Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, ADHD, and hormone imbalance

[Born this way]

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and had partial and a complete thyroidectomy at 18yrs then 28yrs. I kept looking into feeling better because I could not finish projects, concentrate, felt foggy, had crazy mood swings (PMS). When the depression would get worse I’d bug my internist, she’d check my TSH level which was always normal and then prescribe antidepressants.

Since I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD, I’ve felt like I have more answers than with Hashimoto’s. The hyperactivity, unable to sit still, fidgety, hypersensitive to smells, easily distracted, going off on tangents, talking like I have marbles in my mouth, having constant creative thoughts, and needing seamless underwear. I hate filing, constantly fight clutter, and being misunderstood. I am also experiencing hot flashes, and extreme PMS and suspect a hormone imbalance. Yes I’m female living in the US.

Are they related and could one cause the other? What priority should I give each? Should I see my gyn/endo, psych, or internist? Who should I listen too. Everyone seems to push me off on the other without testing and just writing RXs. My Psychiatrist is out for 3 months and I’ll be web conferencing on my next appointment.

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[Wgreen]

For everybody’s information (From the NIH):

“Chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease is a common thyroid gland disorder. It can occur at any age, but is most often seen in middle-aged women. It is caused by a reaction of the immune system against the thyroid gland.

The disease begins slowly. It may take months or even years for the condition to be detected. Chronic thyroiditis is most common in women and people with a family history of thyroid disease. It affects between 0.1% and 5% of all adults in Western countries.

Hashimoto’s disease may, in rare cases, be associated with other endocrine disorders caused by the immune system. Hashimoto’s disease can occur with adrenal insufficiency and type 1 diabetes. In these cases, the condition is called type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA II).

Less commonly, Hashimoto’s disease occurs as part of a condition called type 1 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA I), along with:

Adrenal insufficiency • Fungal infections of the mouth and nails • Hypoparathyroidism

Symptoms:

Constipation • Difficulty concentrating or thinking • Dry skin • Enlarged neck or presence of goiter • Fatigue • Hair loss • Heavy and irregular periods • Intolerance to cold • Mild weight gain • Small or shrunken thyroid gland (late in the disease)

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

Joint stiffness * Weight gain (unintentional) * Swelling of the face

Note: There may be no symptoms.”

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[munchkin]

I’ve been wondering many of the same things… I am afraid I may have been misdiagnosed with hashimoto’s. I have been tapering off of Armour Thyroid for the past 6 weeks – with a doctor’s supervision – and so far it hasn’t been a problem.

I’m still unsure whether there was ever a Thyroid issue at all for me… I didn’t know about adult adhd when I was trying to figure out what was wrong with me.

Methylphenidate (Concerta) has been pretty effective so far.

See this other thread I started for more info:

http://totallyadd.com/forum/topic.php?id=1916

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[kc5jck]

My daughter has Hashimoto’s and has meds for the condition as her thyroid is not working at all. She is definitely not ADHD nor has she ever exhibited any behaviors of ADHD.

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[Born this way]

I was looking for a doctor or trying to convince my internist that I’d like to try Armour Thyroid with no success because my labs would come back normal. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s around 14yrs old and have no thyroid I’ve have to take Levothyroxine daily. But my hyperactivity was not consistent with Hashimoto’s which is hypo. I was very hyperactive and underweight as a child and now normal BMI for height and age today. I constantly feel like I have a motor running. I would also frequently take naps in a moving car. I would like to be calm and stop the motor. Sometimes I can concentrate (hyper focus) then get foggy or lose focus. Jumping from project to project without finishing things. My appetite and sleep are poor. I am hypersensitive on all 5 senses. PMS has intensified.

When my son started 1st grade, he started to get in trouble at school clowning around not staying in his seat. We were struggling every morning to get to school on time, frequently forgetting jackets or backpacks, and he had meltdowns over the simplest things and could not talk quietly anywhere. Other parents said it was normal for 1st grade. I finally did some research and heard about Mom’s getting diagnosed with ADHD after their sons were. ADHD made more sense after I looked into it. Then after months of researching ADHD and deciding that I’m ready to try medication, I had more trouble getting the diagnosis because my insurance didn’t cover the testing.

