Hypo and Fight or Flight response??????

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Hypo and Fight or Flight response??????
7
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 8:52pm
i have suffered with an anxiety disorder since i was abouot 25- 5 yrs ago. when i get nervous, my flight or flight system goes off- i flush really noticebly, get blothcy and a surge of energy such as what happens with a panic attack runs through my body. today in therapy, i had a revelation and i am now beggining to wonder how much of this could be related to my thyroid and if it really is an anxiety disorder at all. for a moment, i have a sense of so much hope. as i know that the fight or flight produces epinephrine and norepinephrine which signals to flee or fight. it sends major energy through your body and everyone responds differently. this is produced by the adrenal glands, which seem to have some relationship with hypo thyroid. i am trying to do research on line, but much of it is over my head and i am wondering if anyone out there knows anything about this. i have my endo appt. tomorrow, and i am thinking i might ask.

Erika

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 11:06pm
Hi Erika - that feeling of anxiety is definitely part of the hypothyroidism. I felt it all last sunmmer as my TSH was rising and my doctor wouldn't increase my medication. It was a horrible feeling of dread, as if something was wrong. But there was no reason for it! I know what you're experiencing is a little different but it's all part of the same thing. I can do some research for you tomorrow, maybe not in time for your appointment for it might help you to understand what's going on. Good luck tomorrow!! Hugs, Cathy
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 7:40am
getting ready for my appt.! i'll post this afternoon or evening.

THX

Erika

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 9:58am
Hi:

I have my endo appt today too (first). I've had an "exaggerated startle response" my whole adult life, too. I'm also starting to think that some of the things I thought were a mood disorder (anxiety/depression) are thyroid-related. I'll be interested to read what you find today.

Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 10:56am

OMG, so many things are coming together. I get this way and just thought I was nuts. I'd freak out for now reason and couldn't explain myself. My doc put me on meds for anxiety a few years back.....right after my OLD doc said I didn't have thyroid issues.


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 5:29pm
Oh my gosh I read this post and I could just burst into tears!!I have been on thyriod meds since my middle child was born almost 9 years ago.Soon after that I started noticing a change in myself.I felt most of the time as if I was in a dream state and nothing was real.About 4 years ago these feeling starting getting closer until it just turned to all day long.Then the anxiety attacks started and they put me on 10ml of paxil per day.About a year later the panic attacks started really bad. About 6 months ago the PA at my DR office told me that my thyroid is probably causing this to happen.This is how he explained it----He says that my thyroid should be in this certain range and as long as my blood work shows it is the DR won't change my dosage.But that I should probably try to be at the higher end of the range to even out that chemical imbalance that links thyroid disease to anxiety. I'm scared to have him change it because of my anxiety/panic disorder. My thinking is that it will give me more energy and in return it will cause me to have a panic attack. I don't even drink soda with caffeine because it makes me feel anxious.I'm so sorry this is so long but this is the first time I've ever heard of anybody else with this same problem.This problem caused me to leave my job with benefits of 6 years and not be able to work anymore.I am a stay at home mom of 3 children now and I rec social security due to it. I hope you find answers to your questions and find a way to feel better!! Good luck!!!!

MIchelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 7:16am
OMG! this is amazing to hear of other people that have this problem and that it could be related to our thyroids. i talked with my endo about it and he said there is a possibility... he said the same thing as Michelle about it needing to be in a certain range, but my thinking was exactly the same, as i wonder if when i am at this 1-2 range i will have more energy and be prone to the panic attacks, but for some reason this is not suppose to be the case, go figure? also, i had done some reading about the adrenal glands, which is also an endo issue, being related to this problem and i asked dr. about it. in this sense, he was a little more doubtful, but said he would test for it. so, it appears he is running a whole metabolic panel, which involves many blood tests and i have to do a 24 hour urine collection as well. they are testing for something like the catechones, and metachones, which has something to do with the hormones that are secreted and they read this thru your urine. i am still very confused as i left the dr. with no answers, just that we had to run some tests. i go back to him on the 10th of august which is when i assume they will talk to me about my results. the thought of waiting that long has me down, as it gets harder and harder each day to feel like this.

Erika

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 9:36am
Erika,

I feel the same way about it getting harder every day to be "like this..." but it really sounds like you've found an Endo who is being thurough and taking you seriously. I suspect you'll have some answers soon!

Hang in there!

Dee.