Thyroid? Or something else? Constant internal shakiness

I think this is what I have as well. Mine happens at night and wakes me up with this strange shaking feeling inside my body. I first noticed it in my chest so thought I was having SVTs or something (I have Graves). But in the past few weeks it has moved into my head and neck. It makes me very anxious, can cause dizziness and also like I want to get up and move around to make it go away. I cannot sleep a normal night anymore they have gotten so bad. I see an endocrinologist so hoping she has some answers. Doe anyone also consult a functional medicine doctor for their auto-immune disease? I am currently seeking one that has experience in Graves and would appreciate any info. Thank you.

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Hi @blarney2020 and welcome to Connect. I can only imagine what it feels like to have anxiety from these internal tremors while on Synthroid.

Fellow Connect members @hope58 @jewles63 and @khali have experience with internal shakiness and may be able to offer their support.

I also wanted to share this link of the Diabetes & Endocrine System group where you can find Connect members talking about thyroid conditions and synthroid use: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/

Back to you @blarney2020 how long have you been experiencing the internal shakiness? Based on what you said in your post, would it be accurate to say this is a recent development?

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Since November I've been to the ER 3 times for acute anxiety. Blood Pressure was out of bounds. I have the shakiness inside too and the anxiety drugs they gave me at the hospital doesn't work. I also have hypothyroid but don't know if that is the problem. Thyroid tests come back in range, but the doctor keep me in the low range and I don't know why. I'm have a lot of problems and the shakiness is just one of them.

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I'm so sorry for the difficulty you are experiencing. I have had Grave's disease for about 20 years. About a year ago I switched from hyperthyroid to hypothyroid as my thyroid has "burned out". Apparently this can happen after years of making too much thyroid. The only way that I discovered the change was because I had a sudden onset of high blood pressure. My BP is normally on the low side, so this was really unusual. After describing other symptoms, like dry skin, dry eyes and dry mouth, my doctor ordered some thyroid tests. I was low on thyroid and my TSH was through the roof so my doctor started me on a low dose of thyroxodine. Amazingly, my BP immediately went back to my normal normal lower BP.

I was curious if you have been put on any kind of thyroid replacement and if you have, has it made any difference? Hoping things improve for you. When the thyroid is out of whack, it seems like everything is out of whack. Good luck. Donna

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I have had Hashimoto's for more than 30 years. Diagnosed by an endocrinologist in the early 90's. Levothyroxine overdose was the cause of much more violent internal "earthquakes" (is what i called them) for me. A functional Dr. (I found after 10 years of suffering and being told it was all in my head), switched me to Armour Thyroid (desiccated pig thyroid) - and I was a right as rain. He said that some people (like 10%) have trouble with the conversion of T4 to T3 (Levothyroxine is T4). Armour is a combination of T3 and T4. Most people can convert Levo (T4) to T3 as necessary. But he explained, that with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto's AND with someone with conversion problems, the thyroid is still producing thyroid hormone - only the immune system is killing it before it can get to the cellular level where we "feel" better. Sometimes, he further explained, some of the natural thyroid hormone gets through and when combined with supplemental thyroid hormone, we can go into a state of "Thyroid Storm", or overdose. One theory was perhaps the immune system gets distracted from killing thyroid hormones, as in fighting an infection, etc., and the natural hormone is not destroyed, gets through the immune attach, mixes with the added / supplemental hormone, and bang - you have these "overdose" symptoms. Other causes can be in mixing T4 with for instance calcium supplements (the Tums are mostly calcium). There is definitely a calcium connection with the thyroid, / taking thyroid supplements. There is also a salt connection, particularly if you eat the common sodium chloride salt (AKA table salt). I had the most terrible thyroid storm once (with levo) after eating a huge hot dog, that was particularly salty. Same with taking calcium supplements at the same time as levo. That was way before they began to put the sticker on prescription levo / Armour, re: "do not take with calcium supplements". There has also been study after study that warns of using Flouride Bromide, or chloride (chlorine), (AKA Halides) as they can displace / attach themselves to the iodine receptors of the thyroid and again wreak havoc on the endocrine system, and any attempts we may be making towards supplementing an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto's. Health industry advocates would also point to stressed adrenals, however, mainstream medicine still does not recognize adrenals as contributory, for the most part. If one was to address adrenals, then things like coffee, alcohol, and other stimulants would be avoided. My experience in dealing with Hashimotos for all these many years is to eliminate as many inflammation-causing foods as possible (alcohol being number one - darn it!). Gluten / processed and fast foods being a close second. So many inflammation avenues that one must consider when dealing with any autoimmune disorder. And with Hashimotos, you must have a thyroid replacement hormone - you won't have any semblance of a normal life without it. The unbelievably sad part is - even if you find an endocrinologist who will run the thyroid antibodies test. (TSH, T3, T4 test alone won't find Hashimotos). they don't seem to want to do it! Recently had a family member who cannot pin down the many obviously hormone-related problems she is having, finally secured an appointment with an endo, and he actually said, "So what if we do find Hashimotos?" "There is no cure for it!" "Why do you want to know?" While there probably is no cure (There are those who say it is possible to put autoimmune into remission) - there is treatment! Thyroid Replacement Hormone!
The constant internal shakiness is most probably an imbalance of T3 / T4 in someway - regardless of whether it is undermedicated, overmedicated, or not medicated at all - or of an interference with replacement hormone, like calcium, fluoride, bromide (found in flour - "Bleached wheat flour" in the US - outlawed int the UK). That has been my painfully acquired education and experience. The good news? Once you start paying attention to when / how these episodes occur, (assuming you do have supplemental thyroid hormones of some sort) - life with Hashimotos can be fairly close to normal wonderful!

