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13746467 tn?1441840515

panic attacks/ vitamin D deficiency

Hello everyone........ This is kinda  a follow-up to my previous post titled thyroid problems and anxiety. I was wondering if anyone has any info about anxiety/panic attacks and vitamin D deficiency?
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Avatar universal
I have written a comment twice and have hit the wrong button twice and I quit lol short and sweet...u can read my other posts,but please take a food allergy test.  I have dealt with thyroid,  vit d vit b12,  dizziness,  anxiety , heart racing,  tremors,  cold, thirsty,  tingling,  numbness,  ear fullness,  feeling off, feeling of doom, feeling like passing out, leg cramps, twitches,  list goes on...i am allergic to soy! 3 weeks soy free, symptom free! hope this helps!
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13746467 tn?1441840515
Thank You for your insight. I read about the functional doctors and the ones in my area ( which are far...a state over from where I live) Don't accept insurance. You have to pay out of pocket, which is undoable for me. I just had my dr prescribe me Lexapro along with my already taken Xanax to see if that helps. The problem is I am afraid of all these meds. I take way too many for different reasons and its overwhelming. Thanks again..........Its nice to know that other people care and these forums are so helpful.
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Avatar universal
I'm not sure if this is what you were asking, but I do know there is a group of psychiatrists who created the term functional physician.  They basically decided that although they were psychiatrists, they were, ahem, also trained physicians and should eliminate all possible physiological causes of symptoms before treating something as a mental disorder.  In pursuit of that, they will perform a range of tests depending on the doc, including hormonal (including thyroid, testosterone levels, etc.), blood sugar, etc., because a lot of physiological problems can cause symptoms that are often misinterpreted by lazy psychiatrists and docs as mental disorders and obviously meds intended to treat mental disorders will do nothing for someone who has, say, low testosterone or too much estrogen or a bad thyroid.  It might make you feel better, but doesn't address the actual problem.  But if they don't find anything physiological, how they treat your mental disorder depends on the doc -- most will then turn to the same trial and error meds that any other psychiatrist does, but most will have a more thorough knowledge of natural medicine and relaxation techniques and diet than other docs and especially psychiatrists, who are mostly just medication purveyors.  But that doesn't mean they're very good at this stuff -- natural medicine isn't that simple and takes a lot of education to do right, too, and nutrition as well can be complicated.  One of these docs is named Hedaya (actually, there are two of them, brothers), who wrote one book I know of called the AntiDepressant Survival Guide, which tried to help people on antidepressants better handle the side effects.  I did notice, however, that the dietary guidelines for handling the weight gain problems weren't very good -- a lot of dairy, for example, which is a problem in itself for so many people that in itself can cause problems that mimic a mental disorder.  So it goes.  The biggest problem with these docs are they don't take insurance and their tests are very expensive, and since only about 10% or so of their patients will have a physiological disorder they can find, you might end up getting the same psychiatric care you'd get from any hack for a lot more money, but if you are one who has a physiological problem they obviously would save you a lot of hurt from taking inappropriate drugs and would probably handle side effects better.  Don't know if this is what you had in mind or a lot of useless information.
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13746467 tn?1441840515
Thanks Again............... I am researching now............. I will post tests .....if doctor does them......smh   Thank You so much for your help..........I been in limbo for way too long. I will look up the questionnaire.......I believe I saw one online..........or you can send me one if it's not too much of a bother....
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1530171 tn?1448129593
You could look up a Functional Medicine Doctor, but if you get the test results
for free T3, free T4 and reverse T3, please post them with lab ranges and
units of measure, if possible.
You can also do Dr. Barnes Basal Temperature on your own, to check your thyroid function. Just do a search and follow the online instructions, precisely.

Take care,
Niko

PS. If you want an adrenal fatigue questionnaire, let me know and I can send it to you.
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13746467 tn?1441840515
Do functional medicine doctors use "natural" alternatives? What exactly is the difference between them and an endo? I read they are more "modernized" but was just wondering what practices they use and if they prescribe meds? I'm trying to learn, so please bare with me. I really just want my old life back...............
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13746467 tn?1441840515
Hello Niko....Thank you for your help. I read your first post and asked my dr did I get those specific tests done......... he said, Yes and they were fine. So now that I read your second post I have made the decision to go get a copy of my bloodwork to see exactly what tests were done ( even if I don't understand them.....lol) I tell ya, it's really hard to find a dr around here that cares ........... I also mentioned adrenal fatigue and he looked at me like I was nuts............lol  DO you have any suggestions or maybe the type of specialist I should see?  Your previous post states I shouldn't see a conventional endo.......I don't know where to turn. I agree with you 100%.....My body is telling me something but nobody will listen............TIA
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13746467 tn?1441840515
I said the same thing............lol The funny thing is I asked my dr what dosage should I take and he said I had to use the script. When I went to the pharmacy I asked the pharmacist what was so special about the script and what's on the shelves.......... He said, "Nothing".............lol  
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Avatar universal
Not sure why you're waiting on vitamin D.  Vitamin D3 is available inexpensively at any good health food store and even drugstores.  
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1530171 tn?1448129593
Hey takingit1dayatatime, so you're on 50 mcg Levothyroxine, which is synthetic thyroxine (T4).

