Comments on: Psychiatric Manifestations In Thyroid Patients: Written by Douglas Bremner MD

By: jillautumn

jillautumn — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:02:40 +0000

Dr. Bremner,

This has to be the very best thing I think I have ever read!!!!!!!!!!! I am just another person desperately feeling the urgent need to thank you. I don’t think there is anything else to say, other than suggesting someone make a copy of this and make it mandatory reading material for all pre-med and currently licensed physicians.

Thank you Katie for passing the link to me!

Thanks again,

Jill

By: Trish

Trish — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:25:45 +0000

“I’m not nuts. It’s my THYROID!” – Oh how I dread saying that. It migt be better to let them just think I’m nuts; I’m not sure they believe me anyway.
So, your thyroid makes you fat, lazy, crazy, cold, sick, sore, forgetful, bald….. Does it make you dress funny too?
Sure, tell people it’s your thyroid, just don’t expect them to believe you.

By: cancergirl730

cancergirl730 — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:28:58 +0000

Dr. Bremner,

Thank you so much for writing this. It’s so comforting when a doctor agrees that it just might be your thyroid! My blog is all about my battle with the depression that has occurred since having my my completion thyroidectomy. I also recently wrote an article here (also available on my blog) about my “nervous breakdown” and my stint in a psychiatric hospital.

Chris

By: cla4sam

cla4sam — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:18:13 +0000

Thank you so much doc you really said how i feel.Everythng you said equals me.I thought i was going crazy my doc already thinks i am.Thank you for you pot really has helped alot.

By: Faith

Faith — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:49:11 +0000

Thank you. I am trying to my therapist to understand about my thyroid and why I feel like I do.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:53:12 +0000

Thank you for this article! I’m right in understanding that the anti-bodies from Hashi’s can cause psych symptoms, even when hormone levels are normal? I’m on Cymbalta (a low dose); zoloft did nothing for me. I DO have plenty of childhood issues to work through, though. Is it possible for childood trauma to cause an auto-immune disorder? I’m very interested in your response.

By: Elena

Elena — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Thank you Dr. Bremner!! I went on anti-depressants a year and a half ago because of a major tail-spin into depression. Luckily, my mom continued to push the physiological side (she was diagnosed with post-partum hypothyroidism after she had me) and a few months later (after having to leave college early for the semester) I was in to see her endocrynologist and got on thyroid supplements for hypothyroidism.
A question for you (long back story, sorry): My thyroid got to a good level in February, but I was still feeling tons of brain-fog and fatigue until I cut my dosage of Prozac down a bit (consulting with a phsyciatrist). In about two weeks, I was feeling so much better!! I still had some thyroid symptoms, but my brain function and concentration improved ten-fold. I’ve dosed down a bit more on my Prozac since then, but my doctor wants me to stay on it for a while longer because of the positive studies on year-long use after stabilization.
Are there any studies out there about depression/anxiety and thyroid issues? Especially related to taking SSRI’s if not needed and that adding to symptoms? I’m wondering if any other people had a similar experience of anti-depressants or other meds making their symptoms worse or if doctor’s are really aware of that issue. It seems really important to me that more people (and health professionals) know of this because it can be hard enough to advocate for yourself in health matters anyway, let alone when you are depressed.

Thanks for your support! Is there anything the Dear Thyroid can do to make this a better known issue among doctors (besides our own)?

Elena

By: Dear Thyroid

Dear Thyroid — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:11:57 +0000

THANK YOU, DR. BREMNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Did I say thank you? I meant – THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

By: Bernadette

Bernadette — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:11:41 +0000

Wonderful post…too bad it isn’t on the front page news!!! This is what so many patients deal with and are told it isn’t related!!!
I have always dealt with depression, even as a child. The doc I see now says most likely I have always had adrenal issues as well. (I am currently being treated for adrenal insufficiency plus hashi’s)
I’ve been on anti-depressants, the last being Effexor, which ended up getting toxic in my system…I could not even make it 24 hours without having withdrawal symptoms..which I was told by my doctor were false. (there’s no such thing!!) uuuuhhhh…wrong!!!
During this time my poor endocrine system went fully haywire..developed ovarian cysts, fibroids, diagnosed with thyroiditis, nodule found…I can’t even describe the emotional craziness going on! It took me almost a YEAR to slowly taper off Effexor. It WRECKED me..stole years of my life, time with my children, I have never been the same. Adrenal & thyroid issues…finally dealing with now.
The mood roller coaster…the depression for me it is one of the absolute worst symptoms of this disease. Being told by every one to just “take a pill.”

Thanks doc…great to read this from a professional…now let’s go shout this validation a little louder!!

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:11:19 +0000

@dearthyroid you can have normal thyroid hormone levels but still have your thyroid disease affect your mood becaue of anti thyroid hormone antibodies that are affecting your brain function if you have Graves or a similar autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

@joanna if you have to be hyperthyroid to control your cancer, you may have to learn to live with irritability I guess? Not sure

@Lori You should get total and free T3 and T4 checked as well? Yes Hashimoto’s can cause psych symptoms even if your thyroid hormone levels are in normal levels.