[Ewenme]

#1062812

Dear Megan, I am glad you found this site–you will find it helpful, I’m sure. It must be a challenge to be a teen and have to deal with all the things that go with growing up, as well as dealing with Grave’s disease–my heart goes out to you. Congrats on completing what sounds like a somewhat ‘rocky’ course of treatment–happy to hear your levels are stable. I know that the thyroid, when out of whack, affects all of you–including your mood. Most of us who have this disease have experienced mood swings (I have been on anti-thyroid drugs since last March, and have been hyper some of the time, hypo some of the time, and sometimes normal–still working on getting the right dose).
When you have Graves, you tend to blame all your problems on your thyroid (or lack thereof), but if your thyroid hormone level is indeed stable, other things could also be going on that have nothing to do with your thyroid. Just having to deal with the diagnosis of a life changing, chronic disease is difficult to accept. Going to a therapist may help you to sort that all out. Antidepressants are necessary sometimes, and some work better than others on different people–maybe you will have to try another (or two or three) before you fine one that is effective for you. There are probably others who will add to what I have said who are more knowledgable, but I just wanted to say ‘welcome’–we’re rooting for you. Check back in often and let us know how things are going.
Joy

[MeganD]

#1018123

I am 16 years old and was diagnosed with graves a little over 2 years ago. After many many months of dosage adjustments,RAI, and ER visits the thing finally died. Then the last year or so was the optimizing on replacement hormone to make a long story short I ended up on armour after many difficulties with the synthetics. So now I am supposedly stable but I don’t feel like it because I am SO depressed!! I have been on antidepressants for the past 3 months and they don’t seem to be working so my mom is making me go to a therapist. Is this common after going through this disease? I have already missed so much in my high school years I want to a least enjoy my senior year. Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

[KAM]

#1062813

Hi,
You should give yourself a huge at-a-girl for dealing with this disease. For a young person like yourself to have found this site and then have the confidence to post a question is very impressive in my opinion. I don’t have Graves but I a have a dear friend that does. Is it normal to have to see a therapist? In this day and age it is pretty normal for a lot of people young and old to see a therapist for many different reasons. Having a therapist that you feel comfortable with and enjoy working with is very helpful. I don’t want to rock the boat with your mom but keep in mind that the phone book is full of therapists. I wouldn’t discount the value of them if the person you are seeing now isn’t a perfect fit.
Kam

[Bobbi]

#1062814

Hi, Megan:

Having wonky thyroid levels can indeed cause depression. That doesn’t mean that is what is going on with you, but it could be. I would strongly recommend that instead of a "therapist" though, that you have your mother find you a really good psychiatrist who knows about anti-depressant drugs. Regular doctors do prescribe them, but in some cases, some drug combinations work better than others, and the psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor who specializes in things like this. A member of our family who suffered from depression finally switched to a psychiatrist, and there was a big difference in the quality of drug care that she received.

I do wish you good luck in figuring out what is going on, and in feeling better soon.

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