How common is it to have mood swings with an under-active thyroid? One minute i can be a happy bubbly person, next a cloud of doom appears and i become quite angry and bad tempered. Sometimes there isn't anything that triggers it, it just happens! And the frightening thing is it's virtually unstoppable. The anger has to run it's course otherwise i stay angry and wound up. Almost as if it has to be released. Shouting at your partner isn't the done thing :o( When I'm feeling ok i am incredibly laid back and nothing bothers me.
I have regular Thyroid blood tests and they're always, if i can use the word, 'normal', so id don't need to alter my medication which is 125mg Levothyroxine.
This is now a huge issue for me as my partner has walked out after having enough of my anger issues. I don't blame her so now how do I address the issue and control it?
I have registered for counselling to see how they can help. I also take 20mg Citalopram.
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cph1963
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Yep. I had this on and off for years because I wasnt adequately medicated hormones all over the place! But when I was really Hypo (on the sofa can’t move Hypo) as opposed to regular Hypo( wading through life like treacle) I had virtually no feelings, not angry, sadness or happiness.
Medication was the key for me. I’ve been optimally treated for over 6mths now and I’m so even tempered now. It’s like a new life.
Moodiness, low mood and anxiety are common. They are also an indication that your medication may not be correct. I spent years on citalopram for anxiety. In fact I was undermedicated. What I lacked in thyroxine I was making up with adrenaline. It was not a great way to be. Do you have blood results so we can help you better?
That’s good that you’ve said that because that’s the first thing you change about taking care of yourself. Those are YOUR bloood results. So you gear yourself up for going to your Receptionist and asking her for a print out or a copy of your last X amount of years. When you have them in your possession post them here and I’m sure a pattern will emerge and we can help guide you to the next steps. 🤗
'Normal' in doctor-speak just means 'in-range'. But, 'in-range' is not the same as 'optimal'. Sounds as if you need an increase in dose.
I was a very angry person when I was under-medicated. And, once, when the pharmacist gave me 75 mcg levo instead of 175 mcg, I became almost homicidal. I daren't tell you some of the things I nearly did when becoming apoplectic with rage. I could have found myself in prison for life - and, it was all due to low thyroid hormone. Makes you wonder, doesn't it.
First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of them
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Essential to know what has been tested and equally important what hasn't been tested yet
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
There's nothing on your profile........Do you know if the cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's?
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation, including your physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing, your internal central heating system and your metabolism. It is the conductor of all your bodily parts and when the conductor isn't on " top form " the music can be off key.
Anti depressants are not the answer, but it gets you out the doctors in double quick time. You end up feeling like a hypochondriac as the A/D doesn't fix the problem, probably does the opposite, and you feel desolate, and confused and believe that " surely the doctor knows best as, after all, who am I and what do I know ? I'm not the doctor " ????
I think you should try and find a different doctor and you do need to have a full thyroid panel as already detailed on this amazing site. Sadly most of us on here, have been where you are, and yes, your thyroid hormone replacement may need to be adjusted and your vitamins and minerals may not be optimal as these can have an impact on your conversion of the Levothyroxine into the T3 which is the hormone your body and brain need to run on daily.
Hypo is ruthless. Things will start to improve once your medication is optimal but, depending on how depleted your body is, it may not be quick...think headache/paracetamol. Bear in mind, therefore, that you need to be patient
Be aware that poor conversion of the storage hormone T4 to the active hormone T3 can also be a problem
This will show up as high FT4 and low FT3 in your lab test results.
Poor conversion can be caused by poor nutrition....vit D, vit B12, folate and Ferritin need to be optimal for good conversion.
SlowDragon has given you good advice...and links
For some people (myself included) the problem, if not resolved by additional levo and optimal nutrients, may be the result of a genetic polymorphism.....but that is not your immediate concern and advice is available here if needs be.
Request your test results, you are legally entitled to do this (I've just asked my surgery for mine... back to 2000!
Post any recent results....don't forget to include the lab ranges...and members will help you on a journey to recovery.
Sadly most medics have a very limited knowledge of thyroid disease....if it were otherwise 100,000 people would not be turning to TUK in desperate need of help.
Here, we can learn about our condition....and knowledge is power.
