Feeling Lost in My Health Journey: Seeking Understanding and Support
Age 29, weighing 268 lbs, and standing at 5'8", plus a history as a smoker. I've managed to eliminate alcohol, drugs, and fast food from my life in the past year.
I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, resistant hypertension, and metabolic syndrome (MASH).
Eighteen months ago, I encountered a significant health crisis that necessitated a five-day hospitalization. I underwent numerous tests including MRIs and CT scans, but all results returned as unremarkable, with no signs of tumors on the adrenal glands. My heart echo test was also clear. Following this, I was prescribed four medications for blood pressure and 150 mcg of levothyroxine, after which I felt stable for about six months.
For half a year, I experienced no major issues, and my lab results showed a gradual return to normal ranges.
Ten months back, I began experiencing symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, including heart palpitations, heightened anxiety, and feelings of impending doom. Despite normal lab results—save for elevated ALT and AST levels—I was told my symptoms could be attributed to stress. An adjustment in my thyroid medication to 175 mcg ensued, and I felt stable for another five to six months.
However, five months ago, the heart palpitations returned, with my heart rate spiking to 150 beats per minute while simply resting on the couch. My body was signaling a need for help, prompting immense fear and the sensation of shallow breathing. A trip to the emergency room led to lab tests showing a TSH of 0.03 and normal levels of T4 and T3. There were elevated white blood cell counts, specifically neutrophils, which my doctors attributed to a recent tattoo. They reviewed my previous scans, confirming that serious conditions had been ruled out, and I chose to return home rather than undergo further interventions. I was told I might be overmedicated for my thyroid condition and was given propranolol before being discharged.
At my follow-up with my primary care provider, I was prescribed hydroxyzine for anxiety and underwent a ten-day washout period off levothyroxine. I resumed at 137 mcg for a week and, unfortunately, the hyper symptoms reappeared. After a three-day washout, I restarted at 75 mcg.
Four weeks later, I found myself hypo, with a TSH jumping to 18. I sought ER care due to tingling in half of my body and a heart rate elevating into the 140s, suspecting I might be having a stroke. Thankfully, the doctors concluded it was anxiety.
After adjusting to 88 mcg of levothyroxine, I hoped to stabilize my thyroid function further.
In the last three months, I've experienced sporadic adrenaline rushes accompanied by mild palpitations; however, no significant additional symptoms arose. I've used propranolol occasionally, which helps, yet I strive to manage without it as much as possible. Hydroxyzine hasn't provided substantial benefits, so I began adding fish oil, myo-inositol, NAC, and collagen peptides to my regimen.
Six weeks ago, I noticed a marked improvement in how I felt, which led to a growing sense of safety within my body again.
Two weeks back, I contracted a minor illness and felt fatigued without respiratory symptoms, purportedly affecting my overall stamina.
Last week, as I started to recuperate, I had recent blood tests that showed a decline in white blood cell counts, although they remained elevated. All other parameters, including ALT and AST, were normal, with TSH at 4.45 and T4 at 1.3.
Today, I awoke with a sense of imbalance. After taking my usual medications, my heart rate soared to 130 during a meeting, prompting me to take 20 mg of propranolol, which helped reduce it to the 90s. I decided to visit an urgent care center as a precaution; their examination revealed mostly normal results with the exception of a white blood cell count of 12.1 and a urine pH of 9.
I'm someone who generally faces challenges with resilience. My mental health is stable, yet I find myself increasingly fatigued, anxious, and frightened as I navigate this troubling situation. Despite my lifestyle improvements over the past year, I now feel uneasy in my own skin. I've even developed anxiety about sleeping some nights. To cope with these emotions, I am seeking professional help.
I'm sharing my experience in hopes that perhaps someone else has faced similar challenges and can relate to what I'm going through.
Thank you for reading.
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