Anxiety

[Bright-eyes]

Hi, I just wondered if it’s normal to have quite high anxiety with an underactive thyroid. Over last few days I’ve been feeling anxious which is making me quite snappy and not want to see anyone for fear of how I might react.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

In a recent post, you shared:

Serum TSH level 3.09 my/L (0.27-4.2)

B12 +FOL + FER - 79.9ug/L (30.0-400.0)

Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration 303 is/ml (0.0-35.0)

When was this test? What dosage of thyroid medication are you currently taking? Have you completed the private tests for FT3/ FT4 as advised in your recent post?

Like you, I was originally diagnosed as hyperthyroid and had extremely high anxiety. Following forum advice, I tested antibodies and found that I was actually hypothyroid with Hashimotos not (as originally thought) hyper with Graves. I regret the fact that I didn’t challenge my Endo about having the correct antibody tests when first diagnosed. As I lost weight, had high anxiety, palpitations tremor & TED I can see why they jumped on the hyper bandwagon. I’m ever grateful to forum members who encouraged me to challenge this diagnosis.

Have you checked your medical records to see if you actually tested positive for hyperthyroidism when originally given carbimazole?

Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism) needs to be confirmed via positive TRab or TSI:

 TRab TSH receptor antibodies

 TSI Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin

TPO & TG antibodies may be Graves or Hashimotos.  

TPOab Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

TGab Thyroglobulin antibodies

My anxiety only reduced when my TSH fell significantly under 1 (achieved from optimal dosing of thyroid medication) and all key thyroid vitamins (ferritin, folate, B12 and Vit D) were optimal. My anxiety continues to flare if my thyroid medication needs adjusting, so I always re test levels if symptoms persist. I’ve experienced high anxiety when both under and over medicated. Finding a ‘sweet spot’ where you feel best can be quite tricky to achieve & take time. My anxiety also spiked during peri menopause and (for me) the addition of HRT greatly helped.

Keep posting if you need further advice or support; we are here to help 🦋

[Bright-eyes in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for your response. I had this test test done on 9.3.23 I was advised by my gp to start on 25 mg of Levothyroxine which I am currently taking. I’m not noticing any real difference in my anxiety. I have a private blood test which I ordered through blue horizon but haven’t used it yet as another admin suggested I wait for my next gp blood test and see what the outcome is then. I am due to have this blood test in 2 weeks.

Do you think I should do the blood test I ordered through blue horizon? Have been on 25mgs of Levothyroxine for 3 weeks now.

Also I wondered if I could take propananol for my anxiety until my thyroid issues are under better control.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Bright-eyes]

25mcg is a very small starter dose; likely you will need much higher. I would definitely retest after 6-8 weeks on this dose. I tried proprananol & it helped in the short- term to reduce my palpitations/ fast pulse. What really helped long-term was optimal thyroid medication.

[Bright-eyes in reply to Buddy195]

Thankyou. Yes I think I will need a higher dose too but it’s like playing the long game with this problem getting blood tested every 6-8 weeks and increasing dosage. Trying to stay positive that it will all work out in the end. 😊

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Bright-eyes]

It definitely is a ‘long game’ for many (myself included) to achieve optimal medication/ key vitamins. Hang in there Bright-eyes!

[HopefulMe23]

I just wanted to reply and say you are absolutely not alone. Anxiety and ocd have been my worst symptom and have become so severe in the last year after diagnosis of hashimotos and having some issues with dose adjustments. I am now on NDT, but it is early days. Although I can’t give advice yet, I hope there is value in sharing experiences, knowing we aren’t alone and there are other forum members here who have felt the same and have noticed improvement once thyroid replacement and vitamins were optimised. That is really giving me hope that things will get better, I hope it helps for you too.

[Bright-eyes in reply to HopefulMe23]

Hi, Thankyou for your response. Can you tell me more about NDT and what the differences are between this and Levothyroxine? I’m still trying to gather information to help with my diagnosis so that I’m better informed to help myself.

Many Thanks.

