Elevated TSH, normal T4 serum levels

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garrett24

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I have been dealing with persistent anxiety and sometimes panic for almost 4 years. I've had previous blood tests where my TSH was in the high normal range (~ 4.75), but today my results showed a value of 6.1. My T4 is low normal at 1.1. I have no other symptoms of hypothyroidism, does this seem like something that could be contributing to my symptoms of anxiety?
 
My doctor is unwilling to treat me because my T4 is in the normal range. I'm going to demand that I be referred to an endo b/c my G.P. seems to be incapable of thinking outside the box
 
Why would elevated TSH cause only one symptom (anxiety/panic) of hypothyroidism, but my T4 levels are in the normal range. I would really like to believe that this is what is causing me so much grief, but I'm skeptical because I really have no other symptoms.
 
Think of it as if your body is wanting more hormone for your organs. If the body is not giving the organs their much needed hormone they begin to starve. Feelings of anxiety are a byproduct of these organs needing this hormone. I too am hypothyroid and was diagnosed last May. I was suffering from extreme anxiety which my doctor told me was more than likely being caused by the thyroid. After a few months of regulating my thyroid medication and adjusting to the right anxiety medication I now have this under control.
 
I hope you are right because I am miserable and if there is any chance that I could feel better then it would be long-overdue relief. I've been suffering with chest pain, hot-flashes, sweating, brain-fog, and terrible short-term memory for over four years now and I am ready to give up fighting. What sort of anxiety symptoms did you have and have they gone away with medication? Anti-anxiety medicines seem to have no effect on me, so if the thyroid drugs don't work then I don't know what hope I have.
 
Absolutely request to see the specialist, your T4's are at the lower end of the range. You will begin to feel better as these clirab to the higher end. My symptoms were not unlike yours, the chest pain, heart paliptations, sweats, the overall feeling that something is defineitely wrong with me.
 
That's reassuring to hear your symptoms improved with thyroid medication. How long did it take for you to notice improvements?
 
I was able to convince my GP to refer me to an endocrinologist and I got my referral today. I guess it pays to be a squeaky wheel.
 
A good couple of months and they got much better, it was a bit of a roller coaster ride until my thyroid medication reached its proper doseage. You have to start small and make adjustments based on TSH and free T4 levels every 6 weeks.
 
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