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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
Hi,
I recently had what I would describe as a nervous breakdown (not a term anybody seems to use anymore but I mean it as a rapid onset/escalation of anxiety symptoms which provoke further anxiety symptoms in an ever decreasing vicious circle and soon spirals into all out state of being consumed with anxiety).
My Doc has given me the antidepressant Citalopram which made me 10 times worse for a week and then much better. However, I still suffer from a constant "lower level" anxiety and other symptoms which I am beginning to wonder may actualy be hytperthyroidism. Some persistant symptoms:
High temperature and sweating
Loose stools
Anxiety and excessive worry
Hand and head tremor and twitchy neck
Headaches
Heart Palpitations
Pulse rate at a constant 100 beat a minute at rest (usually around 70)
Sensitivity to light ( I wear shades on gloomy days like some wannabe rock star)WHat I was wondering is does anybody know if its possible to confuse anxiety and Hyperthyroidism ? I mean, can the anxiety symptoms it cause become panic attacks and agoraphobia (if the trauma of the anxiety causes them). Has anybody ever been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism when they first thought they had an anxiety disorder? I think I will aks the doctor for a check - or am I a total hypochrondriac on top of everything else?
By the way, what medications are there to control anxiety? I cant have beta blockers because I'm asthmatic, I refuse to take anti-psychotics because I beleive they are a bit of an overkill and they make me scared of the implications and my Doc refuses to prescribe Benzos as he says this will only add to my problems and I'll become addicted. Any other options anybody has heard of?
Thanks,
Glyn (Slowly turning into Woody Allen)
Posted by Noa on October 13, 2000, at 9:07:50
In reply to Anxiety or Hyperthyroidism ?, posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
I don't have personal experience with Hyperthyroidism (I'm hypo), but I believe that it is possible to have anxiety symptoms from hyperthyroid. Please check out the following site:
www.thyroid-info.com
Also, check the Psycho-babble-tips site (link at top of this page) and click on "links", and you will see a folder called thyroid and depression. There are a lot of links to web resources on thyroid.
You should get a good endocrine evaluation.
Posted by Lycaste on October 14, 2000, at 16:08:28
In reply to Anxiety or Hyperthyroidism ?, posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
Hi Glyn,
You are probably right to suspect thyroid disease.
All of your symptoms are classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Although there is some overlap with the symptoms of anxiety disorder, your heat intolerance, hand/head tremors, and sensitivity to light point more strongly to thyroid disease. And it is the latter symptom--sensitivity to light--that makes me think you probably have Grave's disease, an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. Grave's disease can affect the eyes and one of the symptoms of eye-involvement can be increased sensitivity to light.The anxiety hyperthyroidism causes can absolutely cause panic attacks. In fact, I think it is almost impossible not to worry/panic when you are hyperthyroid. Here your body is, manifesting so many of the symptoms of anxiety and so obviously not normal, that your thoughts can't help but go along for the ride. When I was hyperthyroid, I, too, would spiral into panic attacks. Heart palpitations, or attacks of light-headness, or shortness of breath would often be the trigger and my panicked reaction would usually make my symptoms much worse. Other times, rather trivial life situations would cause unreasoning panic. I remember once taking a wrong turn on my way to an airport to catch an airplane. The fear of being late for that plane was so strong that I couldn't think, my whole body was shaking, and I had that awful metallic taste of pure fear in my mouth. I also would find myself waking up at 3am feeling acutely anxious for no apparent reason. Since my mind couldn't accept "no reason" for a cause, it would cast around for reasons and would often settle on silly things--like the fact that my closet was messy. I can't tell you how many sleepless hours I spent with a pounding, racing heart, hyperventilating over my messy closet.
But the point is, these panicked "overreactions" are a result, not a cause, of your condition.
I will also add that "hypochondria" is also a natural side effect of the disease. With so much going wrong with your body, it is entirely normal to obssess on it. Show me someone who has had a bout with thyroid problems and I'll show you someone who at one point in their life was a "total hyporchondriac."
