One hand in the crazy?
After my appointment with the doctor from hell, I was determined to find out what was causing my weight gain, fatigue, and hair loss. My hypothyroidism is boarder line and is being adequately managed with Synthroid, but the symptoms haven’t subsided, so I knew there was another cause.
My husband gently suggested (for the past year) that I might be depressed, so I finally made an appointment with a psychiatrist. And guess what? I’m textbook anxiety and mild depression, which causes all the symptoms I’m experiencing, so I was given a very small daily dose of Lexapro along with a prescription for Xanax.
At first I was skeptical and I wasn’t going to blog about my new diagnosis, but you know what? Serotonin is just another hormone that needs to be regulated so that I can feel better. Why not blog about it?
So, do any of you have experience taking Lexapro? Anyone else out there with their hand in the crazy, like me? 
The Jillybean
I don’t comment often, but I do read everyday. I just wanted to say…at least you only have one hand in…I think my whole body fell in most days.
The Jillybeans last blog post..Kicking The Tires
Teena in Toronto
My thyroid is hypo too. So I’m on meds for it.
Teena in Torontos last blog post..Gord’s the best husband ever!
Karen
I have been on an antidepressant for years and always will be. It is a physical condition just as high blood pressure is. You wouldn’t not treat having high blood pressure would you? Lack of serotonin in the brain is something that can be fixed. Thank God. It changed my outlook on life.
Joan
Hi Corrin! Your depression can be affected by your thyroid too. I have taken anti-depressants for 18 years and last year had to change mine because I had become so used to Paxil (previously I used Prozac). I now take Effexor XR. At the time I started Effexor I was having very heavy periods, was peri-menopausal, and my doctor had my thyroid checked due to my fatigue. It was high-normal and he said at the time that depression and thyroid problems can go hand-in-hand. I just said to my optometrist’s intern yesterday that my doctor said that depression is due to a chemical imbalance and the medication keeps it in check. It’s very hard to treat depression without medication but from 15-30 I had therapy here and there and medication on and off but nothing worked as well as the SSRIs do. I’m glad that you are getting treatment for the depression and thyroid and hope things go well with both!
Connie
I have Depression and Anxiety and am on meds for it. I’m not embarrassed about it because it’s a medical condition that requires treatment. Glad you found the help you needed.
Connies last blog post..Winner of Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Karen – My husband is a paramedic, and he said the majority of women he treats are on something for anxiety and/or depression. The doctor said she’ll give me one chance to ween myself from the medication in about six months, but most people take medication forever. Which is fine by me if I feel back to my old self!
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Joan – It is interesting how hypothyroidism and depression feed off of eachother. It’s kind of a neverending circle, and you have to treat both to get everything under control.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Thanks, Connie. My doctor said 4-6 weeks till I feel a difference, so I’m picking up my prescription today and looking forward to the changes!
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Teena – I’m not looking forward to taking two medications for the rest of my life, but if it works there’s no fighting it!
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Jilly – I think the season has something to do with it, too. Maybe we’ll all feel extra spunky once the sun starts coming out on a regular basis.
Teena in Toronto
I’d rather not take meds either.
But if it comes down to staying well and living forever, I’ll do it.
Teena in Torontos last blog post..Gord’s the best husband ever!
Laurie
You know I’ve been through all this too. I never tried Lexapro, but I did try Wellbutrin and Cymbalta at two different times for about six months each with the hope that the happy side effect of weight loss would happen to me. That was a no go and I didn’t really feel any better mentally, so I weaned myself off like you said. I have heard that some depression meds will cause weight gain too. I hope that you start feeling better soon.
Lauries last blog post..TGIF (tomorrow)
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Laurie – From what I’ve read, none of the medications I am on are known to cause weight-loss, which is pretty disappointing. Especially since I’m on such a teeny dose of each. Only 10 mg.
Joan
Hi Corrin! Interesting that you mentioned winter and low sunlight! Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression caused by lack of exposure to sun and low melatonin levels. I’ve been affected by it different winters and they used to treat it with daily exposure to full-spectrum light. The light boxes they sold were huge and expensive (looked like a huge makeup mirror with a flat panel of light). Now Bell & Howell sells nice table and floor lamps with full-spectrum bulbs. They do make a room brighter and make color and definition sharper. I have one near my TV downstairs and one near the couch and they reduce eyestrain too. I actually love winter and we’d gladly take some of your snow! Southeast PA has had very little snow the past 2 years.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Joan – I wonder if tanning counts as light therapy? Think I could get my insurance to cover it? Haha.
Joan
Hi Corrin! We-e-el, I don’t know about that, but 1) You would be getting plenty of light and 2) Your melatonin levels would be up.
It looks like we’re finally going to get some snow. They have forecasted 1″-2″ tonight, 1″-2″ tomorrow AM, and significant accumulation possible tomorrow night into Wed. I know this past week it has really felt like snow!
ladyGrace
Oh I think I might take a trip to my doctor soon as well. I KNOW I have been depressed for a while, I just havent done anything about it because my (now ex) fiance doesnt “believe” in anti depressents. Well I think the doctor might be in for a visit from me this week. Let us know more about your new found friend!
ladyGraces last blog post..Loosing a loved one
daria369
Did you consider just going for a walk daily and find something beautiful to smile about? It just might help you to feel a little bit better, at least for a moment…
daria369s last blog post..With guitar around the Old Ljubljana downtown
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Grace – I didn’t believe in anti-depressants until I needed them! I don’t see the harm in taking a tiny pill to regulate a normal body function and make myself feel better. No shame in that!
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Daria – I’ve significantly changed my diet and am loving the Wii Fit, so I think that’s helping a bit. I’m also hoping the weather brightens up soon.
Tina Kubala
Twitter: tinakubala
In addition to meds, I highly recommend cognitive behavioral therapy. It’s action based, rather than laying on the couch talking about your childhood.
The program I went through was 10 or 12 weekly visits with homework. You learn to identify the deadly circular thinking that causes depression and anxiety (also my diagnosis) and makes it impossible to “snap out of it” on your own.
The science is clear, drugs and therapy is more effective than drugs alone. I think of it as my toolkit. I’m thankful every day that my mom had been open with me about her struggles with depression and anxiety, so I knew what was happening and what help to seek.
I spent about four years on Zoloft. About three years ago, improving circumstances in my life allowed me to go off the drugs. I don’t rule out needed then in the future. I just consider myself in remission for now. I would go back on something in a heartbeat if (when) I need it.
Thank you for sharing your diagnosis on your blog. Speaking out isn’t easy. You’re going to be okay. Treatment works.
Tina Kubalas last blog post..Finish the Sentence Meme
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Thanks for the info, Tina. I’ll ask my doctor about therapy during my next appointment. I feel like at this point it’s simply a chemical imbalance – I don’t feel like anything in my life is having a negative effect on my moods.