hypothyroidism occasionally require more than the usual replacement doses in order to feel considerably better. Sometimes they have to be titrated bit by bit even with a suppressed TSH until their sense of well being does not improve any further......if she was feeling well on this regimen with good energy, it does not need to be increased further. however, if there was still some degree of fatigue, she could try increasing the Synthroid slightly...even if the TSH was suppressed. She could check every 6-8 weeks; and as long as there was continued improvement in her energy and well being, the dose could be mildly increased after that. Once there was no further improvement, the dose should be no further increased. Sometimes this strategy is useful, even though it results in a suppressed TSH in patients who are refractory to typical antidepressant therapy. Usually you do not have to go much out of the normal range to reach the point where no further benefit is rendered...."

 

Re: Nikki---the limits lie

Posted by quilter on June 28, 2000, at 23:31:44

In reply to Re: Nikki---the limits lie, posted by noa on June 28, 2000, at 15:54:53

Nikki, I'm with Noa and Abby on this one. Cytomel has made a tremendous difference in how I feel on two seperate occasions. Many different antidepressants helped a little for short times but real and lasting relief came only with the addition of the thyroid med. Lab results can scare drs. into reducing needed meds, or never considering them at all. Be sure to ask about specific results and do the research so you can talk about this sensibly. It has been wonderful to feel happy and energetic for a change. Goodness knows how long it willl work this time, but last time, in combination with a tricyclic AD, it worked well for several years. Quilter

 

Noa

Posted by NikkiT on June 29, 2000, at 10:56:05

In reply to Just checking in!, posted by NikkiT on June 25, 2000, at 15:43:13

TSH?? I'm sure thats what else they checked, and said was high.. I thought they meant testosterone....

Can't wait to see GPand get all the figures now!!!

 

Re: Nikki

Posted by Abby on June 29, 2000, at 12:18:58

In reply to Noa, posted by NikkiT on June 29, 2000, at 10:56:05

> TSH?? I'm sure thats what else they checked, and said was high.. I thought they meant testosterone....
>
> Can't wait to see GPand get all the figures now!!!

The first link I mentioned explains what TSH is. Basically a high TSH means you don't have enough thyroid. TSH is the hormone which tells your body to make more thyroid.

Go to www.thyroid-info.com Search for England, and you'll find a recommendation of a doctor Skinner. (Top Docs in the UK) There's also a link to a letter Skinner wrote to the British Medical Journal. Print this and take it to your GP. Look at the response posted by Dr. Stowell in Australia who sends you back to Mary Shomon's site. Search for dommisse.

Let me know how all this goes.

Abby


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