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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
I've been doing some reading up on ALL my symptoms (not just the depression alone).. shall I list??;
Extreme tiredness, but unable to sleep
Regular physical exhaustion
Light headeness on excersizing
EXTREME weight gain (3 1/2 stone in 18 months - but 2 stone of that is in last 4 months, and eating less)
Panic Attacks (sweating, fainting, hyper ventillation)
Mood swings - suicidal and cutting myself, to laughing an dlaughing for NO reason, to hating anyone that comes near me.
Heavy prolonged, painful periods, with killer pmt
Painful lumps in my arm pits (every couple of weeks)
Stomach pains, always put it down to ibs.
Pale blotchy skin...OK, I'll stop there. I haven't really responded to any meds (other than getting worse at times), but, having read around, I have this feeling it could all be hormonal. I read an article on Poly Cystsic Ovaries, and I seem to match most of the symptoms. But, when ever I have mentioned to a doctor I think my problem has an underlying medical reason, they just dismiss and say "It's understandable you're trying to deny your psychiatric illness". So, they won't send me for further tests.
I am FED UP of being so damned fat (photos taken at week showed me quite how fat I've got), and I know when I see friends I haven't seen for months they're thinking "god, she's put on alot of weight".
Firstly.. do you think I might just be trying to deny any psychiatric illness...
or, if not, how on earth can I get some help to find the cause. The NHS in England is in a terrible state, and my own doctors surgery has a 4 weeks waiting list!!! From reports I've had, doctors won't investigate polycystic ovaries until a woman can't conceive.. I don't want to wait another 3/4 years, till I find out I can't have kids...
Grrrrrrrrrrr..
rant over, and thanks for reading (if you have!!)
Nikki the fatty blob!!!
Posted by Abby on June 5, 2000, at 9:16:57
In reply to OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
Nikki,
Is there really any difference? But let me be serious. I'll be Noa for a minute. Check your thyroid. If you can't have the blood work done talk to your psychiatrist about adding some thyroid hormone to augment an anti-depressant.
Check out a book by Ridha Arem called the Thyroid Solution--A Mind Body something. It sounds all new age, and it does depart from some mainstream practices, but it's very traditional and respectable. I just checked amazon.co.uk to see whether it's available in the UK. If a public library doesn't have it, just go into someplace like Waterstone's and read it there. If you find stuff that you'd like to show your GP, buy the book, photocopy the relevant pages and return it.
Abby
Posted by tina on June 5, 2000, at 9:34:22
In reply to Re: OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by Abby on June 5, 2000, at 9:16:57
I don't think you are mad--you are articulate, intelligent and knowlegeable and you seek to understand yourself, that's courageous and worthy of applause. Don't let the British health community get you down. Try to do an end run around them. If they won't do the ovarian test until you can't conceive then tell them you've had trouble conceiving and see where that gets you. Do take care in reading too much about different conditions though, I know from experience that if you read the symptoms of a certain illness you may find them in yourself whether you have that illness or not, but hen again, I'm a hypochondriac so it may not be the case with you. Still, don't take this lying down. You seem to be a strong willed and resourceful person and I know you'll get done what needs to be done, just push a little harder. Don;'t allow those idiots to dismiss you, it's their job to help you and you deserve it. Never doubt yourself. If you feel that something is wrong then it is, you aren't mad(unless you ate beef a few years ago and it's a delayed reaction--ha ha) The thyroid advice is really good and you might want to look into your blood glucose levels, hypo/hyperglycaemia maybe. Did you go off all meds like you said in an earlier thread? Oh well, never mind, I seem to be randomly ranting myself. I'll stop now. Do take care and keep trying to get the help you deserve, remind the little buggers that they are there to help you, that's what they get paid for. Love ya--Tina
> Nikki,
>
> Is there really any difference? But let me be serious. I'll be Noa for a minute. Check your thyroid. If you can't have the blood work done talk to your psychiatrist about adding some thyroid hormone to augment an anti-depressant.