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You will get better when you get thyroid replacement hormone - I know it took me 10 years to finally find an endo who would test something other than TSH, T3, and T4. You must have the test for TPO antibodies. The ending who finally and kindly listened to me had me collect urine for a week. And yes, then my “borderline” thyroid disfunction” was diagnosed as Hashimotos and I was given Levothyroxine - and probably overdosed - which is even worse! Ended up on Armour Thyroid for 30 years, (tinnitus never stopped) now am back on a much lower dose of Levo. Recently discovered that most people with Hashis also have adrenal problems (craving salt is a tell-tale). Started treating adrenals by taking Fulvic minerals. Calms jitters within the hour - like 1 oz of liquid minerals. wonderful stuff! After 30 years researching this on my own I’ve discovered the root cause is probably in the gut and with the liver. I have begun and tried all sorts of natural protocols like ginger tea and probiotics. Every little bit helps! Hope this helps you! Please write and tell us what works for you all we have is each - other the medical community is ignoring Hashimoto’s and has been and it’s becoming pandemic.

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I had this problem as well. A neurologist diagnosed it as Essential Tremors and put me on medication to control them. Some days I could hide them really well but as the day went on they became worse and my hands would shake so badly I just opted to stay home more and more often. They felt the same on the inside as they looked on the outside. Some days I was so off balance form them that I would actually fall in my home. I was misdiagnosed for 7 1/2 years from everything to MS to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I went through the Mayo Clinic Pain program and even Mayo missed it. I have Hashimoto's Disease. All of the symptoms sound completely unrelated because they cover a very large spectrum. Once diagnosed and correctly medicated the tremors got much better. I opted to remove my Thyroid (my choice, not done at the physicians urging) after 7 months into treatment because leveling out my medication was really difficult after so many years of damage. It's a good thing that I did because the pathology showed Stage One Papillary Cancer that we didn't even suspect that I had. You should go see an Endocrinologist specifically one who deals with Hashimoto's Disease. One simple blood test will confirm or dismiss the diagnosis. My Endocrinologist said that he once saw maybe 1 or 2 people get the diagnosis every few months but he is seeing more and more women developing the disease. I removed my Thyroid 2 years ago and I am glad to say that the tremors disappeared completely soon after surgery. Hashimoto's Disease does not specifically list tremors/essential tremors as a symptom but I know a few people in Orlando who had the same experience that I did even thought they both still have their Thyroid. Go to the Mayo web site's search bar and type in Hashimoto's Disease you can read all of the symptoms and other information. I hope you do not have HD but if you do I assure you there is an end of the road with the struggle with the tremors and one simple blood test can change your entire life. Good Luck!

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Can I please ask how your feeling now and if you were put on meds and what kind of meds? Thank you!!! So happy you're doing better.

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I think this is what I have as well. Mine happens at night and wakes me up with this strange shaking feeling inside my body. I first noticed it in my chest so thought I was having SVTs or something (I have Graves). But in the past few weeks it has moved into my head and neck. It makes me very anxious, can cause dizziness and also like I want to get up and move around to make it go away. I cannot sleep a normal night anymore they have gotten so bad. I see an endocrinologist so hoping she has some answers. Doe anyone also consult a functional medicine doctor for their auto-immune disease? I am currently seeking one that has experience in Graves and would appreciate any info. Thank you.

Jump to this post