Is it possible to have severe anxiety when thyroid tests are within normal range except for TSI?

[purple0749]

I was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2001.  I took Methemizole for 2 years and my hyperthyroidism went into remission.  In January 2009 I had a baby and began having severe anxety/panic attacks about 12 weeks later.  I was diagnosed as having post partum depression/anxiety.  I was placed on 100mg Zoloft and taking .5 mg of Klonopin and my anxiety was under control.   The anxiety came back around June and I was moved up to 150mg and again in September I was moved up to 200mg.  In October my thyroid results came back elevated and I was placed on 10mg twice a day of Methemizole again (they had tested normal up until this time).  In December my results had moved to the hypothyroidism range and I was dropped to one tablet of Methemizole per day.  At the end of January the anxiety came back and I am taking Zoloft and Klonopin (daily) and I still have anxiety.  It ranges from light to strong (how I felt the week before I started having panic attacks in early 2009).  I had my thyroid levels checked again and they all came back within normal range except for the TSI which was 299.  During the past year I've been talking to a councelor that specializes in post partum depression and she believes that this is no longer post partum depression and that there is nothing psychological that would cause me anxiety.  Is it possible that such a high TSI level can cause it?  If so, what can be causing the elevated TSI levels and are there any other tests that I should request?      

[purple0749]

You make a good point.  I went to a different doctor that pointed out that my hormone levels were too low for someone my age.  Three other doctors looked at the same results and said they were within range, but apparently they are within range for someone that is pre-menopausal.  He is running a lot of tests to see if there is anything else, but it looks like low hormone (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) levels and my thyroid levels may be the culprits.  He told me to take 2000 mg of fish oil a day to start with and it seems to be helping me a little.  I won't have all the test results back until next week.  I also called my endocronologist to check my thyroid again and talk to him about the ranges.  I'm considering changing endocronologists, but it's difficult to tell who's good.  On paper, the one I have is great, but I'm a little concerned that there doesn't seem to be any deeper analysis than the range in the lab results.

[karenlg68]

I was diagnosed with graves 14 yrs ago after the birth of my 1st child
  I too get severe anxiety and panic attacks.  They are all thyroid related.   U can also get postpartum thyroditis.  I think what doctors don't understand is that tsh range. 40-5.5 is pretty wide.   I am normally around. 63.    If I go above. 1.0. I feel horrible and want to die.  They say oh ur in normal range.  Normal for who?  I think what is normal for everyone is different.

[GravesGirl]

your tsh is hypo, not hyper now. the .9 in the FT4 may be too low for your body's needs. Mid range would be better. You probably need a replacement now. Anything over 3 for tsh is considered hypo now by most endos.

[purple0749]

Here are the other things they measured:
TSH, 3rd Generation = 4.01
T4, Free = .9
T3, Free = 358

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The TSI is the marker for Graves.
Would check your thyroid levels to make sure they are in normal range.  Some patients have anxiety as a separate problem from their thyroid disease, but thyroid dysfunction can cause/worsen anxiety.

[GravesGirl]

Hi! TSI is the antibody for Graves, it means you have it and it is pretty elevated. Sometimes being made hypo by the anti thyroid meds can make these antibodies increase. When you say normal, do you have a copy of labs? Being either hypo or hyper can cause anxiety.