Not feeling myself....

MrVan and I have been active in the LS for over 2 years now..However, over the past few months I have not been feeling myself lately. Last year I was diagnosed with a hypothyroid condition and lately have not been feeling like myself. I have become depressed, my mood's change with a drop of a hat and my sex drive has taken a major toll.

While these symptoms are normal for someone with this condition and I have done some extensive research and reading on the health issue, I am finding myself getting depressed over just the simple fact that I do not feel like the MrsVan I was before. And I want the old MrsVan back but not sure how to overcome these obstacles to get there. While MrVan has been so supportive of me and helping me get through this to where my thryoid is on track some what, I feel guilty because it has had an impact on us both in the LS and at home.

I changed doctors as I was not feeling like I was getting the proper care and we have just increased my thyroid meds. But I know that those changes will take time to adjust in my system.

So my question is..Have any of you faced this and if so, how have you over come the depression and the low sex drive? I want and NEED my old sex life back but find it hard to do. Are there any suggestions that you have tried to get past all these symptoms?

Any help would greatly be appreciated! Although I know you all are not doctors I just feel like a big piece of my life is missing right now and just want to see if there is something else that may have worked for someone else that I have not tried.

MrsVan

[funcpl4life]

I've watched three women that I love suffer with this: sister, mother, and grandmother. My sister had it the worst and leads the best life. My mother and grandmother spiraled downward. The only really big difference is exercise. My sister is a runner like me. She has avoided most of the really nasty side effects that tormented my mom and grandma. I can't promise anything. I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the board, but it's seemed to work for my sister.
All the best.
Mr FC4L

[oncewere]

My wife was exposed to the A bomb tests in the fifties and sixties and developed hypothyroidism as a result. She's been fiddling with her synthetic thyroid for many years. Too little and she's lethargic. Too much and she can't sleep. Perhaps her very low sex drive could have something to do with her thyroid problem. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the insight. I certainly hope that you can come to terms with your problems. It's very good that your husband is so understanding and supportive. I'm sure we all wish you well.

Originally Posted by funcpl4life

I've watched three women that I love suffer with this: sister, mother, and grandmother. My sister had it the worst and leads the best life. My mother and grandmother spiraled downward. The only really big difference is exercise. My sister is a runner like me. She has avoided most of the really nasty side effects that tormented my mom and grandma. I can't promise anything. I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the board, but it's seemed to work for my sister.
All the best.
Mr FC4L

I have read that exercise is key and I have been pushing myself to do my bike ride, strength training and then trying to push myself to start to run by doing a running plan so that I can eventually do a 5k. I have read that exercise has a huge impact on the condition. Before I changed doctors I had gained 10 lbs. I hated it as I have been trying to loose..So I started to watch what I eat and keep track of it, and so far am back down 9 lbs. I am determined for it to not affect my weight but just wish I could get past the depression and the low sex drive. Those are what I am struggling with the most as I do not feel like myself. I feel like someone completely different and hate it.

Thanks for the information on the running and I am hoping that I will be able to get to the point where I can run a 5k..Maybe then that will help me a little more.

MrsVan

[tribbles]

Have you seen an endocrinologist? Have T3 levels checked as well as TSH. If you aren't converting enough T4 (which is what synthyroid is) then many symptoms of hypothyroid can still be a bother. Often for the best info, asking for a specialist works. For sex drive, you might want to ask about a tiny bit of testosterone.

Research it and ask your doctor.

I'm not a doctor and don't play one.

Let us know what works!

[ANGEDKY(mr)]

Honestly, find a good shrink.

I say this because, you are taking all the right steps to control the physical issues, but are struggling with the care of the mental / emotional ones.

By suggesting a therapist I am not suggesting to alter your behavior, ie. meds. Rather talking REGULARLY to someone who can give you an outside prespective on what you feel and why, also the insight to A) recognize the cycling of your mood when they start (not after they are full force) and B)offer a set of tools to help you work your way thru those and in most cases help to miminalize the effects.

The brain is VERY powerful......

[sweet_tna]

I don't have any better suggestions for you than what's been suggested here, but I can empathize to a point. A few years ago, I had totally lost my sex drive. It depressed the heck out of me, and really tore holes in my marriage. In my case, it was hormone-based birth control that caused it.

It sucks @ss to not feel yourself, and to KNOW you're just not YOU, and not be able to do a damn thing about it. The good news is, you know what the cause of your issues is. Now you just have to work with your doctor(s) to adjust your medication/routine and find your way back to yourself.

http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gif

=)

[50sLady]

I have been hypothyroid for 25 years after drinking radioactive iodine to treat my autoimmune Grave's Disease (hyperactive thyroid). The key is to find a doctor that will listen to your symptoms and experiment with the dosage of your synthetic thyroid hormone.

We are more than a lab report, and how YOU feel is most important. You are not yourself, so you do not have the proper medication strength. Many doctors look at the lab report, see the numbers within range, and dismiss your concerns.

