[SueAndHerZoo]

#1059789

I’m nearly out of my mind right now so please bear with me as I vent and try to find some comfort and calm. I’m not sure I can even form a sentence that makes sense but I’ll keep editing until I do.

I was diagnosed with Graves 2 weeks ago (came out of remission.) Doc put me on 5 mg. Methimazole with re-check in a month. Three days ago my normally very low blood pressure shot up and wouldn’t come down… ended up in the ER. They gave me a beta blocker and told me to follow up with doc. So doc says “I doubt it’s your thyroid but go for blood work and we’ll find out.” So, I’m still waiting for blood work results. For the past two days I have been able to stay functional and sane with the beta blocker but as soon as 7 hours passes the blood pressure shoots back up, I panic, and the cycle starts again.

Today started out ok: bp was high when I woke up but came down an hour after beta blocker. But when I got to the office I noticed I was feeling light-headed so I checked it and it’s up again, even WITH the beta blocker!!! I’m not embarrassed to admit I’m scared to death, and in a state of panic and terror. Am trying to look normal at the office but I’m doing a lot of hiding in offices and the ladies room (and constant pacing). I’ve just placed a call to my primary care (I love him to death and I KNOW he will call me back) and my main questions will be: how much of what meds should I take to calm me down, and is this a serious, life-threatening thing going on that might kill me over the weekend?

In any event, I don’t think I can ever go through this again and even though this may not be the proper time for me to make such a serious decision, I am strongly thinking of having this thyroid taken out ASAP. For someone who has suffered with panic attacks and chronic anxiety all her life, this is NOT the disease to have.

Thanks for letting me vent.
Sue

[vanillasky]

#1177568

Hi Sue, first of all, my advice to you from a personal standpoint is to CALM DOWN. I, too, suffer from panic attacks and anxiety. I have Graves’, I am menopausal. Those are 2 double indemnities.

The more nervous you get, the worse the panic becomes. My own endo tells me we get an “adrenaline dump” and that adds to stirring the pot. everyone acts differently, but for me, I get very very HOT. My heart races and I feel like choking while my armpits are running water. PLEASE STAY CALM.

Just remember the more upset you get, the worse the symptoms become.

Nothing will kill you over the weekend. If things really get out of control, I would go to an ER but if you just stay calm and try to think rationally, you will get through. Take it from me. I am a 15 year veteran.

Hope this advice helps

Karen

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1177569

Thanks, Karen….. your post helped a LOT and made a lot of sense. I was at the point where I felt like I needed someone to grab me by the shoulders and shake me or slap me to get the “racing out of control anxiety” to stop for a minute. As you said, it feeds itself and just keeps escalating and you feel helpless to stop it.

In between writing my post and reading your reply I got a call back from my GP, gave him the rundown, and his instructions were to take the beta blocker 4 times a day (instead of 3) and to take my tranquilizers (I always have some for an emergency but hardly ever take them.) He told me this is absolutely the time to take them in addition to the beta blocker (which I was afraid to do) and that he bets if I do that I will see the blood pressure come down. You and he are very wise. I always thought I was very intelligent and full of common sense, but when the panic and anxiety take hold, they spiral out of control even in a reasonable, logical person.

Can you tell me anything more about the “adrenaline dump”? The reason I ask is because I was starting to Google “adrenline rush” because that’s exactly what it feels like when I’m perfectly fine one minute and then, BAM – I get knocked down out of the blue. Did your doc say the adrenline dump was a result of our panic attacks or the thyroid? Knowing that that might be what sets me off will help comfort me a little. At least no one dies from those (even though at times we feel like jumping out a window to make it stop).

Thanks for replying and calming me down. I need to make a coscious decision to NOT obsess or worry about my health for the next 2 days and, who knows, I may even start to feel better if I can do that.

You guys are the best – thanks for being here.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1177570

@Karen – Thanks so much for sharing your story!

@Sue – We aren’t allowed to make dosing recommendations here since we are fellow patients, so I’m glad that your doctor gave you a quick callback with further dosing instructions!

One thought…have you identified any food/beverage triggers that might set these off? For example, caffeine is believe to be one potential trigger.

As for surgery, this is definitely a valid treatment option, and we have several posters here who are very happy with that choice. However, it’s important to understand the risks involved and also the fact that it’s not a “quick fix”. Finding the right dose of replacement hormone can take some time and patience.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend!

[Gabe]

#1177571

Sue. So sorry to hear about your last few days/hours. My doc gave me an RX for Xanex. And while I hate using any drugs and don’t like the stigma of Xanex and the fear of dependence, I do find that having them handy in emergencies helps me. That’s me however.
My sister was uncontrollable Graves with meds, especially unable to keep her heart rate reasonable with any beta blocker so went thru RAI 5 years ago fairly early in her DX and has been doing very well ever since. But everyone is different. Even sisters with same disease.
I’m fairly certain I will be doing the TT, however even that decision vacillates daily because the thought of losing a critical body part is not easy…so not only does the disease create anxiety, the treatment decisions are stressful
Best wishes,
Karen (aka Gabe….he’s my adorable Boston Terrior and my best ‘treatment’!)

[vanillasky]

#1177572

Hi Sue! I read this reply and felt so good I could make a difference and actually help.

I have Graves’ and was diagnosed October, 2012. Now, I also suffer from menopause and horrible hot flashes. Nothing works for me. No estrogen on earth helps these horrid hot flashes so what I have learned (aside from taking it a day at a time) is this: the more nervous, panic, you have, the worse the symptoms. I don’t know if you get warm, or hot, I do. Your heart will race and you just can’t catch your breath.

I have difficulty swallowing as well. I get a choking “feeling” in my throat. At first I thought it was my thyroid, but my endo tells me it is pure anxiety brought on by 2 things:
1. Graves’ disease
2. Menopause

So what I keep telling myself is that “this is going to pass, hang in there.” “What are you afraid of?” Nothing!

But if I let it take hold, the “adrenaline dump” starts. This happens when the panic attack first starts if YOU DON’T stay calm, the blood vessels dialate all over your body, adrenaline is released into the system and BOOM! full-blown panic attack. There is no coming back now for me. It takes an hour for me to “cool off” and heart to start racing. By now, I am super upset and want to cry. I have been quoted as saying “why me? why do I have Graves’? why do I have such a horrible menopausal transition?” Pity party.

There is an old saying “whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” I believe that.

Realize your triggers. What upsets you? Do people annoy you? I personally HATE confrontation with rude people on the road, sales clerks, and just rude customers in a store that maybe cut ahead of me in a line. I sometimes want to say something, or bopp them over the head, but I don’t. Instead, I consider the source, keep the peace.

Find out your own triggers. As Kimberly said, sometimes chocolate, coffee,anything with caffeine. For me, it makes no difference, when I freak out, I freak out. also remember not to be too hard on yourself. No one lives in a glass house. so errors are accepted when you do “lose it.”

Just this week I got a jury summons. This is second one since February. What did I do? I lost it. I freaked out. It ruined my whole day. I was nauseated, hot and wanted to throw up constantly. My face was red, my heart racing. I HATE JURY DUTY. I called my doctor. He’s writing me a note to get out of it.

Karen
P.S. PM me anytime!.

[Author]

Posts