Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 20, 2004, at 13:35:33
In reply to Re: Calling for advice from BP2 Thyroid types » Minnie-Haha, posted by Pfinstegg on March 20, 2004, at 12:57:12
> I have a somewhat similiar story- thyroid nodules found 10 years ago, treated with T4. In my case, the TSH was initially about 5. Because the onset of my severe depression coincided with the onset of the thyroid abnormalities, I kept trying to find out more about possible connections. To make a long story short, last year I asked my endocrinologist to cut the T4 supplementation in half, and add Cytomel (T3). For me, I think it's made a HUGE difference in the amount of depression I have.
>
> My endo keeps the TSH below 0.5 (last reading was 0.38) and has me have a bone scan every year or two for possible osteoporosis, which can be a side-effect of keeping the thyroid values at these levels. With psychotherapy, I now am off all AD's for the first time in 10 years. Just therapy, T3 and T4 seems to be doing what's needed!I am encouraged by hearing your story. May I ask if you're male or female. (I am female.) What prompted you to ask to change from T4 only to T4 and T3? (That is one of my concerns, why the endo wants to do T4 only. I keep reading conflicting stuff on this.)
I am concerned because although I'd say earlier in my life I leaned toward hypothyroid in my symptoms -- depressed, sluggish, overweight, slow metabolism -- I also have problems with anxiety and in recent months have been frequently nauseated and lost weight -- hyperthyroid symptoms. Where these are atypical seems to be my temperature. When I was hypo/fatter, I always felt hot and now that I am hyper/thinner (though still overweight by at least 20 pounds), I often feel cold! I've reviewed my labwork from the last 5 years or so and my TSH tends to be normal to low-normal, which would seem to me to be more hyper than hypo. I just worry about the effects of thyroid meds on me if I'm already battling anxiety and nausea. I don't know! On the other hand, if my nodules need to shrink and this is the way to do it, I guess I should do it.
Anyway, thanks again for sharing.
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:325810
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040319/msgs/326437.html