Premature Atrial Contractions/Thyroid Meds

I have recently bagan experiencing  what my doctor calls PACs. It feels like my heart is skipping a beat and then double beating to make up for it. It makes me feel very anxious, like you feel when you are anticipating something bad happening. I am 42 y/o female and have never had any heart problem aall, blood pressure normal. I have radiation to eliminate thyroid function and have been on synthroid for the pasy 10 years. I recently started using natural thyroid (armour) over the past 4 months. That is the only thing I have changed since the PACs began. My thyroid levels are still normal. Can the natural thyroid be causing these PAC's? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

jbyrd,

Thanks for the question.

The good news is that PACs are benign in someone with an otherwise normal heart, and do not adversely affect your long-term prognosis.  The bad news is that the uncomfortable sensation you get from these may be difficult to alleviate.

Changes in thyroid medicine can lead to changes in heart rhythm, but usually by altering the levels of thyroid hormone in your body.  I usually recommend the brand Levoxyl to my patients, as this brand has been asoociated with more consistent drug concentrations than some of the other preparations/brands.

Good luck.

[ps1]

I am treating a long-standing Magnesium Deficiency and I recently experienced these (PAC's) due to being taken off Mg & K prior to a 24-hour Urine. (I used to get them before going on Magnesium, also.) Please consider a MgD; very easy to treat. Be aware, though, that serum Mg does not always reveal a deficiency that is the cells - RBC testing is more reliable.

[Mel22]

My PVCs have decreased since I started taking a Magnesium supplement. I also am hypothyriod and take levoxyl.

[ps1]

I rarely hear anyone describe their PACs or PVCs the same way that I feel them. Just curious to know if anyone feels this way: Inside I feel as though I'm "RUSHING FORWARD" for a little while and then suddenly STOP, everything becomes very quiet and peaceful for a moment; then REPEAT or back to normal.

[Ianna]

Hello ps,
-
Sounds like what I call a 'flutter'.
I talked to my Dr. about them, and she said " it's harmless, do not worry about them, it's just your heart being out of rhythm a bit and adjusting itself again."
The same goes for the (creepy) PVC's.
The cause may be hormones, stress, cafeine, smoking, overeating, lack of sleep, anxiety, and a lot of other things, and sometimes there is 'no cause', they just come it seems...
I'm not a Dr; so if you stay worried about them, go see a cardiologist and let him check out your heart with the usual tests, that will give you some peace of mind.
-
Goodbey and stay well,      ***Ianna***

[ps1]

Thanks Ianna, At first they concerned me a bit, especially that sudden STOP feeling; it was like my brain and everything shut down for a moment. Then when I discovered it only happened when I was low on Magnesium - I take it about every 4 hours - it didn't bother me too much. (It is so wonderful to be Migraine-free after soooo many years, thanks to Mg!)