Hi Ellie, thanks so much for all your help. I have the test results that she has taken, is there anyway to fax them to you? Just let me know the best way to go about doing this. She had more tests than just the thyroid, but i of course don't understand any of it .! Thanks again, Sonni
I had a question for you...I've been in the MLC forum for about 1 year and not sure if you read any of my H's whackiness....but I (and nearly everyone else) started to suspect it's not really MLC but rather something like bipolar.
I also read that bipolar symptoms can be triggered by thyroid conditions? Not sure.
Wanted to know if you knew of any correlation, or if what I read was just bogus.
Basically, people with bipolar disorder appear to have a higher frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease, and family members of bipolar patients appear to have a higher frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease. What isn't really known is the exact nature of the connection. Do thyroid hormone swings mimic bipolar symptoms in some people? Is bipolar caused by a separate autoimmune condition (people with one autoimmune condition are more prone to a second) and the connection is just a predisposition to autoimmune disease?
Certainly thyroid disease is known to cause depression, anxiety, and sometimes (rarely) psychosis. Anyone with bipolar symptoms should probably be checked for thyroid disease (including antibodies) since certainly the co-occurence of untreated thyroid disease would only make bipolar worse.
That really helped. I also read that when a person is going through the diagnosis of bipolar, they usually do thyroid and calcium tests to rule that out before going further.
Utlimately there is little I can do. Also, my H has a lot of emotional issues underpinning this, so don't know what to think....I have been told it's a combo of emotional and organic issues.
During his craziness, he has had: * wild spending * high promiscuity (not just one OW) * total change in personality styles * not a stable home-base * risky and wreckless behavior, even if it risks work stuff....hanging out with questionable people and part of their arrests, etc * hallucinations - months of hearing voices and seeing things, mostly in his home (which prompted moving out) * anger/irritability - me and work * suicidal thoughts/tendencies * depression * hopeless, worthless, guilt-ridden (but this swings back and forth to the above) * no sleeping, and little eating * periods of intense working, staying up for 6-18 hours/day for days at a time and accomplishing amazing things at work * no filter...lack of perception and insight to what he is doing and how others see it or impact (with respect to spending and promiscuity)
I didn't see signs of bipolar before, but he always did have an "intense" personality to work hard and intense, and would be able to be very social/charming, and then also had intense moodiness/irritability. I thought it was just his personality, but now I am thinking maybe more.
I have also heard that triggers for bipolar could be life events/stress (in his case he has finally "made it" so good things like good job and financial security), hormones, chemical imbalance, genetics.
Just blabbering...sorry. Thank you for the links and advice. I have been in teh MLC forum for a while and with the agreement of everyone in my life (and the board members) that this is likely something more than MLC.
Hallucinations - he should also be checked for B12 deficiency, which can cause psychosis and depression. Does he have any risk factors, like family history of autoimmune disease, or vegetarian diet, or long-term use of acid-blockers like Tagamet etc.?
Also - does he take any prescription medications? I know there have been a few reports of Parkinson's drugs triggering compulsive gambling or other compulsive behaviors. Lipitor and other statin drugs have been associated (rarely) with odd behavior too.
For those of you who remember, my brother's criminal case was settled today. He pled to misdemeanor battery, hated to do it as he is innocent but saved him from being tagged as a sex offender or doing any more time. Unfortunately, the public defender told him he really should leave town because it would be too easy for these whack-jobs who accused him to sabotage him during his year's probation (example - plant drugs at his house then call the cops). Brother is relieved not to be facing jail time but infuriated at having to leave his neighborhood and being convicted when he is innocent. It's a good outcome, but not justice.
Wow Ellie, I'm sorry that he had to do that... glad it's a relief, but that's so frustrating when he's innocent!
Me 35, H 38; Together 13.5 yrs, M 7 Bomb 1 10/07/06 Sep'd 1/14/07 - 4/15 Piecing: 4/07 - 9/07 Bomb 3 10/11/07: Never loved you, let's separate 2/08 slowly improving 7/08 Piecing (7/25/08 rings back on!!) Current thread
So you have a better understanding of why people do make the choice to plead guilty when they believe themselves innocent or at least innocent of the charges?
My XH as an attorney sees this a lot. A person is often offered a misdemeanor charge which is a lot less risky to accept than going to trial for a felony. It's a tough situation for some people but you can understand how for even smallest risk that they are found guilty of a felony it is worth it to avoid that risk.
Definitely though, listen to the attorney. If someone is out to get him, then getting away is the right thing to do even if it is unfair.
SOOOO What's up with your practice?
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus
First, though it's not a perfect ending in justice, I am happy that your brother is not facing jail time. I'm sorry that he has to move, but maybe it will be a clean start for him as well. I hope that he can find a new place and start fresh from all of this. What an awful thing to happen.
Also THANK YOU for your care and advice. It helped a lot. I'm not sure if H is taking drugs - it's certainly been suggested before. I also don't know about the vitamin deficiency. He is not vegetarian and no Tagamet....the only family history is of depression (his mother, I think), his aunt tried to commit suicide twice after her very ugly divorce. And a strong family history of Alzheimers.
The funny thing is, he's a doc and he does excellent in clinical care...it's just life outside of that that tends to slip. For that I am thankful - I would hate for patients to suffer any damage.
.!