When not on Antidepressants I become almost inert most days of the month. Do not get anything done, cannot find the energy/motivation to get on with a single thing... but am feeling fine/happy/content. Have been like this since a teenager. Any ideas?!

[Jackaroo]

The reason I ask is that I'm just coming off tablets for first time in 2 years and feel completely OK, except I'm back to this inertia which pretty much killed my career tbh, and just doesn't seem normal. I have one day a month (2-3 days pre-af) where I get more done than in the previous 4 weeks. My mum says she was the same, and has felt so much better since the menopause.. but I'm not going to wish that on myself!

Any ideas, suggestions, it's obviously hormonal I suppose, but anything I can do about it???

Ooh, Alycat, how exciting!! I'm busy trying to resolve lots of long term issues before we immigrate at the end of the year, and you've finally given me a potential key to unlocking this big one......... will have a chat to the gp. I had my thyroid checked (the simpler test) a couple of months ago, and it was "2.something", and at this hospital they don't consider it relevant til it's over "4"... however, a bit of a google shows lots of o/seas doc.s are now thinking everythign over 2 is worth looking at.

cheers for that!

PS Who did you see, and did you have to pay extra for the blood tests etc.? Also, was your memory rubbish before you started taking the thyroxine, or are you saying you thought it was because of the new drugs? J

I saw a local NHS Endo on his private day at local Nuffield. He realised I should have been seen ages before on NHS so only charged me consultation, he did extensive blood tests and immediately transferred me to his NHS list. There may be a shorter wait in your area. You need a T4 and T3 test.

I was mortified at the appt though, I dressed smartly as seeing a consultant wearing a red cashmere jumper, wore a bright red matching saucy bra and knicks and had to get fully undressed so he could examine me - now only ever wear white t-shirt bra and granny pants when I see him!

My memory has been poor since my symptoms got worse in my mid-late 20's exacerbated by my first preg aged 27, which is when things got really dire. My best gf got an overactive thyroid after her first, so the hormonal upheaval just overloads an already dodgy system?

I used to be a member of MENSA, well known for my organised, focussed brainiac abilities - a long term gf who is a DR (science) is shocked by my deteriation having not seen me much over a period of time.

I think I have improved sinced getting the thyroxine dose right, but it took ages and I sometimes forget to take it (vicious circle).

Good luck.

Let us know how you get on Jackaroo - good luck!

lol at alycat in her sexy knick nacks for the consultant,

Similar exxperience, have been borderline underactive thyroid for 15 years since I was 15, finally was prescribed thyroxine after symptoms became more extreme even though the numbers werent extreme,

I am on a very low dose only 50mcg, but has been a revelation, and I really notice if Ii dont take it, sink into a depression in a matter of days.

I'm abit overwhelmed reading this, not quite sure what to feel! Hope you dont mind if I offer no advice but tell you about myself (although only quickly cos the baby needs feeding soon!)!
I've felt like this for years, I stopped going to school when I was about 14, not to hang out with mates or anything just to lie in bed/on sofa all day watching telly. Had headaches and nausea and things but mostly just sooo tired and no energy for anything. Had various aches and pains in my wrisrts, hips, legs, neck, back. I've struggled with it as long as I can remember. I've never worked much and just flitted through crappy telesales type jobs. Although since having my dd I've not been looking. I've been tested for all sorts for the aches and pains and been told its nothing. The fatigue and total lack of motivation I always assumed was depression and I dont know, laziness I suppose, I know thats what everyone else seems to think it is but I dont want to be like this, I'm not happy doing so little all day and my house being a constant mess. I thin I could have really done something with my life but just dont seem to have been able to stick at anything much, it all feels like such a huge effort just to do the smallest things (I do have some qualifications gained through evening courses). My memory and concentration are also scarily bad, I have reminders on my phone for everything or i forget it, i find maintaining a stream of thought quite difficult sometimes. I am struggling writing this as my brain is rushing ahead and then I'm forgetting what else it was I wanted to say and what I have said already and my focus drifts. I do think my pnd has returned and it could just be that but interesting to think there could be more to it.
Last year I was suffering terribly with pmt, very moody and lack of motivation and also increased appetite and weight gain in the 2/3 weeks around my period and then 1/2 weeks when I was really on top of things and felt good. Atm my periods have not yet returned as I'm bfing and I guess thinking about it I feel in a perpetual state of pmt.
I have to get a job soon cos we really need the money and im so worried I wont be able to stick at it and will let everyone down.
Sorry this is just one huge waffle isnt it and baby crying now!

