Anxiety with Hypo T?

[suep112]

I have graves disease and had a tt last june. i am being treated with levothyroxine. I am starting to have panic attacks just like I did when I was really sick with graves. Is that possible? I thought I should feel just the opposite of hyperT. I really dont know how I am supposed to feel. When i first got sick last year, the doctor said i was depressed and gave me cymbalta....i didnt get better and he finally tested my blood. I know my tsh is .81 and thats good. I was jsut wondering why I am starting to feel just like I did last year. It is ruining my life. Thank goodness i work part time. I would surely loose my job. I feel like I am going 100 miles an hour on the inside. Any suggestions? thanks.

[stella5349]

Opps - in my above tests I worded wrong.  I meant to say Free T3 and Free T4 tests.

[stella5349]

Your histroy and symptoms sound very similiar - I was in your shoes for many years after RAI to ablate my thyroid function for Graves.

Here are some key points I found that can share with you.

1 - Definately have 3 specific tests done on your thyroid levels. A TSH - Free T3 and Free T3. Low Free T3 levels are linked to panic and anxiety for us. Once I started on T3 medication the panic started to leave and my mood balance and clarity returned.

2. Test your VitB's levels. I never underwent a - persay- test for it - but I started supplementing after a ton of reading that once thyroid function is removed within the human body - we are depleted in specific supplements. I found these very helpful to end that horrible panic.

    a. Vit B complex - liquid complex - not pill
    b  Zinc 60mgs/ w Copper balance
    c  Selenium 200mg
    d  Vit C 2000mgs daily
    e  Magnesium citrate

I also added a probiotic for digestion. I got tired of taking so many pills and stuff I recently went to two supplement drinks. One is called EmergenC which is packed with detox supps and the other is specifically designed for hypoT patients - mostly ones with no function. That is Fatigued to Fantastic supplement packages. This holds everything in it (except the VitC) to support thyroid ( meds)  and help with symptoms.

I feel for you and I did lose a job b/c of the panic you describe. In fact I couldn't even grocery shop during that period. It's debilating and can ruin a life. 99% of thyroid patients get the DX of anxiety and get stuck on drugs. I was a Xanax freak for 4 years and no one helped except they kept increasing that med.

The withdrawal was God awful and took weeks to get off ---- and I do not support antianxiety meds AT ALL. I was a zombie, yet still suffered the attacks. The only thing was ---  I was so NUMB - so I didn't care anymore.

Push for that testing above first - start a supplement package, especially the B's. It may do the trick for you.

If you find you are low on the Free T3 test - push for a T3 med in addition to your Levo. You can eliminate this anxiety and the other symptoms that go along with hypoT if you speak up.