"You’re probably still depressed, but we’ll do a blood test anyway."

That was how my GP informed me in November 1994 that my exhaustion could be due to something other than depression. When I rang to get the test result, I was told that there was nothing to worry about, but my TSH level was marginally up (5.9 mIU/L - Ref. range: 0.5-4.0 mIU/L). I needed another test to see whether I had thyroid autoantibodies, which I did (Positive thyroid microsomes. Titre 6400). I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. What did this mean for me? Nothing much, but I needed to take thyroxine for the rest of my life. When I next saw my GP, I could get a prescription for my medication. I asked him if I could collect the script that evening, so that I could start taking the tablets immediately. What a relief! There was actually something wrong with me. Just knowing it could be remedied gave me an emotional lift.

I was at that stage unaware that I had displayed symptoms of hypothyroidism over many years:

• My husband complained that I wanted too many blankets on our bed, and that he was getting too hot. My baths and showers were also always hotter than he could stand.
• In June 1989 I had a D & C, to try to find the reason for my heavy and irregular periods. I had another such procedure in August 1994. No gynaecological problems were ever found. No thyroid tests were ever suggested.
• In 1991 my daughter, then in Grade 3, had to write about her mother. Her friend wrote: "My mother likes being a mum." My daughter wrote: "My mother likes to sleep."
• I had even asked my GP about the pins and needles in my fingers. He replied that it was carpal tunnel syndrome, and that I should not worry about it. Pins and needles on waking in the morning can be symptomatic of hypothyroidism.

But depression had been my major affliction. I suffered two nervous breakdowns, and consulted four psychiatrists between 1986 and November 1994.

My first nervous breakdown occurred in August 1986 when my son was ten months old. I had been feeling down for some months, was suffering from sinusitis, feeling rotten and had to care for two small children. I longed to curl up in bed, but I couldn’t. I needed mothering, but I was the mother. Unfortunately I cracked. My GP suggested that I should see a psychiatrist, who said: “You’re tense and anxious, and you need to relax more.” He didn’t ask to see me again.

Thyroid problems commonly present between 3 and 6 months after a baby is born. About 5-9% of women, especially those with thyroid antibodies present during pregnancy, develop some thyroid problems after giving birth. My thyroid function, however, was never tested.

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References:

1. D Sarne, ‘Chapter 5a: Effects of the environment, chemicals and drugs on thyroid function’, in L J De Groot et al, Thyroid disease manager, http://www.thyroidmanager.org/Chapter5/5a-text.htm, Accessed 17 June 1999.
2. It is debateable whether thyroid hormone treatment can lead to osteoporosis. A study presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis by Dr Martin Stenstrom of the University of Gothenburg suggests that thyroxine treatment does not affect bone mineral density. (W A Thomasson, ‘Thyroid supplementation does not increase osteoporosis risk’, http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1D62E2.htm, Accessed 24 July 2000.)

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