how do you control the anxiety?

[lisa4484]

I'm not sure what I have but I'm pretty sure it's postpartum thyroiditis. It all started about 2 months after my miscarriage. I started having really bad anxiety and panic attacks (one day out of no where). I also had a really high heart rate, heart palpitations, weight loss, uncontrollable tremble, trouble sleeping. I've had my thyroid levels checked 3 times and only the first ones came back abnormal. The first labs were at the ER when I went because I thought I was going INSANE. They told me my free T4 was high but my tsh was normal. So they told me that I most likely had hyperthyroidism because of that high free T4 but that I needed to see my pcp. So a week later I went to my PCP and he did his own labs. Those all came back normal. I also had a thyroid uptake scan about a month after all this started and that came back normal too. I have a few questions. Do thyroid levels fluctuate? For instance, the day that I went to the ER and my free T4 was high was one of my worst days. I was feeling so terrible that day. Then the day I went to my PCP I was actually having a good day and I felt pretty good that day and my labs came back normal. The day of my thyroid scan I felt good that day too. Some days it just hits me out of no where and it will last a few days. I have not been to an endocrinologist yet becuase there is a long wait. My doc says I'm fine because my thyroid uptake scan came back normal. I just don't feel fine. I had every classic symptom of hyperthyroidism when I went to the ER and my free t4 was high. Can they come and go? Especially with postpartum thyroiditis. Nobody seems to want to deal with me. They all just want to put me on anxiety meds but it's more than that. Yesterday I went to the ER with shortness of breath and they did a CT scan of my chest with contrast. It came out normal but last night I started having heart palpitations again which I hadn't had in a while. I also woke up this morning with the uncontrollable trembling and shaking. My heart rate was also high again this morning when I checked. THen I thought about it and thought maybe the iodine in the contrast caused my hyperthyroid symptoms to re-emerge. Please any thoughts would help. Thanks!

[HessyKat]

Just wanted to comment about the contrast. I also years back was very hyper with Graves disease and had to have a CT scan for ovarian cyst. I had such a terrible reaction to the dye and it really scared me, the technicans and the doctor. I was told to always tell the hospital or doctors that I am allergic to IVP dyes , especially iodine contrast. I am now hypo due to TT in 2006 but I avoid iodine like the plague. Sometimes even seafood will bother me if I eat too much so I have to be careful.

[stella5349]

There is a connection to female hormones and our endocrine levels of hormones.

Yes the thyroid labs can change due to body or emotional stress.

[izatu]

do anti-anxiety meds help? i don't mean anti depressant, but like ativan or xanax? this may help you decide if it is anxiety or something else.
sometimes benadryl actually helps me. over the counter stuff called calms forte relaxes me. herbal tea especially for tension. hot showers or baths. happy tv shows. a phone call with someone to talk about anything happy and simple. breathing exercises. there is an app for the driod or iphone that has breathing exercises. laying down quietly.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi,

Wanted to welcome you to our community.  I don't have any direct experience but wanted to say hi and that you're in a great place here on our community!  I run my wrists under cold, cold water that helps sometimes if there's nothing underlying causing it .. just a thought to ask your dr if that would be helpful.

C~