Hypothryoidism affects every function in your body, so the correct amount of hormone for YOU is what counts. You should be having a blood test every 3 months as the dosage is adjusted until you feel yourself again.

If you are depressed and have no sex drive, then you do not have what you need from your medicine.

Have you found Mary Shomon, the most knowledgeable patient advocate for thyroid problems, on the internet? She is on thyroid.about.com. I think you will find her articles very interesting.

Good luck!

[imsherona2]

I really don't have any input on this subject for you that hasn't already been said above, but I wanted to lend my support, or whatever else you might need, and to let you know I am here for you if for nothing more than to listen!! Good luck to you and I hope you find the answers you are looking for and the help as well. Hugs, Sharon

Originally Posted by 50sLady

Have you found Mary Shomon, the most knowledgeable patient advocate for thyroid problems, on the internet? She is on thyroid.about.com. I think you will find her articles very interesting.

Good luck!

I have actually purchased 3 of her books and that is where I have found much of my information as to how to adjust my food intake and exercise to help me with the weight. But the mental aspect of this is not listed in the books so far and this is what I am struggling with the most. I feel I am more depressed and moody than I am happy these days and for some of you that have met me in person that is not me. I am a very happy, go lucky person who seems to always have a smile on my face. But these days I am not feeling that and I know my family is feeling that as well.

I have changed doctors as my doctor that diagnosed me, did not seem to really care about my concerns. I have a new doctor that I just started to see so I am going to give her time but from my first visit with her I can tell she cares and is there to help get ME back to where I was before. So just keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for the advise!

MrsVan

Originally Posted by ANGEDKY(mr)

Honestly, find a good shrink.

I say this because, you are taking all the right steps to control the physical issues, but are struggling with the care of the mental / emotional ones.

By suggesting a therapist I am not suggesting to alter your behavior, ie. meds. Rather talking REGULARLY to someone who can give you an outside prespective on what you feel and why, also the insight to A) recognize the cycling of your mood when they start (not after they are full force) and B)offer a set of tools to help you work your way thru those and in most cases help to miminalize the effects.

The brain is VERY powerful......

I have thought about a therapist but keep going back and forth as to whether or not to do it. That was the one thing my new doctor talked about was to write down when I get depressed or my mood changes and bring that list in and go over it with her. But I find myself depressed and moody most of the day that anything triggers it so I just do not write it down. This may be an approach I may have to take in order to mentally get past this.

For those of you who have not had to deal with this, you are very lucky. I would not want anyone to face this as you really do not think your thyroid can affect so many things in your body but it does and it stinks.

MrsVan

Originally Posted by imsherona2

I really don't have any input on this subject for you that hasn't already been said above, but I wanted to lend my support, or whatever else you might need, and to let you know I am here for you if for nothing more than to listen!! Good luck to you and I hope you find the answers you are looking for and the help as well. Hugs, Sharon

Thanks Sharon for the support and kind words..It definetly is something I need right now and although MrVan gives me the support I need, I just sometimes feel like he really does not understand what I am going through and it is hard to describe. So that is why I reached out here on the board in hopes of finding others that are facing this to find out how to get through it and some words of wisdom to help..

MrsVan

Originally Posted by sweet_tna

I don't have any better suggestions for you than what's been suggested here, but I can empathize to a point. A few years ago, I had totally lost my sex drive. It depressed the heck out of me, and really tore holes in my marriage. In my case, it was hormone-based birth control that caused it.

It sucks @ss to not feel yourself, and to KNOW you're just not YOU, and not be able to do a damn thing about it. The good news is, you know what the cause of your issues is. Now you just have to work with your doctor(s) to adjust your medication/routine and find your way back to yourself.

http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gif

=)

So how did you overcome the low sex drive? Was this something that took time (and please tell me it didn't take forever lol)..Any advise on how to get the sex drive back that I am use to???

Thanks for the information and the advise!

MrsVan

Originally Posted by tribbles

Have you seen an endocrinologist?

Let us know what works!

I actually from the books I am reading by Mary Shomon, suggested to find one in my area but there are not any close by which stinks. So I guess I will just give my new doctor a try and hope that I can get back to my old self.

MrsVan

[sweet_tna]

Originally Posted by MrsVan

So how did you overcome the low sex drive? Was this something that took time (and please tell me it didn't take forever lol)..Any advise on how to get the sex drive back that I am use to???

Thanks for the information and the advise!

MrsVan

In my case, once we figured out that it was my birth control causing the problem, I simply stopped taking them. Mr. Sweet had a vasectomy, and we're good to go. It took over a year for us to figure it all out, though, because I'd gone on and off birth control/changed types over the years.

Again, it may well be a matter of adjusting your medication to what really makes YOU feel better. I hope you and your new doc will be able to find what works best for you.

http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gif

=)