Aa
Questions for anxiety and thyroid
Lab results came back with a low t4 and lower end tsh. T3 was on lower end too but still within range. I have had unbelievable anxiety for over a year now. When i got tested a year ago, t3 was a little low but not bad. Got put on cymo something but it made my anxiety worse. I have had several mental health and physical checkups and all come back normal except anxiety, facial numbness, feeling either real hot or real cold. Panic attacks severe at least twice a day with the anxiety always lingering. I even had an MRI that came back normal. I have a low dose script of armor but I am afraid to take it. My gp just says my anxiety is bad and I need something more than lexapro, which I am already on. Please help I don't want to start taking a bunch of stuff I don't need...
Having a reaction to that small dose, and with your ferritin test result showing as adequate, it indicates you do need to get the 4 panel diurnal saliva cortisol tests done. Even if iodine were low I don't think it would cause the reaction you have had. I'd proceed with that cortisol testing and also ask for a DHEA-S test as well.
Hey Gimel I have been 4 days on the the t4 med levothyroxine 12.5 mcg in the morning and 12.5 6 hours later with an empty stomach. My anxiety is really starting to ramp up. Does that mean I have cortisol issue? I also think I have an ear infection and it's causing ringing in my ears to get worse or something. My facial numbness is also getting worse. I know the doctor did not check iodine levels. I don't eat fish so could they be low? Should I buy some? Man all these things running through my head non stop. I just don't know what to do
Prescribe medication to offset lower levels of hormones affected by dysfunctional hypothalamus/pituitary system.
Thank you so much again everything I keep reading says these test results with low t4 and low tsh are because my pituitary gland is not working. I got an MRI with contrast and they focused on pit gland. They said no tumors. What do they do if it is a pit gland issue??
Tinnitus is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. When you start thyroid med the TSH will drop and with less stimulation of the thyroid gland. less natural thyroid is produced. Since serum thyroid levels are the sum of both natural thyroid hormone and thyroid med, the net result is that serum thyroid levels change very little until the med dosage is raised enough to basically suppress the TSH and then further med increases will raise the Free T4 and Free T3 levels. For this reason it is best to continue to raise the thyroid med dosage about every 4 weeks to get the serum levels into the upper part of their ranges and then start slowing further increases in order to allow time for full effect on symptoms. And of course you need to get the diurnal cortisol tests done to see if you need to raise your cortisol.
Thanks again for always answering me I really really appreciate you I keep having this bringing in my ears though since I started the armor
Low cortisol can be treated with hydrocortisone several times a day. No I don't think it is the Armour.
If you do have low cortisol, that needs to be corrected before raising your Armour very much.
If you do have low cortisol, that needs to be corrected before raising your Armour very much.
It seems I have a lot of those symptoms. If I do have low cortisol what can I do about it??? Now my ears are ringing like tintatus. I never had that before the armour? Could that cause that??
No, it should not. If cortisol is too low that can cause symptoms shown in the following. Low cortisol can also cause reactions to T3 in thyroid med. So it is important to be sure cortisol is sufficient.
The symptoms of low cortisol, or hypoadrenalism, include:
Mental and psychological ailments such as depression
Faintness and dizziness
Weakness and fatigue
Heart palpitations
Emotional hypersensitivity
Inability to cope with stress
Social anxiety
Muscle weakness
Headache, scalp ache, or general body ache
Severe or dull lower back pain
Extremely sensitive skin
Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
Abdominal pain and hunger pain despite an empty stomach
Extreme craving for salty foods
Anxiety and jitters
Clumsiness and confusion
Motion sickness
Insomnia and dark circles under the eyes
Low bladder capacity and symptoms of IBS
Irregular or non-existent menstrual period
The symptoms of low cortisol, or hypoadrenalism, include:
Mental and psychological ailments such as depression
Faintness and dizziness
Weakness and fatigue
Heart palpitations
Emotional hypersensitivity
Inability to cope with stress
Social anxiety
Muscle weakness
Headache, scalp ache, or general body ache
Severe or dull lower back pain
Extremely sensitive skin
Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
Abdominal pain and hunger pain despite an empty stomach
Extreme craving for salty foods
Anxiety and jitters
Clumsiness and confusion
Motion sickness
Insomnia and dark circles under the eyes
Low bladder capacity and symptoms of IBS
Irregular or non-existent menstrual period
I am only taking the 15 mg once a day that shouldn't cause more anxiety should it. If my cortisol is meased up will this fix it or something else?
