Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Hi Ann Marie, About two months or so after being diagnosed with Graves' and on my treatment of Tapazole (my levels had stabilized) I started experiencing what was determined to be panic attacks. My major symptom was feeling like I couldn't breathe, I didn't have most of what you've described in earlier posts (I think that was you) - skin crawling, shaking, etc... From what I've been told by my endo and by the anxiety specialist psychologist I was coincidentally already seeing at the time, anxiety and panic attacks can hang on as " leftovers " long after the thyroid itsself is stabilized. Their explaination as to why wasn't medically detailed, but I do remember them saying that your brain somehow just gets " set " in a pattern where it is used to responding that way, something like that. Anyway for me what worked was trying to do meditation exercises and to take a xanex every week or two (I would take one and not have another attack for a week or two - take another, etc...). My period of panic attacks lasted for about three or four months, all of which were after my thyroid levels had stabilized on Tap. I'm skeptical about your doc's assertion that Graves' can't be the cause, based on my own experience. But, hey, he/she could be right, and I'd certainly do the further tests that were reccomended. I hope this helps. I wish you the best with this, please keep us updated. ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Ann Marie, I think I said this before but here goes again: if I had levels like you do, I'd be severely hypO with the symptoms, no doubt including anxiety levels, to match. I would suggest you ask the doctor if you can experiment, since your levels are so far towards the hypO end of things, with lowering your dosage--not to the point where you go hyper but to find *YOUR* optimal levels. You want to determine whether your anxiety is related to your levels. The only way to do that is to change your dosage and track your progress. As I also said before, if the doctor doesn't agree to this, since it's your body and you ingest the pills yourself every day, you don't have anything to lose by trying it yourself--you can always re-up the dose! I'm sorry if I am sounding frustrated, but you are getting the same story handed to you and you probably have so much brain fog at those levels, that you can't muster the arguments to straighten things out. I started feeling hypO when my TSH level went to .35, and I know WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, it's just the doctors who love to put us into neat little categories! Terry > > Reply-To: graves_support > Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 08:44:06 -0400 > To: <graves_support > > Subject: Latest Doctor Visit > > Hi All, > Many thanks to all of you who responded to my posts last week. Here is an > update on my progress. I went to a new doc on Thursday and told him about my > symptoms. He listened carefully and read over all my test results. He told me > that my physical symptoms were anxiety and panic attacks and he had no doubt > that they were biologically based. However, he said they were not coming from > my thyroid because of the frequency of them. When I told him the attacks > would be moderate to severe and last for three to four days before leaving, > he told me that if it was the thyroid, they would last for several weeks then > recede - not just a few days. He also said my levels were within the " normal > range " and he was not going to be concerned about them if they fluctuate > between .5 and 5. My levels are at 3.31and I'm experiencing these attacks. In > all honesty, there hasn't been a week throughout this whole ordeal when I > haven't had some type of " panic attack. " It has varied in intensity and > frequency but I can honestly say they didn't start until I was diagnosed with > Graves. When I told him this, he indicated that the thyroid messes around > with your brain chemicals and I may now be experiencing a seritonin > imbalance. So....he wants to monitor my thyroid levels, test for > catecholmines (more urine tests) and do an MRI of my head with special focus > on my pituitary. Also, he said that he will work closely with my psychiatrist > to adjust my antidepressant dosage. He emphasized that my thyroid was > functioning normally - even though he noticed a swelling and tenderness on > the left side of my neck - which incidentally two days later I had extreme > symptoms. I don't know what to do at this point. Can the thyroid react for a > period of days and then stop or does it have to go on for weeks as he said? > What about this seritonin stuff? And again, no one seems to count in the > levels. My husband says if I'm on meds to control the thyroid then the > thyroid must be abnormal so who's to say it's not going off and emitting > additional hormones? The doc also told me that Hashi's and Grave's are the > same and you cycle in and out of each during your life time. Can anyone shed > some light on these comments from the doc? Is it true that thyroid symptoms > go on for weeks and not just for a period of 3 to 4 days? Help. > Ann > > PS..Sorry this is so long! