hypothyroidism/panic attacks

Question

Hi i have hypothyroidism now i had hyper when i was about 24 i had the radio attactive idoine done and i have been fine for about 10 yrs,i had  ababy 19m ago and about 3 months after she was born was when all hell broke looose.
I suffered my fisrt panick attack they said i was hypo now and increased my synthroid to 225 mg from there it has been a down rd spiral.
I do have a nodule on my thyroid they did a scan and said it was not to believed to be cancerous but the doctors can not get my levels to normal i went last week and my tsh was 25.60 and my thyroxine free was 1.0 this almost tripled in 3 months time they increased me again to 250mg of synthroid.
I never had panic atacks until i started having the problem with my thyroid my docotr wont send me to an endo he said it will take time to adjust my meds but i feel like 250mg is just way to high and every one keeps telling me thats why im having panic attacks.
And i dont understand all these levels and such either i just know im miserable.Can any one help me?

danie17075rm · Answer

I understand about not wanting to take the pills everyday. Those pills are highly addictive. I have tried to heal things naturally. I have enough problems without adding drug addiction on top of them. I'm glad your panic attacks are starting to slow down! I just got my doc to give me a lab slip for the adrenal tests! I really don't want to have another problem, BUT I will be happy if it shows some tangible reason for the panic attacks that can be fixed. I did a little experiment (which i don't advise anyone to ever do), and stopped taking my thyroid meds. Just as I suspected, I haven't had panic attacks, and the constant adrenaline feeling is almost totally gone. I am having some kind of reaction to the meds, but yet I need them too so it's a bad situation.

2swprinsis · Answer

oh and actually xanax does help me but i dont want to have to take a pill everyday to function and the doctors just dont understand this, that is my docs answer to everything and it makes me sooooooooooo mad.
And i have thought about it being an adrenal problem i will have to ask the dr about that as well :-)

2swprinsis · Answer

Thank you i to am struggling everyday its really ***** lol.
My doc also keeps suggesting  a therapist and it just ticks me off i told him in not crazy im 37 yrs old never had a problem before until i became hypo nothing has changed in my life so i know its the thyroid they just moved me up to 250 mg which is a crazy high dose but i have only had a about one panick attack a day in the last week so im hoping my levels are maybe getting to normal. I go today for another ultrasound of my thyroid :-)I wish you luck as well with yours it is an awful thing to deal with.

allmymarbles · Answer

Have your adrenals checked. Often thyroid problems are associated with adrenal problems. It was in my case. High cortisol (an adrenal problem) is known to cause anxiety and panic attacks.

danie17075rm · Answer

I mean I am NOW on a beta blocker.  I type too fast for my own good sometimes lol.  I need to proofread more.

danie17075rm · Answer

I am in your SAME boat.  There are others on this board that offer you help with your labs on such, but all I can say is that I can relate.  Six months ago my tsh swung to hyper, and now its back to hypo (26) close to yours.  I think it might be around 11 at the moment, but it's all over the place.  Never before that moment had I ever had a panic attack.  I now have them ALL of the time. I literally struggle to live my life.  I have panic attacks if I run up the stairs (my heart races), if I go to the store, if I'm happy, if I'm sick, if I'm tired... whatever they pop up at ANY time.  The docs tried xanax and ativan but they didn't help at all.  I was in the E.R. with my heart racing over 150 for hours.  I am not on a beta blocker which kind of helps keep the heart lower.  I seen a psychologist because my endo swore that my thyroid would not causes these, but she was appalled by him.  She said my panic attacks are not classical, and sound medically induced.  She also said that if xanax did not help, that definitely suggests medical.  This is what I have been telling them all along.  I was not under any stress when my first attack happened.  I was just eating a salad and I couldn't breathe and my heart was racing.  This is not just you.  A lot of people on here are suffering with panic attacks.  They ruin your life.  Others will suggest some tests you should get.  That is what I am doing too.  I am just trying to get everything under control.  I wish you well.