Diurnal saliva cortisol test at 4 times of day gives a good picture of free cortisol levels. If you get it done, I can help interpret the results, because just being "in range" may not be adequate. And if you decide to do it, I would proceed now.
The 15 mg of Armour , even twice a day, is a small dose. I see it as only a start to get your levels where they need to be.
Not sure what might cause the high B12 level, but 800 is okay.
The 15 mg of Armour , even twice a day, is a small dose. I see it as only a start to get your levels where they need to be.
Not sure what might cause the high B12 level, but 800 is okay.
One more thing. For the last 2 years my b12 level has been really high. I know you said something about that also. One test showed as high as 1900. Now i was eating a lot of eggs which I don't anymore. I don't supplement at all. No one seems to think this is a big deal. This last total of 800 is the lowest it's ever been
Fortunately the guy who did all these test was pretty thourough my Ferritin was 131 on a scale of 30-400. Now my Transferrin was 194 on a scale of 200-360. He does do the cortisol salvia test which I have and have not yet done. Is the science on that exact? I just didn't want to spend money on something that wasn't legit. I took my armour this morning about 4 hours ago. I still do have some anxiety, but it's the same I have everyday. I didn't expect to take 1 pill and it go away. I did sleep like 10 hours last night though. Hey thank you again for your help. It's funny how a total stranger has helped me more than anyone
If you should have any reaction to the Armour, then I would suspect deficient levels of cortisol or ferritin, and it would be even more important to get those tested. Ferritin can be done with a serum ferritin test. Serum cortisol is total cortisol and it is not as revealing as a diurnal saliva cortisol (free cortisol) test which is 4 tests taken at different times of the day. Very few doctors will order the diurnal cortisol tests, but you can get them done for about $140 at ZRT labs. After payment they send you a kit and you take samples and return by UPS and then you get results in a week or so.
So sorry I took so long to respond... had to work. I have had 2 doctors and a lab manager tell me that my numbers would not cause problems. I can't believe how ignorant the medical field has become. I know what I feel no matter what these idiots say. You have told me more than any doctor ever has. They all think and have told me I am a hypochondriac. I am going to take my first dose of armour in the morning it's 15 mg. I took the t3 cymotel alone and my face went numb and I got very panicky. Had to go home from work. I know my d levels are on the tank but every time i try and supplement them by pills or one of those light boxed my anxiety goes through the roof non stop for st least 2 weeks. I have tried pills, melts, drops, different times of day, with fat, without, with k2, with and without magnesium... all the same results... I have tried it so many brands and so many ways, but always same result. I even thought I was bipolar but have had 3 different physcs tell me i wasn't. This battle started out of nowhere over a year and a half ago and it won't stop. I am praying the armour will work. The guy who told me I need it is a functional medicine doctor not like these other idiots. I hope this one won't give me problems. I mean if it does then what? I can not tell you how much I appreciate your responses and knowledge. Thank you a million times over
No ashgawanda is not going to fix your problem with hypothyroidism.
Your Vitamin D is terribly low. Should be at least 50. Your B12 is higher than necessary, but it is not toxic. If you are supplementing with B12 then you could reduce the dose. If you have read suggestion no.6 in the link above, you would have noticed that it is a good idea to also test for cortisol and ferritin.
As previously stated, your relatively low levels of thyroid hormone are frequently associated with having hypothyroid symptoms like those mentioned.. Of course you cannot be sure that hypothyroidism is the only thing causing your anxiety, but note that a very long list of hypothyroid symptoms lists these in the section under Emotional.
Tension
Irritability
Wanting to be solitary
Mood swings
Anxiety
Personality changes
Feelings of resentment
Jumpy
Easily startled
Lack of confidence
Nervousness
So you really need to get your thyroid hormone levels higher. What is the dosage of the Armour Thyroid you have?
Your Vitamin D is terribly low. Should be at least 50. Your B12 is higher than necessary, but it is not toxic. If you are supplementing with B12 then you could reduce the dose. If you have read suggestion no.6 in the link above, you would have noticed that it is a good idea to also test for cortisol and ferritin.
As previously stated, your relatively low levels of thyroid hormone are frequently associated with having hypothyroid symptoms like those mentioned.. Of course you cannot be sure that hypothyroidism is the only thing causing your anxiety, but note that a very long list of hypothyroid symptoms lists these in the section under Emotional.
Tension
Irritability
Wanting to be solitary
Mood swings
Anxiety
Personality changes
Feelings of resentment
Jumpy
Easily startled
Lack of confidence
Nervousness
So you really need to get your thyroid hormone levels higher. What is the dosage of the Armour Thyroid you have?
