Based on what you've described, it sounds like hypo.. I am not a dr. and should not even come to that conclusion based on your description but those are most of the symptoms. I can attest from experience, that hypo is often misdiagnosed masking things as depression and is easy to give a psychotic than is to find the root cause. I used to see a general practitioner a few years ago who sure, gave me the thyroid medication but also, prescribed a sleep enhancer and an antidepressant. Neither worked and caused me more issues than I can describe here. The misdiagnosis as depressive symptoms can be thyroid related. Lethargy, loss of hair of course, hoarse voice, cold/heat intolerance, lack of attention, etc. I would find a way to ween yourself from the antidepressants which is not easy to do once you're on them for a while you feel dependent and the cycle to break is not easy. Wish you well in your journey. Take a look at the list of books which deal with that and study up for yourself. Most are easy reads and can help you gain some education into your situation. Best to you.

Do you have recent labs to share?

Hi Dawn,

You know your body better than anyone else. If you feel like there is something amiss, there is probably something amiss. A few years ago, I felt off. All of the same symptoms you mentioned were going on with me. I knew something was really wrong. Long story, but I finally found a doctor who would listen and take me seriously. All of my life I struggled with my weight, hair loss, and everything else associated with low thyroid function. Each doctor would do a simple TSH test and tell me that my thyroid was "low, but within the acceptable limits" and crossed that off the list. The new doctor I found is a DO (not an MD). Huge difference if philosophy... and it probably saved my life.

When I mentioned to her that I'd been told my TSH was low, but not low enough to treat (according to the bell curve). She said we have to look at more than just the one level (which most PCPs don't know to do). She also told me that the bell curve is a ridiculous way to treat patients! If you are normally an A student, but get a C- on a test, a teacher who doesn't know you would think everything is fine. You know you did not do well, but they think it's "normal". NOT okay in the medical field. For the thyroid, you might be "fine" in the bell curve, but not fine for your body. Changed my life!

We looked at the ratios of my levels, not just the main number, which was "fine". The ratios were off terribly. One of the issues was my testosterone was too low. That is not normally looked at for women, so it had been ignored or dismissed. It was a huge problem. Low testosterone and low thyroid mimic each other in symptoms and they both are contribute to how well you feel (the "well-being" hormones). They compensate for each other as well. I had "used up" my thyroid and my testosterone stepped in to fill in the gaps. It was then depleted, too (which is why I felt so so bad). We had to stabilize the testosterone level first, then deal with my thyroid - otherwise, it would be a false reading and not really fix the issue.

If you are truly ready to feel better... don't stop until you find a doctor willing to take you seriously and who knows how to read hormones and how they interact with each other. My preference is always a DO when possible (for seveal reasons). If you don't know the differences in training and philosophy between an MD and DO, it's really worth looking into. I have never been disappointed with a DO.

Good luck!! I know exactly how you feel and know there is light on the other side. Once we made the adjustments, I lost 80 pounds in 10 months, my thinking became clear, puffyness went away, mood stabilized, hair is still regrowing (except my eyebrows are lagging behind a bit). Energy and wellness was restored. You can have it back, too!