The problem is that you did not get FREE T3, FREE T4
AND REVERSE T3 tested!  Why is this a problem?

Well, please follow my explanation for just a bit longer-->

Circulating serum Thyroid Hormone levels are meaningless, when there's Thyroid Hormone resistance.
When this takes place, Thyroxine (T4) is converted to Reverse T3 which
reduces further T3.
In other words, Levothyroxine could be making you WORSE, as it would convert to Reverse T3 and your chances of improvement in the MINUS,
as the available Free T3 (which is what you cells use) is further reduced!

You need to rule out this possibility and if indeed you have thyroid resistance (type 2 hypothyroid) then you may need only T3 (Cytomel) or combined with Natural Desiccated Thyroid-NOT Levethyroxine!

It seems that your body is telling you something and I suspect that you have ongoing biological stress which leads to adrenal fatigue.

Vitamin D does not cause Adrenal fatigue, but nonetheless is a factor.
Panic attacks and anxiety are common symptoms in adrenal fatigue
Please read again my previous post.

If you need more details, let me know.

Best wishes,
Niko

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13746467 tn?1441840515
Thank You both for responding. I did have the T3 and T4 tests done last month. The doctor said all was well except my Vitamin D. I pick up my Vitamin D tomorrow, as I had to wait for insurance to clear. Ugh.... She also instructed me to continue the 50 mcg of levothyroxine. My body is just telling me there is something wrong. I am so tired all the time. Plus the anxiety/panic attacks are so debilitating. I will mention the above and see what she says. Thanks again...........Will post update as soon as I get an answer.
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1530171 tn?1448129593
Hey taking1dayatatime.
I haven't read your previous post, however, low vitamin D has been associated with Automiinune conditions, including Hashimoto's (A/I hypothyroid) and Grave's (A/I hyperthyroid).
And yes,  all of the above can cause symptoms of anxiety, as Medical_helper, mentioned.


Well, I just read your previous post.
You may have been misdiagnosed for many conditions, due to suspected
undiagnosed type 2 hypothyroidism and Vit. D deficiency.
Your Endo needs to test you for Free T3, Free T4 AND Reverse T3.
If, positive for Type 2, then the next step* is very critical.
Your  prognosis will likely vary wildly from excellent to dismal, depending
severity of organ involvement, treatment plan (a functional medicine doctor experienced in this would be very helpful), other disease progression specially hypoadrenalism (suspected). other unregulated/untreated imbalances and deficiencies , gene mutations and other factors.

Is your vitamin D deficiency being addressed?
If not, you must start ASAP, sublingual D3 drops, I'd say  at least 10.000 IU daily along with Vit.K to ensure that the metabolized calcium gets deposited
in the teeth, joint and bones, instead of soft tissues.

If your labs come back positive for type, 2, then you should also look into
a Functional Adrenal Stress Profile.
Due to all the stress, including biological stress you have been subjected,
your adrenals have been overworked for a long period time , so adrenal fatigue is very likely.
*Treating both hypothyroidism and the adrenals is very delicate, because
when the adrenals are exhausted, they down-regulate thyroid function,
for ... adrenal recovery. Any attempts to treat the thyroid and disregarding
the adrenals will result in some improvement initially, but will backfire later
with significant consequences.
Conventional Endos are to my opinion the ones to avoid at this point.
There are many people suffering unnecessarily and/or in medical limbo,
because of Conventional Endocrinology protocols.

Also look into Magnesium deficiency (transdermal magnesium oil)
breathing exercises (normal breathing website) and meditation (brain wave generator website) in regards to anxiety and panic attacks.
All these have made a tremendous difference in my own life.

I hope this helps, however, please not that my comments and suggestions are not intended to replace medical advice.

Best wishes,
Niko




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Avatar universal
Many vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause symptoms of anxiety. Ask your doctor for a blood test and see if you are deficient in anything. I have read articles before on vitamin d deficiency and anxiety before. They are all over the internet.
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