Wow thank you!!! So informative. I know you can not give advice on here, but do you think if I take ashwagndha it should fix the problem? I am usually not one of those herb guys but any meds i am taking, give me horrible side effects. I do have a 21 for vitamin d level so it's horrible vitatim b12 was 900 on a scale of 800 at highest. B12 has always been high. Could this be a pit gland problem?? Do you think I am hypothyroid?? Thanks you have been a God send no one had taken the time to explain all of this
When attempting to diagnose a possible thyroid problem, symptoms are the most important indicator, followed by levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. All of the symptoms you mention are frequently related to hypothyroidism. In addition, your Free T4 was only at 18% of its range, which is much lower than optimal for many people. Your Free T3 was at 58 % of its range, which is not too bad, but in view of your relatively low Free T4 and your Total T3 being only at 8% of its range, I am somewhat suspicious of the accuracy of the Free T3 result.
Serum thyroid hormone has to be transported into the cells of the body in order to be metabolized. There are a number of variables that can reduce transport and thus cause serum Free T3 to pool in the blood rather than being transported into cells. That may be why your Free T3 level is inconsistent with your Total T3 and Free T4 levels. By the way I think the correct result for your Free T4 is .9 and the range is .7 - 1.8.
No doubt your doctor was heavily influenced by your TSH level, as most doctors are. Unfortunately TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T4 or Free T3, much less correlate well with symptoms. Many members have found that symptom relief required Free T4 at the middle of its range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper third of its range. In addition, hypo patients are frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. D should be at least 50, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be 70-100. It would also be a good idea to test and supplement as needed to optimize those as well.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms without being influenced by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results. I highly recommend that you read at least the first two pages of this link, and more if you have the inclination. It will give you some good insight and help understand why I say all this.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
If your doctor resists clinical treatment, then I would give him a copy of the paper and ask him to read it and reconsider. If that doesn't work, then you need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically, as described above..
Serum thyroid hormone has to be transported into the cells of the body in order to be metabolized. There are a number of variables that can reduce transport and thus cause serum Free T3 to pool in the blood rather than being transported into cells. That may be why your Free T3 level is inconsistent with your Total T3 and Free T4 levels. By the way I think the correct result for your Free T4 is .9 and the range is .7 - 1.8.
No doubt your doctor was heavily influenced by your TSH level, as most doctors are. Unfortunately TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T4 or Free T3, much less correlate well with symptoms. Many members have found that symptom relief required Free T4 at the middle of its range, at minimum, and Free T3 in the upper third of its range. In addition, hypo patients are frequently deficient in Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. D should be at least 50, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be 70-100. It would also be a good idea to test and supplement as needed to optimize those as well.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms without being influenced by resultant TSH levels. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results. I highly recommend that you read at least the first two pages of this link, and more if you have the inclination. It will give you some good insight and help understand why I say all this.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
If your doctor resists clinical treatment, then I would give him a copy of the paper and ask him to read it and reconsider. If that doesn't work, then you need to find a good thyroid doctor that will treat clinically, as described above..
Oops I guess that would help
Tsh was .86 range was .400 to 4.500
Free t 4 was .09 range was .07 to 1.8
Total t4 was 3.9 range was 4.5 to 11.7
T3 Free was 3.4 range was 2.0 to 4.4
Total t3 was 90 range was 80 to 200
T3 Reverse was 12 range was 8-25
Tsh shows low normal while total t4 shows below normal
All this is new to me so I appreciate any advice, if this is not it I am going to explore other options. It all started when I was taking opiates but I have not taken any in over a year and half. I don't drink or smoke or do any drugs. The physc i am seeing said there is nothing to these values and it shouldn't matter. Dr s sometime really suck I mean I know my own body
Tsh was .86 range was .400 to 4.500
Free t 4 was .09 range was .07 to 1.8
Total t4 was 3.9 range was 4.5 to 11.7
T3 Free was 3.4 range was 2.0 to 4.4
Total t3 was 90 range was 80 to 200
T3 Reverse was 12 range was 8-25
Tsh shows low normal while total t4 shows below normal
All this is new to me so I appreciate any advice, if this is not it I am going to explore other options. It all started when I was taking opiates but I have not taken any in over a year and half. I don't drink or smoke or do any drugs. The physc i am seeing said there is nothing to these values and it shouldn't matter. Dr s sometime really suck I mean I know my own body
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
