CAN MY SYMPTOMS BE RELATED TO MY THYROID?

[FrankPV]

Can anyone tell me if my cardiac symptoms are thyroid related? My very first symptom I thought was a heart attack. I awoke sweating, clammy skin, cold, pale, with irregular heart beats including accelertation. I have had many emergency room visits since then, all kinds of laboratory tests which reveal nothing to the emergency room doctors, a catherization of my heart (negative for disease or blockage), CT  (which did reflect a small mass on one of my kidneys but my urologist does not think it is of concern or that it could be causing my symptoms) , MRI, 5 hour glucose test (to rule out diabetes which is what my endocrinologist believed my symptoms were). I had a thyroid uptake scan and an ultrasound of my thyroid which revelead a 2.4 cm lesion, dominant, cold spot on my isthmus and right lobe which recommends biopsy. My symptoms for the past were extreme tachycardia when at rest which has switched to bradycardia. Every symptoms mimicks heart disease but my cardiologist can only state high blood pressure. I am not on any medication. Now It has gotten to the point where I have severe bradycardia at rest dipping at times in the 20's. I am not an athlete, I have a good diet, I have never smoked and do not drink. I have a pulse monitor to constantly monitor my pulse when I do sleep alternating between my wife and myself to make sure I do not fall into cardiac arrest. When I rise as much as bending over only will cause my pulse to accelerate and now it can reach 200. I have been deteriorating significantly as each day passes. No doctor can tell me what I have. The emergency room is telling me they have done everything they can do. The findings do not reflect the culprit. The mass I feel in my throat feels hard and bothers me. It is getting even hard for me to yawn. I know that this mass does not belong here and am wondering if this is what is causing all of my problems even though this endocrinologist (which my wife scheduled on her own looking for answers since she believes my problems are thyroid related from hours of reasearch on end looking for a solution) does not believe so. My wife has scheduled an appointment with a thyroid expert to see if this mass needs to be urgently removed since all my symptoms on the thyroid scan show it to be typical of a malignant nodule. Can all of my symptoms be caused by this growth in my neck on my thyroid? How come No one knows. Not my primary care physician, endocrinologist,cardiologist, or physicians in the emergency room? and I am even told that it is not thyroid related. Any and all feed back is greatly appreciated. This condition which has become somewhat of a medical mystery is taking control of my life. My health is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Can somone tell me what I have?  FPV

[Smilerdeb]

I have Graves Disease and suffered with Hyperhthyroidism which eventually caused 3 episodes of Thyroid Storm (Atrial Fibrillation).
The 3rd episode the heart had to be 'shocked' to get it back into proper rythm.
I have always suffered from Bradycardia and Tachycardia due to being born with a heart murmur.
Since RAI (radioactive Iodine) and TT (thyroidectomy), I have had no problems at all with my heart.
When Hyper or Hypo, you can suffer with 'Supraventriculatr Fibrillation or Atrial Fibrillation" both of which is very dangerous.
This is 'picked up' by an ECG whilst it is happening.
Get back to that Doctor and demand answers.
After all....we dont get symptoms for nothing and the heart rate you are getting is damaging the walls of the heart.
I have 'trivial regurgitation' of the Mitral Valve and Tricuspid Valve due to Graves and Hyperthyroidism.
They dont need treatment as of yet but will in the future.
Get checked and dont stop until you get answers.
Get your Cortisol level checked too.

[redheadaussie]

You really need to post the lab results here....what a doctor says is normal often isn't!
You could well be having an adrenal problem too. Best to ask for the tests for that too, just to be on the safe side.

[FrankPV]

I DID HAVE THE T3 AND T4 LAB TESTS DONE AND THE THYROID LABS AND ALL CAME BACK NORMAL. I THINK THAT THERES A POSSIBILITY OF THAT HAPPENING WITH THYROID ISSUES AND OF COURSE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MASS IN THE THYROID AREA. THE THYROID SCAN REVEALS THAT IT IS A COLD SPOT NODULE WHICH MEANS THAT THE NODULE IS NOT ABSORBING IODINE. AND IT SAYS IT IS HYPOFUNCTIONAL AND DOMINANT. DOES ANYONE THINK THAT WITH SYMPTOMS LIKE THESE THATS ENOUGH TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE. THANKS GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP ME OUT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.  FV

[Birdie440]

When I was hyperthyroid I had severe palpitations and rapid heartbeat.   I have been treated and my heart is fine now.    

[skeeterknitwit]

OK, I'm just bouncing an idea here.  Sort of like when House gets out the white board for a differential diagnosis.
You have a mass on your kidney.  The adrenal glands are above the kidney, sitting on top.  So what if the mass is an enlarged adrenal gland that is making excess adrelaline?
That's the hormone that is released when you are frightened or stressed.  Racing pulse, sweating, shaking, etc., but those are also hyperthyroid symptoms.
I don't know what tests they use to see if there is excess adrenaline.

[Nicola62]

I had raised heart rate - when resting it was minimum of 120 per minute. This was totally due to Hyperthyroidism. I totally agree with the others here - insist on a full set of tests. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain from them. The lump in the throat really needs to be checked out. Good luck. Nicola62

[FTB4]

Thyroid can cause a host of problems, There have been many thyroid sufferers here that have Tachy and I know my own heart rate is increased due to Hypo and Hashimoto's, I am not saying that this is the cause in your case, but I would not rule out that it could be caused by thyroid, the problem is getting the MD's to look into the right direction, even if it is not thyroid, they could at least rule it out, I would agree with redheadaussie and demand a Thyroid Blood Work Free T3, T4 and TSH Unless they already ran these labs, if they did and you have these results, Post them here and it will give a good idea of your thyroid production. I have elevated blood pressure, and High Cholesterol due to Thyroid and at one point prior to a change in medication, I would wake up during the night with sweats also. Good Luck and try to get those labs if you can. FTB4

[jools67]

PS. have you had your calcium levels tested?  If they are high i think this could indicate parathyroid disorder.
Jools

[jools67]

Hi,
Just wondered if you have looked into parathyroid disorder...this can cause cardiac arythmia..parathyroid glands are situated on the thyroid gland.
Jools

[redheadaussie]

Sounds like you are having a very hard time of it!
  First up...did you have any thyroid tests done? If you did in the ER and they said it is not thyroid related,it is often because they don't do the full gammut of tests! Often just a TSH done with no other tests requested. This is like having a car and saying Yes I have a car, but not seeing if it has any petrol (gas) in it!
My suggestion is; go and get the following tests and INSIST on them...TSH, Free T3, Free T4, thyroid anti-bodies.
   You could be VERY hyperthyroid right now and no one is picking up on it. You may not have thyroid disease at all and it could be something else entirely, BUT with the fact you have a 'mass' in your throat indicates you do have thyroid disorder.
  You say you had a thyroid scan..was this ultrasound? Did you have any Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy done? It may LOOK malignant but only a FNAB can give a true indication of that.
   Amazingly enough, we put too much emphasis on the medical profession to know it all. They don't. Nurses working in Pediatrics don't have knowledge of Cancer patients. Doctors who are general practitioners have a little knowledge about alot of diseases. Unless it is 100% obvious most ER doctors are instructed to move the patient on, unfortunately due to lack of hospital resources...but that is another subject!
  Anyway...get the full tests as soon as possible...and keep us posted.
Good luck!