Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Help I feel like I'm dying!

About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with a thryroid problem and placed on 100 MCG levelthroxin and 10 mg lexapro for anziety. About 4 months ago I stopped taking my lexapro because I didn't think I needed it anymore. I went along pretty good for about 4 months. In this 4 month time period my doctor also decided to change my thyroid medicain to 150mcg. That went okay for about 1 1/2 months.I went to the doctor again about two weeks ago and my TSH had dropped to .55.  I noticed last week tingling in my hands. I waited and did not go to the doctor. on this last sunday I had a severe panic attack  and I broke down over monday. I went to the doctor and he dropped my thyroid level back to 100 MCG and started my lexapro back at 10 mg and now at 20 mg,also ambien for insomnia. since then my syptoms have really gotten worse. I have severe insomnia were I wake up at 2-3 in the morning. I have night sweats, continued panic and anziety, feelings of heat moving inside my chest, loss of appetite and nausea, tremers. I force myself to eat but it is in small amounts and  I am getting weak. I had my TSH checked again today and it has come back up to 1.22!!! I feel worse now than I have. My doctor refuses to see that anything is wrong!!!! I feel like i'm dying and I can't live without eating, I have lost 7-8 lbs this week! Also the ambien doesn't keep me asleep and I have to take 2 to sleep all night. One when I to bed and 1 when I wake back up. Help please!
19 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
362809 tn?1233506554
Good luck to you and I hope they find out what's wrong with you and that it's something that's easy to treat and take care of.

Amy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just a update I have not been on here in awhile! I go tuesday for my biopsy for my nodual on my thyroid. I have been told I have Hypogonadism. That is to say my testostrone levels are very low. I have had a MRI of my brain which came back normal. I also found out just a couple of days ago that my PTH or parathyroid test came back elevated! I am supposed to do more test including a parathyroid scan in the next few days. That is were I am for now! Wish me luck. My endo may be finding out what is wrong
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my endo is now checking me for hyperparathyroidism. I'll probaly find out the results tomorrow. Last night was not as horrible as it was but I was up till 1 Am and had to take tylenol pm to sleep. Then I sleep till 11 am. I am weak from not eating good. My pulse still shoots up for no reason at all and I have not caught it up in the last couple of days but would not doubt my Bloodpressure is going up and down. This is horrible!
Helpful - 0
263988 tn?1281954296
I've lived with several doctors telling me everything is "fine," including my current two doctors, an endo and a primary. I sent them both a timeline with symptoms which are clearly hyperthyroid due to overmedication. Neither doctor bothered to contact me, leaving me on my own to deal with the symptoms of overmedication and having to cut my own dose in half or risk dying from the complications. Believe me, I nearly died once already back in May, I didn't need to go through that again.

My last resort, after seeing eight doctors so far, is a naturopathic doctor. I hope he can help me get back on a higher dose than 1/2 of 200mcg. That appointment is next week.

I do think the first endo I saw in June 2007 was right. I needed about 125 to 138. I was so sick with complications. Those non-thyroidal illnesses caused my thyroid tests to be higher and therefore made it difficult to treat me. I thought of going back to the first endo... but he suggested I had sleep apnea and needed to be tested. Of course I had sleep problems - doh. At the time, I was severely hypothyroid and suffering with perimyocarditis.

Now I have insomnia and an altered sleep/wake cycle. argh - I hate this!

