There are many misdiagnoses of depression out there but hypothyroidism is so commonly among them that it demands a separate essay. Some doctors are significantly challenged by diagnosis and treatment of thyroid – woefully, endocrinology doesn’t seem to be their cup of tea as the number of incorrectly NHS-diagnosed patients is horrifying.
I know a story of a patient who had five diagnoses/treatments out of which four were erroneous, she has been given drugs for pretty much all diseases under the sun, except for thyroid. Another patient who writes on our forum – a textbook case of hypothyroidism – had a very similar experience of being given an exorbitantly expensive prescription for pretty much all major diseases). The correct TSH level (the norm being between 0.5 and 4.2 units, just like the norm for healthy weight is between 30 and 250 kg) is very vague. If someone suffers from symptoms of hypothyroidism it is quite likely she/he actually indeed has the disease, even if the test results came back as borderline normal – the correct level is very much an individual case.
If somebody is being treated for hypothyroidism and is also depressed (on top of other hypo symptoms), she/e he is most likely incorrectly treated – and do not let yourself be persuaded it is not the case. The list of possible indicators:
– constipation
– cold feet and hands
– psoriasis-like skin on elbows and knees
– aches and pains in joints
– hair loss
– rigged nails with barely visible lunulae
– low blood pressure
Importantly, the symptoms above may be related to an issue different than hormonal – they are just a pointer towards a diagnosis (as iron deficiency or underactive adrenals may give very similar symptoms)