Anxiety

[Roma2975]

I had aTT in august for papillary cancer then Rai 131 in October. About a month after rai I felt really down and depressed this seems to have stopped and I’ve been left with anxiety and sleep problems. Could I be over mediated? I’m on 150mg and lost weight since I was put on levothyroxine

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Presumably you've had a recent thyroid function test? Can you post the results with their reference ranges so we can see what your levels are (ranges vary from lab to lab so it's essential we have those).

[Roma2975 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’m going on Tuesday for my first bloods since Rai. I have no idea why I’m anxious

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Roma2975]

To ensure you get a measure of your normal circulating amount of hormone, we always advise the following when doing thyroid tests :

* Test no later than 9am to give highest possible TSH which is needed to avoid a reduction in dose or when looking for an increase

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test

* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test to avoid a false high or false low FT4 result

* No biotin or any supplement containing biotin (eg B Complex) for 3-7 days before the test

[Roma2975 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Im confused do you take meds before blood test or not. I won’t be at the hospital till 10am

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Roma2975]

Im confused do you take meds before blood test or not. I won’t be at the hospital till 10am

No you dont take them before the test for the reason given

* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test to avoid a false high or false low FT4 result

The above information is patient to patient asvice which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomist .

Your 10am blood draw will.give a lower TSH result than a 9am blood draw.

[Roma2975 in reply to SeasideSusie]

sorry still not getting this do I not take the pill as I would normally in the morning. I’d take it about 7am

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Roma2975]

day before test move your 7am dose to 10am

Day of test do NOT take levothyroxine until after blood test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Stop taking any supplements that contain biotin 3-5 days before test as biotin can falsely affect test results

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate, but all that might be tested on NHS

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum. So request testing if not done recently

you are legally entitled to copies of your test results

[Roma2975 in reply to SlowDragon]

talking vitamin d. My b12 was 212 in November as it was low in august. They gave me an injection. This is all still new to me. I’m more worried how anxious I am. They have already told me the update scan only showed thyroid area. Why do some doctors tell you to take the pill as normal before bloods and others don’t.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Roma2975]

Because many doctors don’t understand how to do a test

Anxiety is common hypothyroid symptom

On levothyroxine we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels

B12 was very low.

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Have you had test for pernicious anaemia before starting B12 injections

You should have B12 injections every 2-3 months.

Or be on daily B12 supplements

Levothyroxine is Ft4. This is inactive storage hormone. Before we can use it, it has to concert to Ft3 the active hormone, by dropping one atom of iodine

For good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 we need GOOD Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels

Poor conversion of Ft4 can result in high Ft4 and low Ft3. This can make you feel anxious and hypothyroid at same time

It’s ESSENTIAL To test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

See what test results show

If only TSH tested, then you may need to organise private testing like thousands of U.K. patients

[Roma2975 in reply to SlowDragon]

not vegetarian. Gp is retesting in February for pernicious . Not on supplements. I will ask when I go to see the surgeon

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Roma2975]

So request they include testing for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 on Tuesday

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Roma2975]

sorry still not getting this do I not take the pill as I would normally in the morning. I’d take it about 7am

Not sure what it is that you dont understand, I thought the way I had explained it was clear.

You do NOT take your Levo on the day of the test until after the test has been done. Last dose should be 24 hours before the blood draw.

[lisabax in reply to Roma2975]

no you don’t

[Batty1 in reply to Roma2975]

delay your 7AM pill until AFTER you have your blood test.

[Hidden]

You could be but anxiety is also a classic symptom of undermedication.

Only way to know for sure is blood tests. Do you have any to share?

[Roma2975 in reply to Hidden]

can I ask the surgeon for my blood results ?

[Hidden in reply to Roma2975]

Yes! You're legally entitled to a copy of your medical records. Some drs get a bit funny about it so ask a secretary of you can.

You can also test thyroid function privately. Monitor my health does a test. It's £26.10 if you use the 10% off code.

[Roma2975 in reply to Hidden]

I’m in Scotland so I will ask for a copy

[Steni]

hi Roma,

I think you’re feeling so anxious that you struggling to take in all the information given , that’s ok , just give your self a break from reading now and after a few hours read the first explanation you got to you’re question again. It’s a lot to take in . Your anxiety might be down to the Levothyroxine not kicking in yet ( it takes a while ) or not being enough yet . Take your time it will be better soon.

[pennyannie]

Hello Roma and welcome to the forum :

The thyroid is a major gland and the controller of all your bodily functions and synchronises of all your ' being ' from the physical, through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

Anxiety is a symptom of your body not fully hormonally balanced and likely your thyroid hormone replacement medication is not yet fully settled within your body and likely you need a dose adjustment in your T4 - Levothyroxine medication.

We need to see a blood test for a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 reading and range and hope this is the test when you see the doctor this coming week.

It is the relationship between the T3 and T4 results which is crucial and we can explain all this to you once we see a copy of the results - - in due course - and I imagine the plan is to keep your TSH suppressed because of your diagnosis.

Ask if you can also have your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D levels run as we need optimal levels of these core strength vitamins and vitamins in order to equip our bodies better to convert the T4 - Levothyroxine into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body.

Please try not to worry - I know it's much more easily said than done - we are here to help and support you on all and everything in your recovery and journey back to better thyroid health.

If you feel inclined just go to Thyroid UK which is the charity who supports this forum and start to read around ' all things thyroid ' and read other people's questions and replies as you are not alone, and why we are here. thyroiduk.org

Any new information deserves a new question and we try to answer every question as fully as possible within 1 /2 days of posting as the volume of questions demands we move on relatively quickly.

The aim being to ensure all ' new questions ' are acknowledged and helped as we know it takes courage even to ask for help, and since this is a patient to patient forum, we understand and have been where you are, and now better through the help we received, come back to help and share our knowledge with others.

[Brightness14]

You will have to wait and see the results of your blood tests, then post the results with the references ranges on here for answers. Good Luck

[Hidden]

Have you mentioned anxiety to your doctor? You may need something to help with that. I have Graves Disease and anxiety is a known symptom.

[Roma2975]

I’ve been to see the GP I honestly think I’m in the wrong dose but bloods will tell. I go to see the oncologist and surgeon this week