UnderPesha - no worries about not helping - just glad that you found you weren't the only one like that .......
I've been reading a lot in the last few hours and found the following which I know is an advert for an american doctor, but seemed to be on the right lines..... just good to know that might be something other than the usual depression answer...look at the whole site, not just hte page I've put here..
www.feelingfff.com/serv_testimonials.html

and also

www.womens-health-hrt.com/bioidentical-hormones.html especially the bottom of the page which reads like a what's what of many of the things I've been talking about

I was told about this doctor by a friend of mine, and am umming and ahhing about going to see her. but I bet it costs a fortune. be interesting to find out how much is too much if it gives me a quality of life back...?

Jackaroo - interesting websites. I've been internet researching this week and found some similar ones. It's so confusing - there are so many sites out there promising solutions but if you're not sure what the problem is, where do you start (without it all costing a fortune?). No wonder it sometimes seems easier to take the antidepressants, at least they are just the cost of a prescription.

What I don't get about hormone saliva tests is that the levels surely fluctuate over the day and over time so how can they tell you what's what from one test?

A test might indicate that you have low progesterone levels (for example). I've read about 'bio-identical' hormones that you can buy off the internet. They are big in the States (as an anti-aging thing - 'have the energy of a teenager again') but it seems a bit of a blunt instrument. How do you know how much you need and how it will affect your hormone balance - it seems to be a matter of trial and error - could make things worse. I think I would have to go via a clinic or my GP and/or an endocrinologist. Perhaps you would have to go private if the GP wouldn't listen. How do you find an endocrinologist?

As I know I have a candida overgrowth (and possibly leaky gut) and have been eating poorly for the last year or so due to stress, I am going to try and address all the nutritional side of things first. If I'm still no better once I've done that, I am thinking about having some tests done, maybe food allergies/intolerances and possibly the hormone saliva test. If there is a hormone inbalance, then I will go back to the GP again and try and get referred. But maybe the nutrition approach will help.

If I do all this and nothing works, then I will take the antidepressants and see a psychotherapist as there is definitely something wrong with me. I don't think it can be all in my mind though or even just in my brain. There must be a physical side to it. Now that I have a child, it seems more important to do something about it - get rid of my PMT once and for all and conform to normal energy levels.

It's reassuring (although not good) to know that there are other people struggling with these kind of problems. Good luck with your quest.

Not sure if any of you will pick up on this again, but I went to see the GP this morning, and she said it's just hormones, and that she would normally prescribe anti'd's for it !!!!!!!!!!!!Well I guess at least we agree about what it is... So, I have agreed to go back on them for a while (or rather stop cutting down and go back up to a full dose).. but in the meantime I'm going to keep seeking a different answer - I'd be cross if I didn't think she was truly doing what she thought was best!

J

Hi Jackaroo

when the effects are so debilitating it's a bit off to describe it as "just" hormones imo ...

Hope it works for you though

Shakenvac, I've been following this thread with interest as a lot of what the OP has been saying I can identify with myself. Could you please tell me what was the name of the thermogenic slimming tablets you take and where you bought them please? Thank you .

How did I miss the comment about the slimming tables - agree it isn't ideal, but I'd love to know about them too Shakenvac

Well, I was taking antidepressants for years for obviously different issues to yours. I'd been on fluoxetine and then mirtazapine and citalopram. I have still always been someone who takes her time with things, leaves things to the last minute, has little drive to do things right now. When ill I was around the house apart from when I was admitted or had to go to uni. I didn't see my horses for months and hubby did everything round the house, the horses and worked, and reminded me to have a shower and get dressed! Getting better, I still needed that kick up the bum.

