[pldowney51]

Well I am a 52 Year old male who has had a variety of diagnosis's since 1976 always to include depression and Antidepressant meds. I got clean and sober in 1982 Through AA and NA. I am 28 years sober about to go on 29.

I currently have Double Depression : alternations between Dysthymic and Major Depression. Also have Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.About 5 years ago I started telling my docs that I suspect I had Hypothyroid disorder due to the continuous and over whelming amount of fatigue.


Also Since age 13 I have had a on and off problem of seeing spots in front of my eyes as well as floating hairs and the also at times bright light hairs in my lower vision, particularly when waking up in the morning. Also though at various other times of day, and at times when very tired or stressed. They never checked my t3 until this last winter 2011, as far as I know. It was 8.47 Just below Severe. Anything above 3.0 (sub clinical) indicate some problems, over 4.0 and there will be problems, etc.
I have many other conditions that relate to the Hypothyroid Disorder. Depression is one of them, Obesity started in 1994 after I quit smoking about 4 packs a day, now 400 pounds, was 196. Heart attack with scarring on right side with wall damaged but Healed/repaired with slight dysfunction, Heart Disease Healed/repaired, around the year 2000 and is when the heart attack occurred, I believe.

Low testosterone 200 mg/dl, High VLDL 175 mg/dl, High Cholesterol 222 H mg/dl, Pre-Hyper tension, Very low vitamin D which now is 41 taking 5000 iu daily for 1 1/2 years, Gerds, Barrets Esophagus, Sleep Apnea, Hypersomina, and a few Doctors in the previous year seem to think there is nothing wrong with me that I should be okay to continue working. Now that they found the past heart problems and hypothyroidism they currently Agree that I am disabled. Filed for Social Security about 1 year ago.


The Short of this story is IF YOU HAVE DEPRESSION, have you Doctors Check for a Thyroid disorder. Make sure you ask for a copy of the lab results. Often times doctors told me that everything looked fine, when they did not test the full thyroid T's that follow, if even any. This way you can confront them. You have to ask them to do it. It should be required. Have them check T1, T2, T3, T4 . Of course not all Depression is caused by Hypothyroidism (also Hyperthyroidism) , or cured by thyroid treatments, but a very large percentage are I just started Levoxyl for my Hypothyroid disorder about 2 months ago.

[bluemountains]

Hello Pldowney51,
I can completely relate to all that you are saying. The only difference is that I am a female, so in my younger years I also experienced infertility issues, also associated with the thyroid but not explored as a cause at the time.
I, too, will treat my depression along with the many other diseases for the rest of my life-currently 6 meds, 3 supplements, and a breathing machine.
When the meds aren't controlling the depression, I find myself in a sad, angry place over the genetic cards I have been dealt. Right now, I am in fighting mode and trying to get my weight back in control. I agree that the thyroid should be FULLY checked when experiencing depression along with other related problems. I just had my 16-year old daughter's levels checked because she is experiencing the same cycle problems that I have experienced over the years. Her numbers came back normal, but so did mine the first couple of times I was checked. I will continue to pursue this because most of the women in my family are treated for hypothyroidism. Also, my brother is now experiencing problems and they have just found an extra gland next to his thyroid gland. I'm not sure what the outcome will be, but he is undergoing tests.
If you ever get down and need someone to talk to, please send a message!

Bluemountains

[Rohag]

Hello & Welcome, Pldowney51!

Originally Posted by pldowney51

...IF YOU HAVE DEPRESSION, have you Doctors Check for a Thyroid disorder.

This is important advice. Thank you. "Just because you're depressed doesn't mean you can't be or get sick."

Question (feel free to not answer): Have any of the professionals working with you suggested a link between low testosterone and depression?