Depression treatment

[Sooty101]

Hello, I'm really struggling with depression at the moment after coming off diazapam. I am still taking 60mg of Clomiprimine. I believe it is because I am having problems with my thyroid. I'm getting a full panel done as soon as the kit arrives. My doctor would only do a T3 test which was 31% but within the normal range. If I begin T3 treatment am I likely to feel worse. I believe I have been Hyper in the past ( undiagnosed) and really am afraid of going there again. I would be really grateful for any help or support.

[SarahJane1471]

Hi. I suggest you get a private test of all your thyroid markers plus Vit b12, ferritin, folate and Vitd. Then post the results on here for advice.

Admin will come along and post links to blood test companies and discount codes.

[Sooty101 in reply to SarahJane1471]

Many thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey. Click on your image icon to start.

Did your blood test kit also include antibodies as that will be an important marker for thyroid disease?

31% for FT3 is relatively low and will be causing symptoms but of course we do need to also see TSH & FT4 in the same blood test to assess properly.

Depression is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)? Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsly elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

[Sooty101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hello Jaydee and thank you for the reply. My story is very complex and my brain very muddled at the moment but I will try to complete the profile ASAP The kit I sent for does test for antibodies.

I have a good clean diet, no gluten, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and little sugar. Plenty of fish. I take

My mood swings are extreme. At this point of time I can only work 2hours a week so am extremely disabled by this. I also have essential thrombocytosis and possibly Lupus( undiagnosed). At this point it is very differcult to get my Dr to believe me and test for anything.

At the last appointment she told me to stop researching as it affects my mental health and said she would run a T3 test and then I was to forget about it. She said that I do not have a thyroid problem.

She is my 3rd Dr at the practice and I can't face moving Drs again so I am going to test privately and then get back to her

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Sooty101]

'said she would run a T3 test and then I was to forget about it. She said that I do not have a thyroid problem.'

It would be very unusual indeed for a GP to only test FT3, so presumably you previously had TSH and FT4 tested at some point? If so, can you share those results here so that we can get a better picture of where things were at that point?

[Sooty101 in reply to RedApple]

Hi Red apple the tests for T4and TSH were a long time back and they came back within the normal range. The reason I pushed for T3 testing was because I found literature suggesting T3 as a adjunct treatment with Clomiprimine. I had thought the Dr was going to test T4 and TSH as well ,but when I turned up for the blood test it was only for T3. She thinks I am wasting her time

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Sooty101]

Oh dear! This just goes to show she has no idea what she is doing. So sorry you keep getting fobbed off, many of us know how awful this attitude is.

Hope your kit arrives quickly and you can do your own test asap. Start a new post as soon as you have the results and members will help.

[Sooty101 in reply to RedApple]

Thanks for you support. Much appreciated.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sooty101]

I think you know yourself when something is amiss its a shame doctors don't understand that.

Make a new post when you get the blood results.

Rather than just B12 its recommended to take a B complex that contains the active/methyl form of vitamins. Any one of these are good choices.

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

amazon.co.uk/Yipmai-Liposom...

hempoutlet.co.uk/vitablosso...

[Sooty101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Many thanks for your reply, I can't take B vitamins at the moment due to withdrawal, they rev up my symptoms as they are stimulating. I am hoping to introduce them as time goes on, but thanks for the advice.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sooty101]

There are different forms of B vitamins and some suit certain people better than others. Which ones were you taking that revved up your system?

This brand is non methyl but also active form of B's. evitamins.com/uk/b-complex-...

[Sooty101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Not sure as it was a while ago, I think it was a supermarket brand.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sooty101]

Likely the cheaper non methyl form (cheaper) if it was a supermarket brand.

[Sooty101]

Forgot to finish my sentence 🤦🏻‍♀️I take B12,D3, Selenium, aspirin ( for ET), vit C. and some fish oil. I have to be very careful with supplements as my body is hyper reactive

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please add the previous TSH and Ft4 results and ranges

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am

Make sure you test vitamin levels too

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning

Come back with new post once you get results

[Lolota]

Hi Sooty101, the diazepam can provoke the depression above all if you quit it cold turkey. If you took it for a long time it's important to taper off gradually.

[Sooty101 in reply to Lolota]

Hi Lolota, thanks for your reply. I have been off diazapam since March 1st this year after a long taper. I have been experiencing lots of windows and waves as my HPA axis heals. I am hoping that it's not going to continue too long. I have found a great support group for this in Baylissa Frederick who is a phychotherapist who has herself been through a tough withdrawal. She has written a few books and also runs websites. I can recommend her. She is a godsend.

[Lolota]

Hi Sooty101, you are welcome. Thank you for Baylissa Frederick's name. I will check her out. I am glad you are off this poison. Benzo can be terrible. Congratulations for the jump. I am tapering lorazepam/Ativan. I can't wait to be over the taper and at the same time scared above all insomnia. How is your sleep? Do you take any medication to help you through the waves? I am pretty sure your depression is due to benzo unfortunately it can provoke lots of symptoms.

[Sooty101 in reply to Lolota]

Hi Lolita, my advice is not to rush your taper. I took a long time but when I jumped my symptoms weren't too bad. I take 60 Clomiprimine and I think that may be taking the end off things. I don't get a lot of insomnia as I have a very good sleep routine. I also take Promethazine (anti histamine) occasionally for sleep and overwhelm. I can't take it all the time as it's addictive but it helps. Wishing you all the best with your taper and jump. Don't rush it. X

[Lolota]

Thank you for your advice. I try not to rush it to be able to stay functional. Lucky you, you don't have much insomnia. I wish you to find a solution with the depression and to feel better soon. X