[HopefulMe23 in reply to Bright-eyes]

Hi Bright-eyes, so sorry I have only just seen your reply, how are you feeling now? Natural Desiccated Thyroid was the original treatment for hypothyroidism many years ago before levothyroxine and it contains both t3 and t4. I am still working to optimise my dose so I don’t feel I can give accurate feedback on it yet but I have noticed some improvements already.

[greygoose]

Also I wondered if I could take propananol for my anxiety until my thyroid issues are under better control.

I would not take propananol if I were you, it can reduce conversion of T4 to T3, making you more hypo.

[Bright-eyes in reply to greygoose]

Hi, my anxiety is quite bad and making me tearful & worrying about everything. There must be something I can take to my stop my anxiety & heart palpitations until my next blood test in 3 weeks where my medication will likely increase as am on such s low dose right now.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Bright-eyes]

I like Bach Rescue Remedy to help with anxiety and also wouldn’t be without a magnesium supplement; I use glycinate as it’s easy on the stomach but other types are available. Proprananol did reduce my palpitations in the short term BUT only optimal thyroid medication and key vitamins helped me overcome high anxiety. This was by far the worst symptom of hypothyroidism for me.

[greygoose in reply to Bright-eyes]

I agree with Buddy, Bach Rescue Remedy and magnesium. Anxiety and palps are hypo symptoms, and will go when your dose of thyroid hormones is optimal. If you take propananol and it reduces your conversion, these symptoms will only get worse, not better.

[Bright-eyes in reply to greygoose]

Ok, Thanks.

[saritadelmar in reply to Bright-eyes]

Homeopathic Aconitum works well as it targets anxiety directly. Valerian root tincture or capsules are helpful, and don't forget St John's Wort (but stay out of the sun). I would think to take these things far from thyroid dose and not all may work. Experimentation is key. Deep breathing and meditation can help too, but sometimes can appear to increase the emotions. Do you have hotlines in the UK, someone to chat with?

[Margareta3 in reply to Bright-eyes]

Look at nootropics, especially L-Theanine, but also other; they help with anxiety without nasty side effects of beta blockers

[Bright-eyes in reply to Margareta3]

Thankyou I will look into these. 👍

[Bright-eyes in reply to Margareta3]

Hi again Margaeta3, can you recommend a good nootropic and L-Theanine I can buy online please.

[Margareta3 in reply to Bright-eyes]

There is a web page with plenty of solid info about nootropics from an expert: nootropicsexpert.com

It is good if you first learn about it. I have used in the past few brands: liquid L-Theanine by SBR Nutrition, L-Theanine by Gold Label, L-Theanine (Suntheanine) by SR. This is simply my personal choice and they worked with me.

[Bright-eyes in reply to Margareta3]

Thanks Margareta I will look at this information.

[spookyscaryskeletons]

I have never struggled with anxiety until issues woth hypothyroidism. I would often focus on one horrible thought that may or may not come to pass and my brain would go wild with it. This has improved some with regulating my thyroid with meds. You are definitely not alone.

[Hookie01]

Anxiety can also be a symptom of menopause?

[Batty1]

I get anxiety attack out of the blue so I definitely feel its thyroid related

[humanbean]

I had quite bad anxiety for a long time. It eventually disappeared when I optimised my iron/ferritin levels which were extremely low before I started the iron supplements.

Iron also reduced, but didn't eliminate, my depression.

Unfortunately fixing low iron and ferritin can be a very long winded process if absorption of iron is poor (as mine was), but I noticed an improvement in how well I felt quite a bit before I got my ferritin to mid-range.

Ferritin is a measure of your iron stores.

It is important to do an iron panel before starting supplements because ferritin and serum iron can be low, "normal", or high in various different combinations.

Prescription-strength iron supplements can actually be bought without prescription, with a pharmacist's permission, from pharmacies in the UK.

Supplements available are discussed on this link :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Bright-eyes]

Thanks. I will look into getting a private blood test done for my iron panel. As know this is important when hypothyroid.