Abnormal EKG, breathlessness, and Hypothyroidism

[chel 81]

I am a 26 year old female who besides having hypothyroidism have been in great health all my life. I had the thyroid thing under control until the end of last year and my life has been a nightmare ever since. I've been trying to work on getting on the right meds but so far nothing is working. I've been having some heart racing issues and feel like I can never get a good breath of air so my doctor did another EKG a few weeks ago (last one in February was normal except for border line low voltage). This EKG shows a low voltage definitely and my doc is concerned so sending me to a cardiologist next week at the first appt I could get. They low voltage leads to my heart were around 6mm (before they were right at 10mm). Would this have anything to do with my breathing problems? I am getting really scared and many days and nights feel like I am going to die from this because I feel so weird. My blood tests show low CO2 levels also which I know can lead to breathlessness too but I'm not sure what ?'s to even ask anymore. I feel this is all related to my thyroid since we still can't get that regulated (can't tolerate synthetics and Armour has too much T4- I actually need MORE T3 which is of course unusual as well). I'm just really confused with all this heart and breathing problems and don't know what to do. I was a runner before this and in awesome shape and all my heart tests were perfect before so I just don't get it. I battled bulimia for many years off and on also but have been completely healed from that for over a year but sometimes wonder if that could have caused it. I have had to be on disability since I can't work or function for that matter and just want some answers. Is there anything that I could have my docs look into further with heart tests? What does that low voltage EKG really mean?
Sorry for the long post I am just really scared and have been to so many docs and don't even know where to start anymore.
Thanks,
Chel

[anacortes]

I jus tsaw this and it has been over 4  years but I am having now what you had what did you find out?
Thanks

[chel 81]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to a cardiologist for the first time next Monday but I've just been pretty freaked out by all this and it's hard to play the waiting game right now:-)
Thanks.

[kenkeith]

Your history, symptoms, other tests should be evaluated by your doctor, and the possible conditions have to be ruled out...if you have low voltage syndrome consistantly and it is considered to be a problem.  An EKG is not a very reliable source and must be viewed in context of other evidence...too many false positives.

[chel 81]

What I'm scared about is that the 6mm is the average for my precordial leads. My limb leads average at 4mm. How bad is this?
Thanks for your help,
Chel

[kenkeith]

QUOTE:

"What does that low voltage EKG really mean? "
___________________________________________________________________

Your 6mm is normal for limb leads and 10 mm is normal for precordial leads, however, low voltage on an ECG simply means that on each tracing, the QRS complexes are <5mm on limb leads, and <10mm on precordial leads. This can come from many causes: Increased transducer (electrode)distance of the heart from the chest, this can come from Pericardial Effusion (which is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity around the heart), increased distance can be due to obesity, COPD with hyperinflation, Pleural Effusion (Which is excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity - the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs), Constrictive Pericarditis (Infection of the pericardium), Thyroid and Metabolic problems.

You could have an ct angiogram to see if there are an respiratory problems.  It doesn't appear you have low voltage syndrome although that can't be ruled out based on the info in your post.  Voltages aren't static, and your voltage levels from the test are very close to being abnormal and can easily go into the abnormal range.