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Please give us your most recent lab resullts and include reference ranges (vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report).
What thyroid meds are you on?
How rapid is your HR?
What if your hormone levels are perfect, are diagnosed with hashimotos but have a rapid heart rate often?
nope--i haven't had any side effects. but i am on a very low dosage.
I'm hypo (w/ hashi) and have had heart palps and racing pulse since just before my dx, especially when I lie down for a long peroid of time and then start to move, the movement cause a heart palps. My primary care MD and endo both said hypo can cause heart palps and wanted me to waiting until tsh dropped before I see a cardiologist (probably the only specialist I haven't seen since hypo dx). I'm very curious about the side effects of Beta Blockers?!!! Do have any?????? I've read beta blockers can cause fatigue, light headness or dizziness, don't know if those are common side effects. Are you experiencing any? thanks.
thanks everyone for your comments. well, after talking to my sister and a nurse friend, i decided to go to the ER. I felt like i was stabbing in the dark--at least by going to the ER they can run a lot of tests instantly. They gave my heart a clean bill of health, thankfully, but noticed some of my levels (maybe T3 and T4?) were up on my thyroid and that it was also inflammed. They think that either that doctor i was seeing did me wrong (argh) or that I have grave's. I have an appt. with a different endocronolgists in 2 weeks--the hospital wanted me to wait a little while, until the other doc's meds get out of my system. in the mean time, they put me on a beta blocker to bring my heart rate down. it is down, but still not normal. certainly better than before. i would hate to have to wait a year though for it to get better!!!
rainatl, didn't even notice you were not the person starting this thread.
When was the last time your doctor checked your TSH, T3, and T4? Is it possible you have become hyperthyroid because of your med dosage? If the doctor hasn't checked those recently, that should be done.
Your rapid heart rate is alarming and annoying, but the doctor can't treat it without knowing what is causing it. What tests has he/she run to pinpoint a cause?
There is light at the end of the tunnel. The question is, how long is the tunnel and how many 90 degree turns are in it.
If you really don't trust your doctor, try another one. It took me a few to find one I trust. If he doesn't know, he says so. Then he tries to find out. There is some comfort in his being so honest.
He's also very good at guessing. ;>)
Have you had your adrenal glands checked out? Your GP can run tests to determine if your adrenal glands are healthy or acting up. That would save a little time when you go to see a specialist.
Good luck. Be patient, but at the same time, insist that tests be run till something shows up.
I understand how you feel. Everyone posting here does. Treatment takes forever. Tests never end. Appointments are always three months out. Waiting seems like a way of life. In the meantime we feel like **** and the doctors say that will change in a year or so.
It will get better. You may have to politely kick a butt or two, but it will get better.
does this every get better? i just went on meds for a slight case of hypothyroidism in June. At the beginning of August my heart began to pound. Resting heart rate is about 100, walking 20 ft thru my apartment it raises to 130 and just one flight of stairs shoots it up to 160. In the last 2 weeks my doc has had me try 3 different pharmaceutical grade supplements/natural meds and I am no different...I am beginning to not trust him. Can anyone tell me if there's a light at the end of the tunnel!?!?!
In early hypothyroidism, dying thyroid cells release bursts of thyroid hormone causing transient hyperthyroid symptoms. This eventually resolves and symptoms become primarily hypothyroid.
In the condition of Hashitoxicosis, you're primarily hypothryoid but have the antibodies that cause hyperthyroidism and cause temporary hyper symptoms.
Also, many hypo and hyper symptoms are the same. For instance, in both hypo and hyper T you can have palpitations, inability to regulate body temp, sleep disturbances, muscle weakness and food cravings. Your lab results will give you a better idea of what's going on.
As thyroid cells die, stored supplies of thyroid hormone are suddenly released into the blood circulation. These sudden bursts of thyroid hormone are responsible for the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Often patients think that they need to have their medications adjusted and they suspect that their thyroid medication is too high. On other days, when they're dragging, depressed and experiencing weight gain, they suspect that their thyroid hormone replacement dose is too low.
Sudden bursts of thyroid hormone affect laboratory results. If a patient experiences many recurring bursts of thyroid hormone, blood thyroid hormone levels will be elevated. If this happens over a period of weeks, TSH levels will drop. Depending on when laboratory tests are run, it can appear as if they're now hyperthyroid. If the medication is cut, they may soon be complaining of symptoms of hypothyroidism
A definitive diagnosis can be made by biopsy, that is, fine needle aspiration. A lymphocytic (white blood cell) infiltration of the thyroid will be seen, and there will be certain cellular changes, particularly the presence of Hurthle cells.
People with equal amounts of both antibodies will have normal thyroid function.
People who are primarily hypothyroid, these antibodies will be predominate.
Thyroid hormone levels continue to fall and TSH continues to rise in this condition until thyroid replacement hormone is taken.
