Anxiety attacks

[Diyena]

Is anxiety a symptom of hypothyroid as well as hyperthyroid? My Levo was upped to 50mcg 6 weeks ago, giving some improvement to symptoms. Yesterday I had an MRI and it was dreadful, as soon as I entered the machine I became extremely anxious and felt like I was going to have a panic attack! The anxiety has carried on ever since. Everytime someone at work asked me how my MRI went yesterday, I got teary! This is so unlike me, I'm normally really chilled and never stress. I've had 2 MRIs in the past and been fine.

[Hidden]

It is often cited here as a symptom, but like most of hypoTs symptoms, it doesn't affect everyone. I am not anxious, despite the hypoT. So it might be linked to a cascade effect from the hypoT, like malabsorption, or something else.

Do you think your serum ferritin could be low? Low iron is linked to anxiety. In a recent study of nutrients in panic attacks B6 and iron were lower in those suffering them than in the control group. Could be worth giving that a go.

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, unfortunately, it is a clinical symptom. You say you've just been raised to 50mcg, which is a starting dose really. 25mcg is usually an incremental dose. You should have an increase every six weeks until you feel well - not until your TSH is somewhere in range as some doctors do - with the result we may feel awful.

It has taken years probably for our thyroid hormones to run down before we are diagnosed as hypothyroid, so it does take a while for our hormones to be increased gradually until we feel well again. So I hope your doctor raises your levo sufficiently that you feel well again. All of these sensations are horrible and we just want to know is it 'usual' and the answer is yes.

When you get your next blood test, it should be at the earliest possible, and fast. You can drink water. Leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take levo afterwards. This allows the TSH to be at its highest as that's all the doctors seem interested in rather than relief of symptoms. Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post if necessary. Also get a B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested too.

"I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions"

[Diyena in reply to shaws]

I had my bloods done this morning, I fasted and had it done before medication. I will get the results next Friday. The 25mcg didn't affect my TSH at all, so I'm hoping the 50mcg has made at least some difference. my brain is less foggy and my joints aren't as bad but I think that's more to do with the vitamins I've been taking.

[faith63 in reply to Diyena]

You are not supposed to be looking at TSH and dosing! This is why people stay ill. There are free t4 and free t3 tests too. Antibodies testing and people dose their ndt and t3 until symptoms stop. T4 is often not very useful. Please ask Shaws for dosing advise according to Dr. Lowe.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Diyena]

The normal dose of thyroid hormones before the blood tests were introduced was between 200mcg and 400mcg of NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones). Nowadays doctors who used to prescribe pre the introduction of levo say that we are given too low a dose nowadays. Many keep us anywhere in the range when we feel best if TSH is around 1 or lower and some of us suppressed.

[DellFinium]

I'm extremely anxious without Armour thyroid (which I took for 3 years and was bovine again as a result). I couldn't even go into a CT scanner a year ago, off the Armour - high anxiety and fatigue rule, unmedicated, in my case. Even the bone scanner arm going over me gave me the heebeegebbees

[faith63]

A raise in levo, that isn't high enough, will make you more hypo than you were before. You r dose is very low.