Posted by Lycaste on December 10, 2000, at 2:13:13
In reply to Re: Cytomel, input needed---Dr. Arem's book, posted by Noa on December 7, 2000, at 18:12:38
Hi Noa,
Thanks for your response.
The article by Alan Cohen that you refer to is interesting. I've thought about going the stimulant route. Right now, I've begun trialing adrafinil because it seemed to be less likely to have side-effects. It is early days yet, but it does seem to be helping, at least with the small stuff. I don't think my kitchen has been kept so clean for so many days running in years.
I have to say that Arem's book is one of the best I've ever seen on the subject of thyroid disease and its affect on mood/mental functioning. It was a revelation to me each organ does its own conversion of T4 to T3--so it is possible that I'm not getting adequate T3 in the brain even when I have no overt physical symptoms of hypothyroidism. So I think I'll still pursue adding some T3 to see what that does for me. (That's IF my thyroid appears to settle down. I seem to be blessed with having Hashimoto's AND Grave's at the same time, which means the damn thing sputters a lot.)
The other thing I found interesting is Arem's experience that even after people's blood levels return to normal, it can take a long time to shake the effects of having been hypothyroid.
I don't know how long ago you were diagnosed or how long you were hypothyroid before that, but perhaps some of your lingering symptoms will simply resolve over time.By the way, I think that both progesterone and estrogen fall percipitously right before menstruation. I've always assumed that, for whatever reason, I actually feel better when my levels of hormones are low. Maybe I'll be one of those women who gets to feel some post-menopausal zest. 'Twould be only fair after having had pre-menopausal drag.
Thanks again,
Lycaste
> Hi, Lycaste.
>
> No, for me, the mental and physical fatigue seemed to go hand in hand.
>
> There is an article in the Thyroid and Depression folder--actually an interview and an article, I think---by a doctor who treats anergic depression, associated with hypothyroidism, with dexedrine.
>
> I take adderall and it does help me be more focused and calm. I don't have ADD, but have similar symptoms due to depression and hypothyroid. At this point the severe focus and cognitive problems from the hypothyroid are resolved, because I am no longer hypothyroid. But the ADD-like symptoms from the depression are still there, so the adderall helps, along with its role in boosting the AD effect of the Effexor.
>
> I would be curious to ask your endo if it is possible to figure out the hormonal patterns that are giving you that one good day a month, and whether adjustments in thyroid meds could affect hormone leves, etc. OR, if there is another hormonal approach that could do this. I am not so good at remembering the ups and downs of estrogen and progesteron, etc. during the cycle, but I seem to remember my gyno tell me that a lot of estrogen has built up right before menstration starts, and I wonder if that has a role in your clear day.
>
> I think there is a review of the book "Screaming to be heard" on the "read!" page at www.dr-bob.org (link at top of PB page). I think (haven't read it) this book deals with how women's hormones affect mood, etc.
poster:Lycaste
thread:49900
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/50306.html