Unfortunately, these extreme anxiety symptoms are what cause many doctors to misdiagnosis hyperthyroidism as anxiety disorder. My doctor gave me a preliminary diagnosis of anxiety disorder, even though I told him I thought I was suffering from hyperthyroidism. In fact, he lectured me on how common anxiety disorder is and how rare hyperthyroidism is.
He was doubly wrong. I was hyperthyroid and hyperthyroidism isn't that rare, particularly among women.
If you gave your doctor the list of symptoms you gave us and he didn't test you for hyperthyroidism, he deserves a big, swift kick in the butt. In fact, he deserves the kick if he didn't ask the questions that would elicit this list.
Go back to him and insist on being tested for hyperthyroidism. ASAP. Grave's is treatable and if you've got it, you don't want to have to go through this any longer than you need to. And although I don't want to raise your already high anxiety level, there is the possibility of lingering eye problems and other health problems (like thinning bones)if have it and you don't get it treated.
Hang in there, Glyn. I'd be interested in knowing what you find out if you care to share.
Best wishes,
Lycaste
> Hi,
>
> I recently had what I would describe as a nervous breakdown (not a term anybody seems to use anymore but I mean it as a rapid onset/escalation of anxiety symptoms which provoke further anxiety symptoms in an ever decreasing vicious circle and soon spirals into all out state of being consumed with anxiety).
>
> My Doc has given me the antidepressant Citalopram which made me 10 times worse for a week and then much better. However, I still suffer from a constant "lower level" anxiety and other symptoms which I am beginning to wonder may actualy be hytperthyroidism. Some persistant symptoms:
>
> High temperature and sweating
> Loose stools
> Anxiety and excessive worry
> Hand and head tremor and twitchy neck
> Headaches
> Heart Palpitations
> Pulse rate at a constant 100 beat a minute at rest (usually around 70)
> Sensitivity to light ( I wear shades on gloomy days like some wannabe rock star)
>
> WHat I was wondering is does anybody know if its possible to confuse anxiety and Hyperthyroidism ? I mean, can the anxiety symptoms it cause become panic attacks and agoraphobia (if the trauma of the anxiety causes them). Has anybody ever been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism when they first thought they had an anxiety disorder? I think I will aks the doctor for a check - or am I a total hypochrondriac on top of everything else?
>
> By the way, what medications are there to control anxiety? I cant have beta blockers because I'm asthmatic, I refuse to take anti-psychotics because I beleive they are a bit of an overkill and they make me scared of the implications and my Doc refuses to prescribe Benzos as he says this will only add to my problems and I'll become addicted. Any other options anybody has heard of?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Glyn (Slowly turning into Woody Allen)
Posted by Snowie on October 14, 2000, at 19:24:22
In reply to Anxiety or Hyperthyroidism ?, posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
Glyn,
Lycaste may be correct. My brother-in-law developed Graves' Disease many years ago. He outwardly began to lose weight, and he appeared nervous and extremely irritable. When we remarked about his rapid weight loss, he barked back that he had been exercising, which was causing him to lose weight. He became unusually critical (that wasn't his normal personality). My sister thought he didn't love her anymore since this man with a previous strong sex drive soon had no interest in sex. Finally, when he was trembling and could barely walk (he had lost from 180 lbs. [his normal weight is about 160 lbs. which is probably why it took us so long to realize just how sick he was] to a skeletal 135 lbs. in what I recall was about five to six months), he agreed to go to the emergency room where he was correctly diagnosed with Graves' Disease. His doctors chose to operate, which was for the best since he had a slow-growing thyroid cancer (which was incidental to the Graves' Disease).
Here's more info about Graves' Disease. Don't wait too long to get help. My brother-in-law saw his regular doctors throughout his illness and they attributed his problems to his sinuses. Unfortunately, his illness developed to the stage where he will forever have Bette Davis eyes.
Here's more info about Graves' Disease. Best of luck.
http://www.clark.net/pub/tfa/brochure/brochure-graves.html
Snowie
> Hi,
>
> I recently had what I would describe as a nervous breakdown (not a term anybody seems to use anymore but I mean it as a rapid onset/escalation of anxiety symptoms which provoke further anxiety symptoms in an ever decreasing vicious circle and soon spirals into all out state of being consumed with anxiety).