Yes! Its so common, Im like that most of the time, just total irrational anger. I do feel some relief when my TSH is quite supressed (well under 1) and my vitamin levels are optimal...... and funnily enough im fine now that im pregnant.
Could someone elaborate on the information that was posted earlier..thanks lalatoot!.
"What I lacked in thyroxine I was making up with adrenaline".
I am not treated cause my blood work is still in "normal" range - Sigh, but I am shaking all the time, anxious, heart racing, hard to get to sleep - feel wired all the time.
My free T4 is one notch into the normal range (it is at the very bottom of the range) so my stupid doctor says I am fine - I have learned via this site, I am not optimized.
Q - how does adrenaline make up for poor thyroid - I think this could be me!
Dr's have to learn to dose patients not by lab results only but by Symptoms #1. Lab values are the results of the *Serum* levels and they are the results of the moment the labs are drawn . Symptoms are *Cellular* results and must be addressed to feel *Optimal*.
When you lack energy, your body makes up for it by pushing out adrenaline. This is sometimes known as the "fight or flight" hormone. It speeds things up all right, but at the cost of leaving you exhausted and shaking after the spurt of adrenaline is gone. When your thyroid hormones are too low, you feel tired most of the time.
A lot of people who have thyroid disease turn out to be intolerant of gluten. Some are actually coeliac but intolerance is much more common. There are tests for coeliac disease, but there are no tests for gluten intolerance. The only way of finding out if it affects you is to give up gluten absolutely 100%, no cheating at all.
Before I gave up gluten I would have bouts of what I would call murderous fury and rage, often with no obvious trigger. There were times when I could have killed people. I never did, but I frightened myself often because controlling my anger was almost impossible. Luckily I'm not in the habit of carrying weapons around with me!
Five days after I gave up gluten I suddenly realised that mentally, something had changed. I felt calm in a way I could never remember happening before. I have never had any episodes of murderous rage ever since.
Gluten can cause inflammation in the brain. The ways in which this affects people can vary, but mood issues are common. Another common effect is poor balance. I had both of these and both improved when i gave up gluten.
Great advice and a very important one too. I would also like to add if you don't mind besides gluten there is also dairy eggs, nuts, soy, coffee, sugar.
Like yourself it has made a huge improvements for me too and I'm sure for many others too.
OMG I know that feeling. I feel like I could kill someone sometimes and for nothing. My fuse is so short it’s non existent. Everything is so hard some days and my patience is so short especially with my husband and son. Poor them. I have a particular trigger when I feel I’m not being listened to. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because I live with a man and a boy lol. Sorry to be sexist! But you have to laugh else you’ll cry right. 😅
It’s odd isn’t it... I did read somewhere that Hashimotos etc promotes stress intolerance. Not sure why. I think it’s the same for most conditions that affect hormones! Menopause, diabetes, so on and so forth.
I'm so sorry your having to deal with hard times . Rest assure your not alone . Many of us have/ had to endure this difficulty till we get the hang of how to sort it all out for ourselves . For beginners having an out of the box Dr/Endo who is a great listener and understands both FT3 and FT4 values and T3/NDT/T4 dosing. Understands that no thyroid patient is dosed by TSH *Only*.
T4 only for many especially if they are *Not* good converters T4 to T3 will not work *Optimally*. Adding some T3/NDT will help you with many of your issues.
Allowing your body time for the thyroid meds to acclimate before any thyroid meds change are made is very important. Journal your symptoms with each thyroid meds changes.
Ask for a copy of your lab results and write on it the dose you where on at the time . Hold on to your lab results for future references .It will be very useful down the line.
You might also find that splitting your T4 dose half in the AM and the remaining to dose in the afternoon about 3-4PM very helpful . You will be surprised that little tweaks make a huge difference.
Nutrients are very important to help our thyroid meds work well for us . Vitamin "D"/K2 , B-Complex, B-12/folate, Iron if you test low, magnesium, Vitamin "C", fish oil, Celtic Sea Salt for adrenals/electrolytes.
Gut /liver/gallbladder health I can not say enough how *Important it is for our *Optimal well -being. Digestive issues are very *Important*and need to be addressed too.
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