Hi, I was told after a blood test that my thyroid is slightly overactive. Since they said they’d review it in 3 months but since I feel it’s gotten worse. I first reported to the doctors because I was having mild panic attacks due to health anxiety and also because my nana had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Since I’ve been avoiding foods which apparently increase thyroid function such as eggs and fish. Yesterday I had a severe panic attack where my mum rang 999 and an ambulance was going to come until we realised I’d calmed and it was just another panic attack which came out of nowhere. I have also been having the pain in the front and sometimes sides of my neck recently. I’m just wondering whether this is something to worry about and whether my overactive thyroid may have gotten worse. I can also no longer have caffeine because it makes my anxiety extremely bad. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m just worried about this uncomfortable aching I’ve been getting in my neck.
thanks for all your help as usual
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Lilacbee
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First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results?
if not will need to get hold of copies.
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.
well done giving up the caffeine, that really helped me too. I have Hashi’s and had quite a few hyper swings in my teens and twenties which made me very jittery and anxious.
doing regular exercise really helped me, boot camp and boxing type activities were good (couldn’t do them now I’m hypo). I do Iyenga yoga now which is super strenuous and not the floppy relaxing type of yoga.
Reading fiction and comedy type books is nice for a bit of escapism.
I went low sugar a long time ago, balancing blood sugar in my diet really smoothed out the bumps.
My local NHs healthy minds had an online questionnaire triage for mental health, my answers gave me 12 weeks fast track CBT 1hour a week with an experienced psychotherapist who was re-training. I now have strategies to deal with spiralling thoughts, inner dialogue, rumination, this has been very helpful. I wish I’d know. I had mental health needs in my teens/twenties. I didn’t realise it wasn’t normal to have these odd behaviours 🙈
It’s a constant process of acceptance and rationalising though, work in progress 😊
oh and neck pain … yes my neck is often sore. I get muscle spasms when tense. It’s all tender front and sides. One GP suggested reflux, but I have low stomach acid so I refused ant acids. Have since had a referral to ENT and ultra sound/CT scans to investigate as I started to get a bit of swelling. Feels like a permanent sore throat. Glands haven’t been down since a flu in February 2018. Covid didn’t help, was excruciating.
When GP asks for thyroid Function, the lab tests the TSH thyroid stimulating hormone - which is a pituitary hormone & signal thyroid to produce, It’s assumed low means thyroid levels high, high TSH means thyroid levels are low.
If the TSH is outside normal range actual thyroid level should tested. You need to know what the free thyroxine & free triiodothyronine (FT4 & FT3) are.
The TSH Isn’t reliable. Low TSH doesn’t automatically mean high levels & often autoimmune thyroiditis causes an initial transient rise before ultimately becoming hypothyroid.
Waiting 3 months is too long if symptoms are worsening. See if you can be tested earlier & if antibodies will also be tested.
Do you remember the time of your blood draw? TSH highest in morning after fasting.
Avoiding eggs and fish might not be necessary. If you are concerned about iodine, a balanced diet shouldn’t affect function. Only excess eg from a supplements or being deficient. Which is unlikely on a normal diet.
If GP won’t / can’t test there are private options.
Here’s a list of companies offering different options, some packages include thyroid function, key nutrients and thyroid Antibodies. Others a basic function only. Some also have discount codes available.
One with nutrients & antibodies might help progress quicker.
You order test online the kits arrives via post sample taken by finger prick (extra fee for private venous draw). Post back and results available online quite quickly.
Hi Lilacbee,Sorry you are feeling unwell . I had anxiety neck and chest pains for over 8 years before I got a diagnosis of an overactive thyroid. Infact it was a nurse at A&E who advised me to speak to my doctor about having my thyroid checked. Mine too started after my mother was diagnosed with cancer and my two boys diagnosed with autism. Please see your doctor as the longer it is left untreated the worse it becomes. Good luck
Hi Lilacbee, I have an overactive thyroid due to Graves’ disease and before I was diagnosed I had neck pain, a dull ache on one side and a weird pulling sensation, I thought it was due to nerve damage after a tooth extraction 2 years ago so ignored it until my heart started racing and anxiety took over my life, I was referred to an endocrinologist and as soon as I started taking medication my neck aches vanished and my heart stopped racing within a couple of days and because of this the anxiety disappeared as well, please insist on more blood tests, I thought I was going mad, a nurse at the doctors suggested thyroid problems, I was so shocked when my blood tests came back saying hyperthyroidism, I’m on block and replace now and feel better than I have done in years, good luck it does get better I promise.
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