Graves' Rage - Here's one for the Hypos

[GravesLady]

Myxedema Madness or Myxedema psychosis


myx

[terri thyroid]

thank you graveslady very much - you are so knowledgable about hypo/hyper - and thank you everyone else - so glad to not be alone in this - right now I/m cycling high - thyroid inflamed - but feel great otherwise - I immediately cut in half my 75mcg and if after a week I'm still getting hyper type symptoms ( which are very hard to distinguish from hypo ) then I stop Levoxyl completely until thyroid inflammation calms down - I have all my life run worked out and played and eaten very healthy and I truly believe this has kept me from really doing bad - I'm a student (older) and noticed a poverty stricken girls photo in my textbook - suffering from Kwashiorkior - I nearly dropped the book - if I dont go off Thyroid hormone when I cycle hi my body begins to shut down and I look & feel exactly these symptoms - google it - it makes sense because thyroid disease causes inability to process protein and you become protein starved but puffy fat etc read the symptoms - anyway I see my doctor oct 12 and am going to ask for mri of thyroid - no one has ever done one - I know its leaking/inflamed and I've met deductible this year - check out this liver deal and let me know what you think - big part of this disease is going by how you feel NOT test results like endos will have you believe - At less than 5tsh I am physically mentally debilitated - let me know what you think and thanks again everyone!

[Normal??]

Once again I find myself in these postings. When I was first diagnosed with hypo I came to these pages looking for answers. Here I am a year later looking for answers to new questions. Now the TSH is under control (.78) with 100 mcg a day and the goiter is gone, but now I  have these anger bursts, emotional rollercoaster, headaches, heart "butterflies" feels like the heart is doing funny things, sometimes HIGH blood pressure other times perfectly within normal limits. I sound like almost like a Graves Rage occurring from the descriptions of these posts. I notice they come at the end of my day when I'm tired mostly.

I have lost 15 lbs. this year since going on the Synthroid. Weight I had put on in pregnancy that wouldn't come off becasue of the HYPO that showed up 4 months post-partumly though not called "post-partum." Does this ever get better or do you still have the symptoms with just normal TSH levels? Why do these symptoms range from Hypo to Hyper depending on each day, when levels are normal??

My family does not understand at all why I am like this. My husband of 19 years tries to be understanding but how can you be understanding when the person with the Thyroid problem doesn't understand?? I get SO MAD sometimes. I use to be such a giving/caring person. Where is the old me? When will she be back? Will she ever come back? Thank you for opening your hearts, and pouring them out here in public trying to help others relate to this TERRIBLE disease.

[lara1228]

Thanks for bringing this post to the front page - I never read it, and I am definitely printing it so people can have a better understanding of what's going on with me...a lot of people I know don't even know what a thyroid does.

Thanks!
Laura

[scarlet37]

Bringing this post to the front page again so our new poster Kelly can read what is probably happening with her boyfriend who was just recently diagnosed with a thyroid problem.

Thanks again to Graveslady for posting this- I'm so thankful for this  - I have it printed out and posted on my fridge so when i get goofy I hand this to those around me just to remind them I sometimes have no control over things.

[LJ39]

Thank you for all the info!!I have read much of the same information myself.I think sometimes drugs can cause twitches in muscles as well.I have also been told by my endo that with hypothyroidism that twitches or benign fasciculations  can be a part of hypothyroidism. thank's again for getting back to me.I also have some nerve compression from a bulging disc on my neck, so I guess that would be causing them also.

LJ39

[GravesLady]

I am not going to say it is or isn't thyroid, for many health conditions share a lot of the thyroid symptoms, and it can occur in healthy people as well.

Eons before diagnosed and after diagnosed and treated, I have experience twitching throughout parts of my body.  I always contributed them to stress or nutritional needs, lacking in certain vitamins/minerals (low serum calcium and electrolytes).

Here are some common causes:

Twitches not caused by disease or disorders -  Often affecting the eyelids, calf, or thumb.  Normal and quite common, often triggered by stress or anxiety.
A diet deficiency, Drug overdose (caffeine), Drug side effect (such as diuretics, corticosteroids and estrogens) and Exercise.
Symptoms suggestive of a neurological cause of fasciculation's include: Wasting of muscle, Weakness (both could be thyroid) and Other findings of nerve dysfunction.  

Neurological illnesses where fasciculation's are seen include: Chronic enervation of muscle due to disk compression of nerve exiting the spinal cord, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Spinal muscular atrophy, Muscular dystrophy and Myopathy.

There is usually no medical treatment necessary.  However, call your doctor if you have prolonged or persistent muscle twitches.

Good Luck!

[LJ39]

Have you heard of muscle twitching with thyroid disorder's.I am suffering from them, but do not know if they are caused from thyroid stuff or  when I am coming down off anti anxiety med's.Any thoughts?

LJ39

[GravesLady]

Glad to know that you are taking charge of your thyroid issue by taking anxiety medication.

We do what we have to do, do all that we can do, by take advantage of medications available to help us get through the rough spot of thyroid.

