[LoAnn]

I have been on various thyroid meds for years and did not have any problems. I was taking Levothyroxine in 2020 and for whatever reason my mail order pharmacy changed me to Synthroid in February 2021. I had bloodwork done in August 2021 and noticed that my TSH level was going up although the T4 level was fine. My primary just continued to monitor the level without changing the dosage since the T4 level was ok. I started having anxiety/nervousness for no apparent reason for the first time at the end January 2022. I felt so bad that I went to my primary and my blood pressure (which had been normal) was so high that the primary sent me to the ER where I had many tests and they diagnosed high blood pressure and I started medication for high blood pressure which seems to be working. I was still having feelings of anxiety, depression even after coming home from the hospital. I was so stressed out that my primary put me on Klonopin to relieve the anxiety which did help. I can't take the full dose or I do nothing but want to sleep all day. I have also been taking Prozac for many years & the primary doubled that dosage for me. I saw an endocrinologist that increased my dosage of the Synthroid and I thought I saw improvement. I even went a week without taking any Klonopin which made me very happy as I don't want to be tied to taking any more drugs than I have to. My last visit to the endocrinologist told me that I had subclinical hypothyroidism but that it doesn't show any symptoms. I am due to have various thyroid blood work tests in the next couple of weeks.

I guess my question is after all of that - do any of you out there get these same feelings of anxiety, nervousness, depression due to your thyroid issues? It's not a constant thing but enough so that I don't feel like my usual self which only makes me more anxious/stressed. I get the feeling from the professionals that I have talked to that they don't really think that my thyroid level is the cause. I have probably read too much but not sure if this anxiety etc is being caused by thyroid issues or something else? If I need to go talk to a mental health professional - I will but would rather think that this is thyroid related and if I could get that straightened out - I will feel normal again.

If you stayed awake through all that - thanks for reading. I hope to get some insight from this message board.

Thank you.

 

[rebmckenzie]

I guess my question is after all of that - do any of you out there get these same feelings of anxiety, nervousness, depression due to your thyroid issues? It's not a constant thing but enough so that I don't feel like my usual self which only makes me more anxious/stressed. I get the feeling from the professionals that I have talked to that they don't really think that my thyroid level is the cause. I have probably read too much but not sure if this anxiety etc is being caused by thyroid issues or something else? If I need to go talk to a mental health professional - I will but would rather think that this is thyroid related and if I could get that straightened out - I will feel normal again.

If you stayed awake through all that - thanks for reading. I hope to get some insight from this message board.

Thank you.

First let me say that I have zero medical training and I am not in any way trying to offer medical advice.
In my personal experience: My thyroid antibodies have been at or over 700 for a few years. The doctor wanted to watch and wait because my TSH was in and out of normal range and my T4 was in the (low) normal range. Several months ago during a physical it was discovered that I have four nodules on my thyroid. An ultrasound and biopsies later there are definitely issues. But my T4 was holding onto it 'normal' (1.1) While all of this is going on I began to have unexplained anxiety, near panic sometimes that included elevated BP. I am over 50 years old, I know me pretty well and this wasn't normal. I went through surgical menopause several years ago so these are not menopausal symptoms. My doctor has tried sedatives, beta blockers none of which worked particularly well and all came with their own side effects. He also sent me for a cardiac check up which was fine.
Just last week my follow up blood test has my TSH at 5.31 and my T4 at 0.9 (normal is 0.8 - 1.4 at the lab I went to) In two weeks I have a follow up ultrasound for the doctor to compare to the one done six months ago.
Also, for the first time, my cholesterol levels are elevated, my BP is high. The doctor wants to put me on medication for both but I am holding out for the follow up thyroid tests and find out if the endocrinologist is going to put me on medication, maybe I will even need surgery if the nodules are growing? I just don't know but I don't want to start a bunch of new medication if I might have some kind of an answer in two weeks.
What I know about my own situation is, my thyroid is besieged with nodules and thyroid antibodies. My thyroid lab tests are 'suggestive' of hypothyroidism.
In the meantime- I feel miserable. I have unexplained anxiety that is so intense that it sometimes rolls into a full panic attack. My heart races and skips, which is terrifying. I feel lethargic, foggy thinking and not quite depressed but also not feeling 'normal' enough to do things I used to enjoy.
My new found anxiety can come on from something as simple as the post delivery guy ringing the door bell and leaving a package. I feel like I have an iv of adrenaline running through me. It is horrible. Then for no reason I can figure, I will have three or four days that are 'normal'. I can run errands, work, even sleep regularly. But it comes back and lately it is more often, lasting longer. Is this my thyroid? I don't know yet but I wanted to share.