>
> Check out a book by Ridha Arem called the Thyroid Solution--A Mind Body something. It sounds all new age, and it does depart from some mainstream practices, but it's very traditional and respectable. I just checked amazon.co.uk to see whether it's available in the UK. If a public library doesn't have it, just go into someplace like Waterstone's and read it there. If you find stuff that you'd like to show your GP, buy the book, photocopy the relevant pages and return it.
>
> Abby
Posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 10:14:37
In reply to OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
hey Noa.. sorry abby!! Yes, I did have my thyroid checked out, and was told, even though it;s the lower end of normal, it's still within the bounderies, and thats probably just the way I am (I also have low blood pressure and a low temperature!!!)
Also, may have problems telling them I ahve problems conceiving - they'll just point out this is because I'm on the pill!!!Tina.. hey you.. hows things for you right now?? No, I decided to stay on the meds, on Noa's advice.. think I may be feeling a bit brighter, but I just had a lovely weekend.. most of it spent cuddling my 10 day old new nephew, who is just the cutest!!
Just realised I forgot to mail you like said I would.. But hope you're hanging in. I'm pushing my energies into finding a girlfriend for y pet lizard, and hopefully breeding them. I just feel I need some thing nice to focus on and look forward to. And what could be better than babies - even if they are baby lizards!!!!
Posted by Greg on June 5, 2000, at 10:15:46
In reply to OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
Nikki,
I've had some of the symptoms you're having and I know that they are a REAL drag! Some of the pain you're feeling is just all too familiar.
But I had to comment on one thing, remember that our appearances are nothing more than window dressings. The person inside is what really counts. I've read many of your posts, and I have a feeling that you are far more beautiful than you know!
I hope you find some inner peace very soon, I'll be praying for you.
Hugs,
Greg
Posted by Abby on June 5, 2000, at 11:14:44
In reply to Re: OK... am I mad or ill??? » NikkiT, posted by Greg on June 5, 2000, at 10:15:46
Arem's book is superb, and it goes into why borderline cases should be treated. Even though your tests are 'normal' by official standards, you could still be hypothyroid. Low blood pressure and low temp. suggest it A psychiatrist *might* be willing to prescribe thyroid hormone more liberally than your GP
Dr. Bob's Psychopharmacology tips has a really good section on thyroid found at
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/tips.html
Do a search for thyroid and then look at thyroid replacement and thyroid augmentation.
Posted by Sara T on June 5, 2000, at 12:53:52
In reply to OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
> I've been doing some reading up on ALL my symptoms (not just the depression alone).. shall I list??;
>
> Extreme tiredness, but unable to sleep
> Regular physical exhaustion
> Light headeness on excersizing
> EXTREME weight gain (3 1/2 stone in 18 months - but 2 stone of that is in last 4 months, and eating less)
> Panic Attacks (sweating, fainting, hyper ventillation)
> Mood swings - suicidal and cutting myself, to laughing an dlaughing for NO reason, to hating anyone that comes near me.
> Heavy prolonged, painful periods, with killer pmt
> Painful lumps in my arm pits (every couple of weeks)
> Stomach pains, always put it down to ibs.
> Pale blotchy skin...
>
> OK, I'll stop there. I haven't really responded to any meds (other than getting worse at times), but, having read around, I have this feeling it could all be hormonal. I read an article on Poly Cystsic Ovaries, and I seem to match most of the symptoms. But, when ever I have mentioned to a doctor I think my problem has an underlying medical reason, they just dismiss and say "It's understandable you're trying to deny your psychiatric illness". So, they won't send me for further tests.
>
> I am FED UP of being so damned fat (photos taken at week showed me quite how fat I've got), and I know when I see friends I haven't seen for months they're thinking "god, she's put on alot of weight".
>
> Firstly.. do you think I might just be trying to deny any psychiatric illness...
>
> or, if not, how on earth can I get some help to find the cause. The NHS in England is in a terrible state, and my own doctors surgery has a 4 weeks waiting list!!! From reports I've had, doctors won't investigate polycystic ovaries until a woman can't conceive.. I don't want to wait another 3/4 years, till I find out I can't have kids...
>
> Grrrrrrrrrrr..
>
> rant over, and thanks for reading (if you have!!)
