Ladies

Hey to everyone. I'm very sorry for being out of touch.

I have been dealing with severe depression, and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which has made me extremely fatigued (although that doesn't even sound intense enough to be able to describe it). I have spent the last month pretty much asleep. The last two weeks, I have been acclimating myself to the thyroid medication and an anti-depressant. Today is the first day in a LONG time I have felt human.

I have the coupons. They have actually been ready to go for a while now, but my lovely significant other has neglected to mail them. I will open the envelope and add the coupons my mother gave me to my envelope.

I am so sorry if I made anyone worry, and I am sorry about not being able to mail off my coupons quickly. I hope I'll be around more often, I missed you ladies a lot.

Rachel (cookies)

Rachel! I'm so glad you're OK! We missed you and were worried that something horrible had happened. Not that depression isn't horrible. It is! But we were afraid you or Norah were in the hospital or worse. It's so good to know that you are alive and getting better.

Are you tolerating the medications well? Is it helping enough? I hope so. Depression is a very serious condition. Don't worry about your DH not mailing the coupons. We all forget things from time to time. And anyone with a husband will understand. I'm just glad you're back. We missed you too!

Just glad to hear from you- I bet all have been worried about you and not the coupons. You need to take time to care for yourself. I know what depression can do-ever need to talk- I have a good ear and broad shoulders as my friends say.

No one cared about the coupons -- we were just worried about you! Hope you're adjusting to the meds now and will be back on the boards!

I'm so sorry Rachel!!! If you need to talk, I'm local enough that we could actually get together/e-mail/call! My doctor diagnosed me as borderline hypothyroid, so I feel your pain. I'm trying this the natural way, and it isn't always easy. I also have some great ideas to help with the depression. I know how crippling it can be first hand!!!

Big hugs, and so good to see you back!!!

Starr

Rachel we are SO relieved to hear from you!!!!!!! I am very glad you are feeling better and hope you continue to feel even better with each passing day.

Hello Rachel. So glad you are feeling better and able to post. It is nice to hear from you.

Phew! I am so glad that you are okay! I really hope that the medications work out for you. I will keep you in my thoughts. =) Just take your time and relax. We are all here for you if you need us! *hugs*

GIrl!! We were just so worried!! I was even searching obits trying to find you!! I am so glad you are alive and norah is okay!! (DH too!)

Dont even worry about coupons, seriosly, that was the least of our worries, we just wanted to find YOU.

I am glad you were able to get meds before it was too late. and if you ever need to bitch, whine or cry, just holler!

(((hugs!!)))

Welcome back!

Really glad you're starting to feel better. You have a tough combp there with the tyroid and depression. You're a fighter though, and you've done a great job!

Hopefully correcting the thyroid will also fix the depression and you can wean off the depression meds. I went through the same thing and wow what a difference that little pill makes. It took about 3-4 days for me to start feeling a difference and in 2 weeks (it takes a bit to build up) I was feeling great. I stopped the depression meds shortly after and never needed them again. Big hugs and looking forward to seeing you around again!

It is amazing how the thyroid can make your entire life miserable! From hair falling out, problem sleeping, weight gain to depression, your thyroid can reak havoc! I went through this right after my 1st daughter was born, in addition to post partum depression. I ended up on the highest depression med doses and medicine for panic attacks before it occurred to them to check my thyroid.

Please let us know if you need someone to talk to or have any questions!

Welcome back Rachel!!!

Get better and we all missed you here...

Gosh what a tuff road you've had to travel. I surely hope the meds help, and that you have alot more days than just today where you feel "almost human"

Momto3 wrote:It is amazing how the thyroid can make your entire life miserable! From hair falling out, problem sleeping, weight gain to depression,

I might need to get to a Dr and get checked out. I have a lot of those symptoms.

I was tested a few years back, but things may have changed since then. I have been losing a lot of hair lately too.

Missy, if you have several of those symptoms, then something is wrong. If they say it's not your thyroid, have them test other things too.

thebigscott wrote:Missy, if you have several of those symptoms, then something is wrong. If they say it's not your thyroid, have them test other things too.

I don't have insurance, but when Tim gets home in the morning, I think I am gonna have to sit him down. I should do a little research to show him why I need to get to a dr, besides the fact that clumps of hair come out when I take a shower... It could just be because of how long it is, but I would rather be safe than sorry. And I have always had a problem sleeping. IMO, I think that it could be hereditary because my Mother has had the same sleeping habits I have now. I gained a lot of weight after having Timmy, but the main thing we thought it was because of the DEPO shot, which I just recently got off of. And the depression, I could blame it on the events that have taken place in my life over the past year alone. I do not always feel depressed, but enough to think it may be linked to something. But again, better safe than sorry.

Missy, call your local doctor's offices. ALL of them. Ask them if they have a sliding scale or if they will reduce their rates for you or if they know of any free clinics that do good work. My doctor's office charges you based on how much money you earn. It has been a God-send to us. Yes, all those symptoms could be unrelated. But when you add them all together it seems like there could be a real problem.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-symptoms

Check out a list of potential symptoms of hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid). It isn't something to ignore- It cause me to have 3 miscarriages and can even cause life threatening problems. It is so simple to treat. I can take 1 pill a day and all is good.

With the holiday, everything is closed until Tuesday, but I talked to Tim when he came home from work and we agreed that I should go get looked at. He is worried, but agrees that I should just at least talk to a dr and see what I can do. He saw the last clump I lost in the shower and was a little frieked out too. I will let you all know how it pans out. I will be calling first thing Tuesday morning to get in Wednesday (how the clinic works).

I'm glad, Missy.

I am really glad for the concern and honestly, if the symptoms were not posted here, I would have just continued to just think nothing of it all.

Tim and I agreed, it could be that, could be diet, could be stress, could be something that we don't even think about. But I need to be there for Timmy, and him, and if we want to have another baby, I need to make sure that I will be healthy enough.

Missy-Just so you are aware, different doctors have different thresholds for hypothroidism. They measure something called TSH, and a lot of doctors feel that unless it's above 4, it's normal. My doctor considers 3 high. Do the research. Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. The symptoms mixed with a "high normal" number might still indicate that you have hypothyroidism. I'm glad you are going to get it checked out!!!

HUGS!

Did the clinic offer a sliding scale? I hope you were able to find someone that will work with you.

I had this same issue (with the TSH scale) technically lab values state 0.5 to 4 (even 5 in some labs) is the normal range. There are some studies that actually show anything above about 2.5 can be considered high.

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (the body produces this in response to low thyroid)