[Queen of Chaos]

I've mentioned this weeks ago but the more I learn, the more I feel compelled to share the possibility that this information could help others with mental health (as well as possible physical health) symptoms that seem hard to diagnose or maybe don't respond to drug treatment.

#1, please don't think because you've never been diagnosed with thyroid disease there's no way you could be affected. I've read that many, many people have thyroid problems on average 17-20 years before anything shows up on a blood test and/or ultrasound. There is a saying among thyroid patients that good thyroid doctors treat symptoms, not numbers.

Before I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem, I never gave a minute's thought to my thyroid. I pretty much gave it about as much consideration as my tonsils but I could not have been more mistaken. A person's thyroid controls everything about their health...including mental health and emotional symptoms.

It's an interesting study. I recommend starting with this link and/or Googling "Thyroid Brain Fog". The terminology sounds almost comical but the symptoms are real and definitely not funny. Even if you don't think there's any chance you might have this problem, you very well could recognize symptoms that loved ones are trying to deal with - particularly the elderly.

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/brain_fog.htm

People being admitted to mental hospitals and nursing homes are often found to have previously undiagnosed thyroid imbalances. Criminals in prisons are very often found to have undiagnosed thyroid problems.

What I find most interesting is thyroid disease symptoms all have names - fatigue, depression, lack of concentration, heart symptoms, orthopedic symptoms (muscle weakness, etc.), vision problems, weight problems. All those symptoms are medical conditions in and of themselves and that's generally the way they're diagnosed and treated...but what if they're symptoms of something else? What if drugs don't work? If a person is trying to treat depression or heart symptoms caused by a thyroid imbalance, it's probably never going to work until the thyroid is functioning normally.

The most popular drug for hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid) is Synthroid. For most people it costs less than $10 a month. The amount of money spent for pharmaceutal drugs for fatigue, depression, etc., is staggering. My guess would be the vast majority of patients are dealing with fatigue, depression, heart issues, etc., and they're being correctly diagnosed and treated - but not all. How do I know? Because I'm convinced I'm one of them!!

Thanks for sharing, Queen of Chaos. It is good to know having my head in the clouds may not be the only reason for my incogitancy.