 

[LoAnn]

Thank you for sharing that. I am only getting started with the testing of the thyroid antibodies & other thyroid tests and waiting for lab results. The unexplained anxiety is crazy for me - one night I couldn't bring myself to go to my best friend's house for dinner. It's like my 2nd home - but just couldn't make myself go. Luckily - she has been reading about thyroid & anxiety also & understands how frustrating it is to feel like this. Other times - it's fine - went to a big family gathering for Easter and I was ok. I am long past menopause & never had any kind of symptoms like I have had since January. I am taking a 1/4 of the dose of anti-anxiety med that was prescribed for me & it seems to be helping but some days, I have to take another 1/4 dose. I hate taking them but if that is what it takes to feel semi-normal & functioning - then I'm doing it. I am not sure why the doctors don't see the mental health side of thyroid problems - there is certainly enough written about them but they seem to slough it off when I try to connect the anxiety & depression with thyroid & TSH level. I completely understand what you are saying about I know me & this isn't normal for me. I hope we both find answers & some relief from the anxiety.

 

[rebmckenzie]

Thank you for sharing that. I am only getting started with the testing of the thyroid antibodies & other thyroid tests and waiting for lab results. The unexplained anxiety is crazy for me - one night I couldn't bring myself to go to my best friend's house for dinner. It's like my 2nd home - but just couldn't make myself go. Luckily - she has been reading about thyroid & anxiety also & understands how frustrating it is to feel like this. Other times - it's fine - went to a big family gathering for Easter and I was ok. I am long past menopause & never had any kind of symptoms like I have had since January. I am taking a 1/4 of the dose of anti-anxiety med that was prescribed for me & it seems to be helping but some days, I have to take another 1/4 dose.

Thank you for adding that one day you can't bring yourself to go out, even to somewhere familiar to you, then another day - no problem. I am having the same. Some days its work and errands no big deal others, I can't bear to watch a tense exchange on tv without getting anxious myself. (the aforementioned adrenaline running through me). I read online that there are studies that show that under-functioning thyroids can cause over production of cortisol. I don't know if its right but it makes sense to how I feel. I am glad you have some relief from the Klonopin, unfortunately, it made me more anxious. I do find passion flower tea helps a little. I have read that hypothyroidism can make a person feel sensitive to the cold. I live in Arizona so I don't know much about being cold but I am very sensitive to heat. These symptoms feel like menopause X 100. Much more intense than anything I experienced then but similar in that it feels hormonal. Thank you for posting. Knowing its not 'just me' is helpful.

 

[LoAnn]

I just got my lab reports back and my antibodies are out of range and Cortisol is very low. I am waiting to hear from the endocrinologist to see what the next steps are. I did have an ultrasound and that was clear. I don't know if the relief I am getting from the anxiety is the Klonopin or doubling up on the Prozac but for right now it's working. I am glad you can get some relief from the tea. I was reading about Cortisol and an overabundance gives you the adrenaline charged feeling all the time? I can't imagine. This forum doesn't seem to have much activity but I agree that knowing it's not just me is somewhat comforting.

 

[jenhawk51]

I think your on the right track there LoAnn. It is well documented that the thyroid and adrenals work together. I get panicky and depressed when I am under medicated.

 

[rebmckenzie]

Hi LoAnn,
How are you feeling? I hope you've made some progress with the endocrinologist. I have been started on Synthroid 25mcg. Actually, started on Levo first but I had an allergic reaction to one (or more) of its fillers. Anyway, on Synthroid daily. Have you noticed odd side effects from your medication? I still have anxiety but it is different now, I am weepy and feel tense, on edge. Very much like PMS from long ago. I found a couple of reports online that thyroid medication can increase estrogen but I do not have my ovaries anymore so not sure if that could be what is happening. My doctor(s) are not interested in hearing about it and just brush me off. I know for a fact this feeling is new to the medication but I don't know if it warrants trying a different med, if it will wear off or if it just is a fact of life for some people on thyroid medication.
Best wishes,