I take anxiety mediation too.  Even had to take prescription sleeping pill for a while, among other things to help with each thyroid problem (symptom).

If you don't already know this, when time to go off the anxiety meds., wing yourself slowly.
I don't care what the doctor says nor the pill directions states to the contrary. I learned the hard way through experience and the symptoms....crying, depression, etc.  So wing yourself!

Kudos for taking control of your thyroid issue! thereby, your life.

Continous good luck, health, and healing.

[LJ39]

thyroid disease can make you crazy!!crying fits,scary thoughts about not wanting to live,hysteria,just to name a few .Can relate to you all.I take low dose anti anxiety low dose pill every day klonopin,until I start feeling better it really helps.Hopefully wont have too bad side effect's from coming off them,but I will deal with that when the time comes.Medication can really help!!

LJ39

[DLA]

Also printed that out so my family can read it!  Have had many many episodes of it and think my little boy is displaying early signs of it!

Dac

[BRgal]

It is comforting to know you are okay now with the right meds.  
Cheers!

[Crazymama46]

what meds are you all taking for these symptoms?  I used to take levoxyl but now my new doctor says my thyroid is fine.. well I am NOT fine..! I feel like shi* most days, anxiety is awful, depression is sometimes suicidal if I let it.. My old doc won't see me again since he "closed" our family acount because my ex wouldn't pay him.. so now I am like starting all over again.. I just started taking a supplement with thyroid that is available otc to see if this will help some.. at least enough to where I can think straight and get my things in order to deal with new doctors, testing, etc.. this is killing me so I could use some advice.. (sometimes being dead seems better than living like this!)  also.. did the valium type meds really work for the anxiety.. I find that I just drink when I am feeling too anxious but that leads to relying on it and not functioning well either, esp when I am already upset... and ideas? Thanks!

[scarlet37]

I'm going to print that out and post it on my fridge!



Thanks a bunch!



  Teresa

[thyroid man]

here's an example of what the thyroid can do. when i was in a bad state of hypo just getting dressed was work or just picking something off the floor was work. I had anxiety about just going to the grocery store. Now I have no anxeity at all and am very confident and recently had enough energy to ride my bicycle across america last summer.

[scarlet37]

It sure is!

[thyroid man]

is that to show to people who don't believe u and think it's just in your head. Iv'e had that problem.

[DMLee]

I am going to get my husband and have him read this!!!!!!

Thanks so much!!!!

[Nimrod78]

I have had similar episodes since my son was won (now 7) and I have been hospitalised many times. In the beginning they tagged me Post Natal Depression, but then the anxiety and panic attacks hit.  I had episodes of delusions and they said "bad batch of medication" this went for a few years, as I became mentally stronger I was a bit more in control of my emotions, again about 18 months ago went down hill and they tried to Label me Bi Polar - well I never went back as I didnt agree, last year I got married in September, I spent the year very unwell, emotional rollercoaster and I kept telling myself, this is normal I am getting marrier (as you do!) lots friends it was awful, away on our honeymoon after spending the week before wedding in hospital I realised it was not "normal" stress, but again Dr's saying I have DEPRESSION and anxiety.....  When I started with my other symptoms late Oct of fainting, difficulty breathing, issues swallowing, excessive tiredness etc etc and stopped being able to work/drive another Dr finally started looking further which is when they discovered the 6.8cm mass wrapped around my thyroid... ... ...  Many medical people since this discovery have said this is probably the route of ALL my problems over the years - CRAZiNESS

[venora]

wow that sounds like some of my bi polar episodes.I almost ruined my life before I got on the right diagnosis and meds.Still makes me wonder if all this wasnt my thyroid all along.
Bless you and I hope the meds help you lots.
Love Venora

[GravesLady]

After my RAI and for approx two years thereafter, I went through delirium, psychosis, and depression. I was ashamed to tell anyone my thoughts and thought I was a little crazy.  It was bad, although not dangerous or harming to others. However, others around must have known something was wrong when I went through the crying jags, although I tried to hide them.

Then after this stage, the Myxedema Madness, I went into Graves' Rage which was worse because I couldn't hide them. I had no control over them and they would occur with no warnings or control.  Yes, I could have hurt someone if not myself but, so far I have not.  Although I have broken a few home windows and doors. Pretty big window(s) and coast myself some big bucks for replacements.

Almost lost family and friends, so decided to go on antidepressants, to now where I am taking anxiety medication on a as needed bases.  With getting my thyroid levels closer to where they are suppose to be for my  body/mind to function best, I am able to catches the Rages with the anxiety meds. before they can happen, if that makes since.

I tell ya, as you know, both are no party, and way beyond hypohell.

GL
GravesDiseaseAndRai

[thyroid man]

mental prison is another way of looking at it. You can't be in the state of mind u want to b in no matter how strong a will u have. You can't enjoy life. It was mental discomfort to me. With episodes of mental pain.It becomes slow torture when your like that day after day after day and u don't know what's wrong with u. the thyroid breaks u down in every way.