People both antibodies contribute to thyroid eye disease, these people have a high risk for clinically significant eye disease.
Hashitoxicosis, or overproduction of thyroid hormone may occur in the course of Hashimoto's disease, but is usually transient. Symptoms are the same as thyrotoxicosis, may include:
Intolerance to heat
Agitation, irritability, nervousness
Restlessness, sleeplessness
Exhaustion
Anxiety, depression, sadness
Excessive perspiration
Palpitations (rapid heart beats)
Diarrhea or loose stools
Weight loss despite an increased appetite and food intake
Weakness and fatigue
Loss of muscle mass and strength
Irregular or absent menstrual periods
Impotence or gynecomastia (breast enlargement) in the male
Infertility
Warm hands that tend to shake when outstretched
Shortness of breath
Smooth, velvety skin
Easy bruising
Clubbing of the fingers and toes (achropachy)
Swollen shins
Sore, watery and bulging eyes
Failure of the lids of the eyes to follow the eye downwards when looking down
Rapid nail growth, soft nails
Separation of the nails from the underlying tissue (onycholysis)
Finer hair that is less curly and tends to fall out
medlineplus/gov
Pheos are extremely rare. Extremely.
If you tried some meditation or biofeedback it might help with some of your symptoms. It certainly can't hurt any.
Exercise is good too.
I just googles pheochyromocytoma geeezz what a long word! and it said pain under rib cage and the funny thing with that is that I started getting really bad pain there when the hight heart rate started and it was wierd becuase I kept saying im having pain where my gallbladder was but I have no gallbladder .....who knows my luck I have all 3 things wrong with me....lol oh well I have a doc apt tomorrow and will try to get some tests run to find out whats going on or atleast rule out these possibilites....thank you for answering it has given me things to ask for tomorrow that im sure she never would mention to me...I usually get Morgan its just anxiety!!! I hate that answer!
Yes IST is what I think I have POTS is a cousin illness to IST....I was hoping it was caused from my thyroid but I really dont think its the case but I have heard that people can have normal thyroid tests and have hashimotos but have symptoms of hyper like the high heart rate. what is pheochromocytoma????
After reading your first post again three times and then your last post a second time, I am wondering if your heart rate has nothing to do with your thyroid.
If your TSH is 6.2, that is a little hypo, but not much. If your T3 and T4 were very close to normal ranges, that is not very hypo. You are not very specific, so that is a lot of guessing. I would want the test results. You can get a copy.
An antibody test (for both Hashimoto's and Grave's disease) would be a good idea, and also TSH and T3 and T4 if it has been a few weeks. Then talk to your GP about whether Synthroid would be apropriate if you are not already taking it.
I don't know what POTS is, but I read a few sippets on IST and that sounds a lot like what you are going through. Has anyone suggested tests for that?
A Pheochromocytoma could cause those symptoms also. That would require the services of an Endocrinologist as well as any thyroid issues other than basic hypothroidism with no antibodies. Have your GP run some tests and mention possible adrenal problems. He might want to run some preliminary tests for that as well.
Process of elimination. A good GP will run the right tests till he/she finds an answer and then point you toward a specialist. If your GP won't run test after test till she finds an answer, find another GP.
Best of luck.
I cant even walk to my car without hy heart rate going to 150 and feeling like im going to pass out or just even walking to go to the bathroom not to mention being home with a 4 year old who doesnt understand why mommy cant go run around and play or go to the park and play with him and a 9 month old who just to get up and get a bottle leaves me out of breath and exhausted! Is rather have something that with medication I would feel better not this my heart rate is ALWAYS high its not an occasional thing its 24 hours a day I know lots of people that have hypo and are fine but I have read alot of stories on here where people go through hell becuase of thier thyroid, so I know its different for everyone but for me this has taken away so many things that I love in life, im wondering how im going to take my kids trick or treating things that people with hypo im sure dont have to wonder about.
If the Good Lord told me I could have a resting heart rate of 60 (instead of often 100+) or be free of Hashis, I'd easily choose to be free of Hashis, hands down. Heart rates wax and wane and the rhythm itself isn't dangerous if it's sinus rhythm.
If you had the sympyoms of true hypothyroidism you'd understand...
Good luck with your appointments
Frankly, likely having both, I'd much rathe have IST than thyroid disese.
I do NOT have Hashimoto's (meaning that I do not have thyroidperoxidase antibodies), but I definitely have hypothyroidism. A rapid heart rate is not on the standard list of symptoms, but it has been one of my body's favorite ways to tell me that my thyroid gland was not doing a fully competent job. You mentioned having a doctor's appointment in mid-September. I hope it is with an endocrinologist. I think there is far too much to know about the endocrine system, and problems with it are far too complex, for a general practice doctor to be messing around with hypothyroidism. My GP agrees!
