Graves Disease and Increased Heart Rate

[jfaith]

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 2005. I was treated with Radioactive Iodine. Since then I have had heart problems (increased heart rate and palpatations). I am currently on a high dosage of Cardiazem CD to control the heart rate. My Endocronologist claims that my thyroid is under control. I feel otherwise as do my Cardiologist. I had an episode when I was helping my daughter build a snowman; I experienced extreme fatigue, chest pain, increase heart rate (140 for 30 min), feeling of going to pass out, really not coherent I understood what was going on but was kind of out of it for a while. I called the Cardiologist he asked I wear a heart monitor for two weeks. The results showed increased heart rate "due to Graves" but that he felt I had an underlying issue with my thyroid. I have had so many symptoms and I really do not know what is a matter with me or what to do. The symptoms I am currently experiencing is the following; fatigue, eye problems (swelling, pain, extreme sensitivity to light, and redness) arm numbness and tingly, burning pain off and on in my right thigh, frequent urination at night, I get really hot and start to sweat and I have noticed muscle weakness. I just feel like sometimes people think you make these kind of things up. I just want to feel like myself again. Any advice on what kind of doctor I should be seeing or what my symptoms sound like would be of great help. I appreciate your time.

  

[jfaith]

I have tried working with the Endocrinologist but he does not believe there is an issue with my levels. What should I do if he feels my levels are okay even though I have all of these symptoms?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would suggest working with the endocrinologist to see if a lower dose may help -- even if that means a slightly higher TSH than we usually target.