Posted by Larry Hoover on August 23, 2003, at 7:10:00
In reply to Re: For Katia » Larry Hoover, posted by tealady on August 22, 2003, at 18:14:21
> >Yes. It made me totally apathetic. I had no emotions whatsoever, and I could not finish a sentence I started, my memory was so poor. I'd simply forget what I was talking about. I couldn't spell, had trouble writing.....It was horrid, and I became very suicidal
>
> I haven't tried Lithium myself...but those symptoms are similar to the ones I have when I consider my problem is too hypo..as in hypothyroid. Of course, everything is linked and it is more than thyroid going on.That's very thought-provoking. I appreciate your insight. Long-term lithium use is associated with complete thyroid failure, so it really ought not to be any surprise that acute treatment might have similar effects in susceptible individuals.
> The suicide thoughts for me, I believe are no problem ..as I feel like that at the same time that I am completely wiped out, and can only lie,(anyone know why the foetal position feels so comforting during these times?) and drift in and out of some kind of semi-conscious sleep(feels like that) everything is too much of an effort..even lifting a finger, and to commit a suicide means you have to be able to finish a thought, think things thru and remember them ..then act them out..all pretty much impossible.
I wasn't physically inactivated, as you describe. I've certainly been there, too. What came to me, during that period of absolute apathy, was that if this was to be my fate, life would be a total and absolute torture, something akin to purgatory (I'm not sure that's an appropriate comparison (I'm not really religious), but that's what came to mind).
> Unfortunately the finishing the sentence, finding the word you want to say, and spelling etc. ...some of the things I am still sruggling with...all typical "hypothyroid" symptoms according to the hundreds on forums.
I've only considered the physical manifestations of hypo. I don't know why I didn't grasp the psych ones before.
I did a trial of T4 augmentation, but that was a disaster. My pdoc prescribed 10 mcg/day, but it doesn't even come in that small a dose. The pharmacist thought it was a decimal error, and supplied 100 mcg tablets. I didn't check the pill bottle (the first, and only time that's ever happened), and I took them for a couple weeks before I got *so* wired.
> It is perhaps a coincidence, but a significant percentage of folks from the US on the hypo board have been on lithium and were labelled bipolar...
Lithium destroys some peoples' kidneys and thyroid glands. Everything has pros and cons, but some are not predictable.
> I know, no conclusons here..but I think there is some link
It's a proven link.
> My brother about 5 years ago also had similar symptoms..but he had an excellent physiciatrist and was treated successfully with high doses of a mix of pdrugs..now he is functioning, and slowly withdrawing form the frugs..while I am still struggling. Of course, we are all individual.
> JanYou strike me as being very aware of how your body is. I think you have what it takes to help yourself find better health. It's just figuring out how that needs doing.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:250389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253325.html