Hypothyroid or depression?

[Katherine Brengle]

How do you tell the difference? I assume the only way to know is to go to my PCP and get referred to an endocrinologist and have them run some tests... The symptoms are so irritatingly similar...

I'm getting really frustrated with the way I've been feeling the past couple of years. It's getting to the point where it's effecting my ability to get things done and my relationship with my husband and friends so I know I need to do something about it...

Anyway, anyone else dealt with this?

[sir_captain]

1. Your primary care physician should be able to take of it for you

Thyroid testing is a pretty simple blood test

Edit: in any case, this is exactly what your internist is for. Go see him/her and talk about what's been going on.

[Shakespeare]

3. No, she needs to see an endocrinologist.

Thyroid levels are notorious for "masking" at levels that appear normal on the primary test. A good endo will also take into consideration things like age, weight and other symptoms before determining if she has hypothyroidism; it's very possible to have hypothyroidism but still have levels that show as normal on a general scale.

[Katherine Brengle]

5. That's what I thought --

I've known a handful of people who are hypothyroid, and some of them had to jump through some serious hoops with their doctors before being referred... I am hoping if I go in armed with enough info from the start that it won't be a huge ordeal.

[idgiehkt]

2. probably

this might get locked because of the deal about medical advice. Both my mom and sis have hypothyroid. I probably have it but I don't have medical insurance so I can't get it checked out.

[Katherine Brengle]

6. I don't want medical advice per se, just stories of anyone

who has gone through something like this so I know what to expect...

:shrug:

[treestar]

4. I have both

They go together a lot. But hypothyroidism is fairly easy to treat. Though some doctors claim it is over-diagnosed. Hard to understand that, though, because it shows up in a blood test. I get that every year and have had the same dose of synthyroid for years.

[Katherine Brengle]

7. Thx --

I'm surprised they would say it's overdiagnosed -- everyone I've known who has been diagnosed had to really push just to be tested properly...