Hi all. I only recently got diagnosed with bipo... - Thyroid UK

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Hi all. I only recently got diagnosed with bipoar by a psychiatrist.is it for life will I always have it please?

sozo777 profile image
17 Replies

I also been told i got a personality disorder. Am worried about atoss as im up for another medical soon.I got diagnosed with bipolar after my last medical at atoss.at moment am on ESA. Thanks all.

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17 Replies

Do you have a thyroid condition as well? And if you do, is there any chance you just aren't on enough medication?

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to

Hi LiilyMay. i dont think i got thyroid condition i keep getting slight soar throats though.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to sozo777

Were you not given thyroid blood tests prior to your bipolar diagnosis? Undiagnosed hypothyroidism has often been misdiagnosed as psychosis and bipolar.

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to Clutter

not given blood tests i had high low moods since i was 13ish am 45 now.i got told am type 2 bipolar

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to sozo777

Please ask your psychiatrist or GP for a thyroid function test to rule out hypothyroidism. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism often manifests as mental illness including bipolar. Bipolar patients are also often hypothyroid.

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to Clutter

Ok will do thanks

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Bipolar is a lifelong condition but can be managed with medication and other therapy. I've been bipolar since my teens and apart from a few years on Lithium have controlled it with anti-depressants. Over the years manic episodes have become less intense and less frequent and I'm more prone to low/depressed mood. I have had long periods of remission over the years and am currently not on medication.

ATOS have to take mental illness into account. If you're medication isn't stabilised it may not be possible for you to work until it is.

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to Clutter

Hi Clutter thanks for reply i more prone to really low moods and my thoughts race cant concentrate.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to sozo777

If your psychiatrist hasn't run all the thyroid function tests ask him. He may refer you to the GP to do this. This is a list:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

I would be surprised if he hasn't but especially you need to know what your T3 level is, which should be towards the top of the range. T3 is the active hormone our body needs to function and the brain contains the most.

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to shaws

ok thanks will see my Dr.

ukangell profile image
ukangell

My drs won't run T3 tests. They only ever test my TSH which is always normal.

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja

Do you know what you TSH is? Normal isn't always good enough.

I have central hypothyroidism (don't know if this was always the case) so it doesn't show up on the TSH test. They really need to do t4 as well, at the very least. Your psychiatrist may be able to request a t4 test by stating that he wishes to rule out central hypothyroidism. My psychiatrist was far more helpful than my GP!

Other things to look at are low iron, ferritin, folate, vitamin b12 and vitamin D. They can all be contributing factors.

I was diagnosed (wrongly in my opinion) many years ago with Schizo affective disorder. Several years later I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on liothyronine. I was very well until I was switched to levothyroxine (which I don't seem to be able to use properly) which saw the return of many of my symptoms. Since getting my thyroid sorted out, I no longer have any psychiatric symptoms.

I'm not saying thyroid treatment will cure bipolar disorder but it's worth checking that it isn't contributing to your symptoms, and any psychiatrist worth his salt should agree with this!

Are you taking lithium? This can affect your thyroid and your doctor should be testing at least TSH AND t4 regularly. Other psychiatric medications can also have an effect.

Sorry you are having such a rough time :(

Carolyn x

sheenah profile image
sheenah in reply to PinkNinja

Hi Carolyn

Can you explain to me why TSH doesn't always show up if you have central hypothyroidism and why the T4 test would be so important in this case?

many Thanks Sheenah x

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja in reply to sheenah

TSH is a pituitary hormone. When your body needs more thyroid hormone the pituitary produces more TSH to tell the thyroid gland to work harder. In primary hypothyroidism, when the thyroid can't produce enough t4 and t3, the pituitary produces more and more TSH. Eventually TSH becomes high, indicating hypothyroidism.

In central hypothyroidism, it isn't the thyroid that is the problem but the signalling and control mechanism. Basically, the pituitary doesn't produce enough TSH so the thyroid doesn't know to work harder. So in central hypothyroidism the TSH can be normal or low but the t4 and t3 can be low too! If only TSH is tested and it is normal, one may never know that t4 and t3 are also low. Hence many cases of central hypothyroidism are missed until people become very unwell or are missed completely! Central hypothyroidism isn't common.

I hope that makes sense. Basically someone with central hypothyroidism can have a normal TSH despite a very low t4 and t3 level.

Carolyn x

sozo777 profile image
sozo777 in reply to PinkNinja

Hi Carolyn thanks for your advice i will go to my Drs.no not on lithium. am type 2 bipolar so only get hypomania not full blown mania. x

sheenah profile image
sheenah

Many Thanks - very helpful in my understanding of what goes on. xx

Muffy profile image
Muffy

Also ask for Vit B12 testing.

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