After my thyroidectomy I have been feeling like I am going crazy and have had panic attacks. How long will I be this way?

[happyme123]

Before my surgery I was ok. I felt fine. I had graves disease and had my thyroid removed in Sept 09. I felt fine for about a month and then all of a sudden I started having panic attacks. I thought I was going crazy. I called my doctor, and got absolutely no support. She said I needed to follow up with my primary care doctor. I tried taking antidepresssants all of which made me sick. I have been able to deal with my panic attacks after months of fighting them. However, when I drive they seem to escalate. So, driving any where for me is terrible. I always have the panic increase during those times. I have lost my vision at times and have been concerned about this. I go threw cold/hot periods. My hands sweat and my feet sweat then the next thing I know I am cold. I have noticed my temper I have to fight to control. I am not depressed, but do have panic attacks. I have learned how to fight them off through self talk, but I want to know if their is anything out there I can take to help me or what I need to do. Every doctor I talk to seems to think it's in my head, but I have talked to other people who are going through the exact same thing I am since there thyroidectomies, and every one seems to treat us like we are crazy or like this is in our heads. I used to be an outgoing, positive, energetic person, but since my operation have became a shell of that person. I do not want to live like this at all. So, for someone to tell me this is in my head I have to wonder if these doctors are just saying that because they themselves do not realize the complications after surgery that patients are having or if they just don't care. For what ever reason I need for someone to listen, and to please help me. I don't want to live this way the rest of my life. I would love to have my life back. Any advice, or any thing that any one else has done that has helped them? I have gained weight too. I went from 114 pounds to about 145 now. I am taking synthroid. My dosages have been changed four times already because for some reason one of my levels is either to high or too low. Is there a more natural way to treat this. I believe part of the problem is synthroid. When I was taking armour thyroid I didn't feel as bad. But since it is off the market I have been put back on synthroid.

[Barb135]

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[Nailgal2000]

Nature-Throid is similar to armor. I suffer from the same symptoms you have. Had my thyroidectomy in 2008. In August of 2006 had my very first panic attack driving on a freeway ramp! Had no idea what it was. I thought I was going to die. Heart raced, tingling in hands, arms, neck and chest. Driving on freeways are the worst for me. I just avoid them now. I'm ok when husband drives though. Sometimes is feel like I'm on a roller coaster!?  Driving on streets are ok. Still feel a little uneasy. Some times I get a little lightheaded, dizzy and floating... Not in a good way. I feel a little foggy and vision is weird like my head is in a fish bowl. Have you come to any conclusions yet?

[mrsomes]

I can relate and it's probably not in your head.   I hate doctors who say that.  Keep pushing and switch doctors if you have to.  It's so important that they listen to you.  As others said your thyroid affects so much.  People react to meds differently.   Sometimes switching drugs helps.  It can take a while to get everything back in balance.  For some crazy reason I have less tolerance for sugar since my TT.  If I overdo it I feel edgy and tense.  The other thing I would suggest is to ask your doctor for an FSH hormone test.  Your symptoms sound exactly like the hell I went through during years of pre-menopause.   Started in my early 40's so nobody thought menopause.  Everybody thought I was just having panic attacks and wanted to prescribe antidepressants.  Turns out I was one of those lucky women who had menopausal symptoms early and for years.  My thyroid issues just complicated everything.   Once my very good gyno realized what was going on I was able to figure out how to deal with it.   You know your body; you know your personality.   Just keep pushing until you get somebody who will listen to you.   Good luck

[izatu]

i can relate too. I did not have a thyroid removal, But i had iodine treatment when i was first diagnosed with graves. a few months later and before any synthroid/levothroid i got sucked into major panic attacks. it took me a year to regulate. this was 16 years ago so the meds were different then. my endo was also a psychiatrist but even he thought the two were unrelated. i think docs usually know more now a days. i was on buspar and nortriptaline. i cannot say if they helped or not. within a year they were gone and stayed gone until last month. oh joy.
i think it had to do with my body regulating itself and with iodine it takes longer i think because first thryroid has to slowly be eradicted.

the thing that helped me was "that this too shall pass." and it did. i was never really the same because i have had a fear of panic attacks since. but, normal in control life.

battle is back cause i am having a major battle with anxiety again, and again docs are into the SSRI's which i cannot tolerate.

