Heart palpitations and chest pain

[nes1]

I am diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My TSH keeps fluctuating. Now I am having more serious symptoms such as chest pain and rapid heart beat. What is this doing to my body, going from extreme hypo to extreme hyper?

[Catareen]

What Labs have you had done? this definatly sounds like Thyroid issues. If you already have a goiter, you should find a Good doctor that is not just a MD but a DO. I have found they are much better at treating you as a person not a set of lab results. IF you take multi vitamins and such, stop for the time being. Also certain foods High in Iodine are dairy, Dark green leafy like Kale and Spinach, Buy and use Non Iodized salt available at any grocery. But honestly I just had my Thyroid removed completely, I live in indiana, if you are close I can recomend my set of Docs. They were wonderful, caring, and and the sugery itself was easy, non painful and I was home in less than 10 hours total including check-in, surgery time, recovery and lab draws. I would go as far to say a pleasent experience for surgery. I needed very few pain medications afterwards started on Cytomel 2 times daily, read a few books, slept a few days and went back to work. Easy as pie. My first surgery ever and the worst part was the sour throat from the intubation(breathing tube).

[workingonbeingwell]

HI,I too have had all the thyroid symtoms you are having,come to find out that I have Hashimotos disease. This is an autoimune disease that can attack your thyroid. I had a heart attack in august. the cardio could find no problem with heart. She too tried to give me xanex etc. To make long story short. I found a chiropactor that deals with this naturally. Her name is Linda Ehlers she is located in Illinois.Her ofiice is called Moraine Valley Wellness Center.  She had a web page full of info you can check out. the first thing she told me to do,was to stop using any iodine supplements(which I had been using for years). This stopped my hair from falling out.She made recommendation of stopping certain supplements that stopped my chest pain. I am currently working with her. Maybe she could recom. someone in your hometown to help you. Hope this may help,Will pray for your wellness. theresa in chicago

[Amy0913]

I've recently started having sypmtoms that I thought were similar with those of having a heart attack or stroke:  lightheaded, slight prespiration on my hands and forehead, slightly nausiated, anxiousness, my heart was beating rapidly with palpitations, and my chest started to get tight and have pains.  I went to the emergency room because I had never felt anything like this before.  They did an xray of my chest, an ekg, and various types of blood work.  Everything came back normal.  A cardiologist had come in and suggested I see him for a stress test.  I followed up with an internalist who a friend referred me to.  I was not happy with this doctor.  He told me I had a pulled muscle and sent me home with an antiinflammatory.  HELLO!  I don't have a pulled muscle!  I went home and continued to have the tightness of the chest with slight pains.  After a coupld of days it went away.  Yesterday it happened again.  I went to the ER.  They ran the same tests and came up with the same conclusions.  I was healthy.  They said I may be experiencing panic or anxiety attacks and gave me a prescription for Ativan.  The Ativan seems to help with my anxiety symptoms, but I know something's not right.  I've had thyroid problems my whole life, but it seems the past couple of years when I get my thyroid levels checked, everything comes back normal.  As I'm typing this, I'm crying because I'm so tired of being told nothing's wrong, when knowing my body, I know there is!  I have a goiter on my thyroid that my endocronolist has wanted to remove, but with me being as scared as I am with hospitals, doctors, and operations, I haven't done it.  I'm tired all the time, my hair is thinning, I can't concentrate, and my memory is horrible.  I feel like I'm always in a fog.  I've also been diagnosed as bipolar.  I'm a teacher and school's out.  My family tells me they can always tell a difference in my behavior at two different times of the year:  when school lets out and at the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays when I start to get anxious about not having my set routine everyday.  I often seem moody/mean when I have no reason to be and I don't feel good about myself.  I've read some of the articles on this site and I've heard Thyroid Storms talked about often.  I'm tired of going to doctors because it seems like I always hit a brick wall.  I'm tired of feeling like this.  Does anyone have any thoughts/comments for me?  I feel like I'm the only one feeling this way and it's horrible.

[DLA]

Oh, honey, you are going through it bad.  I am so sorry!!  Going through this thyroid **** on it's own is bad enough without all the other.

I knew from the first "@" that you were in the medical field.  Been a while since I've seen that.  Most people don't know what it means so I quit using it.  Come from a loooonnnngggg line of nurses, and myself was a CNA.  Made me think I remembered something there for a minute!! ;)  Nope, sorry, back to lala land!

Since you are in the medical field you do understand all @ what can happen to you and realize what you're going through, so am sure I don't need me to tell you that you're going to have to bite that bullet and go see the endo. :(  You know from reading all the posts on this sight I think we have all have to swallow our pride on many many occassions.  If I were you I would just be honest and tell him you knew you should have come, but you are terrified of what he's going to tell you and you don't think you can handle any more right now.  You know you have to do something for you and your children.  No one can go on like you are.  All the support you could ever need is right here at your finger tips.  It's totally amazing!  I can guarantee I'll be here, I am addicted to this sight! =)

Call your endo, get in quick, better yet tell your dr and let him get you in quick, then let me know what happened.  I'll be thinking and praying for you.

