Thyroid Behavioral Issue

[nate352]

Hello Dr.

Two questions:

1) Can TSH levels change dramatically (enough to have no effect on the person to drastically effecting their behavior) within 1 1/2 months?

2) If you were concerned about your own Thyroid condition (see background below if question unclear) of the tests below what would you request for the Dr. to test?

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Free T4 (FT4)
Free T3 (FT3)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO)
Reverse T3
Antithyroglubulin AB (Thyroid Ab)

Background as to why I am asking.

Two Novembers ago my mother, who has had Thryoid challenges for many years, had a severe behavioral episode.  Paranoid, anxious, and many symptoms I have read on the other posts re: Thyroid and it's effect on behavior.  After being treated in a behavioral health department at our local hospital it was discovered that her TSH levels were nearly 3x the "normal" range.  The Dr. chalked her behavior up to the high TSH levels and worked on getting her TSH levels back to normal.  Since then she has been fine for the last year and a half UNTIL this weekend where she is now having similiar behavioral issues albeit not as severe as before (possibly because we caught it early as we now recognize the symptoms better).

Her primary Dr. is now saying that he does not believe it is the TSH levels this time because they tested "normal" one and a half months ago and quote, "It is impossible for them [TSH levels] to have changed to such a high level as to effect her behavior if they tested normal such a short period of time ago".  SO, he refused to perform a TSH test.

Thank you.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would test a TSH, T4 and T3.  It is possible for levels to change in as little as 3 weeks.  She may have a generic, bad batch, medication interraction, malabsorption, non-compliance -- any of these could throw levels off in a short period of time.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

These are questions best addressed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. I am glad they are retesting thyroid.  Good luck.

[nate352]

Hello.

We're now waiting for the Thyroid tests to come back and again, her primary Dr is almost positive it is mental illness not Thyroid related.

In the interim of my Mother's reality returning... what is the best approach in dealing with her mental delusions?

1) Go along with it and hope she snaps out of this imaginary world with time and her meds?  This is what we are currently doing, although we are afraid this will encourage her to create a new permanant reality.

2) Challenge her reality, a bit, by asking her to try and make sense by trying to help her put two and two together \ figure out that what she is feeling really doesn't add up?

Thank you.

[nate352]

Thank you Dr!  Thanks to your recommendation, my Mother's Dr agreed to run the tests.  He's still convinced the levels are fine, but it certainly will not hurt.

Thanks again for your quick response in this time of need, VERY much appreciated.