Anxiety/panic and the thyroid

I feel compelled to make this post due to all I've learned in regards to hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, anxiety, panic and depression.

My daughter was dx'ed with Grave's Disease after she found out she was pregnant and extremely hyperthyroid due to the hormones of pregnancy. This is something she'd probably had and the doctor's just weren't getting it...not even the opthamologists and her Grave's Opthalmopathy.

I would urge *anyone* dealing with ongoing, whether intermittent or not, anxiety/panic and depression, to get a very simple blood test to check their thyroid functions.

I'll give you some history...

My daughter was dx'ed with PMDD due to extreme PMS prior to periods. The period hormones could and would make her a little hyperthyroid. It wasn't PMDD. It was her thyroid.

My daughter had weight issues with a ravenous hunger and anxiety at the same time. It wasn't an eating disorder or anxiety/depression. It was the effects of hyperthyroidism and her Grave's Disease.

Her internal "shaking" and hands shaking weren't emotions, anger or anxiety. It was hyperthyroidism.

Her sore muscles, shortness of breath, etc. weren't due to anxiety or muscle tension. It was due to hyperthyroidism and the tachycardia it can cause.

Her rapid heart rate wasn't due to emotion or anxiety. It was due to tachycardia caused by hyperthyroidism.

Her inability to sleep at times, then sleep too much? It was her going in and out of hyperthyroidism.

My daughter had issues with eye muscles, double vision, etc. The dr's didn't get that either. It was the Grave's Disease. The double vision wasn't panic or anxiety. It was hyperthyroidism.

Her mood swings and her going from anxiety/panic to depression, all while displaying all the symptoms wasn't just anxiety/panic, depression, mania or bipolar. Her "rages" weren't just that of a "mad teen". It was her thyroid.

Her early development and period problems weren't just a fluke or heredity. It was her Grave's Disease and the effects of her hormones on her thyroid and visa versa.

This disease, and almost any disorder with the thyroid, can affect one so much mentally/emotionally and it's just not talked about enough, or doctors aren't educated enough in the matter.

PLEASE GET A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST for thyroid function if you have anxiety, panic, depression, bipolar diagnosed. Chances are that it's not there, but her treatment has made all the difference with her mental/emotional state. Some are even in hospitalized many times for psych care.

Love and respect,

KD

Here are some good links and information on the subject:

http://www.thyroid.ca/Articles/EngE10F.html

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/thyroid-and-mood/

http://tinyurl.com/yoho62

Oh my God. Kimmy, could you PLEASE read my most recent post and tell me if that sounds anything like the effects of a thyroid problem?? I am totally at a loss as to what is causinig me to have these random bouts of muscle contractions, and my anxiety is getting worse... if so, I'll take your advice and see if I can convince my parents (tough, but worth it, I'd think) to get my blood tested.

THANK YOU!!!!!! You are SUCH a good mom, not just to your daughter, but to all of us!!

~muse

((((((((((((( muse ))))))))))))))

I would definitely get a simple blood test. Daughter had all kinds of weird stomach pains, over the top cramping, and severe mood disorders with heightened anxiety and panic during those times due to the affect the hormones were having on her thyroid.

I'm not saying that the thyroid is the reason for all panic/anxiety/difficult periods, but a simple blood test can rule it out and a confirmation can help so much!

Much luck, sweetie. Keep us informed.

If you have to, print this post out for parents, OK?

Love,

KD

I think it is great that you posted about this....

I am on meds for thyroid... Levothyroxine 100 mgs once a day.... I was dx a little over a yr ago.... For me, so far some of my anxiety and etc has reduced....very little, but enough to notice.... I still struggle with many ofther mental health issues, but for me it is/was the anxiety that bothered me the most b/c I constantly felt like I was dying.... I still have some trouble with it but not to the extent that I had been... When I start to have hieghtened issues with it my dr takes a blood test to check my thyroid levels and a couple times it indicated that my levels were off and they were upped.... which is why I currently am not on any mood meds.... he wants to see if the new dosage helps and play it by ear but with my history he said that if I feel I need other meds to help with my disorders that he would work with me as long as my thyroid levels were appropiate... just know that I can call him anytime has helped my mind set too.... knwoing I have options available with just a call....

Thanks for the links!

ty so much for posting this i had tyroid problems when i was 15 but i go enough ot the er and they take blood work and say my thyroid is fine but who know my whole body is out of control i still have my pd for a month now and it's not normal i thought it was going away for the last 2 days now but it's back light though so tom i will be seeing asap a doctor but my tongue stop getting numb but now thats also back all that puts me under alot of stress and anxiety you mention ur daughter had alot of rage i don't but i do have a quick temper so i will be bringing all this up with my doctor

<font color="#000088">I had my Right Thyroid removed in 1997,when they found a tumor in my neck crushing it,and putting pressure on my esophagus and my trachea. So they removed the Right Thyroid,but were able to salvage the Para Thyroid,and the Left Thyroid.However they didn't put me on any type of thyroid suppliment,until I was admitted to a hospital in California 3 years later in the year 2000 for 2 ovarian cysts in the right ovary.While I was in the hospital for 4 day's,they found out that my thyroid wasn't even functional.I told them about the surgery I had,and they were shocked that the doctor didn't put me on Synthroid at that time! So between 1997-2000 I was walking around with a non-functional thyroid and no medicine for it.And during those years were the years I made the most serious suicide attemts I'd ever made,and almost died twice.The time I had to learn how to walk again was during that time,because of the most serious attempt I'd ever made,and that attempt,I didn't even know why I did it. So that makes a lot of sense.
I have been on Synthroid now since the hospitalization when they found out it wasn't functional,and my levels are checked regularly.But it really is nothing to mess with!
Thanks KD! </font>

kd thankyou for posting this. i was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 5 years after having my first child, but i had so many of the symptoms you mentioned leading up to that time. the doctors just never thought of testing it until it was a last resort. i always wondered why it suddenly became almost inactive and now i'm wondering whether it was because of the hormones in my pregnancy? it all makes sense.
it is well under control now woth 200mg of thyroxine and 25mg levothyroxine per day and is normal. thanks for your post.

jinnyann xoxoxoxoxoxo

I had never heard of this until one day my doctor just suggested I get tested and see. I didn't have problems with my thyroid, but I thought it was interesting.