could this be a hyperthyroid

[pb]

I have a racing heart occasionally for no reason, heart palpatations daily, insomnia though I am exhausted, my hair is falling out like crazy but I am 7 months post pardum so I am not sure if its normal. Any way yesterday I am obsessing about headaches( which I still have) and today I am certain I have an overactive thyroid and I am going to have a heart attack. Even when it gets a bit warmer out ( 70) I felt like my heart was pounding and I was going to pass out.If I do how long til most people have a heart attack if it isnt treated?

[vardnas]

pb, why are you convinced you have an overactive thyroid? And why do you think that would eventually lead to a heart attack? Excuse me for saying, but those fears sound A) unfounded and B) a tad irrational. Not to bang the "it's just anxiety" drum, but the symptoms you're experiencing—the racing heart rate, palps, insomnia and hair loss are ALL symptoms of stress, as well. As is your wont to ascribe catastrophic meaning to these symptoms.

[pb]

I have had lots if anxiety symptoms but these are the ones that have persisted through the years. They are all symptoms of an over active thyroid. I read that an untreated hyperthyroid can cause heart failure, that is why I ask. I am sure I sound irrational, and I apologize I come to this board because its the only place I can say my fears out loud because I know they sound crazy. Just hoping someone that has this fairly common condition could help

[vardnas]

Have you been tested for hypothyroid? It's a fairly treatable condition so if you're really that concerned, a simple blood test would reveal the answer.

You don't have to apologize for your posts. A lot of people deal with these fears and it can be a good sounding board. I don't know if you ultimate goal is to get past your anxiety or not, but if it is, it's going to require a substantial effort on your part, including giving up things like googling health information and indulging these kinds of irrational fears. While I'm sure someone out there has died due to an untreated thyroid problem, I'm sure that's unlikely and not a fear worth wallowing in. So whether you do have thyroid problems or your symptoms are all attributable to anxiety, assigning catastrophic meaning to them and overreacting fearfully to them is causing them to worsen. This, as health anxious individuals, is what we must combat.

[sixpack]

NOT to mention people with long term untreated hyperthroid end up with that goiter thing in the neck and bulging eyes.

all the stuff you mention, pb, is congruent with long term chronic anxiety with fight/flight hormones being poured into the body.  Bottom line a lot of peeps are always hoping their symptoms are just anxiety to the point that the thinking is that anxiety is an innocuous condition.   It isn't, as I mentioned in another thread today, chronic stress/anxiety is hard on a body. It can cause damage.  That is why it is imperative to get such things under control.  While we can't always control the stress in our lives, hell lots of stuff goes on day to day, but we must learn to be kinder to our minds and bodies.   

[MrSamsa]

My wife is hyperthyroid. It is treatable with minimal, inexpensive medication. She leads a healthy, comfortable life, and even has the energy to put up with my hypochondria. I don't know if you've got it or not. But even if you do, it's not even close to the worst thing in the world.