Is it thyroid or depression?

[Fo0ffyShmooffer]

I feel so ill. It's reminiscent of 10 years ago when my underactive thyroid was first diagnosed. It's been stable since then but this has crept up on me. I feel so tired my body is in pain I have no energy. I'm dragging myself through each day. My hair is shedding and thin and now nausea.
I went to the doctor this morning and had a blood test. I burst into tears in her office. she now seems more keen on telling me I'm depressed. I'm not. I'm upset because of these symptoms. If I didn't have them I'd be happy. I am worried that these blood tests will come back normal and she'll push on with the depression theory.
Can a thyroid suddenly take a nosedive after 10 years stable?

[Bugsy2]

There is a fantastic site with lots of thyroid info, that is well worth checking out: //www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
Have you changed your meds recently - gone from dessicated to synthetic? Could you be ferritin (iron) deficient? Have you changed any other medication (such as pill or HRT)?
Do you know what blood tests your GP requested? If they don't come back with anything conclusive, check to see what was tested for. Have a look at the website & see if everything they recommend was covered?
You don't sound physically well to me - but I am absolutely not a doctor & have no medical qualifications. If it was just depression, I would want to know why you have such strong physical symptoms.
Big hugs to you. Hope you can find some answers.

[Ormirian]

Fooffy - ditto re the GP wanting to tell me I'm depressed. I feel now as if I could go to the GP with a severed leg and they'd still want to give me ADs. Never cry in front of a GP ! They will have you on the tablets before you can turn around.

The website bugsy linked to is great. My TSH came back 'normal' and I still feel like death. But that website indicated that my results were well above 'normal' range according to US doctors. I will go back one day and ask for more tests but right now I don't have the energy or time to argue the toss.

Hope you get the help you need.

[PrettyCandles]

Anaemia?

I've only ever been anaemic during pregnancy, but it had the effects you describe, including nausea.

Thyroid levels can drop - after all, this happens when it becomes under-active in the first place.

[Fo0ffyShmooffer]

Thanks so much for the replies. I'll look at that site as soon as I get on the laptop.
My meds havent changed in years even when I was pregnant 3 years ago. I'm on 150mcg thyroxine per day. I think she tested for thyroid, testosterone, prolactin, full bloods. I've been given a depression questionnaire which frankly is nothing like me. If I thought I was depressed I would willingly take the meds but I feel like she's shifted focus to the wrong place.

[Jessicaalbastwin]

Hi fooffyshmooffer, it does sound like underactive thyroid symptoms. Alot of docs mistake a thyroid problem to depression. Maybe you need to up your dose. Hair falling out is not a symptom of depression ( I think ). Are you constipated? that is also a symtom.

[Fo0ffyShmooffer]

Hi Jessica. I swear I could kick myself for getting upset now because she immediately latched onto it. The way I feel has really taken me back. What worries me is that when I was initially diagnosed I had been TTC so the DR focused on gynae issues and the thyroid was only discovered by the time I was extremely Ill with it I'm scared of her shifting focus.
Not constipated but every other symptom matches.

[Jessicaalbastwin]

I think you really need to push your gp, somehow they never take thyroid problems seriously. Thyroid problems are usually discovered when "one" is really ill, I think it's just a stupid stupid problem to have, sooooo complicated.

[Ormirian]

They love depression it seems to me. An nice simply diagnosis.

Next time I go to see my GP I will write a big sign and tie it around my neck:

"No, I am not depressed so please don't ask me if I am. Thankyou"