Posted by Linda23 on August 30, 2003, at 21:43:36
In reply to Re: IsoM: adraf., AD/HD, drowsiness,'soft' narcolepsy? » nightlight, posted by IsoM on January 19, 2002, at 13:22:28
HI,
I just stumbled upon this site and found your discussion with Nightlight fascinating. I can't remember everything I just read. I've never had a great memory. But what has been said has stirred my interest.
I've had hypothyroidism for 28 years. I was diagnosed with depression 22 years ago after a period of time that I really burned my candle at both ends. It felt more like burnout. It's lasted in various degrees all these years. I've continued to take various antidepressants, currently, Wellbutrin. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy and like one of you said, it's not the typical narcolepsy. I just have overwhelming sleepiness. And I've developed what seems to me to be delayed sleep phase syndrome. Eight years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. And somewhere along the way, menopause was added to the mix. LOL So more fun with insomnia came with that. I gained alot of improvements when I radically changed my diet and dropped many medications. However, the sleep problems continued. I've done alot of reading and found information on cortisol and chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, so I found a doctor who let me try Cortef. Prior to this, I completely lost libido and asked my doctor to check my testosterone levels. It was low, so I began taking shots. So this past winter, by the time I had my thyroid levels optimized, took the 4th testosterone shot, and had been on Cortef for months, I was doing great. (Still no libido, but motivation was back.) I was able to cook for my family, able to work on housework including decluttering etc. and feeling great about my accomplishments. I had always felt my depression occurred as a result of adrenal burnout. So I began decreasing my Wellbutrin a half pill a month. By the time my doctor insisted I come off the Cortef, I'd gone from 400mg. a day to 150mg. I was doing OK except for some lack of energy and motivation which I attributed to suboptimal thyroid levels and testosterone levels. Tests proved I was right. But this doctor insisted I continue coming off the Cortef before building back the antidepressants or improving the other hormones. So I suffered deep depression until these things were optimized. But I still have hardly any energy and no motivation. I have to push myself to do any and everything. I get by doing what HAS to be done while the housework is piling up. Have either of you experienced this? I asked an endocrinologist who ran tests on me recently, why I did so well this winter and she said possibly the Cortef corrected my biorythm enough to give me proper rest. It's true that the Cortef helped my sleep tremendously, but the motivation/energy only came with a combination of the thyroid, testosterone and cortisol levels being optimized.
Anyway, I saw my primary care doctor and explained my symptoms to her and she mentioned ADD and she's referring me to a psychiatrist who specializes in brain chemistry. She's also sending me for another sleep study. I sure hope something helps, for my life is passing me by. I'm not even able to do things I'm excited about, like some crafting.
I really don't like taking drugs. I don't think we know the full effects of so many of them yet. However, living like this is no life. I found it interesting the mentioning of the medications. (I don't remember now how they were spelled). I'm going to research the "A" drug now. And I'd heard of the "P" drug a few years ago when I first came out but never asked about it.I apologize for this being so long. But it's difficult to explain my situation without it being long!
Thanks for listening.
poster:Linda23
thread:89555
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255785.html