Thanks for your post ...I can't imagine 120, I feel like crapola at 25...your story is the same as mine, but I had RAI to stop the thyroid from dumping, so far it's been ok haven't had any major hyper issues in 3 months, my blood sugar has returned to normal too. And my heart rate hasn' went over 80....almost feel normal...almost ...still alot of pain, and some brain fogs.
Thanks for posting that, AR-10! It is helpful to know that others suffer the same strange symptoms. -- MDs haven't explained to me WHY the palps happen when I'm laying down. As far, as I know I haven't crossed over to hyper (yet). Both endocrinologist and primary care MD told being me hypo can cause palps and rapid pulse. -- Hope you're feeling better soon!! Tsh of 120 has to tough. Good luck!
My official diagnosis a year ago was Hashimoto's Toxicosis. Which is what they call it when you have Hashi's, but are in an extreme hyper phase.
It happens when you plug along taking your Synthroid and your thyroid starts dumping hormones you didn't know you had into your body. Suddenly your Synthroid is like poison and you find out a couple weeks later.
"UH, your TSH is REALLY low. You better stop taking your Synthroid."
When I was so hyper I couldn't get out of bed the worst part of it was how my heart felt. Just lying down would make it beat faster, and it felt like it weighed ten pounds. When I was hyper but functional, several months, I still had the same heart symptoms.
Now I am extremely hypo. two weeks ago my TSH was 120. I hope it's falling, but it's probably somewhere between 50 and 80. I am tired constantly and all my muscles ache, including my heart. When I lay down, my heart rate goes up about ten beats per minute. It's irritating, but bearable.
Nice to know it's not just me.
I have hashomoto's and I'm hypo with thyroid antibodies. I started having heart palps early in 2007 along w/ a long list of other hypo symptoms (including tingling feet). MD also said I had a rapid pulse. My heart palps were definitely much worse when I was in bed or lying down. ---Does anyone else notice their heart palps get worse when you lay down or go to bed????-- - Since my tsh dropped to 5.3 Ive very few palps, those are also only when I'm in bed or lying down for a long period of time. MD and endo say it's a symptom of hypo!!! I've seen LOTS of specialists since I was diagnosed in April, but I haven't been sent to a cardiologist yet. I guess that's next!!
Hi I am on 25 mg of atenolol I had an allergic reaction to toprol....I wear a heart monitor 24 hours a day! I was taking 25 mg of atenolol at night aswell but the side effects were too much so I am sitting here now at 9 with a heart rate of 100....I am going in on wed and asking for an antibody test to confirm hoshimotos or graves or both....its either my thyroid or IST or POTS IM praying for the thyroid but we will see I have a feeling its more IST but I do have symtoms of it being thyroid related along with 2 tests that showed HYPO....I wish there was a magic ball for everyone to know right away what is wrong with us it would make life sooo much easier! I feel sorry for all these women that have to suffer and are told over and over its an anxiety issue instead of running some test while besides the usual CBC or whatever it is called. It has also started to hurt on the right side of my neck more when I swallow. But my lcuk its the IST or POTS....we will see I will not leave any rock unturned I have learned even at 26 to be very proactive in my health care!! good luck to everyone!
I have Hashimoto's.
You can have Hashimoto's and be in a hyperthyroid state.
If you are hyperthyroid you certainly can have tachacardia.
I was on beta blockers for most of the time I was hyper. My introduction to Beta Blockers was in the ER as they were trying to get my heart rate down from 175 via an intravenous feed. I had a scrip in my hand for Toprol before I left the ER.
If you have not had your blood checked in the last month, I would suggest you ask your GP to run tests for TSH and T3 and T4 again. If your TSH is below normal, you may be hyperthyroid even if your T3 and T4 look OK.
I cannot tell you how many times I have had bloodwork done and my "T's" were fine, but my body was NOT fine. TSH is a major indicator of which side of normal you are on, regardless of what your T3/T4 says.
If your TSH is high, that indicates hypo, and you should not be having rapid heart rate from that.
You need to find the cause of the rapid heart rate and get it under control. What you are "putting up with" is dangerous. I am surprised no one has put you on Beta Blockers while they try to pin point the cause.
Here is something you can do to help the doctors. Keep a diary. Buy one of those heart rate/blood pressure cuffs you wrap around your wrist. They are around thirty dollars, I think. Sounds like maybe you already have one.
Take your readings several times a day and keep track of the time, what you are doing, and what the readings are. Heart rate and blood pressure as well.
Just got up, just finished breakfast, came home from shopping and felt odd, notes like that. The doctor may see a pattern or a cause/effect emerge as he reads through your diary. Take it at regular intervals. Also, take it whenever your heart starts racing, and note anything you were doing that may have started the racing.
My guess is you are going to spend alot of time making notes.
Best of luck.
Yes, I have Hashimoto's and mild tachycardia but I also have MVP and am currently hyperthyroid (med-induced).