To ask if underactive thyroid causes clinical depression?

[Tobythecat]

I've always had symptoms of an underactive thyroid (mental fog, thin hair/hair falling out, lack of outer eyebrow, dry skin, depression, problems regulating temperature etc but for the last 2 years I've had this awful depression usually accompanied by brain fog for the last 2 years. My life has changed completely and I should be happy, but this awful depression is back and I don't know why. I have had blood tests in the past and they were always borderline or they said I was at risk of becoming hypothyroid. My last TSH was 6.5 but they didn't seem concerned.

I'm on antidepressants and I've tried a few different ones and changed doses, but this depression still rears it's ugly head for no fucking reason. I have been practicing buddhist techniques for a year and meditation, but it's so hard to do and I'm so sick of feeling despair.

AIBU to demand to see the doctor tomorrow (emergency appointment) and demand they start me on a low dose of thyroxine? I don't want to be fobbed off with another blood test and told it's borderline again. What shall I do?

Absolutely! And if you look at it properly, depression is a logical reaction to all the other bloody symptoms!!!!!

Yes I remember feeling not depressed but "blue" with an underactive thyroid

The thyroxine and regular exercise helped.

Just spoke to the doctor (I find him a bit condescending), and he said he was willing to test my tsh and t4 but he said they don't test t3 as a rule or vitamin D. He also said that I shouldn't believe a lot of the stuff on the internet about underactive thyroids as most of it is a load of twaddle

he also said my last reading 6 months ago (6.5 TSH) wasn't high and just borderline.

0.5-4.5 is the range my gp uses. 6.5 and I'd be suicidal. Just too tired and foggy to do anything about it.

He also said that I shouldn't believe a lot of the stuff on the internet about underactive thyroids as most of it is a load of twaddle

He does have a point there, in fairness.

Hope things get sorted soon, whether it's thyroid or something else. As others have said, while it could be a thyroid problem it could also just be depression - it doesn't always have a cause and meditation etc isn't a cure for it (although it might help, it might not) so don't rule out switching antidepressants or having some therapy if your blood tests are normal.

Yes I'd demand meds absolutely! I was put on thyroxine and still felt horrendous when my TSH was about 4. I had to beg to be referred to a consultant, even though I get private healthcare through my work! I went to see a great consultant in York who doubled my dose there and then, even though the GP had reluctantly agreed to do it saying "you won't benefit from it" and "I think you're just struggling working full time and being a mother"!! Cheeky cow. I also found cutting gluten out and cutting down on refined sugar and increasing exercise made it soooo much better alongside the increased dose. Oh and selenium supplements. It's so frustrating as many GPs don't seem to understand this condition at all. Good luck!!

I shouldn't believe a lot of the stuff on the internet about underactive thyroids as most of it is a load of twaddle

This is true, sadly.
But some stuff on the internet is interesting information.

Just wait and see what your results show. Did he agree to thyroid antibody testing? This has a predictive value as to what your thyroid might be up to in the future.

I also found cutting gluten out and cutting down on refined sugar and increasing exercise made it soooo much better alongside the increased dose. Oh and selenium supplements.

Lots of healthy choices there.
Serious question: how do you know it was the increase in thyroxine that made you feel better rather than a better lifestyle?

Lots of things can make us feel rotten and many many of them are not measurable in blood tests.

It's fairly standard for bloods not to be run for t3. I only had my t3 checked once I had been referred to the consultant.

There may be "twaddle" on the internet but there is also a lot of useful and informative sources on the internet. The NICE guidelines can help you to get a trial of thyroxine if you familiarise yourself with them. Thyroid UK is good to help you understand the condition.

Incidentally thyroxine alone failed to restore my health. I persuaded the endo to give me a trial of t3 and used advice I had gained from health unlocked to persuade him. Despite there being "no clinincal evidence" the t3 help, it has completely changed my life and my health has become much better.

I'm surprised he didn't want to check vitamin d though. Lots of people have insufficient levels of it, especially if you live in northern Britain. Would you consider taking a vitamin d supplement to see if it could help?