Am I the only one who experiences serious anxiety as part and parcel of their Hashimoto's?

[whynotwhynot]

I keep being told anxiety is not a symptom of hypothyroidism, but I swear this sickness has a huge neurological impact on me, the worst of which is anxiety.

Anyone else experience this?

[Jazzw]

Oh, it definitely is a sign of underactive thyroid! When you consider that energy is dependent on how much T3 you can make (either with a functioning thyroid or by converting levothyroxine), it’s obvious that fluctuations will make you anxious and feel stress.

You sound undermedicated - is that the case, do you think?

[whynotwhynot in reply to Jazzw]

Yes, I am definitely undermedicated at the moment. And as soon as I'm just a little undermedicated, my anxiety starts to increase.

I just shifted cold turkey from Erfa's NDT to Thiryod and I've gone from perfectly well-adjusted levels to everything completely out of whack: too low t3, t4, ft3, ft4, plus a rising THS. I haven't changed my dosage (I'm on 120 mcg/day). I have never experienced this happening before, and haven't seen my THS rise in 2 years.

Can your THS even rise on NDT? I thought it became suppressed, and I'm not understanding what's going on.

I can't figure out of I should get off this new brand ASAP. Doctors obviously want me to switch back to synthetic, but I'm very hesistant, because I felt the best I've felt on the old NDT (which became too expensive and difficult to get hold off, which is why I changed to this new brand). I wonder if there's an adaption period when you try out a new brand of medication? Should I give it more time and see if my levels star adjusting?

[MoonbeamXX1]

If your thyroid is out of whack then it follows quite logically that your adrenals and sex glands are likely to be too; as they are all interdependent.

One of the main physical/mental symptoms of adrenal insufficiency is anxiety.

In Dr Peatfield's book 'Your thyroid and how to keep it healthy' he lists the symptoms you could experience with hypo/adrenal/sex gland imbalances. Many symptoms however are on all three lists...…..

I wouldn't particularly recommend buying his book because I found it too technical for my hypo affected brain to take on board. He tells you about the tests you could have done for adrenals (saliva) but not how to self-treat when you receive the results.

Janie Bowthorpe's book 'Stop the thyroid madness' does tell you how you can self treat but it's no walk in the park otherwise I would have mine all sorted. I found the explanations of the condition however much easier to grasp than Dr P's book.

I take Liquorice and Astragalus tinctures in an attempt to treat my adrenals; I have no proof that they are helping me but I feel that they are making some kind of a difference.

[whynotwhynot in reply to MoonbeamXX1]

Hi there, thank you so much for this. Why Liquorice and Astragalus? I'd love to know what benefits they have.

[MoonbeamXX1 in reply to whynotwhynot]

Hello

You are welcome. I got the suggestion from the Medical Medium's website - MedicalMedium.com - have a look there. It will provide a much better answer than I can supply. It's always good to check how other people have done on these particular tinctures - Mountain Fresh sells them on Amazon and the reviews are illuminating.

Please try not to get all hung up on his 'story' - you don't have to believe it for the tinctures to work for you!

(I posted about them; it's too long for me to repeat but you could have a look at my very limited posts and see what I said about them).

[whynotwhynot in reply to MoonbeamXX1]

Thank you so much. I'll look for your post.

How do you feel on them? Do they work for you?

[MoonbeamXX1 in reply to whynotwhynot]

Hopefully you have looked at the thread I posted about MM and the tinctures he recommends for specific conditions; you will see that we have had clear evidence that they can definitely help.

With me however, as I didn't have an adrenal test prior to taking them and subsequently: I cannot quantify whether they have helped me but because I know my husband and others have had success with the tinctures; I feel I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking them. I instinctively feel they are helping but I cannot say more than that...….

The other person I cite in that thread has stopped taking her Nutri Adrenal Extra (and she thought she would be on them for life) because of following MM's protocol and using his supplements; so they can definitely help the adrenals.

[Hidden in reply to MoonbeamXX1]

Very helpful info for me. I am dealing with adrenal issues currently and will be glad when they are sorted out. Sometimes I feel my anxiety is through the roof!

[MoonbeamXX1 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Irana

Has no health professional ever suggested adrenal supplements to you? I can state that they are the only tablet/supplement I have ever taken that has categorically worked for me.

Before taking them, my anxiety levels were through the roof. I shook all over my body and my neck felt as if it couldn't support my head; it was a most unpleasant and frightening symptom.

(Nutri Adrenal Extra comprises bovine adrenals - I think I am right in saying that the 'extra' has the adrenaline component in it and the Nutri Adrenal doesn't - in case you already produce too much adrenaline).

I was proscribed them by Dr Peatfield (a private doctor) after a saliva test showed up the state of my adrenals. Being me, I started off very slowly and only increased gradually. Those particular symptoms went away quite quickly.

They are a steroid however and are only supposed to be proscribed by a health professional. I've read on Amazon about people taking them like Smarties and then wondering why they feel more ill!

In STTM however; they are realists and advise how you can self treat after having the requisite tests done. We should never really guess about any symptom because, as we know; one symptom can be common to a whole host of conditions.

[Hidden in reply to MoonbeamXX1]

Thank you for the info and suggestions re adrenal meds. I don't feel comfortable self-medicating concerning adrenal issues right now as I am being worked up for possible removal of an adrenal cyst and adrenalectomy. I don't want to add any component that might confuse the surgical decision issue. It makes sense to me to do everything I can to avoid surgery but, if needed, I want the decision to be based on accurate information gathered by my endo and surgeon. The issue of supplements is on the table and hopefully this will turn out to be the preferred mode of treatment, if possible, rather than surgery. 😊 irina PS. But definitely something to consider after the surgery issue is resolved.

[sunsetalley]

I was very anxious and depressed too before starting treatment with levothyroxine...

[greygoose]

Oh, lord yes! It's most definitely a symptom of hypo - and hyper as well. You need just the right amount of thyroid hormone - not too much and not too little. Is it your doctor keeps telling you it's not a hypo symptom? Doctors know nothing about symptoms, and their aim is to get everyone on antidepressants, so of course he says it's not a hypo symptom!

It's the fact that my anxiety has gone away (fingers crossed) that I know I'm now on my right dose.

[whynotwhynot in reply to greygoose]

YES! It's the endos around here, they love that stuff. They're adamant that anxiety belongs to hyperthyroidism only. They've always wanted me to go on psychotropic drugs even though my levels of anxiety are a better measure of my thyroid levels and general functioning than even - or especially - blood work.

[greygoose in reply to whynotwhynot]

[MoonbeamXX1]

Hello whynotwhynot and other interested parties

I've just been reading an article by Tom Brimeyer which is saying that your adrenals cannot 'get fatigued' but can become insufficient; I think it's definitely worth a read.

forefronthealth.com/hypothy...

We have mourneadventurer to thank for posting an article from this person on one of her threads!

[Hidden]

Went to Tom Brimeyer's website and having trouble downloading video. Will keep trying as I would like to hear what he has to say. Though after reading his short introduction it seems to me he is hung up on semantics. He doesn't like the term 'adrenal fatigue' but prefers 'adrenal insufficiency'. For me, this seems nitpicky. The term is not as important as addressing the symptoms and offering effective help. Just my opinion. What are his credentials?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Just googled various articles on Tom Brimeyer. Wasn't very impressed with some of his ideas about thyroid/adrenal treatment. Just my opinion. But always interested in anyone's suggestions about people who can help us. Thanks. irina PS I must say his explanations are very good at promoting the sale of his supplements.