Do these symptoms sound hypothyroid?

[tbailey]

I have suffered on an off with panic attacks/anxiety problems for the last several years and recognize this may be the cause of my problems but at this stage I am not convinced.  For the last year or so I have suffered off an on with heart palpitations that appear out of no where, fatigue, dry skin/hair, circles under the eyes, constipation, an most recently irregular length of monthly cycles.  My mother suffers from hypothyrodism and so when I mentioned this about 8 months ago to my primary care physician she tested my TSH levels.  At the time I was just told they were normal.  

Over the last several weeks I have been having tingling in my hands. Not pins and needles, tingling.  I don't always feel anxious however it has triggered anxiety problems because it creeps me out.  The best way I can describe is a feeling like I have been clapping my hands for a long time.  My practictioner again tested my TSH levels and this time I asked the values.  They were reported at 3.89.  She does not normallt test the  T3 or T4 unless TSH is abnormal and considers this to be a normal result.  I am reading now that >3 may be abnromal and now I am not sure what to do. Hypothyroid would explain a lot but it is quite possible I am just looking for something to explain the anxiety problems.  Does this warrant more follow up?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

There is no clear answer to this -- some patients do well with treating TSH>3 others do not -- but a trial of treatment may be appropriate (using a low dose given the history of panic attacks) -- also check thyroid antibodies for hashimotos