misdiagnosis

[suprahaw]

How often is thyroid disease misdiagnosed as anxiety?  I am a health professional and a patient.  I questioned my doctor about thyroid disease as I had a thyoglossal cyst removed at age 8; was on synthyroid for 2 years in my teens, and had a history the last 18=24 mos. of short term memory loss and other symptoms.  After having cardiac symptoms and being taken to the ER, I finally was cared for by an excellent cardiologist who listened.  My TSH was <0.1, T3 & T4 normal range.  I have had recent episodes of tachycardia and chest pain which was ruled out as anxiety by my doctor.  I feel validated now...but have to admit I am angry.  


This discussion is related to LOW TSH LEVELS.

[armywife92]

Yes, a few yrs before my diagnosis, I just came to the conclusion that i somewhere along the way ''picked up'' an anxiety disorder, even though nothing tragic had happened in my life.. I agree with you mrs.....it should be tested yearly, the same way they test for cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Better yet, every time we have a well woman check up, they should test.

[mrsomes]

I had a goiter my whole life but was assured by my drs that my thyroid levels were fine.  My thyroid started really acting up in my 50's but it was quite a while before I could convince my (ex) doctor that I wasn't just having anxiety attacks.   He refused to check anything and just kept suggesting prozac and therapy.  Guess what...it was a combination of my hyper-thyroidism and menopause.   A good friend of mine was on antidepressants for years with no success.   Checked her thyroid and she was hypo.   It still shocks me that thyroid testing is not part of the standard, yearly, required blood work, especially for women.

[Bama_Lori]

Yes, I feel you, been there done that for the last 12 years.

Be sure to have your new ENDO also check your PTH level in the blood....I have thyroid nodules AND parathyroid adenomas making my calcium too high, causing my heart issues and many others...an imbalance of calcium will ruin your day.

Look at www.parathyroid.com for more info on this...check it all, no need to treat one, and not to have it ALL fixed at the same time....ok?

Important tests I had to push for to prove my diagnosis is all simple blood tests....PTH, Calcium and Vitamin D level, if the first two are high and D is low...you will also have a tumor on the parathyroid...dont let them screw up these glands taking out your thyroid nodules...you will become HYPOCALCIMIC and you will really regret it for the rest of your life...

Take care to see only the best endocrinology ...not a general, not an ENT...not an otolarangolgist..but an ENDO surgeon...and do your homework...push for the
M I R P...minimally invasive procedure...don't let them muck you up with exploratory surgery on your neck....consequences will make you sicker than you are now...trust me, and you could be left with no voice forever, or a drooping dead face, or what they like to call frozen shoulder....but really the nerves are so tiny and delicate here...extreme caution.

Sincerely,
Lori

[suprahaw]

Hi,
I am sorry it took me so long to respond back...but I was waiting to see to see if my doctor followed up with another thyroid test.  She did not, so I prayed about it and last week found an excellent Endocrinology center in San Antonio, TX.  The doctor was excellent, validated my concerns, and validated that I do, indeed have a thyroid problem.  He did an U/S on my neck as I had told him I had multiple, painful nodules (which my Endocrinologist said she could not feel a month ago...and I could).  He verified that I had multiple nodules and that I am experiencing S/S from problems with my thyroid.  I return in a week for further follow-up and it sounds like they may be removing these nodules.  I do worry about the risk of cancer, but know that even with cancer most thyroid problems can be resolved with good outcomes.  It also was gratifying to not be treated like I was a neurotic patient and told once again that all of my problems were from anxiety.  I appreciate this website immensely and it is great to s/w someone who has been there.  Thank you physicians for this site and the support and info it provides.   suprahaw

[redheadaussie]

In my case it was a long 15 year fight with doctors to prove it wasn't anxiety!

It is many times misdiagnosed as anxiety, as a lot of the presenting symptoms look like it.
If they are smart they will do blood tests including the FT3 and FT4 and SEE the patient has maybe some anxiety due to the thyroid disease in the first place!

Hyper certainly LOOKS like an agitated worried patient, but as I said, if they fail to test the thyroid, that same patient can end up on anti-depressants, etc which only exacerbates the issue.

Your case is exactly what I keep saying, Do we have to end up in ER almost dead before we get believed?
I am glad your ER doctors were so good. I hear you on the anger. I lost around 8 years of my kids growing up, as they were taken by my ex-husband due to so called anxiety and depression. Turns out I had severe Hashimoto's which one of the first symptoms is severe depression!
Cheers