Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Hi Frog! > It turns out that I have > hypothyroidism.  So now the specialist has prescribed a new drug that I will > need to take for the rest of my life.

Actually, this disease is not uncommon for psychiatric symptoms.  Once upon a time, after noting that my personality seemed to change drastically, once I was using thyroid hormore (and felt more like my old self), I was told that significant numbers of folks could be released from psychiatric hospitals if they had been properly diagnosed for thyroid problems. Note that this was before folks had the right to sign themselves out of psychiatric facilities … a looooong time ago. Anyway, the good news is that none of the PTSD and anxiety drugs seem to interact with the replacement therapy … at least that’s my take after all these years. As you titrate up, you may go through changes in your mind.  If the titration is too fast, you may believe that you are going crazier.  Been there, done that.  Take it slow and easy, please. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

Odd Froggy wrote: > Hi gang, > Well I found out why the anti-depressant drugs are not working on me.  It > turns out that my thyroid was all screwed up.  It turns out that I have > hypothyroidism.  So now the specialist has prescribed a new drug that I will > need to take for the rest of my life. > Now it remains to be seen if the AD’s will work better.  No wonder I am > always tired and so depressed. > Be Well, > OddFroggy

Froggy, Don’t despair. I too have med induced hypothyroidism, although I didn’t need to be off of it — it still works. The literature claims that the condition will clear after use of the meds. I have a blood test this week to establish a baseline to see if, in fact, it’s true for me. Brighter side: you’re likely to find a med that will do something valuable for you.

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Hey, I have this too Froggy…I found out after my 9 year old was born.  Thank goodness because it WAS interfering with a diagnosis on depression.  Glad to hear you got an answer.  Hey, its no big deal to take the stuff daily.  Its the LEAST "stigmatized" drug that I take (in my own mind at least =/ Kristine The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

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Does anyone notice that thyroid problems seem to be very common with PTSD survivors? Today my gynecologist took blood to check my thyroid because I’ve gained 30lbs in 6 months. It seems hypothyroidism seems to be popular among us. I know PTSD can cause physical symptoms, but I didn’t know it could mess with your hormones. Both my parents have had long and hard addictions to prescription meds as well as others. I wouldn’t even take tylenolPM to help me sleep when I had insomnia, I’m like pill phobic or something. It took me a few years of unsuccesful cognitive therapy, harsh relaspes, and being baker acted to finally agree that maybe anti-depressants were worth a try. My period decided to stop for the last 4 months, and I’m only 21. So now the doctor has me on medicine to try to get me to ovulate, and if I don’t get my period in 2 weeks I could have pre-menopausal ovarian failure or something else bad. I just feel absolutely ridiculous that everyone’s trying to get me on some new type of medicine for whatever new problem might arise. I feel like I’m going to turn out like a walking medicine cabinet, and that I’ll have to take a different pill to remind every part of my body how to work correctly. I feel like I’m going to grow up to be some miserable hypochondriac and pill-popper besides trying to treat this PTSD.  I’m young, I just don’t understand why my body hurts so bad and why new problems seem to arise every month. This isn’t normal, or healthy. Do you think PTSD can cause all  sorts of different medical problems, physical, chemical, and hormonal? Maybe my body just feels like shutting down at a young age. I just hate pills and I don’t want to ever believe that I have to take 40 different types of pills to try to make my body work normal. But my psychiatrists switched me to prozac a few weeks ago and it seems to be working great so far. God bless all of you. And sorry for going off on such a tangent, I guess I’m taking it kind of bad that there might be a chance that I can not reproduce, women thing, ya know? celeste – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -BaliKris wrote: > Hey, I have this too Froggy…I found out after my 9 year old was born.  Thank > goodness because it WAS interfering with a diagnosis on depression.  Glad to > hear you got an answer.  Hey, its no big deal to take the stuff daily.  Its the > LEAST "stigmatized" drug that I take (in my own mind at least =/ > Kristine > The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

Response:

Celeste, for me, yes, physical pain/problems are linked to PTSD. Body memories, bracing of muscles and physiological changes from repeated trauma have taken their toll on my muscles (spasms that flare up) and physical condition (chronic fatigue I’m afraid).  The left side of my body is more affected (someone else wrote this too).  I had birth traumas (PTSD right there I guess) and post-birth traumas (got dropped in hospital, had broken collarbone set w/out anesthesia and was slung up like a leg of lamb for my bad hip). All those could have led to PTSD aside from abuse as child. Anyway…I feel like an old lady at times because I take so many meds.  At times I hate it and just blame the abusers/abandoners because I’m stuck for life taking this crap.  I hate it.  But now, today, I’m thankful the drugs are there for relief.  And I just wish I had the same physical relief from pain (still recovering from hip replacement @ 33 and all the crappy side effects of THAT mess). Kristine The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

Response:

Hi gang, Well I found out why the anti-depressant drugs are not working on me.  It turns out that my thyroid was all screwed up.  It turns out that I have hypothyroidism.  So now the specialist has prescribed a new drug that I will need to take for the rest of my life. Now it remains to be seen if the AD’s will work better.  No wonder I am always tired and so depressed. Be Well, OddFroggy

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Thanks Rick  :)

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hello odd froggy (or ‘old’ froggy, as john de calls you…) my thyroid tests have shown up low for many years but i have to take dilantin for a seizure disorder and evidently that stuff gives a ‘false’ low value. lately, though, my hair has been falling out , i have gained a bunch of weight, have been totally exhausted all the time, very sluggish and the zoloft does not work anymore. my dumb hmo won’t cover a consultation with a specialist and my internist says he cannot justify sending me. but: i am switching to a ppo and the very first thing i am gonna do on january 1 2001 is refer myself to an endocrinologist. i go to a chiropractor who has been nagging me for years to go and has been prescribing thyroid supplements (which have helped a whole lot), so she’ll be happy as hell. finally. also my psych doctor was making noises about my thyroid, subclinical low levels and how they cause tons of depression, then he all of a sudden crapped out on me. trapped in the healthcare system, but saving my pesos. you have inspired me! thanks and i so hope this works for you, dear odd froggy. carole

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