Mental health issues

[annie30]

Hi everyone my mother has an under active thyroid. She hasn’t been taking her meds properly for the past few years now she’s very depressed, anxious, a little paranoid, isn’t sleeping that great. We are waiting on bloods back next week to see where where we go next. Can anyone give me their experiences. Is the above symptoms normal enough with under active thyroid. Thank you

[greygoose]

Where you go next is finding a way to get your mother to take her pills properly. Her thyroid hormone levels will be very low, if she hasn't been taking them every day for the past few years, and her TSH will be high. How come her doctor didn't pick up on this before?

There are many mental issues connected to low thyroid hormones, such as depression and paranoia, anxiety, etc. Also forgetfulness, so it's a vicious circle - the more she forgets to take the pills, the more forgetful she will become.

[annie30 in reply to greygoose]

My mother is a very stubborn woman !! She won’t go for regular blood tests ( well she didn’t I think she had learned her lesson this time) we had the same problem 10 years ago it was a nightmare we got the mental health services involved fat lot of good they were !!! The last thing to get was the thyroid about two weeks after she started taking it she came back to herself I’m going with her to the docs this week to find out exactly what’s going on

[greygoose in reply to annie30]

Well, you know what's going on. She's not taking her hormone. That is going to cause all sorts of problems. And absolutely no point in involving mental health services, her problems are physical not mental. The only thing you can possibly do it explain to her why she must take it. Because if she doesn't she's just going to go into decline and her life will get more and more difficult and miserable. Unless, of course, you're going to force feed her. This is the problem when doctors do not impress upon patients how serious their illness is.

[Anthea55]

You might find this page interesting - 'Depression - It's not your brain it's your thyroid'

wddty.com/magazine/2016/jun...

Optimal vitamins and minerals are also important - without them the thyroid meds don't work too well.

Good that you can help her to get sorted.

[Marz]

Please try to obtain her thyroid test results with ranges - and when you have them start a new post. She probably has VERY LOW T3 - the active thyroid hormone which the brain needs as does every cell in the body. They used to treat drug resistant depression with T3 - and still do in some places.

Is your Mum on lots of meds ? - this could affect her thyroid and wellbeing

[annie30 in reply to Marz]

No she’s not she was only on one tablet a day for her thyroid but she’s suppose to take it every day but she decided to cut down to three a week!! She has been taking it every day for the past 10 days or so I guess it’ll take a while to work again and she may need a stronger dose as a result of her messing going to the docs again on Thursday

[greygoose in reply to annie30]

No, she won't need a stronger dose as a result of her messing. But it is possible she wasn't on a high enough dose due to her not going regularly for her blood tests. It takes six weeks for levo to be absorbed before you feel the full effects. There should be a retest at the end of six weeks, and an increase of 25 mcg. And this process should be repeated until all the symptoms have gone. She could be end up on a dose of 150, or even more.

And, as you say, she should take her tablet every day. Perhaps it should be explained to her that she's not taking a drug, but thyroid hormone, to replace the hormone that her thyroid is no longer able to make in sufficient quantities to keep her alive and well. The thyroid would normally produce this hormone every day. So, to replace it, she has to take the tablet every day. I often wonder if doctors understand all this themselves! They certainly don't impart this knowledge to their patients!

[annie30 in reply to greygoose]

My mum has always had a very holistic approach self healing and all that !! Which has its place but not in this case

[greygoose in reply to annie30]

No, certainly not in this case. The thyroid cannot be repaired either by the body or anything else. Does she have high antibodies?

[annie30 in reply to greygoose]

I have no idea to be honest

[greygoose in reply to annie30]

It might be a good idea for her to ask her doctor for print-outs of her results, or on-line access to her medical records and test results. She really ought to know if her antibodies have been tested.

SeasideSusie is right, it is possible to have the patient go to the surgery to take a week's worth of levo in one go, under the supervision of the doctor. But, that really is not an ideal solution. And, if attempted, it should only be temporary, until she has enough hormone in her to be more aware of what she's doing, and then go back to daily dosing.

Is the doctor even aware that non-compliance is the root of the problem? Because if not, he might prescribe the wrong treatment.

[Hidden in reply to annie30]

So did I until I had my thyroid removed I now take my hormone i.e. NDT every day for the rest of my life.

I still have an holistic approach to life but there are limits.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to annie30]

Explain to the doctor how your mother has not been taking her Levo regularly. For non-compliant patients they can do weekly doses rather than daily.

[JOLLYDOLLY]

Hi annie30,

Do you know how often your mum is taking her medication? As it should be everyday, preferably at a set time. Everyone is different, I take mine before food/breakfast time.

I would imagine with the symptoms you have mentioned that she is under medicated. My main concern would be that as we get older, other symptom's might occur and could potentially lead onto other things. Such as brain fog.

If she is not getting enough sleep as well, then she will be irritable and paranoid, over sensitive. Does she say why, she doesn't take her medication as it is so important.

I think no matter what, your mum needs to see a Specialist and for them to go through how important it is for her to take her medication regularly. Her life would be so much different and happier.

We can live without our thyroid glands BUT NOT the hormones, they are so important. Trust me, I have been on medication all my life.

My family history includes, thyroid conditons, B12 deficiency, Pernicious anaemia, Dementia and sleep apnoea.

I hope that you can convince your mum to seek help.

Take care and hope that your mum gets the help she needs for your peace of mind.

[annie30 in reply to JOLLYDOLLY]

Thank you jolly dolly my mum has been taking her meds (one tablet ) 3 times a week in the morning the reason she cut down quite simply is she very much believes in the holistic approach to heath all natural, meditation etc which definitely has its place but not in this case. I think she has learned her lesson and she was advised against cutting down from two different GPs, but she wouldn’t listen. She has scared herself though and has been taking it every day the past 10 days or so. We are due to go back to the docs this week to get results of bloods I’m going with her to speak to the doc myself.

[JOLLYDOLLY in reply to annie30]

Hi, Yes you are right annie30, holistic medicine may work sometimes, but certainly not here. Same with natural remedies unfortunately.

I am glad that your mum is realising that now and letting you help her.

Having a thyroid condition can make you very venerable and it can lead to all sorts of problems, if not treated properly. However, saying that, once controlled, we should all lead a relatively normal life, (I do smile when I say that with tongue in cheek as some professionals think they know best and do not listen to how we feel)

Best of luck and hope your mum gets the help she needs.

Take care

[silverfox7]

Keep reminding her when she starts to improve that it down to taking her meds everyday. It easy to think when you are feeling well that you don't need them anymore and forget that taking them is the reason you feel better. .