ER visit for thyroid storm

[utahmomma]

Just got back from nearly 4 hours in the ER for heart palpitations.  My TSH was at 0.06 last week and my Endo took me off my meds today for a few days before starting a lower dose (175mcg) of Synthroid.  I have had palpitations off and of for a few days but tonight the palpitations were getting worse.  

I was admitted to the ER with a BP of 148/118 and a pulse rate of over 120bpm.  The EKG was showing irregular heart beats.  They ran tons of labs then gave me two doses of a Beta blocker (I normally have low blood pressure).  TSH is still at 0.06.  The Beta blocker finally kicked in and I came home with an Rx for more of it (as needed).  

Wow, no fun!!  I need sleep - I have to get my son up in a few hours (it's nearly 4 a.m. here).  My heart goes out to everyone with chronic hyperthyroidism.

(HypoHell is still worse though)

[ChitChatNine]

OH NOOOO!  How are you doing today?  That is just awful.  Thank goodness you knew what you had to do and that was go to the ER.  You must be wiped out today,

C~

[rayneweather]

I'm sorry you had to go but glad that they gave you something to help.  Hopefully it'll nip this in the bud.  I sending you lots of sleepy vibes for once your son is off to school.

[tiredpuppy]

holy big scare for you Utahmomma! So glad you were with it enough to get your butt to the ER....glad you are ok. Please take care of you...we need you here!!!!!
Lisa

[GravesLady]

WOW!  Glad you are ok.

Smart lady for listening to you body and then taking action, probably saved your life.

I don't understand why your doctor didn't put you on beta blockers in the first place.  

Well, we LIVE and learn.

Everyone else out there, listen to your body and act accordingly, it just may save your life.

Glad you are ok - get plenty of rest and paper yourself, you really deserve it after all that!

Thoughts and prayers!

[utahmomma]

Thanks everybody.  I went into work a couple hours late (I was exhausted for some reason).  :-)   Had to take the Beta blockers twice today but the palpitations were NOTHING like last night.  Last night I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest!  My daughter checked my pulse (she is a CNA) three times and it was around 140bpm - then it would stop, then have a few weird beats, then go fast again.

My temp at the ER was 102 but I didn't realize I was running a fever with the hot flashes.  Geez, one thing at a time body!  :-)

I do have to say I've never been admitted so quickly to the ER before and I had my very own room with walls and everything - no stretcher in the hall, no curtains to pull back!  Guess the fact I had a bunch of monitors on me helped.  And being there for nearly 4 hours I was able to nearly read the entire book Hannibal Rising - it's great.

My Endo didn't put me on Beta blockers originally because I don't have any heart problems.  Typically low blood pressure, great cholesterol, etc.  Live and learn is right!  

I'm going to find something to eat then lay down for a while.  I'm really tired.  Feels like I've run a marathon (I'm assuming)

[MJ13]

I hope you feel better really quick.  We all rely on your experiences and your sisters' experiences to help us understand what we're going through.  You are a VERY valued member of this forum!!!!  You support has truly made a differenc in my mental health!!!  And besides you're much cheaper that a psychiatrist!!!  Sending ehugs your way!!!

[utahmomma]

Thanks for the very sweet words!  I came home from work, had a bit of dinner, and passed out from exhaustion.  I just got up about an hour ago because my contact lenses were sticking to my eyes so, of course, I had to jump on line and check on my friends!  

Hey, I'm glad to be your mental health provider but just remember, you get what you pay for!  :-)  I'm just here to share my story and make all of you feel better in comparison!

Time for another Beta blocker (heart is pounding) and more sleep!  Thanks for being there for me.

[mickie513]

When do you know when it is time to go to the hospital? I was put on a lower dosage of Armour on the 29th (I had skipped the 2 days prior) 2gr to 1.5 grain but as of today my BP still climbs into the 142\90 range and at times my pulse can get to 104 (although, that wasn't really a resting pulse). I've been up to 155\96 at my highest yesterday at lunch (home from work) but my pulse was 99. My temp was only 99 when I took it a few minutes ago, which is really not too abnormal for me.

