Hey, y’all –
Well, well, well, well, well! Wait till you hear this news! You know how I’ve been telling you how my moods have been so up and down (more down than up) lately?
It turns out there is a physical cause for them called hypothyroidism! Which is a fancy way of saying that I have low thyroid, or problems with my thyroid gland not working properly.
When this happens, my doctor explained to me, the symptoms can mimic those of a bipolar depressive episode — depression, fatigue, weight gain, problems sleeping, etc.
And here I thought everything was in my head!
Well, let me start over, and tell you why it’s so important to have a team of professionals who all work together (for your good), and also how important it is to be a part of your own treatment plan.
I keep a daily mood chart, which helps me notice patterns in my moods. That’s how I knew about the ups and downs I was telling you about. I had noted several days of depression in a row, which was unusual for me — more depressed days than I was comfortable with. So I called my psychiatrist.
I spoke with my psychiatrist’s nurse, and we went over my medications, specifically the mood stabilizing ones. We went over each one, with the dosages as well. We went over my symptoms, and compared with the medications and their dosages, realized that I shouldn’t be having those symptoms.
She asked me if there was anything else in my life that could be causing those symptoms, and I said no. See, sometimes there can be something situational, or something temporarily happening, that can cause a depression. But there was nothing like that happening to me.
Then she asked me how I was feeling physically, and I told her. And every symptom hit low thyroid like hitting the nail right on the head! She asked me if my doctor had ever talked to me about having it, and I told her that, as a matter of fact, she had, and that at one point I had been on medication for it, but that I’m not on it now, because I had been doing better.
Well, she told me to call my regular doctor and to talk to her about my symptoms, and to ask her if she thought it could be the low thyroid and, lo and behold…
My depression was not caused by my bipolar disorder at all, but by my low thyroid condition! So now I’m back on that medication, and feeling better.
But the moral of the story is…
1. You need to watch for patterns and changes in your bipolar disorder.
2. You need to be a part of your own treatment.
3. Your professionals need to work together for your best care.
4. You need to listen to your professionals.
Instead of ending up in the institution on some new medication for bipolar disorder that I didn’t need to be on, my doctors worked together to find out that the cause of my depression was actually something physical that was easily remedied.
But here’s the key — first I had to notice the pattern in my moods (depression) and honestly report it to my doctors. If I hadn’t been honest, if I hadn’t called my doctors, I very well would have ended up in a bipolar depressive episode.
Wishing you peace and stability,
Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele
I am Back. Been back for about two weeks. I have been having some more health issues lately. Got the stomache flu right now. Been three days and I am fed up it. The trip went well for the most part. We got out later than we planned. The funeral was done nice and my dear friend has finally been laid to rest.
I am sorry for your health issues but am glad that you finally found the cause for your depression and that it was not bipolar related. Have you found out anything more on the diabetes stuff? How have things been going for you other wise?
I go in on the 12th for a LeeP. They will shave off all the cancer cells on my cervix and she claims that I will be cured and not have another problem. If however she finds that they are having to remove to much of cervix they may end up doing a hysterectomy. Which is what I want them to do because I fell that is the only way that I will know for sure that they got all the cancer and that it won’t return. Please keep me in your prayers especially on the 12th that will get all the cancer out and I will be fine.
Your Friend
Melissa
Melissa –
I’m glad you’re back, but sorry to hear about your health issues. As always, though, I admire your courage and tenacity to bear up under them. Your positive attitude is an inspiration to all of us, especially to me.
My thoughts and prayers are with you for the 12th. I can’t promise that you’ll be fine, but I know the Man who can! Consider yourself prayed-up, sweetie. Let me know what happens.
The main thing is to keep your bipolar under control through all this, so you don’t have problems with that on top of everything else, ok?
Blessings,
Michele
Wow! That bites you have to be on yet another medication just to feel normal, but I’m glad that you and your team were able to figure it out and that it was an easy fix, without going into a huge episode!
For me it’s the gestational diabetes that causes those minor episodes. At the beginning my sugars were way off, and I was getting depressed and just not feeling right. Then I was out on some medication and within a couple days felt totally normal again! As much as I hate having to be on stuff, at least it’s doing it’s job.
So we’re at 18 weeks and still off meds. I am trying to keep my stress down as much as I can, let the little things go… all my triggers. Lots of deep breathes and counting to 10. And sometimes Mommy has to take a shower break, but we’re doing fine so far.
Good news is that we had our big ultrasound, and my huge worry was that the meds I was on or the diabetes had caused problems. But everything was perfectly formed and looked great! So that was a huge stress relief. Plus, we found out we are having another sweet little boy. Wow, am I blessed! They’ll keep me on my toes, but once I’m back on my meds I think we’ll do fine.
Michele,
This is my first time to your blog but I will be back. I too am on thyroid medication and was glad that they covered that base, way back when I was first off to the psychiatrist.
You have shared some great tips and I have added you to my favourites so I can refer back as well as keep up-to-date!
Wendy Love
Wendy –
Welcome to the blog! Good to have you here.
Blessings,
Michele
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