#hyperthyroid symptoms

Kathy wrote: “I was shocked when labs revealed I have hyperthyroidism. I’m in my early 60s, overweight and not at all “hyperactive”.  I’m on methimazole and propranolol and have good/bad days. Fatigue and anxiety are sometimes debilitating. I’ve been driving since I was 16 without a care. I’ve gradually become fearful behind the wheel. My vision is blurry even with my glasses and my depth perception seems off. I’m terrified on the highway and go out of my way to avoid driving on the inter-state. If I must take the highway, I’m terrified by the speed and traffic. it didn’t used to bother me a bit. I have to work and driving is part of it. I can’t be this way. I don’t know what to do. Have you encountered others that have developed fear of driving.”

I apologize for the length of time it has taken me to post your question. Normally I check Tumblr on my phone app and your submission didn’t register there. A fear of driving isn’t something I’ve heard of before, but it doesn’t surprise me. Hyperthyroidism can trigger anxiety so the anxiety can take any form from there.

Have you worked with a counsellor to manage your anxiety? Once my thyroid was in range and the worst of my symptoms had abated, I found that a counsellor helped me a lot. As did meditation. There is also a book called the Anxiety and Phobia workbook that provides a lot of very good exercises and techniques. The workbook tends to be general, but if a counsellor isn’t an option for you, the information in it may prove valuable. For me, there hasn’t been one thing that “cured” my anxiety. I use different things at different times and everything has contributed to reducing my anxiety levels. 

Nervousness, Anxiety & Irritability

Leading up to my initial hyperthyroid diagnosis, I didn't experience a lot of anxiety and irritability symptoms.  Nervousness was a problem though.  It wasn't acute enough that I stopped living my life, but I did find myself concerned about things that hadn't previously worried me.  For instance, I would be nervous about going away for the weekend because I feared something bad would happen while I was away.  My mind would play out a whole range of terrible possibilities.  However, compared to my other symptoms, this one was fairly mild for me.  Or at least it was the first time around.

Last fall I had a relapse.  The main symptom to indicate my thyroid wasn't functioning properly was anxiety.  It still surprises me how quickly the relapse happened.  I went from feeling good and being excited about an upcoming vacation to being in a state of acute anxiety in a matter of two days.  My anxiety was severe enough that I nearly cancelled my vacation because I was so concerned about being in such a state while in a foreign country.  When I first began experiencing symptoms, my thyroid had been tested just a month before so I didn't believe the symptoms could be related to that.  I was sure it had to be something else.  The stuff I had anxiety over were things I worried about in general on a low level, but suddenly they were magnified several thousand percent.  I was left in a state of agony that scared the hell out of me and gave me a very small glimpse into what some people experience on a regular basis.   

I knew I couldn't go on as I was and, after a very teary phone call with my mum, I made an appointment with my doctor.  His immediate response was to test my thyroid and I'm so thankful to him for that.  Because I'd dismissed that possibility, I was worried it was something that couldn't be easily sorted out.  This reaction, of course, further increased my anxiety (it was a fun time).  My doctor sent me off for a blood test immediately and put a rush on the results so I knew the next day that my Tapazole dose needed to be adjusted.  Within a couple of days the anxiety had lessened greatly so that I was able to control the feelings when they did flare up (I feel I'm now an expert on deep breathing).  A further few days after that and I was feeling myself again.  

Increased Appetite

 As my hyperthyroidism symptoms increased, my appetite increased right along with it.  Initially, I lost some weight.  Soon I got to the point I was eating so much just to keep myself going that my weight stayed fairly static. 

As my appetite increased, I found that I stopped having hunger pangs to warn me that I needed to eat.  My body would go from feeling fine to suddenly suffering from nausea and being on the verge of passing out.  Most nights I would have a snack before bed so that I could: 1) make it through the night without getting up for a snack, & 2) I would be able to get out of bed in the morning without suffering from nausea. 

The mornings I woke up with nausea were the worst.  I would be unable to get out of bed because I felt so wretched and yet I knew I needed to get out of bed to eat something in order to feel better.  If I was going away for the weekend, I would plan ahead and make sure I had some granola bars or crackers with me to ensure I wouldn't go hungry.  After all, how do you explain to your host that you need to eat something at 1 in the morning to feel okay?