>
> My Doc has given me the antidepressant Citalopram which made me 10 times worse for a week and then much better. However, I still suffer from a constant "lower level" anxiety and other symptoms which I am beginning to wonder may actualy be hytperthyroidism. Some persistant symptoms:
>
> High temperature and sweating
> Loose stools
> Anxiety and excessive worry
> Hand and head tremor and twitchy neck
> Headaches
> Heart Palpitations
> Pulse rate at a constant 100 beat a minute at rest (usually around 70)
> Sensitivity to light ( I wear shades on gloomy days like some wannabe rock star)
>
> WHat I was wondering is does anybody know if its possible to confuse anxiety and Hyperthyroidism ? I mean, can the anxiety symptoms it cause become panic attacks and agoraphobia (if the trauma of the anxiety causes them). Has anybody ever been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism when they first thought they had an anxiety disorder? I think I will aks the doctor for a check - or am I a total hypochrondriac on top of everything else?
>
> By the way, what medications are there to control anxiety? I cant have beta blockers because I'm asthmatic, I refuse to take anti-psychotics because I beleive they are a bit of an overkill and they make me scared of the implications and my Doc refuses to prescribe Benzos as he says this will only add to my problems and I'll become addicted. Any other options anybody has heard of?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Glyn (Slowly turning into Woody Allen)
Posted by Snowie on October 14, 2000, at 19:55:09
In reply to Anxiety or Hyperthyroidism ?, posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
Another good article about Graves' Disease, which certainly seems to point to Graves' Disease in your case.
http://www.mayo.edu/Mayo_Ophtho/Graves_info.html
Snowie
> Hi,
>
> I recently had what I would describe as a nervous breakdown (not a term anybody seems to use anymore but I mean it as a rapid onset/escalation of anxiety symptoms which provoke further anxiety symptoms in an ever decreasing vicious circle and soon spirals into all out state of being consumed with anxiety).
>
> My Doc has given me the antidepressant Citalopram which made me 10 times worse for a week and then much better. However, I still suffer from a constant "lower level" anxiety and other symptoms which I am beginning to wonder may actualy be hytperthyroidism. Some persistant symptoms:
>
> High temperature and sweating
> Loose stools
> Anxiety and excessive worry
> Hand and head tremor and twitchy neck
> Headaches
> Heart Palpitations
> Pulse rate at a constant 100 beat a minute at rest (usually around 70)
> Sensitivity to light ( I wear shades on gloomy days like some wannabe rock star)
>
> WHat I was wondering is does anybody know if its possible to confuse anxiety and Hyperthyroidism ? I mean, can the anxiety symptoms it cause become panic attacks and agoraphobia (if the trauma of the anxiety causes them). Has anybody ever been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism when they first thought they had an anxiety disorder? I think I will aks the doctor for a check - or am I a total hypochrondriac on top of everything else?
>
> By the way, what medications are there to control anxiety? I cant have beta blockers because I'm asthmatic, I refuse to take anti-psychotics because I beleive they are a bit of an overkill and they make me scared of the implications and my Doc refuses to prescribe Benzos as he says this will only add to my problems and I'll become addicted. Any other options anybody has heard of?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Glyn (Slowly turning into Woody Allen)
Posted by Dr Goodchild on November 6, 2003, at 12:01:36
In reply to Anxiety or Hyperthyroidism ?, posted by GLYN on October 12, 2000, at 19:13:34
The trithching that you are getting is hyper-reflexia and whilst this is associated with an overactive thyroid - is is not indicative.
if you had the disease which someone else has suggested via post then your eyes would almost certainly "buldge" so i think that can be dismissed.
you must bear in mind that there are many symptoms to hyperthyroidism as throxine (T4) controls basal metabolic rate which is concenerned with the bodies entire metabolic activity. BUT, and this is a big but, the over riding sympom would be weight loss and since you havent experienced this then it is highly unlikely that you have an overactive thyroid. However, i think that you should DEFINATLY see your GP for further tests.
Anxiety is the most common form of psychological complaint and it can easily be treated. the best treatment will need to be decided by you doctor but i hope i have helped.
This is the end of the thread.
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