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 > > I think I said this before but here goes again: if I had levels like you do, > I'd be severely hypO with the symptoms, no doubt including anxiety levels, > to match. I would suggest you ask the doctor if you can experiment, since > your levels are so far towards the hypO end of things, with lowering your > dosage--not to the point where you go hyper but to find *YOUR* optimal > levels. You want to determine whether your anxiety is related to your > levels. The only way to do that is to change your dosage and track your > progress. > Ann Marie: I agree with what Terry said. I had levels of 3.2 and was a total wreck: panic attacks on the freeway and a generalized anxiety that alternated with a wretched depression. I felt HORRIBLE psychologically and those aspects were much worse, more marked, than the physical symptoms of thinning hair, sore eyes, and raised blood pressure (yes, mine goes up when I'm hypo!). One endo said I was fine; another said I warranted treatment. Once my TSH fell around 1, I was a DIFFERENT PERSON. I can' t emphasize enough what a tremendous difference I experienced. So while all fo the things you're being tested for are great, you might start with something really really simple and see if a lower tsh got rid of everything!!!!! THen you'll really know. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Hi Ann, I was going to say pretty much exactly what Terry said. Also, I was wondering if you could go through the symptom list and tell us what symptoms you are having besides the anxiety and panic attacks... Hang in there, Pam B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Ann Marie, I just wanted to say that I had the same problems that and Terry mentioned. My " normal " levels were different from what the doc thought normal was. I feel normal when my numbers show me a bit hyper. It can't really hurt to give it a try. I had the same anxiety type attacks and only noticed one physical symptom...weight gain...of hypO. Look at a list of hypO symptoms (in Elaine's book) and see if you have any of those. Good luck. I hope you get to feeling better really soon! Kristi Latest Doctor Visit > Hi All, > Many thanks to all of you who responded to my posts last week. Here is an > update on my progress. I went to a new doc on Thursday and told him about my > symptoms. He listened carefully and read over all my test results. He told me > that my physical symptoms were anxiety and panic attacks and he had no doubt > that they were biologically based. However, he said they were not coming from > my thyroid because of the frequency of them. When I told him the attacks > would be moderate to severe and last for three to four days before leaving, > he told me that if it was the thyroid, they would last for several weeks then > recede - not just a few days. He also said my levels were within the " normal > range " and he was not going to be concerned about them if they fluctuate > between .5 and 5. My levels are at 3.31and I'm experiencing these attacks. In > all honesty, there hasn't been a week throughout this whole ordeal when I > haven't had some type of " panic attack. " It has varied in intensity and > frequency but I can honestly say they didn't start until I was diagnosed with > Graves. When I told him this, he indicated that the thyroid messes around > with your brain chemicals and I may now be experiencing a seritonin > imbalance. So....he wants to monitor my thyroid levels, test for > catecholmines (more urine tests) and do an MRI of my head with special focus > on my pituitary. Also, he said that he will work closely with my psychiatrist > to adjust my antidepressant dosage. He emphasized that my thyroid was > functioning normally - even though he noticed a swelling and tenderness on > the left side of my neck - which incidentally two days later I had extreme > symptoms. I don't know what to do at this point. Can the thyroid react for a > period of days and then stop or does it have to go on for weeks as he said? > What about this seritonin stuff? And again, no one seems to count in the > levels. My husband says if I'm on meds to control the thyroid then the > thyroid must be abnormal so who's to say it's not going off and emitting > additional hormones? The doc also told me that Hashi's and Grave's are the > same and you cycle in and out of each during your life time. Can anyone shed > some light on these comments from the doc? Is it true that thyroid symptoms > go on for weeks and not just for a period of 3 to 4 days? Help. > Ann > > PS..Sorry this is so long! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 In a message dated 8/5/2002 5:54:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time, abucci@... writes: > So....he wants to monitor my thyroid levels, test for > catecholmines (more urine tests) and do an MRI of my head with special > focus > on my pituitary. Also, he said that he will work closely with my > psychiatrist > to adjust my antidepressant dosage. Hi Ann! I'm glad your doctor wants to investigate other possible causes for your panic attacks and anxiety. As we all know, the body is a VERY complex thing and it's not out of the question that there COULD be some other cause! I think it's terrific that you'll be having other tests done. As with many diseases, one disease can adversely effect (and/or trigger symptoms in) other systems in the body, and, yes, your onset of Grave's may be provoking some other odd changes. Of course my view on this isn't expert, but with all the correlations being discovered constantly between this or that in how this great machine we call the human body operates (or doesn't operate properly!) I wouldn't rule anything out. Please let us know what your future tests uncover! I know this sounds corny, but I'm so interested in these things and figuring out why is don't what that I'm eager to see what your results are! May some light be shed on the cause of those horrid bouts of panic! My heart goes out to you. Take care!!! Hugs, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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