Overwhelming nervousness

[mandyisme]

I am 31 yr Female... on meds for OCD, Blood Pressure, Heartburn, Acne, Tryglicerides, IBS, and allergy injections.  My period has been getting shorter in duration over the past year to about 4 days.  Last month it didn't come at all.  For about the past 2 weeks and what seems to be getting worse I am having overwhelming nervousness.  My period came 3 days ago.  My doctor did blookwork on Friday but  the nervousness is getting so bad that I am considering going to the emergency room.  I am shaky and my temp is is around 97 and staying there.  My blood pressure is high like 148 over 115 but I forgot to take my meds so I just took them.   Has any of you ever experienced overwhelming nervousness with Thyroid issues?  Last times they checked my TSH it was 0.9, then 6 mos later 0.5 and 6 mos later 0.3 and that was 6 months ago.  

Since I missed my period... which I have never had happen I thought maybe my thyroid is finally decided to give up.  I have a goiter full of small nodules but the doc says it looks like Hashimotos... the blood tests have never confirmed that to my knowledge.

I don't feel like this is a mental thing but I am having trouble focusing and at some times find it hard to breath like I am hyperventalating.  

Any ideas?

[goolarra]

They should be treating thyroid by FT3 and FT4 and, most importantly SYMPTOMS.  Everything you say  you are on meds for could be thyroid related.  It's quite possible that if your thyroid were treated, you wouldn't need some of those.

I think you need some answers about your thyroid condition.  Hashi's can be confirmed with antibody tests...TPOab and TGab.  In addition, I'd want to have TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) tested.  This is the antibody test for Graves'.  It's rare, but some people have both Hashi's and Graves'.

More testing is the first move.  Ask your endo to run FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOab, TGab and TSI.  The results of those will give you a much better idea of your thyroid functon.

Don't just suffer throught this...see your doctor sooner than later. "I feel like this is a physical issue but it must just be a mental one."  No, it doesn't have to be a mental one, and I'm betting it isn't...trust your instincts!  

[mandyisme]

He said all the tests were normal.  I am not sure if he run FT3 or FT4.  Will they treat hyperthyroid if TSH is still in normal ranges even if FT3 or FT4 is not?  I am pretty sure my endo has checked FT4 before.  I've been to him 3 or 4 times and had blood work done in the past year and a half.  I feel like this is a physical issue but it must just be a mental one.  Maybe I need to try a differenet OCD med.  

[goolarra]

TSH means very little.  It's a pituitary hormone, and it should never be used alone to diagnose and treat thyroid.  If it's not backed up by FT3 and FT4, it's worse than useless.

If I were you, I'd call my doctor again and find out if any other tests were run.  

When do you see your endo again?  It sounds like you might want to try to move that appointment up a little.

[mandyisme]

okay just called doc to see what TSH was on blood work and he says 0.525 which is normal..... this is so frustrating... I am not sure if he ran any other tests... maybe I just need to go to a psychiatrist...... the nervousness is back today

[mandyisme]

Thank you.  I will next time I got to Endo.   I am going to specifically ask for anitbody tests.  My regular medical doctor did blood work on Friday so I am wating to see if that shows up anything.  I think I feel a little better today.  ... that or either I am getting accustomed to the nervousness

[Barb135]

Why don't you just ask your doctor to run the antibody tests and confirm/rule out Hashimoto's?  

Not everyone with Hashi's swings to hyper.  It's not the Hashi's that needs treatment, it's the hypo/hyper caused by Hashi's.

As goolarra said - if you get too uncomfortable, you could go to the ER; if you do, make sure they do run the FT3 and FT4 tests, and get a copy of the results.  

[mandyisme]

I am not on anything for Thyroid yet.  The doctor doesn't really know what is wrong other than a big ole goiter and all the other symptoms.  They did bloodwork on Friday so hopefully it will come back and show something.  This is a terrible feeling but if I can reason with myself that it's just a symptom and hopefully the bloodwork will show of what.. then maybe I can make it thru till we get the blood work back.    The endo said my nodules are typical of Hashi's but as far as I know the bloodwork has never confirmed Hashi's.  If Hashi's is not being treated does it still sometimes swing into Hyper mode?  

[goolarra]

You're not going crazy.  It sounds like you might be a little overmedicated.  Hashi's is often characterized by swings from hypo to hyper, which can make changing doses a challenge.  It's possible that your period is also interfering with thyroid hormone levels.

If you're very uncomfortable, you could go to the ER and get immediate results of thyroid blood work to see if you need to decrease.  Make sure they run FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH and be sure to get a copy of the results for yourself.

[mandyisme]

I have things I need to do go to work, and other things but this feeling is so hard to explain.  It's like you know how your body physically reacts to bad news like when someone you love is in a car accident... or say.. while your parents are in for serious sugery... the on edge you feel... that's the way my body feels every day now.  I keep hoping it will go away and I will wake up and it be gone.   It's hard for me to sleep but I feel like I crave sleep.  I really hope I am not going crazy.