Dac

[DLA]

Don't apologize for the med terms, I was just so surprised that after so many years of not using them I still recognized them! =))  Memory way bad since all this thyroid ****.  Think I have forgotten more than I ever knew! :P

Anytime  you need encouragement come here, this is the best place for it.  I never had any either until I found this site.  Well, that's not exactly true.  I have one aunt who is a retired RN and she has always been pretty supportive, but she lives a LONG ways so couldn't run to her when I needed someone.  The people on this sight are so nice and concerned for everything everyone is going through it is a great place to be.

Keep me informed of what's going on.  You may have to make a new post so they'll be current, but I'll be here.

God bless you,
Dac

[nes1]

Thanks,
   I guess I just needed to hear some encouring words. I really know what I need to do. Just still scared, even sitting here typing my heart feels like it is beating a mile a minute. Sorry for the use of med terms I really am no more educated than the next.  I am a simple person.  Thank you so much for your kind words and caring ways. I will let you know.

nes1

[nes1]

Thanks the more research I have done on this the more I agree with you.  I have been bouncing back and forth like this for years and in a matter of august of 06 to march 07 I was hyper trying to get normal then all of a  sudden i could tell something was wrong my tsh went from .1 to 23.1 in april 07 and just 5 weeks later in may 07 my tsh is 0.0529 and now the palpitations and chest pain with nausea and headaches. So I asked my PCP @ it and he said it is very possible I could be going into a thyroid storm. But I just need to lower my meds and in @ 3 weeks I should be fine. Stress and overexertion are a HUGE factor you are most definately right. I am going through a divorce living in a different town a 100 miles away from family and friends and a single mom of two. So stress free is not an option. But what is even worse is my PCP is a doctor I work for. I want an EKG but really am to scared to have it done. I work inthe medical field and I know what can happen. Why was I the one that came to this conclusion before him.  I do have an endocrinologist but I am afraid he'll be mad at me for not letting him know about this last test if I call him now. I guess I am just afraid and scared. Is there anything they can give me to help slow my heart rate down?  So far my BP is ok my heart rate on the other hand ranges from at rest 104 then the highest 128 that's walking from side of the office to the other and our office isn't that big.  I broke out into a cold sweat yesterday just doing vitals on a pt. That's what really scared me. Thanks for listening, please give me all the advice and thank you for all your prayers. God bless you.

nes1

[nes1]

Thanks the more research I have done on this the more I agree with you.  I have been bouncing back and forth like this for years and in a matter of august of 06 to march 07 I was hyper trying to get normal then all of a  sudden i could tell something was wrong my tsh went from .1 to 23.1 in april 07 and just 5 weeks later in may 07 my tsh is 0.0529 and now the palpitations and chest pain with nausea and headaches. So I asked my PCP @ it and he said it is very possible I could be going into a thyroid storm. But I just need to lower my meds and in @ 3 weeks I should be fine. Stress and overexertion are a HUGE factor you are most definately right. I am going through a divorce living in a different town a 100 miles away from family and friends and a single mom of two. So stress free is not an option. But what is even worse is my PCP is a doctor I work for. I want an EKG but really am to scared to have it done. I work inthe medical field and I know what can happen. Why was I the one that came to this conclusion before him.  I do have an endocrinologist but I am afraid he'll be mad at me for not letting him know about this last test if I call him now. I guess I am just afraid and scared. Is there anything they can give me to help slow my heart rate down?  So far my BP is ok my heart rate on the other hand ranges from at rest 104 then the highest 128 that's walking from side of the office to the other and our office isn't that big.  I broke out into a cold sweat yesterday just doing vitals on a pt. That's what really scared me. Thanks for listening, please give me all the advice and thank you for all your prayers. God bless you.

nes1

[DLA]

Hi.  Not fun, huh?

You were diagnosed as just hypo?  Sounds more like Hashimoto's if you're swinging from hypo to hyper.  The heart palpitations and chest pain sound like you could be having thyroid storms, your body is pumping more thyroid than it can deal with.  Stress or overexersion brings it on most of the time.  These are dangerous.  I had Graves' disease which is hyper and had the storms before I knew what was causing them.  I don't mean to scare you too bad but if you are having chest pains with them it is a dangerous matter.  You need to check your blood pressure and your pulse rate, also.

Thyroid storms can cause heart attacks and strokes.  Don't let this terrify you as it is rare, you just have to be aware and find a way to relax.  But most importantly you need to find a good endocrinologist.  And soon!!  Make sure your PCP lets them know everything that is going on with you and don't let them put you off for a long period, you need to be seen.

Good luck.  You are in my prayers!

Dac