Stress and thyroid problems
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi all I recently had a massive stress episode (4 months worth) and lost 16kg
from my 68kg weight. I was in tears all the time and really thought I was
going mad or having a midlife crisis. I eventually went to my GP (2weeks ago)
and had blood tests done.... hyperthyroid (though to me it was only slightly
raised at 19.1 [reference range upper limit was 19] and a TSH of 1.33 which
was in normal limits), my usual pulse and bp prior to this had been pulse in
the 60's and bp always low aroud 90/50, my pulse in doctors office was 125
and I fealt like my whole body was rocking with a bp of 138/100! Panic on
top of panic. I really fealt terrible totally not like my usual self my mind was
on overdrive and was torturing me (I also had a raised tumour marker which
was my minds instrument of torture). I was put on carbimazole initially 5mg
three times a day but increased to 10mg morning 5mg midday and 10mg at
night. I am a senior registered nurse in a nurse led clinic and I am trained in
first line emergency care so my job can be quite stressful. My two week blood
tests yesterday showed a free T4 of 17.1 pmol/L, free T3 of 5 pmol/L and a
TSH of 0.06 (Reference range 0.35 - 4 point something). I haven't had anti-
bodies done yet and my GP is managing me at the moment but I was
wondering if there is a chance that the stress caused my thyroid problem or if
my thyroid caused the stress response (classic chicken and egg problem lol).
On days of little to no stress I feel okay not perfect but better but even things
like taking a shower leave me needing to rest and emotional stress gives me
nausea so I can't eat and get dreadful hunger pains. Just interested if others
had a major stress episode (physical or emotional) prior to diagnosis and if
stress came months before diagnosis.
2 likes, 25 replies
sissy422 Guest
Posted
Hi Jenifer,
My story pretty much mirrors yours in stressful episodes and TSH, T3 and T4 readings. I feel reasonably comfortable in telling you that you should research supplements and vitamins for our condition. I refused the meds and went straight to supplements. I had a drs visit this week and my readings for all 3 were normal. I just was not able to take the meds after I read the side effects. I wish you luck and glad you came to this site. It been a great help to me since I really wasn't aware of hyperthyroidism before I got it. Good luck and take care. I know it's easier said than done. Jeanne
Guest sissy422
Posted
Hi Jeanne, my Vitamin D and magnesium were normal at diagnosis but I am going to ask my GP to do cartanine (sp?) As many people seem to respond well to that. So far I don't think I am having side effects but I have only been on it for 2 1/2 weeks. And yes even as a nurse I had little knowledge of hyperthyroidism prior to diagnosis. I will certainly look into suppliments as I too would prefer to go natural if possible. I am hoping my thyroid will reset itself as yours would seem to have done. Thanks for the reply and well wishes and good luck to you too. Jeni
gina98892 Guest
Posted
Hi All!! Finding this forum has been a god send! My heart goes out to each & everyone in this discussion! I felt like I've been losing my mind for about a year now and even after seeing an endocrinologist three days ago I still do not have a difinitive diagnosis. I wish I found this forum before going so I could request antibodies test.
Supposedly ive been treated for hypothyroidism for past appr 6 years and now seems I'm hyperthyroid yet I just got my numbers and my T3 is 2.9, T4 is 1.4 and Tsh total is 0.40 which is in "normal" range!! This is NOT normal!! I am a totally different person than what I used to be. I'm emotional, moody, nervous, headache, gaining weight for no reason... have felt like I'm dying! No one understands the frustration all of us are or have felt!! I've researched so much I feel it's taken my life over but finding this forum has given me hope!! Thanks to all of you for sharing your story!
Guest gina98892
Posted
Hi Gina, my understanding of this problem is that even though your numbers fall within normal your TSH is on the low side of normal which could mean you're heading hyper and with your symptoms that may be the cause. I am not a doctor but if your symptoms are escalating I would ask your doc to investigate (bearing in mind I know nothing of your history, but I believe Hashimoto's hypothyroid can flip to hyperthyroidism in about 5% of cases so it's definitly worth finding out what is going on). From what I have read here suppliments may help you, but I am sure others will have a better idea. Good luck and take care
gina98892 Guest
Posted
Thank you Jenifer so much for responding! It does seem that supplements seem to be most effective. I am going to insist my doc run antibodies test to know for sure!
Does anyone know if hyperthyroidism is treated medically the same as hashimotos disease ?
my best & good luck & good health to all!
linda187 gina98892
Posted
Doctors tend to treat the symptoms, hence for Hashimoto's, some patients present initially with hyperthyroidism and when they are treated with the thyroid blocking drugs (i.e. Carbimazole, Methimazole, PTU), they quickly go HYPOthyroid. Then docs give them thyroid hormone replacement and they go hyper again. Hashimoto's is much more sensitive than Graves because even though it is also an autoimmune disease like Graves, the antibodies attack the thyroid directly rather than attacking the TSH receptors in the pituitary gland as in the case of Graves. Because of this, Hashimoto patients are far more sensitive to medical treatments and from what I have seen with Hashi patients that posted to this Board, especially one lady in particular who posted to this Board, she got far better results using just Regular L-Carnitine and other supplements. This stabilized her values and she didn't bounce from high to low and back again. Some patients can have both Graves and Hashimoto's disease at the same time.
Guest
Posted
Hi everyone, my blood results after 4 weeks of carbimazole are heading in the right direction. My T4 is now well within normal limits at 14.5 (range is 9 -19) and my TSH has tripled to 0.19 (range 0.4 - 4) my antibodies aren't through yet but my GP is an amazing doctor and he thinks they will probably be normal. In one week I will start being weaned off my carbimazole, yay. I have found that if I eat frequently I felt better and researched foods high in carnitine and tried to eat them so that may be why food helped. In hindsite I think I have had episodes like this before but never this severe, they were always preceded by stress episodes. I will post when I know my antibody status but this is the most positive I have felt in ages. Thanks to everyone who has been there with support, advice and good wishes for me and I hope and pray that you all find balance both in your thyroids and your lives.
madge1979 Guest
Posted
Stay focused ... stay alert....( but not anxious )
... and stay well Luvvie ...
Isn't it great to be on the mend
Luv mx🌹
Guest madge1979
Posted
Thank you and yes.
The people here are all so supportive, it is wonderful to see.
Take care and all the best
Jeni 🌺