one more question - anxiety attack?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-1998
one more question - anxiety attack?
3
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:51am

After scanning through some older threads I am wondering how common it is to feel the symptoms of an anxiety attack as a thyroid problem.

Over the past week, I have had that happen - I told dh the other day that I was feeling it - sense of dread, heart all aflutter, edgy, although I wasn't thinking about anything that was making me anxious. I simply had the physical symptoms. I have been kind of lightheaded at times lately too. The lightheadedness has been present off and on almost 2 mos, and the "panic attack" type sympmtoms have just been present about once a day for a week now.

I thought that perhaps there was just some free floating anxiety but now wonder if I should bring that up as an additional question/symptom when asking my doc tomorrow if I can get an appt with her to discuss the possibility of hypothyroid problems.

You know, this (the hypo sympmtoms) all really started in earnest after getting that Depo shot at one year postpartum, in 2004. I wonder if I triggered some sort of response in my body by messing around with the hormones, kind of how pregnancy can bring it on.

Thanks for any ideas.

baby growth



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Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 5:17pm

Hi Lama26,


You bring up some good points and questions.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 6:16pm

Hi:

Anxiety and panic can definately be related to thyroid. My first sign that I need to have labs done is either a bout of panic or horrible mood swings. I'll be perfectly honest with you, though... I don't typically mention any of the behavioral/psychological symtpoms to my doctors anymore because they don't really understand or know what to do with it. My doctor will order labs whenever I want, so I usually just request them and mention the physical symptoms if asked. This may seem strange, but I just avoid the confusion that the psychological symtpoms seem to bring about for my docs. When the labs come in, they see I need an adjustment, so it works out in the end.

Good luck,
Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2006
Sun, 03-12-2006 - 5:54pm
I'm kind of in the same boat. At the age of 37, I have never had any anxiety or depression episodes to speak of, even w/thyroid disorder, but after giving birth to my 2nd baby I now have sporadic episodes exactly like what you speak of, usually when my meds need to be tweaked. The interesting thing is that it is most pronounced when I'm on the hypo side. I once mentioned this to my endo-and he flat out told me "my symptoms didn't match my condition" (meaning that because my tsh was on the high side, in the 5 range, that I shouldn't have anxiety as a symptom), so lIke Dee I just kind of keep quiet about it. He also offered me xanax, but as a busy sahm to 3 toddlers, I just can't imagine taking a med like that and still being able to function. I have experimented w/vitamins/herbs, etc...5-HTP seemed to help *alot* but then I read some bad press on it (kidney probs, low blood count levels, etc) so I stopped w/it. But exersize, magnesium, Hyland's Calms Forte (a homeopathic remedy I find at CVS) and Valerian all help to keep me sane. But ever since, whenever I get over a TSH of 2 I get the anxiety episodes you mention. I also notice it when my meds are being adjusted. But then I'll go for months on end w/out any anxiety at all, so I don't think it's a true anxiety disorder. It really upsets me, and I'd love any other input!
Best Wishes!