Believe me, I dislike self-medicating but the alternative was dying from some complication such as A-fib. No thanks!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
stacy I really don't have a lot of advice because I came here for advice myself but I promise to pray for you. Jesus Christ is the ultimate healer and he is always there with us.
To all I am still feeling better. I've been on my lower thyroid meds and my anziety pill now for a eight days. I still am teffified that it may come back. I pray it does not. This has been the worst week of my life!!!!!!!! Thank you all for your help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been battling thyroid issues for 5 years now.  First it was up then it was down.  I have a goiter and nodule and was put on a wait and see approach.  Now for the last year I have been hospitalized for heart issues and palpatations but my heart is fine.  I have a terrible pain in my upper right rib area and had gallbladder surgery in june 07.  my pain returned a few months later with a vengenance and I started flushing and palping again.  I continued this until I can no longer take it.  Have been to atleast 15 docs and thryroid levels are all messed up.  I have Graves and Huchmotos? disease now with the antibodies attacking the thyroid from all levels.  My insulin is very low, i have high blood pressure and my estrogen is off the charts.  I am 39, 170 and 5 7" .  Not to overweight and my health is failing with no one wanting to do anything other than address the individual issues.  Meds for the high blood pressure, meds for the high estrogent, meds for the aniexty, no meds for the thyroid because they say they won't help, meds for the pain in my side and I am turning very tan.  My endo asked me if I had a tanning bed or was on vacation.  I started crying as soon as she left the office.  I am red in the face and neck ALL DAY.  My sleeping is terrible!  I hope I didn't leave anything out because I need all the opinions I can get.  I am in the process of getting all my records and trying the Cleveland Clinic.  I just want to feel better and enjoy my children and life!  PLEASE HELP
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks you all! The 100 increased to 150 was from a doctor at the immediate care here. The endo just told me that if it had been him based on my numbers at that time that he would not have increased beyond 112 mcg. He said I should just stick with the 100 that I was first on for now until I got through this. when I was increased to the 150 it took about 2 months for my tsh to drop to the .55.
I slept all night last night and only had one very minor anziety attack yesterday afternoon. I'm feeling better and eating better even though it is still not alot. I pray this continues to improve.  
Helpful - 0
595417 tn?1222819446
It sounds more like a Adrenal problem that kicks in during the night. Although going 100 to 150 was a bit excessive but give me a break he was going to take you for 100 to 112 wow.

I had he night sweats and my shirts were soaked. You maybe having Hyper symtoms. I can tell you that I take Celtic Salt and water every morning to calm my body. It for some reason brings my bp down. I have gone as far as getting electrolytes from the baby section of the grocery store. Thats how bad it got for me. The best thing I did was the Celtic Water and Armour almost immediately after taking Armour I could sleep without problems. Had I an Adrenal Problem that would have been the first concern but I also looked into the pitutary glands it all works in sink.
Good luck and everyone is here for you!
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
Maybe you read my post wrong. Maybe I said it incorrect. I wasn't questioning the fact that hyper is terrible.

I also know hyper thyroid/Graves is horrible.

I think I called is very nasty as being hyper induced with meds or it just happening as min did.

In you second post - you refer to 3 week it coming back to normal.

What is it?

I was on Toprol XL as a beta blocker when I hyper stormed along with thyroid medication.

I went through RAI to kill off the Thyroid and now am permanently hypothyroid with TPO Hashi antibodies.

I suppose to clarify - I was always given the "everything was normal "talk from my endo's when in reality I was far from being normal or well at that time. That is how I was referring my first sentence.


Helpful - 0
365470 tn?1232747095
it takes about 3 weeks for it to come back to normal , I was put on a beta blocker propanalol plus valium and reduced dosage of synthroid
Helpful - 0
365470 tn?1232747095
I have had overactive thyroid and I can tell you its one of the worst feeling I have had in my life
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
I don't buy the "everything is normal" anymore from doctors I need to know the actual numbers and their reference ranges to KNOW what's going on.

BUT as said - drug induced Hyper is just as nasty as the real deal.

I think dropping you back down is correct. BUT your levels TSH will most likely rise to and if you keep swinging back and forth you'll never figure out what's right.

I'd find those number on the  FT3 and FT4 and get the reference range from the doctors lab. You need to find out about the conversion - that can solve alot

No I do not believe Lexapro is the problem - I think the Synthroid dosage is or was.

Hey Smilerdeb??

