Goodies star Bill Oddie reveals he has been 'very ill'

[helvella]

Although this is not a strictly thyroid issue, it appears relevant here due to the impact of lithium on thyroid hormone levels, autoimmunity and everything to do with the thyroid.

I believe a number of members might be on lithium - or have taken it in the past.

Goodies star Bill Oddie reveals he has been 'very ill'

Performer and presenter says he has been suffering ‘almost fatal’ condition of lithium toxicity

Former Goodies star Bill Oddie has revealed he has been suffering from an “almost fatal” condition this summer.

The 79-year-old conservationist and birdwatcher used Twitter to tell followers he had been “very ill” with “lithium toxicity”.

He wrote: “Just so you know, I have been very ill most of this summer. Lithium toxicity. Almost fatal!

“I am still here but very confused about most things! But then aren’t many of us.

“IT fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I Really dunno. I do hope so. Please wish me luck. XX.”

The TV presenter had last tweeted on 22 June.

According to the NHS, lithium is a type of medicine known as a mood stabiliser. Too much lithium in the blood can trigger serious side effects, including causing people to lose their appetite and feel sick, lightheaded, drowsy or confused. It can also lead to blackouts, shaking, muscle weakness, blurred vision and difficulty speaking.

Oddie found fame in the 1970s as a member of comic trio The Goodies, alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.

theguardian.com/uk-news/202...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Wishing him well.

It's well known that he has suffered from depression, such a shame he has struggled for so many years, he seems a thoroughly nice guy.

[helvella]

Hopefully, his medical support will be aware of this new (and somewhat tentative) idea regarding thyroid and lithium.

Effectiveness of Zinc Supplementation on Lithium-Induced Alterations in Thyroid Functions.

Aug 31, 2020

Lithium is an integral drug used in the management of acute mania, unipolar and bipolar depression, and prophylaxis of bipolar disorders. Thyroid abnormalities have been associated with treatment with lithium. Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a role in several biological activities. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the potential role of zinc in the thyroid gland following lithium administration to explore the role of zinc under such conditions. To achieve this goal, male Wistar rats (150-195 g) were divided into four groups: Group 1 animals were fed standard pellet feed and tap water ad lib; Group 2 rats were fed lithium in the form of lithium carbonate through diet at a concentration of 1.1 g/kg body weight; Group 3 animals received zinc treatment in the form of zinc sulfate (ZnSO·7HO) at a dose level of 227 mg/L mixed with drinking water of the animals; and Group 4 animals were given lithium and zinc in a similar manner as was given to the animals belonging to groups 2 and 4 respectively. The role of zinc on thyroid functions in lithium-treated rats was studied after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of different treatments. Zinc has been observed to have the capability to nearly normalize the altered 2-h uptake of I, biological and effective half-lives of I, and circulating T levels that were altered after lithium treatment. The present study concludes that zinc may be an effective agent in normalizing the adverse effects caused by lithium on thyroid functions.

physiciansweekly.com/effect...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Always wondered if he was suffering from an underlying thyroid problem.

[Marymary7]

I didn't think he seemed quite right on the last programme I saw him on, he seemed a bit grumpy and befuddled. He used to be so happy. I hope he gets the correct help. 😎

[helvella in reply to Marymary7]

Not sure how happy he has ever been (can any of us ever know?) - though sometimes he came across as much better than other times.

Wiki has this information:

Depression and bipolar disorder

Oddie experienced depression for most of his life before being diagnosed with clinical depression in 2001. In March 2009 he was reportedly admitted to Capio Nightingale psychiatric hospital in Marylebone for treatment. His then-agent David Foster said: "Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries." In January 2010 Oddie spoke to the media, revealing that he had in fact had two separate stays in different hospitals, only being discharged "in time for Christmas". He said that he was dealing with depression and bipolar disorder, describing the period as "probably the worst 12 months of my life". Oddie stated that he was planning to meet with BBC executives to discuss his return to television work.

His illness meant that Oddie did not appear in the 2009 and 2010 series of Springwatch, although he made a guest appearance in the penultimate episode of the latter. He subsequently said he was dismissed from Springwatch and that this had caused the depressive illness.[citation needed]

Oddie presented the BBC Radio 4 Appeal programme on 10 August 2014 on behalf of the charity Bipolar UK. He revealed that as a consequence of his bipolar disorder he had attempted suicide during one of his depressive episodes. On the UK TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? he attributed his depression and bipolar disorder as an adult to his minimal and painful relationship with his mother.

[Marymary7 in reply to helvella]

That’s so sad. Bless him❤️

[TSH110 in reply to Marymary7]

I used to see him in a cafe every Saturday after I did a parkrun near where he must live (c 9 - 11 years ago) I would not have described him as happy. Bi-polar is a terrible condition.

[nightingale-56]

Thanks for posting this helvella , and I certainly wish Bill Oddie well. I am also on a medication, Acetazolomide as part of 5 meds for glaucoma, which has much the same side effects. If I thought walking was painful on Levothyroxine, it is 10 times worse on this med. Awaiting an operation for the cataract which has caused it all. My true belief is that it has all been caused by the problem with Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine in 2010.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bipolar and possible link to Hashimoto’s

drknews.com/when-hashimotos...

holtorfmed.com/mental-illne...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/when-hashimotos...

hypothyroidmom.com/miss-dia...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...