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Rapid Heart and other Panic symptoms

Posted , 10 users are following.

NYDame
NYDame

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum. I'm just really hoping that I find someone who can relate to what I've been experiencing.

I am 32 years old. I've had a good life. Not much stress. I've never been an anxious person and quite the contrary, I'm very relaxed, laid back and brush things off pretty easy. So when doctors told me I could possibly be experiencing panic attacks, I was (and still am) very skeptical. I just can't find much reason for my body to go into panic mode when I'm not panicking about anything or anxious about anything.

I started having tachycardia episodes (out of nowhere) at 30 years old. I attributed it to my hypothyroid or possibly my Synthroid. The first two times my Synthroid was increased, I've had panic symptoms, each a year apart. Now I've been on a steady dose of 125mcg and I still get these "panic attacks" when I least expect them.

My so called panic attacks last more than two hours each time. They are disabling to the point where I cannot work while I'm having one. It's different each time but the symptom that always shows up is the tachycardia. My heart is anywhere between 110-140 bpm for two hours or more. Sometimes I feel very sick, nauseous, short of breath, lightheaded/dizzy, have chest pains and feel cold. I can't concentrate on what people are telling me. I think I'm having a heart attack.

I've had so many blood tests done and everything comes out "normal". Thyroid levels are always normal. I've had a chest X-ray, a 30 day event monitor for my heart, and an echocardiogram. Doctors can't find what is wrong with me so they are saying I could POSSIBLY have anxiety disorder. I just haven't gotten a confirmed diagnosis of this and I just don't believe it. My body is telling me something else is wrong and I can't help but think my thyroid is to blame. My Endo highly doubts my thyroid is to blame for my symptoms but I keep reading that thyroid can be responsible for sudden tachycardia...All I want is some closure and a solution so that my body doesn't do this. It is so very scary and I can't hold a job like this as when this happens to me, I can't focus on work for hours and hours because I feel that I'm dying.

Please, if anyone has any info or similar experience, I would love if you could share with me. Thank you

1 like, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • PRvsThyroid
    PRvsThyroid NYDame

    Posted

    Hi, Managing your thyroid can be very difficult so I wouldn't be surprised if it's your medication causing it.  I've always said to my Mum who suffers from an underactive thyroid that her thyroid most likely works by itself sometimes triggering an excess of thyroid hormones. 

    If you are having panic attacks then surely you must be feeling anxious about something, but seems you're not so it's very odd.  Having said that if you do drink caffeinated drinks then seriously consider giving them up as caffeine really does affect your cortisol levels. 

    Google caffeine and panic attacks if it does apply to you. 

  • shannon93482
    shannon93482 NYDame

    Posted

    Hello Everyone!  I just wanted to put my two cents in here.  Hopefully it will help.  I have been on Synthroid for about ten years I have increased my dosage at times and decreased it at times.  It seems that it has changed over the years especially now that I have pre-menopausal symptoms.  I just wanted to say that EVERY time I have been overmedicated, my blood levels were in the normal range on the doctors blood test.  I have to adjust my medication based on how my body feels.  When I am overmedicated I get severe restless leg syndrom to the point where my nerves are "vibrating" inside my body.  It feels like my cell phone is going off in my pocket at all times (especially worse at night).  My heart races and I feel like I've had WAY too much coffee.  I also get nerve pain in my feet and I'm cold ALL of the time.  Once I reduce my medication, all of these symptoms disappear.  AT first I was prescribed 100 mcg and that was way too high.   I was reduced to .5 mcg and that was too low.  Now I take .75 mcg and sometimes that gets to be too high so I will take 1/2 pill every other day until I feel better or adjust from there.  It's a fine line and your doctor doesn't know your body like you do.  I have heard that you can take Kelp pills to help with your body temperature being too low.  I'm just now starting to try that.  Even though my other symptoms are better I still feel COLD a lot and they say it's because it's an iodine deficiency.  I'll let you know if it works.  I know how frustrating this can be for you.  The vibrating thing was driving me out of my mind!  Thank God I figured that one out!   Good Luck to you all! 
    • NYDame
      NYDame shannon93482

      Posted

      So do you rely on your symptoms to tell you are overmedicated? How come this sort of thing doesn't show up in the lab reports? That is so bizarre to me? 

      I would love to try lowering my Synthroid until I don't have these panic attacks anymore as long as I'm within good range but right now I found out I was pregnant a week ago so I have to follow what my MD says. 

      I went on another board and after they reviewed my labs, they said it looked like I wasn't converting to T3 well because my T4 was at the high end and Total T3 was at the lower end. They suspect this might cause the symptoms I've been getting out of nowhere.

      Thing is that on most days I actually feel perfectly fine! I only get these surprise panic attacks out of no where, when I'm not even panicking or scared of absolutely anything. No anxious thoughts are on my mind when they strike. Ugh...anyway.

      Thank you all for the input you have given me and the suggestions. I will keep fighting with this and hopefully find an answer that will help you all as well.

    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 NYDame

      Posted

      Congratulations! Have you had your vitamin and mineral levels checked? The key ones are: iron, ferritin (your level needs to be 90+ to be able to absorb thyroxin properly), vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium. Make sure you get a blood test to check thyroid, iron and ferritin at least every 4 weeks whilst pregnant so that any changes are picked up quickly. If you can get TSH T4 and T3 that would be really good, though in uk getting T3 done is difficult. Are you taking folic acid? NHS advice when I was pregnant uyears ago was to take it for first 3 months of pregnancy. Best wishes.
    • shannon93482
      shannon93482 NYDame

      Posted

      I have actually gone to my doctor and told him that my medication was too high and that I wanted the dose lowered and he didn't have a problem with it.  They prescribe you what is a normal dose for most people.  But everyone is different and as long as you stay within the normal range it's ok to have the dose lowered.  Talk to your doctor.  Ask a lot of questions.  It's a fine line.  Your thyroid is like an engine on idle.  If it idles too high you burn too much fuel and the wear and tear on your engine speeds up.  If it's too low the engine will be sluggish and stall.  It needs to be just right to function properly.  Harmones play a big part in this.  I believe I'm starting to have issues with my thyroid levels now because I am pre-menopausal.  My hormones are changing and symptoms are returning.  I feel comfortable adjusting my dose of Synthroid but you may not.  Whatever you decide, listen to your body and don't let your doctor tell you how you are supposed to feel.  There are lots of doctors out there.  Get a second or third opinion if you need it, especially now that you are pregnant.  Good Luck.    
  • rhwittman
    rhwittman NYDame

    Posted

    Hello,

    I am new to this board and to hypothyroidism.  So my advice might not be great, so take it for what it's worth smile  I worked in behavioral health for many years. And yes, I do know that being overmedicated on synthroid can cause rapid heart rate, the jitters, etc (I just started Levo today and sooo scared). But I also know that some people just get panic attacks.  We don't always know why.  And it isn't always rooted in anxiety or stress.  Some people just have them. I learned early in my career that there is not always reason as to why people panic or feel anxiety.  I guess what I am trying to say....I think (and again, just my humble opinion) that if it were your thyroid meds, you would feel that way as long as you are on the same dose...I think you might just be someone who has panic attacks. I am so sorry you are going through this. I had two panic attacks in my lifetime and there is nothing worse!!

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