urgent question - thyroid levels and anxiety

[Applecore]

I just spoke with my endo and he says he doesn't think the anxiety that I am experiencing is from the thyroid level being at 5.6.  He wants to wait another month before he ups my levothyroxine to alternate days of 37.5 and 50 as I am sensitive to the hormone.  He is afraid it would throw me into anxiety from the medication.  My psychiatrist says it is from the thyroid.  My question is has anyone out there experienced anxiety at a level of 5.6.  My tsh jumped from 3.5 to 5.6 in a 3 week period and that is when the anxiety started.   Please if anyone can remember or is experiencing this now let me know as I am going to see the endo and I would like to know if anyone else has had this experience and what you did for it.  I am presently taking .5 laprozam today to calm me down.  This upsets me and tends to bring fear of how I am feeling because I don't know what is causing it.

Grateful if you can help.   Linda

[kitty9309]

YES!!
You posted to my poll on hypo and thyroid. My psych says it is from being hypo. When my TSH went from 3.8 to 6.0 in 1 month, I had crippling anxiety and insomnia. My TSH went to 2.91 on 25mcg and I went up to 50mcg. I haven't taken anxiety meds in 6 weeks and sleep better.
I definately relate the anxiety to the increase in TSH.

Here is a reference from Dr. Richard Hall, psychiatrist on Anxiety and Endocrine Disease. If you want the link, PM me or just do a search. I comes up fairly quickly.

"The development of severe anxiety disorders in hypothyroid states are as much or more related to the rapidity of change of thyroid hormone levels as they are to the absolute levels encountered."

It is a very eye opening article. I also have others if you are interested.

Kitty

[Applecore]

I printed your comments to take to my endo on Monday.  I started to read the article of Dr. Richard Hall but in the anxious state that I am in right now I can't read it.  I am just grateful to know that they are related.  I also saw something that said Hashimoto and Mental something.  I can't read that either. I would pick up the wrong meaning.  You know when you are in a anxious state things don't come across right.  I am already anticipating that my endo will say nothing is wrong and stay the same for the next month.  I know it isn't good to anticipate but that is my fear.  I haven't had any anxiety for over 3 months until this went up.  I hope he will increase my levothyroxine to alternate days of 37.5 and 50.  I don't know if that will cause more anxiety or not.   It seems as though you do better at a lower tsh.  I seemed to be better at 3.5 although I didn't stay there long.  Are you sensitive to the levo also or what are you taking.  25 is not enough and 50 is too much so that's why they will have to alterate.   I will read the articles as soon as I am able.  Do you have Hashimoto and if you do have you read the other article.  If so let me know what it says   linda

[kitty9309]

When I was on 25 mcg, my anxiety seems to calm down a bit, I think. About 5 weeks after 25 mcg, I was told to go to 50mcg. 5 days later, the anxiety came back. (related- i'm not sure because my period also came early that month. I took 37.5 mcg for several days, then alternated 37.5 with 50 for a few more. I then went to 50 mcg about 5 weeks ago and haven't had any anxiety to speak of in about 6 weeks or so. I am now awaiting a blood draw next week.
I do have Hashi. Mom and sister too.
Another article is The Psychiatric Manifestations of Hashimoto's. The case studies are a little more extreme than our cases, but still relevant to the mood disorders it can cause. It also mentions 2 people having dizziness in the 2 years prior to diagnosis. I have had vertigo misdiagnosed as a few things since 1994.
I am now checking into my b12 levels and my very low ferritin level (9).
Hypo can cause low b12, and low b12 can cause your body not to absorb enough iron. They are all related. Not just a coincidence, after all!
If you want, send me a message and we can talk more.
I understand your anxiety about the endo not relating the anxiety and hypo. Go with the psychiatrists thought. They know the mind best. It would be great if 1 doctor could handle it all.

Kitty

[Applecore]

I just had my blood tested for B12 and iron.  I am near the bottom of normal in B12 I am 260 and range is 206-980.  I don't remember the iron but it was also low.  I am starting to take supplements from the holistic doctor for the celiac and I guess it will help these other things.  I am trying each of the supplements one day at  a time to see how I react to them.  So far I had only one reaction and that was to some herbal supplement that made my abdomen hurt really bad.  I'm not taking it again until I talk to the doctor.  I hope it works for me that way with the 37.5 /50.  What is your tsh now ?  I will send you a message through the friends.  I forgot this time.  I am going to take a bath and go to bed shortly so I will do it tomorrow.  thanks for all your help.   linda