I guess the worse is the anxiety about it all. I've heard stories of the over medication affecting you for months and months to a pretty laid back response from my doctor.

[venora]

wow sis I am so sorry you are having to go through all of that.I am glad you are ok.You take care of yourself.I have a funny feeling you take care of all others before you take care of you.I know its hared to do sometimes with kids ,work and all.and you take the time to answer us all here on the forum.
Love Venora

[Ahireen]

I was sad to read about your ordeal, but am thankful that you shared it.  I had palpitations one night, while I was just laying around watching TV.  I just did my deep breathing to calm me, and I guess they just went away on their own...it was only a few minutes, but enough to get my attention and long enough to make me start to worry, but gone soon enough to wonder if it was all in my head!!  Ah - the unknown, isn't it great?  I had my RAI 3 wks ago, so I've been on synthroid (sp?) for just over 2 wks (never before had this drug, was on Cytomel for a couple wks, but that's it) So...I'm just not sure what to expect from this new drug.  I haven't had any blood tests yet, I think it's odd for the doctor to give me .137 mg's of synthroid without knowing what my body really needs. I am sure they are suppressing my TSH too, since I had cancer, so...hypo should be in my past at some point and I should cross over to hyper, or somewhat hyper, right?  You seem to be on a high dose of this stuff...and you type your TSH (I have no idea what mine is yet)....is that pretty low? is it to suppress TSH?  are you hyper then?  Can you see how confused I am! :) ugh.

[utahmomma]

Everyone:  thanks for the kind words.  I'm still dragging a bit today (worked about 5 hours then took a 2 hour nap) and I have only needed one Beta Blocker today so I'm climbing out of the woods.  

Venora:  Yeah, I do take care of everyone else first.  Hey, I'm a single mom - it's in my blood.  :-)  I do know that I have to take care of myself too or I won't be around to care of everyone else.  But I made sure everyone was taken care of, tucked into bed, etc. before I went to the ER.  :-)

Ahireen:  I am on high doses of Synthroid to suppress my thyroid because of thyroid cancer and, yes, I'm hyper now (but you wouldn't guess that looking at me).  :-)  For cancer patients, endos like to keep us very suppressed (usually TSH of 0.1) so, yeah, hyper.  Your dose isn't extremely high (my family's endos started us all on 150mcg) but keep an eye on it.  I *think* they usually start the replacement dosage based on body weight then adjust from there.

It took me nearly 2 1/2 months to get to this point of hyper on 200mcg Synthroid after my RAI.  This dose worked well for me before RAI and going off my hormone-replacement therapy.  Since my remaining thyroid tissue was nuked and my estrogen levels have changes I guess it's too much (sniffle).  Usually it takes about 6-8 weeks for the body to adjust to the medication and your TSH to level out so I would *guess* your TSH isn't low enough to worry about since you are only 3 weeks out but keep an eye on it.

Mickie513:  I had done some research on thyroid storm because my TSH level was getting so low.  I was hoping it would level out but had one of those "bad feelings" about it.  I had palpitations and fast heart rate off and on for a few days.  I called my Endo's office about it on the second day (31 Jan) and they took me completely off Synthroid for 3 days then want me to start on a lower dose.  

The evening of 1 Feb my palpitations wouldn't stop, my chest was getting tight, I was getting dizzy, and my pulse was racing (then it would stop).  I tried laying down, deep breathing, etc. and nothing worked so I asked my daughter to check my pulse to see if I was just freaking out or if it was real.  It was real.  :-)  I drove myself to the ER feeling a bit foolish.  I had NO IDEA my typically low blood pressure was so high or that I really had a fever (hot flashes masked it for me).  Do you know what your TSH is???  That's a big indicator as to whether the HPB is thyroid related or not.