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Thyroid or Anxiety

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Thyroid Disorders
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Liam717
New Member
Joined : Oct 2014
Posts : 4
Posted 10/31/2014 8:59 PM (GMT -8)
The long and short of my story is I'm a healthy male, mid 30s, fit and who never smoked and rarely drank. I never had anxiety that I can remember except for times anyone might be anxious. The only things I know get me a little worked up are the dentist and flying, but apart from that I'm generally a leader and someone who is very social.

Cut to the present. Since about December I have been having issues with abdominal pain (usually upper around the ribs or just below), feeling like I can't get a complete and satisfying deep breathe, dry eyes and sinuses, restlessness, muscle tension or weakness, lump in my throat, hoarseness and other various symptoms.

Before October I had 2 EKGs, a lot of bloodwork, an endoscopy, 2 CT scans, an MRI, a hidiascan, a complete PFT and an ultrasound of my abdominal area. After all of that the dr said it was anxiety. I took lexapro for 16 days and I was a zombie. Add to that I didn't care about anything. I just kind of sat around and waited.

After quitting the lexapro I had read about thyroid issues and asked them to check just to rule it out, since you're supposed to anyway before you prescribe anxiety meds. To my surprise I had 2 blood tests on the same day and the thyroid levels in my blood were just a bit above normal. They then begrudgingly ordered and ultrasound and it came back and said my left lobe was mildly enlarged and the right lobe was about 10% bigger than the left so it was definitely enlarged.

My doctor, to my surprise, again said it was anxiety and did not want to refer me to an endocronoligist. After talking with another dr and 2 family members who have a thyroid issue, I demanded an appointment. My question to you is, did anyone else find these symptoms or find that the anxiety they had was associated with a later finding of thyroid issues? It seems to me with high thyroid levels and an ultrasound confirming my thyroid is enlarged, the symptoms I'm feeling could be related to the thyroid, but my dr seems to have me cast as an anxious person and is unwilling to risk being wrong.

If this is anxiety I'll do whatever I need to do to beat it. That said, if it's my thyroid I will do the same, but I want to treat the cause, not just the symptoms.
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hypoHashi
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2012
Posts : 801
Posted 11/1/2014 3:31 AM (GMT -8)
Hi,
Before we comment we need to see the results of thyroid tests and reference ranges.
The thyroid can cause symptoms similar to those you mentioned !
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Liam717
New Member
Joined : Oct 2014
Posts : 4
Posted 11/1/2014 4:51 AM (GMT -8)
My free t4 was 1.9, I believe normal is 1.7 or 1.64
My hormone capacity was 1.4, with that range being between 0.4 and 4.0

My left lobe was 53mm which they said was mildly enlarged and right lobe was 56mm which they said was enlarged.
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hypoHashi
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2012
Posts : 801
Posted 11/1/2014 5:24 AM (GMT -8)
What was your TSH ???
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Liam717
New Member
Joined : Oct 2014
Posts : 4
Posted 11/1/2014 5:29 AM (GMT -8)
1.96 range of 0.27 - 4.2

Free t4 was 1.9 with range of .93 - 1.7 as normal.
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hypoHashi
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2012
Posts : 801
Posted 11/1/2014 5:32 AM (GMT -8)
Well, your TSH is optimal but your ft4 is elevated, if I were you I would insist on seeing an endo !
Good luck,
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Liam717
New Member
Joined : Oct 2014
Posts : 4
Posted 11/1/2014 5:36 AM (GMT -8)
Yes I did and I was surprised that the fact that they did an ultrasound finding that I do, in fact, have a lump in my throat because my thyroid is enlarged on both sides and have a family history. We also have no family history of anxiety. So not that it's not possible, but seems odd in light of those results they wouldn't refer.
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cfs
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2011
Posts : 80
Posted 11/3/2014 5:10 PM (GMT -8)
I second seeing an endo.
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Jenn1202
New Member
Joined : Feb 2014
Posts : 13
Posted 11/17/2014 10:09 PM (GMT -8)
Based on your Free T4 and mild thyroid enlargement enlarged thyroid, you could definitely hyperthyroid. I agree with everyone else. You should probably see an endo. When I was hyperthyroid I had some of the symptoms you described above. Also, hyperthyroidism can make you anxious.

Also, it couldn't hurt to have your antibodies checked (TSI, TPO, and Tg), especially given that others in your family have thyroid problems.

Post Edited (Jenn1202) : 11/17/2014 11:14:00 PM (GMT-7)

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astroman
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2014
Posts : 9269
Posted 12/19/2014 7:20 AM (GMT -8)
And what about you Free T3, that should be tested as well. That is the daily consumable hormone for all cells.
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zengrrl
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2014
Posts : 613
Posted 12/22/2014 5:22 PM (GMT -8)
My anxiety was severe and sudden, and a few months later I rec'd diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroid. My TSH was 5.87. Thyroid and anxiety issues go hand in hand. Unfortunately for me, I also developed UC symptoms at the same time which remained undiagnosed/untreated for nearly 3 years. I recently switched from Levothyroxine to Armour Thyroid. Still hoping to address the thyroid issues!
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