Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Hi all,
I have low thyroid. The doctors use my thyroid medication as an adjunct therapy to help balance out my bipolar. Here's how.
TSH is the brain hormone that says: make more thyroid. IF mine is too low, my doc says, that's ok. They go by the actual T4 levels, because T4 is another name for the hormone I take, levothyroxine.
SO I take the levothyroxine, and the docs can check the level and see if it is in range with a blood test.
Last week my thyroid level was low, and my symptoms were EXACTLY those of depression: sleeping all the time, not eating, crying all the time, no energy, you get it.
If the thyroid level gets too high, I get nervous, my heart races, I get sweaty and anxious, not really manic and not fun at all. One time in my life I tried to get manic by taking too much thyroid. Guess what? It doesn't work. I only got really sick.
But having an ultratherapeutic T4 with levothyroxine is a real godsend. It is a known therapy. I have not seen it listed here, so I thought I would mention it for people to bring up with their doctors.
I have low thyroid. The doctors use my thyroid medication as an adjunct therapy to help balance out my bipolar. Here's how.
TSH is the brain hormone that says: make more thyroid. IF mine is too low, my doc says, that's ok. They go by the actual T4 levels, because T4 is another name for the hormone I take, levothyroxine.
SO I take the levothyroxine, and the docs can check the level and see if it is in range with a blood test.
Last week my thyroid level was low, and my symptoms were EXACTLY those of depression: sleeping all the time, not eating, crying all the time, no energy, you get it.
If the thyroid level gets too high, I get nervous, my heart races, I get sweaty and anxious, not really manic and not fun at all. One time in my life I tried to get manic by taking too much thyroid. Guess what? It doesn't work. I only got really sick.
But having an ultratherapeutic T4 with levothyroxine is a real godsend. It is a known therapy. I have not seen it listed here, so I thought I would mention it for people to bring up with their doctors.
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One day runs into the next I can't seem to keep them straightBut i do know it's Tuesday and I start to clean my landord's place again so it'll keep me going although I take breaks more often nowHe doesn't mind and I gwt it doneI hope that you have a good day and can get done what you need toBig hugz sent..Xo
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I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
Thyroid level diysfunction can change level of activity and moods - but it doesn't go into hypomanic or manic territory. Conversely bipolar does not affect your hair.
Bipolar and Thyroid are seperate even though they might sometimes present some similarities. The meds are different so I'm glad you've found something that works for your thyroid but it doesn't follow it works for bipolar?
In any case, it brought me out of a deep depression. I'm sure you know what that's like ayla67!
I have heard tell of people being mistakenly diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder when in reality, it was 'only' a thyroid condition.
They can share similar symptoms.
I think anyone who is diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder (or any kind of mental illness) should have a thorough blood test and physical exam.
Even if the diagnosis stands, there's plenty of cases where other stuff is going on, as well!!
I hope you get your TSH level right where you want it and that it stays there!!!
(((((Hugs)))))
I think I would actually be questioning my bipolar diagnosis if the depression is cured with synthroid. would be great though to see more research on this topic.
Several years later I became tired again. Sleeping all of the time. My Sythroid was too high! Again, no mental changes.