Anxiety???

[jnrmommy]

I have been suffering with this for over a year now.  I get a full feeling in my chest where it feels like a heart attack and it sends me into a panic.  I notice that also I get flushing of the face and dizzy at times.  These symptoms are worse right before that time of the month.  I have been to the ER where all the heart tests were normal.  Is this possibly anxiety?  I used to have hypotyroidism but my doctor took me off the Synthroid after my levels were normal.  

[Ericamegan]

Before I got on a T4/T3(synthroid/Cytomel) combo, the same thing would happen to me several times a week. Anxiety would come over me, my neck and face would become flushed & splotchy. It still happens on occasion if I am very stressed.

[Barb135]

Very good idea to keep a diary of how you feel.  Each time I get labs done, I note on the report, what med/dose I was on, what, if any, symptoms I had at the time. That way I know which numbers to target.

[Kaz1969]

I suffer from anxiety when my numbers are wrong and its horrible . i am in the UK so its a constant battle to get tests done and medication changed they are very fond of the word Normal! I keep a diary and i now know what my levels need to very for me to feel good.  just to reassure you as soon as my levels are right for me the anxiety goes away completely, it has of to the stage that i know what my results will be by how i feel before i get them! Hope you feel better soon .

[Barb135]

Make sure you're getting FREE T3 and FREE T4, not total, along with TSH.

Get thyroid antibody tests to confirm/rule out Hashimoto's.

[jnrmommy]

Thanks for your responses.  I will be fine for 3 weeks out of the month and when it is time for my cycle to come on is when it happens. It is worse in the am especially if I have coffee.  I guess its hormone related, but I have no idea how to prevent it.  I am going to the doctor this month, any ideas for tests to ask for to check thyroid other than the basic T3 and T4?

[Barb135]

Sorry, that should Hashimoto's, not Hashimotot's!!  

Forgot to address your anxiety.  It is quite common for those with thyroid issues to also have anxiety issues.  I've been through this myself.  Stress is very often a cause for anxiety.  Being hypo can be a source of stress, because it's hard to function well, when we don't feel well.

[Barb135]

Why did your doctor take you off the synthroid, just because your levels were "normal"?  That's the whole idea of taking medication -- to keep them normal.  You don't just stop taking med when you reach the normal ranges, you keep taking them to maintain adequate levels.  

In my opinion, the first thing you should do is find a different doctor and get your levels retested - don't just settle for TSH, which is a pituitary hormone, either.  Insist on getting, both Free T3 and Free T4, which are the actual thyroid hormones, with Free T4 being a "storage hormone", which must be converted into the active Free T3.  Do  make sure they run FREE T3 and FREE T4, which are not the same as Total T3 and Total T4.

Also ask to get tested for thyroid antibodies to determine if you have an autoimmune thyroid disease.  Hashimotot's Thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world.

[danie17075rm]

... AND hypothyroidism has been proven to cause anxiety in peer review studies.  I believe a lot of us have similar symptoms.  All of our body systems and hormones are related.  The anxiety is likely a combination of everything.  Did you have hashimoto's?  If you did, it doesn't go away.  You might need to be tested again.  It can cause all of these if some of your numbers are out of whack.  Even if the docs say they are normal, post your results on here with the ranges.  Often what doctors tell us is normal, is not optimal for us.  Good Luck.

[makani249]

I too have that same issue. The dizziness was out of now where and lingered for weeks and now it's just now getting better. I have the chest fullness and discomfort, but I talk my self down so that I don't go into a full panic attack. If you have been checked out thoroughly then try to remember that you are ok. Take about 10 deep breaths, redirect your thoughts to something positive, and do something that makes you comfortable. Stress can make you feel that way, I have become really good a recognizing my anxiety and reducing my stress and fears. I hope this helps. If you need to talk or vent I am here.