Horrible head pressure/ swaying feeling!!
Posted , 33 users are following.
Hi! First time posting on this so I'm hoping someone can relate/ offer any advice?
I was was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 3 weeks ago after symptoms of extreme tiredness/ lack of energy, feeling low and this horrible head pressure/ tension on and off for weeks!
I have been taking 50mg of Levothyroxine for 3 weeks once in the morning. I understand it can take a few weeks for symptoms to start to improve.. I was feeling a bit more like myself last week but feel like I've been bumped back down again this week and don't understand?! I'm an early years teacher and have been back at work for 2 weeks after 2 weeks off! So not ideal feeling like this when I need to be super energetic with 3, 4 and 5 year olds!
The one thing that is really getting me down at the moment is this horrible pressure feeling (not a pain or headache) in my head!! It almost feels like I'm in a foggy bubble/ or walking on sponge!! From morning until I put my head down at night!! Sometimes I get myself into a panic with it and convince myself I'm going to faint!!
Has anyone experienced this with hypothyroidism before?? Thanks in advance!
1 like, 60 replies
Roacher10 emma2612
Posted
Hi Emma, I have had the same thing, started hypo treatment 5 weeks ago, my memory seems to have improved by I still have weird mild head pressure....more so on the right side around my eye and temple. I have the same swaying feeling as you especially when driving. also have developed tinnitus.
just wondering if your symptoms settled down in the end?
debbie1226 Roacher10
Posted
My symptoms settled but have not gone away. its been 5 years for me and driving and eating is when I notice my head pressure the most.
nichole79306 emma2612
Posted
I see this thread is very old but I have been struggling with the symptom of horrible head pressure since 2 weeks post thyroid lobectomy. It has improved over the last 8 months of synthroid treatment but my doctor doesn't believe its from low thyroid. My tsh is 1.3 and was less than 1 before surgery. My endocrinologist just reluctantly increased my dosage again. I still feel like im in a fog, lack of motivation and energy, low mood etc. I know 1.3 is a good tsh range, but has anyone else still experienced symptoms with good tsh numbers?
debbie1226 nichole79306
Posted
Yes I have had this head pressure for 5 years. It gets better but never goes away. Its an unfortunate side effect of a low or no thyroid function.
debbie1226 emma2612
Posted
My head pressure and feeling the blood pressure in my head started at breakfast one morning. At the same time syncope, brain fog, anxiety, ringing ears, nausea dizziness hit me hard. I went to ER and after blood tests found out it was Hashimotos. I couldn't get into a doctor for 3 weeks, I was put on Levo and the head pressure remained and very slowly eased over the next 2 years. I still have slight head pressure more noticeable when I drive or eat. Im still dizzy, have syncope, ringing in ears, fatigue. Im a high school teacher and I have good days and awful days. I try and live a healthy life style but have felt this way for 5 years. Doctors at Cleveland Clinic just say its my thyroid and unfortunately nothing they can do for the symptoms. Good Luck to everyone living like this, I feel your struggle.
joshuapryce1987 emma2612
Posted
You dont have to be energetic with 4/5 year olds, you can simply encourage them to be more calm and collected.
Scarletashton emma2612
Posted
hi Emma. sorry to hear your suffering with head pressure. i saw your post by chance while looking for information for my own head pressure. i thought ot was just me as my doctors and thyroid specialist dont seem to acknowledge it is to do with my thyroid. im a plasterer so i have alot of physical and mental pressure all day. my head feels like a vein is going to explode. my face goes numb and tight/tingly. also feel like im going to faint or worse. also feel weak in myself especially my legs. my head gets worse when im driving. the motion of going forward is really horrible. i feel like I need to pull over and turn the engine off. all these things make me want to cry sometimes. im a 42 year old man with 4 kids to support i just want to be normal again. your post and all the replys you received has really helped me. that's why ive come on here to share my feelings hopefully will help others. if i ever find a way to stop my head pressure i will be sure to share it on here.
SCG03252010 Scarletashton
Posted
Dealing with these same symptoms! horrible head pressure in forehead and eyes, exhausted no matter how much I sleep, dizziness, tight feeling in my throat, just all over miserable and just want to cry most days. going on 4 months of this. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and hoshimotos and was put on 25 mcg of levo. doesn't seem to be helping symptoms even though labs are coming back normal. anxiety and depression have been at an all time high. I just want to feel "normal" I also get this weird sensation in my head that feels like zaps or shocks. not painful but scares the crap out of me. my doctor is increasing levo to 50 mcg hoping it helps because I am over this!! makes me feel better to see others struggling with the same issues though.
gill05200 emma2612
Posted
oh my, thank you so much for postong this !
I have had Graves for 20 years and been in remission but it came back and I became thyrotoxic ... i was put in very high levels of Carbimazole for 8 weeks, but started to feel dizzy within 72 hours of taking 45mg of Carbimazole per day.
i had debilitating vertigo and wrote to my doctor (endo) who said its unlikely to be the medication. I initially thought that he might be right and that it may have been BPPV which was another potential diagnosis, but since this high dose i have had weird head pressure, head heaviness, problems with my visual field, especially in very bright, high glare day light or under high-frequency fluorescent light in shopping centres and buildings.
My gait has changed dramatically, initially i felt so much better, my heart arrhythmia, which had started a threw months ago steadied with the help of Sotalol, and my blood pressure which has been high has eased somewhat.
i wanted a blood test at the half way (4 week mark) but my endo said it is not necessary despite being on one more tablet that the standard recommended maximum dose.
i feel heavy in my head, neck and my gait is awkward and not very steady. I feel horrible. my eyes hurt and my vision is impacted. This is destroying my quality of life. It is not head fog its head pressure and heaviness.
i feel perpetually unwell.