Anxiety: Hi all, I posted a while ago regarding... - Thyroid UK

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Anxiety

Blitzen50 profile image
12 Replies

Hi all,

I posted a while ago regarding my hyperthyroid diagnosis.

Well, I have been put on 10 mg of carbimazole and have since had a scan and biopsy. Two of the elarged nodules look a suspicious and they are likely to be coming out.

My issue is the anxiety. It is pretty awful. Is this likely to be caused by the hyperthyroidism? I have practically had to give up driving because the anxiety is so great. Why would the thyroid condition cause this level of anxiety? 10 mg of carbimazole since mid November and I feel exactly the same!

I don't know what to do.

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Blitzen50
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Blitzen50 profile image
Blitzen50

Just to add, I am 48 and post menopausal. I have very low vitamin D levels and am taking a supplement for that. But the driving anxiety is crippling. It feels as though am on a boat, swaying and swerving. The fear is quite horrid, as is the sweating. These are short journeys, but open spaces are by far the worst. If anyone can relate to this, I would be grateful.

Den1987UK profile image
Den1987UK

Hello Mikey3 good evening I have hypothyroidism at 32 I was on 50mg Levothyroxine for 1 1/2 years and was doing good but now feel really terrible with brain fog anxiety memory problems and fatigue so my doctor increased the dose to 75mg and now on 100mg which is helping but not quite the right dose because still feeling unwell.

Yep anxiety is very bad at times I have exactly the same problems including muscle spasms. I am getting all my vitamin levels checked with a blood test. Apparently Vitamins D3 B12 ferritin and Folate have to be checked regularly and have to be at optimal levels.

Hope this helps.

Blitzen50 profile image
Blitzen50 in reply to Den1987UK

Sorry to hear of your struggles Den. What is the cause of the anxiety, do you know? Why would I struggle to drive? I am hyperthyroid and on 10 mg of carbimazole.

Den1987UK profile image
Den1987UK in reply to Blitzen50

Hello Mikey3 Could be low on B12 vitamin best way to find out is with a vitamin B12 blood test. I think I am the same as yourself low on B12 and D3 I think both Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can give you really bad anxiety if B12 levels are really low. The thyroid controls brain function nervous system heart and lungs and circulation and vision and pulse. As for driving that could be a phobia common with anxiety and hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.

Blitzen50 profile image
Blitzen50 in reply to Den1987UK

Right I see. Pretty much everything then. I think that's the cause of the anxiety for sure. Never experienced anything like this in my life. Time to get a B12 blood test.

Den1987UK profile image
Den1987UK in reply to Blitzen50

Hello Mikey3 good evening. I would definitely get a B12 blood test done to check B12 levels are okay and not really low. Hope this helps

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978 in reply to Blitzen50

I have what I think is anxiety

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You need FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Frequently Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) starts with low TSH

Previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You look like you have LOW FT4 this is NOT typical of hyperthyroidism

Can you add range on that FT4 result

Have you had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested? For Graves or Hashimoto's

Or TSI of TRab antibodies for Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism)

See GP and request vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Plus antibodies if not been tested

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Having high or low levels of thyroid hormones in the body can cause all sorts of problems, including anxiety and/or depression.

Another effect of having the wrong levels of thyroid hormones is that it usually affects cortisol levels. Cortisol is one of the stress hormones. If you were to have (for example) high cortisol and high thyroid hormone levels then anxiety would be a common, but very unpleasant, effect of that. In some people getting the levels of thyroid hormones right will have a knock-on effect on cortisol and it will normalise itself. But in some cases people have to work on both.

I read your previous post and based on the information you gave there I'm completely baffled as to whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or Graves' Disease.

You quote having a level of Free T4 of 13.3 and Free T3 being at a euthyroid level, having been a on a fairly low dose of carbimazole for a month? Have I got that right?

I don't know how much you know about Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, but it is an autoimmune condition which affects the thyroid, and it often first shows up with a period of being (apparently) hyperthyroid. In fact the behaviour of the thyroid is completely different when someone is hyper from Graves' Disease and in the case of someone apparently hyper from Hashi's.

With the info you've supplied I am wondering if you were going through a "hyper" phase from having Hashi's rather than Graves'. If that is the case, then carbimazole is not the appropriate treatment. However, it simply isn't possible to be sure what you've got because of the muddled information.

If I've understood correctly...

Your GP diagnosed you as hyperthyroid a month or so ago. You were obviously untreated at the time. You need those results and the reference ranges to find out what prompted your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist.

Then your endo put you on carbimazole. You need to keep records of what doses of any thyroid treatment you take, what the treatment is, the blood test results that you get and what you were taking and for how long at the time of the blood tests.

Keeping records of your symptoms and how bad they are at the time of each blood test is also essential.

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism : thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism : thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

One of the worst problems with having any kind of thyroid problem (in my experience) is the feeling of a complete lack of control over my own life. If you keep records it helps to give you back some control and/or some understanding of what affects you. As I've become more accustomed to my own condition I've become very lax with my record keeping, but it helped a lot in the early days.

You need to find out those blood test results from both GP and endo, (get copies - not handwritten but produced from a computer system - handwritten info can incorporate mistakes) and write yourself a timeline so that you can understand what has affected you. Otherwise you just keep re-inventing the wheel.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Find out EXACTLY what has been tested

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

We see many Hashimoto's patients who are misdiagnosed as having Graves' disease

Anxiety can be due to being hypothyroid or hyperthyroid...or rapidly swinging between the two

Low vitamins can cause anxiety too

Gluten free diet helps many patients....including reducing anxiety

Blitzen50 profile image
Blitzen50 in reply to SlowDragon

Thankyou SlowDragon.

Will reply with relevant information in due course. All I know is, endo felt a goitre, sent me for a scan and biopsy, which revealed many enlarged nodes. Now due to see thyroid surgeon to discuss further. I have some figures to share when I post again. Main symptom is anxiety when driving. Swaying and lack of balance when driving. I do not drive at present. I’m post menopausal, on HRT. Father has a multi nodule goitre like me. 10 mg carbimazole since 19th November with 0 effect. Repeat bloods in 3 weeks time. Will request to see endo ASAP as unless driving condition is unrelated, I need it sorting.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blitzen50

Lack of balance and feeling like on rocking ship can be low B12

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Common to have low vitamin levels with Hashimoto's or Graves' disease

If you have Hashimoto's carbimazole is not correct treatment

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