[lenjan]

In a word ... ugh.

Up to about a year ago, every time I saw a new dr., I mentioned that every last female in my immediate family -- my mom and all 3 of my sisters -- were on meds for underactive thyroid.

So they'd test me, and they'd say, "it's low normal, no meds for you," and pat me on the head and send me home.

At some point last year, it got tested, and voila! It was actually low enough for them to say "Hey! Your thyroid's low! Why aren't you on meds?"

Unfortunately, this was discovered while I was in the hospital for a life-threatening illness. Upon arriving home, having lost my job along with my health, I had no schedule to speak of and 52 other meds to keep track of. I tried, I really did, to take the stupid thyroid med as stated in all one billion conditions and rules for it -- but I just couldn't do it. So, I quit taking it.

Next time I had it checked was May or so. Voila! It came back perfectly normal! Not even low normal, just normal! So that was the end of that, and I haven't thought twice about it since.

Today, as I described to my new internist the insanity I have been living for the last many weeks, he said to me, with a straight face -- "Well, it might not be bipolar. IT COULD BE YOUR THYROID!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

I have every symptom of mania there is, in spades. Every last person I talked to today (outside of the dr., where he did most of the talking) asked me to repeat myself, more slowly, after I said what I had to say. I'm incomprehensible to most people. I feel like I'm on a 24/7 adrenaline rush. I get 4 hours sleep tops a night, and don't feel it. Seriously, you name it, I got it.

So can somebody tell me how my stinking thyroid can be related to this crap, so I can bring it up with pdoc next week? I knew it was related to depression, but hadn't a clue it could be related to mania.

Grouchily but thankfully,

CB

[lenjan]

I should add that, in the 22 days I've had between dr. visits, my blood pressure's up 15 points on both numbers and I've gained 4 pounds. Will that help convince these people I feel "speeded up"?!

[January]

(((((((((((((( Candy )))))))))))))

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I don't have the info you need but I wanted to let you know I hope someone listens to you.

Hugs,

Jan

[Zorah]

(((((Candybear)))))

It sounds to us like your thyroid is now overactive.

That can certainly make you feel manic, when our thyroid went down they over replaced the thyroxine & we went completely nuts.

We had to go on pills for the raised blood pressure, but if that was it, you'd probably be taking off weight.

There are a whole of things that can go wrong with your thyroid, & they aren't very good at dxing them.

Have you been tested for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis ?

Feel free to ask anything you like about this thyroid stuff,
because we had to research it for ourselves & we have read a lot of journal articles & stuff.

We will try to help, it is not always a straight forward dx.

Best wishes (((((candy)))))

[lenjan]

Thank you, (((Zorah))).

I found a checklist of symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The only ones I have can also be explained by bipolar. The rest of them don't apply at all.

I just want some relief! Thanks for giving me more to ask the drs. about, though.

Candy

[Soidhonia]

Hello Candy I hope you check the list under HYPOTHYROIDISM. as well so that you can do a comparison on the differences. Because you are not taking medication at this time does not mean that you do not need medication for yout thyroid, it just means that you are stable at this time, but you can fluctuate and that is why the Dr generally wants you on meds, is because it interferes with blood pressure, and other biological functions as well, and the older you get with a thyroid problem, the worse symptoms manifest themselves. Hopefully the
dr will try to explain the thyroid with you, or check the internet under hypothyroidism, so that you can see the differences and what hypothyroidism really is about. You may not have ALL of the symptoms, most information is just for research purposes that go by the American Medical Association acceptabilities as what is needed to diagnose a person. take care sincerely Soidhonia

[lenjan]

I did look under hypothyroidism, and I don't have a single one of those symptoms, either. But thanks for the reminder.

Candybear,

sorry you are struggling- Wanted to tell you I've had Hashimoto's disease(a type of hypothyroidism) almost my whole adult life and it can, even taking meds, mess with a person's life.

My mom and one other sister have thyroid problems and yet three other sisters don't have any problem at all--- maybe you are one in your family that doesn't have the problem?? just something to think about..........

What ever is going on I hope the docs and you can figure it out real soon.

You are most welcome to PM me anytime if you want to ask me anything about my disease--I don't mind.

candybear--

mandy

[Soidhonia]

Hello Candybear. I hope you are doing better at this time. Have you had the flu recently, I was doing some research on the internet and Mononeucleosis (MONO) is rampant in certain countries at this time, and if you have had the flu or chicken pox in the past you could be having symptoms pertaining to the Epstein Barr Virus, the symptoms are like thyroid problems but can come and go instead of being constant. Since you are having tests done at this time, You may want to be checked for this as well. you can have the Epstein Barr Virus for years and then the symptoms may occur later in life due to something that you had such as chicken pox earlier in life. I really dont think it couldnt hurt to make sure by asking the Dr to do the test to make sure your symptoms are not related to Epstein Barr Virus since the DR thinks your Bipolar could actually be Biological Anyway. I hope the best for you Just a suggestion while you are waiting to see what is up anyhow. take care Sincerely Soidhonia