I came straight off the ADs without dr saying so, because I was fed up with their effect. But I had been ill a long time and on them a long time, and am now very happy, but only because my husband gave me a kick up the ass. I had hypnotherapy which has made me more positive (no jojke) and want to do more round the house. I will happily do the hoovering and clean the kitchen as well as cook (we used to each do one or other). But I do it in my own time, not when told to. I still haven't cleaned kitchen from last night's tea for example. It does get annoying, but I feel it is not because I am depressed/ill anymore... it's the person I am, linked to hormones and also parenting. My mum was very messy (I'm not, but like I say, take my time). In fact my mum never did anything, and my granddad used to come round the house and end up gutting it! She is still the same now. She also stays in bed to midday or later (my brother does this and I did when at home). I like getting up early to see horses, but only if I've had 9 or 10 hours sleep! I am still in my PJs and probably won't change til my hub is due home from work!

I honestly think it's just the way some of us are made. There's no urgency. But on the flip side: if we need to be somewhere (airport for eg), I like to get there very very early, to ensure no hassle! I don't think lack of motivation or whatever is a reason for me to stay on my meds. I am happy, my life functions well, if a little (very) slow. I no longer really argue with hub, well not on same scale anyway, and I tend not to get so stressed. I don't need the ADs - they're not a motivational tool. Having said that, lack of motivation can be a symptom of depression and, therefore, when present with other symptoms, I think ADs would be suitable. But if you are a person with a low mojo anyway.... comme moi... there are other things the dr could do. Looking at hormone balance and treatments for those sorts of things, CBT, all sorts.

You are doing really well. The early stages are hard, but I have been off mine since April/May and will never take ADs again. They did more harm than good to me. That is not to say they do to everyone, and they certainly got me through the really dark times, but anxiety and weightgain were part of the deal for me.

Was also going to say that depression can be an imbalance of certain hormones in the brain which ADs can rectify. There's also a herbal medication (forgot the name), that does same job.

Thanks Horsey - I'm rattling at the moment with painkillers and anti'ds, but someone did suggest St John's Wort to me.....? is that what you meant? I have often wondered about it but because I have to be pretty unwell to take anything, I didn't, at that stage want to be faffing with something. I tell you what was amazing, that was Kava Kava, but about 6 months after I discovered it, they took it off the market because it seemed to cause pronouced liver problems in those who already had liver failure (nssherlock!!).. but that was amazing. Calming, energising, all in one go. I think it's an adaptogen.

Anyway, I'm waffling now.

Thanks for hte support, always much appreciated.

Hi poppet,

Yes, St John's Wort, but I know it by a different name like H5 or something. Anyway, you can't take it at the same time as ADs.

At the end of the day, if you need a tablet to get you from one day to the next then who is anyone else to judge that? If it means you can lead a happy and normal life then that is fab. There is too much stigma to ADs; but providing they cause you no ill effects, if you need them, you take them! I stopped taking mine because they made me feel more awful physically than they were doing good mentally, as I was mentally better apart from the motivation, which I feel will always be a factor in my life.

It can't be coincidence though that those of us with supposed motivational problems, have had depression or mental illness. So I definitely think it's in the makeup.

(Poppet? Do you know me in real life, it's a common name I have :-) then again, I don't know anyone with horses, so you're just another poppetty sort of gal...)

You're talking about 5HTP - yep, similar sort of thing, just that it's an amino acid ratherthan a herb, but as a precursor to seratonin has a similar effect I think.

Thing is I still don't feel fab, just less zombified.......... so will continue to seek the unholy grail of hormone balance :-)

Well, as some of you said you wanted to see what happened, I thought I'd do a quick update, but it's not very helpful!
I finally came off my anti-d's proper.. and slid down hill so quickly I'm back on a sort I took ages ago (the Cipralex) only 10mgs a day, but it's helping. Still feeling inert which is interesting, as I always thought tablets got rid of that.. but anyway, am about to do a hormone test via Oz, where they do these things in more detail (weird, sending your spit to the other side of the world) but your naturopath gets the answer in a week or so. Will be interesting to see what they say.

Realise that sounds like quackery, it's not, I've checked!

Hello! Just read this thread and wondered what happened for all of you, since it is now 6 years later! Hope you all managed to find a way to feel better!