Panic and panic attacks

[jaxie28]

Hi I’ve had panic attacks this year (four full blown ones) and a few attacks that I managed to avoid by taking deep breaths until they passed

I never suffered from these before despite suffering with anxiety all my life for which I take Setraline

I’m wondering if it is because I am now taking Thyroid S and the dose is too high (I haven’t done a recent test as I no longer live in London and as I can’t do the finger prick tests and don’t have anyone local to draw blood so it’s much more difficult to do this) or that I’m menopausal for which I’ve started on HRT (though have had attacks before and since the introduction of this)

I had the start of one today and it came on when I was getting stressed filling in online forms for my mum which were far more time consuming than they should have been but I used to be a PA until seven years ago and lived and thrives in a very stressful Wotan environment

I just can’t pinpoint what’s changed to make these attacks happen (all since January this year) and I would be extremely grateful to anyone who can throw some light on this matter

Thanks so much 🙏🥰

[Lalatoot]

I suffered panic attacks when I was hyper and also when I was an undermedicated hypo. Even happy occurrences or relaxed meals with family could bring one on. When our thyroid blood levels are too low the body compensates by using adrenaline to make up the shortfall so we can keep going. When our levels are too high we run on anxiety.I wouldn't second guess whether the dose is too high or too low. Anxiety and panic attacks are symptoms of both and you don't want to guess wrongly and alter your dose in the wrong direction.

Time to get bloods done.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Panic attacks often symptom of being under medicated

Medichecks and BH offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Medichecks or Blue horizon have lots of locations for getting private blood drawn

medichecks.com/pages/clinic...

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 or NDT - day before test split as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[jaxie28 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I’ll do a test and that may show what’s happening though I am so shaky a lot of the time that I thought I might be overmedicated x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jaxie28]

Again anxiety and adrenaline can be under medicated

what vitamin supplements are you taking

Stop any vitamin supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before test

[jaxie28 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m taking Sertraline and Ashwagandha for anxiety. Thank you re the info on Biotin and for taking the time to respond x

[AllButBroken]

Hi jaxie28

I have severe Graves as I have very high antibody levels I have been told by my consultant and can't get remission for long when not on medication (carbimazole).

When I go hyper, which can happen very quickly, I get severe racing heart and breathlessness/chest pain, shakiness, terrible anxiety most of time and panic attacks, inability to sleep and usually end up in A&E and diagnosed over active again and put back on meds including beta blocker to control the symptoms. I have been so bad this year that have been put on block & replace with both carbimazole/levo.

I'm not familiar with "Thyroid S" you take but obviously it is possible if you are over medicated with too much thyroid hormone (to prevent hypo) that this will make you hyper but you need to be tested to find out as it's difficult to say what is causing it and it's dangerous to assume. Also are you certain this medication you buy from Thailand is legit and proper stuff as there are lots of things available over the internet that aren't?

All I can say is I was over medicated with Carbimazole this year and went severly hypo but that didn't cause me to have anxiety/panic attacks just lethargy/tiredness/muscle weakness/sluggish/feeling generally low/depressed and terrible etc. which is why I am now on block & replace but not found that good up to now (on it since early June).

I am thinking about thyroidectomy (as I have no life), that I believe you went through from reading your profile, but worried about having operation and complications I have read about and because I am seemingly not doing well on Levo (Teva brand) as I feel rubbish/tired/weak/can't sleep - I don't really want to be on it lifelong and can't really afford to medicate with T3 as I can't work now. I blame the Levo as when I have been just on carbimazole for a while I have done okay on that once back in normal blood range so guess that must be the issue.

I hope you get sorted as extreme anxiety and panic attacks are awful/debilitating and control your life as I know from personal experience - you need to get to the bottom of it and as others have said that means getting your bloods done.

All the best

AllButBroken

[jaxie28 in reply to AllButBroken]

Thank you for your reply

Yes I did have a thyroidectomy and since then my life has been a rollercoaster of trying to get the balance right regarding my thyroid meds

I looked back on my posts and I see that I’ve been having panic attacks before starting on Thyroid S so whilst I do think, from people’s responses and from thinking about it myself that I am overmedicated so I am going to get a blood test and see what’s happening

Many thanks for taking the time out to reply and I wish you the best in your health issues too x