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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 22:13:03
Has anyone ever gotten a straight answer to the question "what's going on with us?"? Most of us, from my observations, have had periods of our lives where we'd probably consider ourselves relatively normal and then something went horribly, desperately, disastrously wrong with the brain. I've asked doctors again and again what causes this? What's happening to me? How can you be basically normal, active, fully functional, sociable etc for years and then without warning, become entombed in a mind that is so tortured and tormented that you can barely breathe because it hurts so bad, develop all these strange phobias, not be able to work or socialize, stare out a window for hours at a time, cry constantly, have suicidal ideation (the list goes on) have it last for almost 7 years without let up and there not be any answers as to what may have malfunctioned? Something had to have happened *in there*.
Maybe the doctors don't understand how important it is for us to know what the culprit is, only what the goal is, but for some of us our lives have been taken away and there's a need to know the cause.
Has anyone gotten a straight answer from their doctor about this?
Side note - If it's a chemical imbalance, what caused the chemicals to become imbalanced for us in the first place?
Useless info - I'm BP 2 with treatment resistant depression.
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2007, at 22:20:03
In reply to What's going ON?????, posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 22:13:03
I don't know as I was so totally functional for so many decades raised three kids all college degrees, owned own aerobics business, magna cum laude from nursing school. Moved myself north to south and loved my job. In my case my thyroid went and that was it. Hormones? Phillipa ps and burnout
Posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 22:34:22
In reply to Re: What's going ON????? » Cheryl-Lynn, posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2007, at 22:20:03
It's funny you should mention that Phillipa because I've been researching the thyroid and treatment resistant depression all week in preparation for my pdoc appt yesterday. I'd just gotten a call back about my blood work and my TSH was 5.35 so that news along with all the data I was reading online suggested a direct link between the two. I got myself all worked up but knew what the doctor would probably say - that my desperation was clouding my judgment *sigh*. She said I'm not hypothyroid (despite all the literature I read) and that taking thyroid meds would only make me sick.
With your first hand knowledge on the issue, what are your feelings on the issue Phillipa?
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2007, at 22:58:48
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 22:34:22
New data says per endos that your thyroid TSH should be between land 2. And that endos and docs need to go by how the patient feels. If I were you I'd do a thyroid search now most is hasimotos an autoimmune type. You should see an endo who will test for thyroid antibodies and a whole bunch of other thyroid panel stuff. T3 Free T3 and more. Phillipa
Posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 23:14:53
In reply to Re: What's going ON????? » Cheryl-Lynn, posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2007, at 22:58:48
Thanks Phillipa. I know that at least in the U.S. they have implemented changes with regard to their classification of "normal" levels, making them lower (at least with TSH levels). Here in Canada they still consider a level as high as 6 to be well within the "normal" range and doctors adamantly refuse to treat anything below that. According to what I researched this week this is absurd, especially for those prone to depression. The documents I was reading seemed like reputable scientific documents (and many of them) but I'm embarrassed to admit that one or two sentences from my pdoc telling me this was bunk and all the wind went out of my sails.
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2007, at 19:41:35
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 23:14:53
He's wrong can you get some written printouts and show them to him? Do they have endocrinologists there that you could see? Phillipa
Posted by brooke484 on September 27, 2007, at 20:03:19
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 26, 2007, at 23:14:53
I know that if my TSH is over 2 I have more anxiety. I don't know if it makes my depression worse, but my anxiety is definitely a lot worse.
In my opinion you need to be on thyroid meds. If this doctor won't do it, find someone who will. It can make a huge difference in how you feel.
brooke
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2007, at 21:17:32
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by brooke484 on September 27, 2007, at 20:03:19
At one time my TSH went to 22 and they didn't know it so I was hospitalized the anxiety was so horrible. At first they gave me 2mg Im of ativan to calm me down. phillipa
Posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 28, 2007, at 3:39:07
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by brooke484 on September 27, 2007, at 20:03:19
For the first time in my life I ordered some meds online - some Thyroxine. I really want to know if it will make a difference. If it's the hypothyroidism that's impeding the absorption of the antidepressants than it's no wonder none of them ever work and I'm not getting better. I'm willing (even eager) to give it a try - I truly believe there's something to this.
Does anyone know if there have been many success stories on the board where getting the thyroid "normalized" has greatly improved ones mental health or helped them get out of a treatment resistant depression?
Posted by brooke484 on September 28, 2007, at 10:58:24
In reply to Re: What's going ON?????, posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 28, 2007, at 3:39:07
I visit this web site often. It's a good one.
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-thyroid
brooke
Posted by Cheryl-Lynn on September 30, 2007, at 23:21:52
In reply to a great web site, posted by brooke484 on September 28, 2007, at 10:58:24
> I visit this web site often. It's a good one.
>
> http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-thyroid
>
> brooke
Thank you brooke - sorry for being so late.
This is the end of the thread.
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