>
> Nikki the fatty blob!!!Nikki,
I'd like to add my two cents. I think you have cause to look at whether or not there is an underlying medical condition. Hormones (and thyroids) are not to be dismissed. I used to have terrible mood swings in my cycle. The tireness and dizzieness you mention along with the heavy prolonged periods suggest to me that you could be iron deficient too. If possible, I'd go to a gynecologist to check it out.
I'm at a stage in life where my hormones are low and what a difference it has made to have them restablized. I think Cam W. said in a post somewhere how interconnected hormones and mood are. It was in a thread about Wellbutrin and Menstruation, check it out.
I agree with the others, you are not crazy. You seem perfectly lucid to me, and you seem well within your bounds to demand that your doctors look further.
Sara T.
Posted by linda on June 5, 2000, at 14:19:15
In reply to OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by NikkiT on June 5, 2000, at 8:24:17
> I've been doing some reading up on ALL my symptoms (not just the depression alone).. shall I list??;
>
> Extreme tiredness, but unable to sleep
> Regular physical exhaustion
> Light headeness on excersizing
> EXTREME weight gain (3 1/2 stone in 18 months - but 2 stone of that is in last 4 months, and eating less)
> Panic Attacks (sweating, fainting, hyper ventillation)
> Mood swings - suicidal and cutting myself, to laughing an dlaughing for NO reason, to hating anyone that comes near me.
> Heavy prolonged, painful periods, with killer pmt
> Painful lumps in my arm pits (every couple of weeks)
> Stomach pains, always put it down to ibs.
> Pale blotchy skin...
>
> OK, I'll stop there. I haven't really responded to any meds (other than getting worse at times), but, having read around, I have this feeling it could all be hormonal. I read an article on Poly Cystsic Ovaries, and I seem to match most of the symptoms. But, when ever I have mentioned to a doctor I think my problem has an underlying medical reason, they just dismiss and say "It's understandable you're trying to deny your psychiatric illness". So, they won't send me for further tests.
>
> I am FED UP of being so damned fat (photos taken at week showed me quite how fat I've got), and I know when I see friends I haven't seen for months they're thinking "god, she's put on alot of weight".
>
> Firstly.. do you think I might just be trying to deny any psychiatric illness...
>
> or, if not, how on earth can I get some help to find the cause. The NHS in England is in a terrible state, and my own doctors surgery has a 4 weeks waiting list!!! From reports I've had, doctors won't investigate polycystic ovaries until a woman can't conceive.. I don't want to wait another 3/4 years, till I find out I can't have kids...
>
> Grrrrrrrrrrr..
>
> rant over, and thanks for reading (if you have!!)
>
> Nikki the fatty blob!!!I never experienced my depression symptoms until I started trying to get pregnant. My Dr. never mentioned depression all he tried to do was find something medically wrong with me or my husband. It was very hard on me. It almost caused my husband to divorce me. I did finally get pregnant and suffered from depression symptoms the entire pregnancy. It was not until my child was 4 months old and I went to theropy for my marriage that I found out I had major depression and anxiety disorder. I child is three years old now and I have been on meds for almost three years. I went back to the dr because again we are unable to get pregnant. He has finally decided to do surgery on me in 6 months (I am not real sure exactly what he is looking for but it has something to do with my ovaries). What I am trying to say is that I too struggle with am I mad or ill. I do think alot of mine is hormonal. I will be 31 YOA in a couple of months and my Dr is concerned about the depression and my age and he even confessed that it could be something physical and not just emotional. He has even went as far as telling me that after the surgery I might just want to have invetro and then after the birth get a total hysterecomy. This might not be much help but I do know where you are coming from. Just keep an open mind and see another dr if you have to.
