Stress Center Peer Support

Hi....I am not new to these forums I use to post on here YEARS ago but I haven't had much problem with anxiety for a long time until recently so I decided to come on again with a new account. I really don't know what to do with myself ....

I recently was diagnosed hypothyroid...my TSH was way off but my t4 and t3 levels were pretty much normal or low normal. I was put on synthetic t4 (Levothyroxine) and just started that on saturday. I know it takes a while for it to start to make any difference but in the mean time I have been googling.....you all know what I mean I'm sure...I've been looking up everyone ELSES experiences with the thyroid and freaking myself out thinking I will be just like them. People telling horror stories about t4 only meds not working for them....or people who packed on weight even though they leveled out their hormones which makes no sense to me..i just lost 40 pounds...i don't want to gain it all back! Upped risk of heart disease etc And I have been obsessing that I am gonna die young....or that I will need my thyroid out or ..something.

I haven't had any antibody tests to see if I have hashimoto's or the like....but that's another thing..that's the most common cause of hypothyroid and i hear you can get bouts of hyperthyroid....well then i hear all these stories about people who went hyper while on their hypo drugs and ended up having heart attacks....

I am absolutely TORTURING myself...I usually end up getting a weird sensation on my back in the evening that i know is some kind of anxiety feeling...i burst into tears for minutes on end and i usually feel better after i do. But I feel like a complete nutcase right now

I didn't know what else to do but come on here and type about it in all honesty...i think it's hard for anyone else who doesn't have anxiety to really grasp what this can do to an over analyzer you know?

My mother in law (who i live with) has mild hypothyroid as well..she's been on a t4 medication for 30 years and she's FINE. Why am I so scared? I try to be logical but i always come back to this negative thinking that my case will be worse...because that's "my luck" *sighs*

My husband is very worried about me...he said "I don't think you are going to get a heart problem from your hypothyroid like some people do but if you keep this up you are going to end up hurting yourself"..as in i'm hurting myself by crying so much.

I am paranoid about nodules and cancer etc The doctor hasn't done an ultrasound...the only thing I can figure is that he has a good idea of what is causing it? I dunno..*sigh* I also have a vitamin D deficiency I am going to be starting vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 very soon...the vitamin K is suppose to help with the vitamin D so it doesn't cause calcium build up in the blood or something like that. Oh if only things were as simple as taking vitamins and not having to worry about a hormone pill *cries* I dunno what to do anymore....what do you do when you are an anxious person and you actually DO have something to worry about and it's not just "all in your head"? You know? I mean...these things really do happen to a lot of thyroid patients....why I am assuming it will happen to me though..i dunno. As there are plenty of people who simply have thyroid ..take meds...and go about life as normal...I feel like a cry baby right now

p.s. I am also being driven mad right now about what I am allowed to eat and what I'm not....within 4 hours of taking my meds I am not allowed to eat iron or calcium..the nurses at the dr's office said that's mostly just supplements..other people who've posted about experiences online said that eating stuff with that hindered absorption...i dunno what to think! I also hear leafy greens are bad...but what's left that's healthy half the time if i can't eat greens? Then some people say you CAN eat greens just make sure you don't eat them raw *sighs* And I have to stay away from soy a lot of the time.....but....it's in practically EVERYTHING! I'm running out of ideas...but especially for breakfast after my pill...because like i said..within 4 hours some people say they can't eat iron or calcium (even tho some people say it's mainly supplements that are the problem *sigh*) so this is causing me anxiety too.

345 views and not one response? Really? I don't think I'll be coming back here for support. I was going through a really hard time with my diagnosis and was having extreme anxiety as a result of it and not one person could even give a word of encouragement? 345 views? Over 2 months...nothing. Sorry I'm gone that's just ridiculous.. you may all feel supported but I sure don't.

titania,
I'm sorry nobody offered support to you.
I really don't know much about thyroid troubles, but I know how being sick is for myself! I stress terrible over it. I trust you have a great doctor, maybe he can help you with these fears and how to take your meds. Its information overload at times. Many people do well on thyroid meds. and I have known a couple people who actually have had thiers removed and they are doing very well. So I trust this will be for you too.
Maybe you can start this program over again or do certian tapes again. DO NOT GOOGLE! I can not do that or my hair would stand on end! Trust your doctor, write your questions down and ask him. You will never know about the people who write things on line, do not scare yourself that way!

Once you get these meds in your system you may feel better! Maybe some of this anxiety will just melt away. You want to give yourself a fair chance right? Hope your feeling better, and sorry I did not see this sooner to offer you some help.

YOU WILL BE OK! Just some time... Let me know how you are feeling.

I disagree, google and be informed. But, I guess only if you can see it as a positive thing- you are getting a lot of information (some good, some not as helpful) and that is great. The good news is hypothyroidism is very common and you are lucky to know! Many don't and therefore feel not so great and have no idea why.

I personally take armour thyroid which is a t3/t4 mix similar to what is naturally occuring in our bodies. This is considered a 'bioidentical' hormone in that the molecule is the exact same shape as the one in the body, so it fits into its receptor site perfectly. That may sound confusing, but basically its like a lock and a key. Synthetic hormones are not a perfect fit into the lock and so may not work as well or may cause more side effects. bioidentical ones fit perfectly and so work exactly how they are meant to work.

I would consider bioidentical hormones. If possible, see a specialist in bioidentical hormones (if your doctor is not open to the idea) and find a compounding pharmacy in your area. This is the best place to get the pills made, but Armour is also sold at any drugstore, by prescription of course (and is like 5 dollars a bottle even without insurance : ).

I am a scientist, I study the brain and have read a lot of papers on this topic. I can say that you don't need to worry too much. t4, from what I know, does not have Horrible effects, it just may not work as well. But it works for some people, so giving it a try won't hurt. Just be open to switching to a bioidentical version (my reccomendation) or a T3 only version. The T3 specifically has been shown to improve depression regardless of whether the person has low thyriod, I can send you the paper if you would like to share with your doctor.

Don't worry, this is common and very treatable and none the the medications are horrible- one just might work better. You have no where to go but up : )