Depression Query

[db16]

I am suppose to be Hashimoto. Awaiting my latest bloods results which should be available shortly. My question for help is - I have been feeling extremely unhappy and cry for no reason at all. Yes, I have just lost a good friend but I cry for any kind of sad news. My reaction is overboard. I just couldn't bear watching anything to do with Remeberence Day, I was a mess. ~My husband despairs. So, can the thyroid, if not working correctly, affect your moods. I am worse in the mornings by the way. Wouldn't mind your thoughts on this.

[greygoose]

Oh, absolutely! And crying at the drop of a hat is a hypo symptom. It's something that plagued me all my life until I was diagnosed. I cried at some of the most inappropriate times possible, and couldn't think why! So embarrassing. But, once you're optimally medicated you will be able to control it, I promise you.

[db16 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much for your quick response. Pleased to learn that I'm not (or maybe not) depressed. It's not that I cry every day but I go through periods of crying for nothing and being very fragile. As I said I am awaiting results and would very much like your opinion on them when I return to you. Thank you again.

[greygoose in reply to db16]

You're welcome. Depression is a symptom, not a disease.

[MaisieGray in reply to db16]

db16 "Pleased to learn I am not depressed" - you may very well be depressed, or you may have low mood, but they are simply names given to a set of symptoms; and are not the cause. So you could be depressed from a life event, or from chronic stressors such as being out of work or being a carer for a sick relative, or from having an illness yourself, or a combination ..... and in your case you could be depressed as a result of your having Hashimoto's and developing hypothyroidism as a result. The problem only arises if you can't resolve the issues causing your depression, or if the causal illness goes undiagnosed. I'm not sure what you mean by "supposed to be Hashimoto", but if your pending blood results indicate hypothyroidism as a result of that autoimmune condition, you should hopefully begin treatment and begin to see your symptoms abate.

[Punky12 in reply to MaisieGray]

I have Hashimoto’s and from what I understand, people with Hashimoto’s can fluctuate between hypo and under active thyroid

. Often it can first be Hypo and if undiagnosed can turn to under active thyroid. I think that’s what happened to me.

[shaws Administrator]

Doctors would probably diagnose 'depression' due to your symptoms but not recognise it could be due to you not being on sufficient thyroid hormones and haven't checked your FT4 and FT3, both which should be in the upper part of the ranges.

T3 (liothyronine) in particular is the only Active thyroid hormone, T4 (levothyroxine) being inactive and has to convert to T3. T3 is needed in the millions of T3 receptors in our body for our metabolism to function and the brain/heart need the most. Ideally, occasionally, I think would be beneficial to have a Full Thyroid Function Test, i.e. TSH,T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and (thyroid antibodies if these haven't been tested before). If antibodies are present we have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, called Hashimoto's or hashi's.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[db16 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your quick reply. It's helpful to learn that its possible that my thyroid is the cause. I will post my results soon and would appreciate your opinion after that. Thank you again.

[shaws Administrator in reply to db16]

Put up a fresh post when you get your results.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous post you have only on starter dose of 50mcg Levothyroxine for years

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase and then dose steps up slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Very important to test thyroid antibodies, if either are high this confirms cause as autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common, especially if you have Hashimoto's and/or been under treated for years

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[db16 in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow, I am so impressed that you remembered me. I do read these posts and wonder how you all manage to respond so well. When I receive my results I will post them and your opinion would be appreciated. Thank you again.

[Treepie]

Yes,but Remembrance Day and the Peter Jackson film shown the other night can lead to tears even if not depressed.

[db16]

Thanks for your reply. I couldn't actually watch the film but I have it on record. Understand that it was worth the tears anyway. I will post my results when I get them and look forward to All your help.

I do hope that my "unhappiness" is a symptom of thyroid imbalance though.

Denise