Posted by Jennifer on June 6, 2000, at 3:00:59
In reply to Re: OK... am I mad or ill???, posted by linda on June 5, 2000, at 14:19:15
Nikki, Here's another one to consider: hypercortisolism. Increased cortisol can be caused by stress/panik attacks (don't we know it), a pituitary tumor(in the brain) or adrenal tumor (on the kidneys), or cancer. OK, I know your first thought is cancer with those lumps, but give it up, it's extremely rare! Let me give you the signs of hypercortisol:
irregular periods, mood swings, panic attacks, depression, rapid weight gain (weight is specifically in the abdomen, upper back and face - called moon face), legs/ankles & wrists usually stay thin looking, purple lines on your abdomen, breasts, arms, etc (stretch marks are caused by hormones, not stretching), acne, hair loss, brittle bones (you often don't know you have this), vision changes sometimes, tired, alterations in sleep, etc. I don't know if this is your picture, but regardless, is there any chance that you can see an endocrinologist? If not, see if your pdoc will order FSH, LH, and Testosterone to rule out PCOS and a 24 hr urine cortisol to rule out hypercortisolism. Once those results are in, any abnormatilities validates your complaints, and heads you off to a specialist (endocrinologist). As for thyroid, my pdoc did rx some to me at a low dose to try, but it didn't help. Maybe he will for you. Can't hurt as long as your thyroid stays in range, and you feel better. The big thing that helped me out was taking in photos of myself over a two year period. Doctors forget...I reminded them who I was, and that I may be crazy, but something else was wrong too! I get to see the wonderful endocrinologist specialist on Mon 6/12 and I started begging for help last fall. Good luck! Oh, and add on anti-thyroid antibodies as a last ditch blood test to test out those thyroids! Jennifer
> > I've been doing some reading up on ALL my symptoms (not just the depression alone).. shall I list??;
> >
> > Extreme tiredness, but unable to sleep
> > Regular physical exhaustion
> > Light headeness on excersizing
> > EXTREME weight gain (3 1/2 stone in 18 months - but 2 stone of that is in last 4 months, and eating less)
> > Panic Attacks (sweating, fainting, hyper ventillation)
> > Mood swings - suicidal and cutting myself, to laughing an dlaughing for NO reason, to hating anyone that comes near me.
> > Heavy prolonged, painful periods, with killer pmt
> > Painful lumps in my arm pits (every couple of weeks)
> > Stomach pains, always put it down to ibs.
> > Pale blotchy skin...
> >
> > OK, I'll stop there. I haven't really responded to any meds (other than getting worse at times), but, having read around, I have this feeling it could all be hormonal. I read an article on Poly Cystsic Ovaries, and I seem to match most of the symptoms. But, when ever I have mentioned to a doctor I think my problem has an underlying medical reason, they just dismiss and say "It's understandable you're trying to deny your psychiatric illness". So, they won't send me for further tests.
> >
> > I am FED UP of being so damned fat (photos taken at week showed me quite how fat I've got), and I know when I see friends I haven't seen for months they're thinking "god, she's put on alot of weight".
> >
> > Firstly.. do you think I might just be trying to deny any psychiatric illness...
> >
> > or, if not, how on earth can I get some help to find the cause. The NHS in England is in a terrible state, and my own doctors surgery has a 4 weeks waiting list!!! From reports I've had, doctors won't investigate polycystic ovaries until a woman can't conceive.. I don't want to wait another 3/4 years, till I find out I can't have kids...
> >
> > Grrrrrrrrrrr..
> >
> > rant over, and thanks for reading (if you have!!)
> >
> > Nikki the fatty blob!!!
>
> I never experienced my depression symptoms until I started trying to get pregnant. My Dr. never mentioned depression all he tried to do was find something medically wrong with me or my husband. It was very hard on me. It almost caused my husband to divorce me. I did finally get pregnant and suffered from depression symptoms the entire pregnancy. It was not until my child was 4 months old and I went to theropy for my marriage that I found out I had major depression and anxiety disorder. I child is three years old now and I have been on meds for almost three years. I went back to the dr because again we are unable to get pregnant. He has finally decided to do surgery on me in 6 months (I am not real sure exactly what he is looking for but it has something to do with my ovaries). What I am trying to say is that I too struggle with am I mad or ill. I do think alot of mine is hormonal. I will be 31 YOA in a couple of months and my Dr is concerned about the depression and my age and he even confessed that it could be something physical and not just emotional. He has even went as far as telling me that after the surgery I might just want to have invetro and then after the birth get a total hysterecomy. This might not be much help but I do know where you are coming from. Just keep an open mind and see another dr if you have to.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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