[Danni526]

I can definitely relate to what you are going through. This also happens to me at work or in highly public places(malls, grocery stores etc.) I try to act as normal as possible. And I try not to freak out but its very scarey. And its so tiring! I think once your levels are really where they need to be for you to feel right. You will feel better!  But it is a process to figure out what is best for you and the time in between tests are just way to long when you are not feeling right. I just switched to an endocrinologist that really works with her patients. But it is a process and Im trying to be patient but it really stinks when you cant do the things your use to doing. I was on Armour until the shortage and am now on Levothyroxine. Was not 100% on Armour but now I'm lucky if I wake up feeling half as good. Stay Strong!

[blsdnsvd]

I can surely relate to how you feel in regard to "panic attacks".....I had a TT on 12/17/09...however I suffered w/Panic Attacks back in 1997 and was out of work for 5mos because of them. After a year, and taking antidepressants and anxiety med's, i was back on track. Although i did have "controllable" panic attacks since then, they did not bother me. I have noticed recently "since the TT" that they are coming back and occur more when i am driving... but because i feel that i am in control, i don't let them take over. I keep bottled water with me and my cell phone..especially when i am driving alone. If i feel one coming on i keep saying to myself, i'm not gonna pull over and i practice deep breathing and next thing you know, i am home and feeling safe again. The thing w/panic attacks is that they occur more often when you think that you are unsafe "particularly when driving" and if you don't put your "mind" into it, it will take over....i've been there and i know! I am trying not to ask for med's because i know that it is due to the "hypo" symptoms and i pray that "this too shall pass"...I am a firm believer in: if the doc won't listen or tell you that it's in your head....it's time to switch doc's and find one that will listen. LIfe is too precious and i refuse to be miserable. It will get better, just stay in faith. Be Blessed!

[sick and tired 47]

Hi to both posts above. I was a "normal" person  until I had a thyroid lobectomy 3 1/2 years ago. Working, busy with children, volunteering,ect. ect...
Within a month post op started having heart palps, racing, gained 15 lbs in 2 months. All drs said it was anxiety, needed to diet more, go to the gym - which I did to no avail. And I too was put on antidepressants which did NOT help at all.
After many drs    I finally found my family dr now. He has helped me in so many ways.... what a wonderful, compassionate man.
Moral of the story- you are not the only person living this way. Your thyroid controls SO many bodily functions. Keep searching til you find a  understanding dr who will work with you and help you get better both mentally and physically. You may have to go thru lots of drs ( I did) but it is so worth it to help you get your health back.
Good luck and god bless.

[froggy0936]

First of all, I want you to know you are not alone! I know what you mean about being told it's all in your head. Drs told me the same thing when I kept complaining I did'nt feel good and that went on for 2yrs...came to find out I had kidney cancer. Point being, you know your body better than anyone else! I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. I also have tried anti depressants which did nothing but make me sick. Reading your post sounds alot like me! I was a totally different person before cancer and then TT on 12/17/09. Outgoing, always on the run, etc. I miss the old me and would do anything to have me back. The anxiety attacks and all this sickness caused me to lose my last job. Im still not on right dose of synthroid and my endo warned me in the beginning that the side effects of the synthroid are similar to those of anxiety..great! I just pray everyday that I feel better because I can't imagine living the rest of my life this way either. I take a small dose of klonopin for anxiety but it just makes me more tired than I already am. It's bad because i'm missing so much of life. Afraid to go places, etc. I do get out but I'm very limited in what I'll do. I don't know if the TT has anything to do with the anxiety but I just wanted you to know that you aren't alone. Hope to hear back from you! We both have to hang in there....what choice do we have? xoxox. Lynda