I get very frustrated with mental health care and HMO’s. It’s like they don’t want you to get better.

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[Saffron]

@Born this way:

I have ADHD and Hashimoto’s, and only half a thyroid gland after surgery to remove a tumour. (I recognized myself in your description, too—especially the sensory issues.)

Adding Concerta to my antidepressant helped me work effectively, but affected my health badly. In the almost three years I took both, I had breakthrough depression, difficult cycles, headaches and hyperacusis, hot flushes, anemia and hormonal swings. I also had swings of what appeared to be thyroid disease symptoms, mainly hair loss and joint pain and stiffness. I thought at the time that I was in early menopause.

Since I couldn’t perform my job without the Concerta, I stopped the antidepressant after finally consulting with my doctor. Continued on only the ADHD med. Within a few months I experienced a shockingly severe depression; I was really ill. Finally I gave up my ADHD med, I gave up my job, and I started a new antidepressant. The thyroid-related symptoms, hot flushes and joint pains have disappeared, and I feel normal and good again. I still exercise and eat a fairly low-iodine diet (important with Hashi’s).

Can’t concentrate worth a damn and make less money, but it’s better than the alternative. I’m definitely happier and healthier.

If I remember correctly, ADHD and autoimmune thyroid disease share a gene defect, so there are many of us who have both. I don’t know why I cannot handle both the antidepressant and an ADHD med, or why there isn’t much info out there on this issue, but there must be more people out there like us.

Dr. J?

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[Born this way]

I know my brother has ADHD. Everyone else thinks he’s bipolar or has thyroid too.

I’m on Adderall XR 45mgs now and I don’t have all the crying and emotion I did on Concerta. My son has bad crying when the medication is wearing off. I was having that too and it seemed to intensify with PMS. I constantly struggle with thinning hair, neck and shoulder tension.

I’ve been researching medication combos. Because something was way off. I was initially given 100mg Sertraline (Zoloft) for anxiety and depression before my ADHD diagnosis. I don’t think I have depression. It’s always been ADHD. I’m depressed that I’m trying so hard and not getting any results! I just found Dr. Parker’s vlog on cognitive anxiety. Being paralyzed by thinking too much. And when SSRIs are given, things get worse. I had uncontrollable crying, my memory was gone I was even misspelling things I know! I was so frustrated that I could not even speak or find the right words my mind was blank. When I told my Psych, he’s said to increase my Sertraline to 200mg. I turned into someone my family didn’t recognize. My medication was switched to Adderall XR and I went back to 100mg Sertraline against his advice. I hope I can convince him to get me off the Sertraline.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu0mN68rkEs

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[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of a video or computer program that would demonstrate to teachers (and others) what it is like living ADHD? I think. If they only could understand how hard my daughter and I were working they might be more cooperative.

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[kc5jck]

You don’t need a video. Just ask them to close their eyes and imagine that they are hurrying to a meeting with an armload of books and papers. Before they get in the building, one book slips and all others follow suit ending scattered on the ground with all the papers out of order.

That’s the start of a good day. Some days are windy and rainy. . . . or is it just me?

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[Patte Rosebank]

Actually, there *is* a video of what it’s like to have ADHD. It’s one of the bonus features on the “ADD…and Loving It???” DVD.

Rick stands in Times Square in NYC, and says whatever pops into his mind, about whatever happens to catch his attention at that moment. It’s complete stream-of-consciousness rambling, and it perfectly demonstrates what’s going on in the mind of someone with ADHD.

One warning: If you’re living with ADHD, you may find it so overwhelming that you can’t watch it right through to the end!

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[Patte Rosebank]

There’s also this part of the “ADD…and Loving It???” DVD: http://totallyadd.com/whats-it-like-being-add/ , which has various experts explaining what it’s like, but I find that it doesn’t have quite the impact of Rick’s Times Square rambling.

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