Did they suggest a T3 T4 combo like Thyrolar for you? That may eliminate the extra scripts to be taken for you and make you feel heaps better.

You could give Armour a try too.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well I went to a endo yesterday and this is what he said. My tsh was 1.22 from the day before yesterday and my t-3 and t-4 was 1.11 and 30 something. I wrote it down but don't know where. They said they were okay. He did my first ultrasound of my thyroid and found a 1 cm x 2 cm nodual. He has set up a biopsy for 4 weeks from now. He seems to think that the increase from 100 mcg to 150 mcg was a little excessive! He said he would have went up to 112 mcg at the most. He also believes that the fact I stopped my lexapro 4 months ago and the thyroid medicain change sort of set up the perfect storm for me to go through all this. For the last two days my bloodpessure has been up to 150/100 and my heart has been racing up and down. I've been back on the lexapro and 100 mcg thyroid medicane now for about 6 days. I have felt alot better today minus the fact I have not slept for 6 days and everything else. Last night was just as horrible as usual so I dread tonight. I pray I can get some sleep. The endo wants me just to continue my lower thyroid meds and lexapro for now and give it time to work. Thats easy to say though. I am struggling through it. My work gave me a week off so that burden is not hanging over me at least. The endo seemed to act as if even though my readings were normal the medication may have not been my normal. He said it was different for each person. He still seems to think that the lexapro played the bigger part but he said he had no idea either way. Any thoughts??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Forgot to mention.........
the thyroid 'fires up' between 2-3am every morning and that is why you feel the 'heat' in the middle of the night or early morning.
Sometimes the Thyroxin can cause a 'drug induced ' hyper with your TSH low and Hypo symptoms.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi
I had RAI in June 2008 and after slow baby steps on Thyroxin, it was increased to 75mcg (I am super drug sensitive) and found it made me Hyper after 3 weeks so I had to come off the Thyroxin for 3 days to get the levels down and go back on to 62.5mcg Thyroxin.
My Doc wants me on this dose for 3 weeks and then if no shift in the FT3, a T3 replacement is to be given and Thyroxin cut down to 50mcg.
It looks like I have a conversion problem as my FT3 hasnt budged since RAI and my FT4 sends me hyper if increased Thyroxin is given.
My TSH was 2.26....its been about 10 days since I went back on 62.5mcg Thyroxin but I feel heaps better than I did.
I would like my TSH to be down to 2.0 but cant because of the T# conversion not happening.

Engine823...it sounds like you are going through drug induced Hyper and may have a conversion problem like me.
Stella is right....get the Free T's done and dont worry about the TSH yet.
Make sure the FT4 is converting to the FT3.
My FT3 is low compared to my FT4.

Hope that helps
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
Is your doctor only testing the TSH on you? Is it a total TSH 3rd generation?

If you are experiencing these problems which happen to thyroid patients they tests they do mucst be seperate testing.

I would push for a TSH again
and most importanly a FREE T3 and a FREE T4 - seeing these labs can really help determine what may be going on.

For example - you could be pooling the FREE t3 which means your body is not releasing the T3 hormone to balance your body out. Finding that our could require a Reverse T3 test too.

You may be having a conversion problem so many hypothyroid patients have and may need help getting direct T3 into your system could help too.  Only way to tell this would be to look at the T3 T4 (FREE's) to see if you are leveling properly.

There is an answer and TSH is not the only tool to tweek meds.

Helpful - 0
427555 tn?1267553158
bump
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a high reading on one of my tests! I have never been below 1.02 TSH but that is still lower than the 1.22 it is today?? I've never had these problems before. I'm sacred something else is wrong. I took two ambiens tonight and I'm still up at 3 am
Helpful - 0
427555 tn?1267553158
It may take about 3 weeks to see a difference since the change in your dose.  Why did the doctor increase your dose to 150 in the first place.  It sounds like maybe it was too much. Good luck.
Trish
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.