Posted by Pfinstegg on January 20, 2003, at 8:53:30
In reply to Re: Rich and Jumpy:Lithium how it works » Ritch, posted by BarbaraCat on January 20, 2003, at 2:03:42
It's just amazing how we have to tell our docs what to do for us these days, isn't it? I had the same experience, and even though I had a major depression, and almost no energy or motivation, I had to get very tough and insist on all the things which have eventually gotten me into remission.
I agree that it's important to insist on T3 and T4 values as well as TSH- it helps to know what your ratio of synthroid and cytomel replacement should be. But I,too have to fight each time to get more than a TSH done! Lithium seems to be such an important mood stabilizer for you that it would be great if your docs could work hard on your thyroid, so that the replacement doses would be effective.
I don't know if this is relevant to you, but I found that the estrogen in Hormone Replacement Therapy is vital in order for me to avoid a crash into an even more crushing depression. Last July I discovered this when I tapered off the HRT. according to the new guidelines for them. At the moment, I take Ogen(a plant based form of estrogen) and Provera (progesterone) twice a week, and that seems to be enough to avoid that crash. My gyn, who is the one doctor I have who is really well-read, and who works together with me to find solutions, understands estrogen's role in some depressions, and so supports this solution. I don't know what age you are, but if peri-menopausal low estrogen is playing any role in your depression, you could find out by getting the levels of those hormones done, and then having a trial of replacement.
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:136544
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030119/msgs/136712.html