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Hyperthroidism is ruining my life.
I have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My TSH is .02 and free t4 is 2.31. I have been experiencing panic attacks with a heart rate over 140 and my doctor recommends a beta blocker until I can see an endocrinologist on Nov !st. My question is I normally have a low heart rate 55-65. Would a beta blocker be harmful?
I am a marathon runner and despite a history of 40-50 bmp my hyperthyroidism had no trouble getting my heart rate up to 120. My T3 was at 16 and a 120 mg beta blocker in the morning was the ONLY thing that made me feel better. The heart is supposed to pause between beats and during this time it relaxes, opens, and fills with blood. Then at the next beat the blood is supposed to get pumped out. If the heart doesn't rest long enough to fill up, the next pump doesn't move enough blood out to the rest of the body, and blood can pool up in the lungs. Too fast a heart rate can make it hard to breathe and decrease oxygen around the body.
Thousands of people take beta blockers for heart disease and high blood pressure with no issues. I used to take it for my Raynauds occasionally. If it lowers your heart rate to an unnatural pace for you, the medication can be adjusted. The beta blocker also protects your heart from adrenaline-like hormones that your thyroid is producing in excess.
I am not going to do the radioactive iodine treatment because it's permanent. If the meds alone will not do it I can change my mind later. You cannot change your mind after killing your thyroid.
Thousands of people take beta blockers for heart disease and high blood pressure with no issues. I used to take it for my Raynauds occasionally. If it lowers your heart rate to an unnatural pace for you, the medication can be adjusted. The beta blocker also protects your heart from adrenaline-like hormones that your thyroid is producing in excess.
I am not going to do the radioactive iodine treatment because it's permanent. If the meds alone will not do it I can change my mind later. You cannot change your mind after killing your thyroid.
I have just gone through the exact same thing as you. On Oct 5 I had an Afib during my Zumba class. Went to the ER & my TSH was 0.01, T4 was 1.8, unbeknownst to me this put me at high risk for Afib. (Wish my endo had told me.) In AugI stopped methimazole because endo thought my levels were normal; although I knew because of my history with hyperthyroidism (5 years) it would shoot up again. Anyway, the docs put me on beta blockers (Metoprolol) which I was against as I researched the side effects & dreaded it! I do so much exercise my resting heartbeat is 58-60 & like you, I was worried it would go to low. The lowest it's been is 45 or so, not a problem. I have been on Metoprolol now 2-3 weeks only side effect is some depression, sluggishness and seems like I feel like my heartbeat is stronger. I may just be depressed because of what's been going on, I don't know. I also had bad panic attacks, one sent me to the ER, it is hard to explain how awful I felt. How are things going with you?
I have been diagnosed with Graves and I am torn between RIA and anti thyroid meds. Both have scary disadvantages. What have others done and how well did it work?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Is the reference range for the FT4, the same as you posted above? Ranges, typically, have to be posted with results.
Depending on the dose of RAI, it will most likely kill most, if not all of the thyroid. No, there isn't a more natural way to treat hyperthyroidism. Most doctors will prescribe an anti-thyroid med, at least for a while. There is no other way to fight the antibodies. They will continue to attack as long as you have healthy thyroid tissue.
Depending on the dose of RAI, it will most likely kill most, if not all of the thyroid. No, there isn't a more natural way to treat hyperthyroidism. Most doctors will prescribe an anti-thyroid med, at least for a while. There is no other way to fight the antibodies. They will continue to attack as long as you have healthy thyroid tissue.
Sorry, my TSH is < .02 and my FT4 is 2.36 which is a little higher than last time. I did mean RAI which kills part of the thyroid. I was just wondering if there was a more natural way to treat hyperthyroidism. Why kill the organ being attacked. Is there some way to fight the attacker ie the antibodies?????
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are your TSH and FT4 results? I don't understand "90-1.70".. That's not a result for either.
Did your doctor also test for Hashimoto's Antibodies? As I noted, early stages of Hashimoto's can be characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism.
Do you mean RAI, rather than "RIU"?
Did your doctor also test for Hashimoto's Antibodies? As I noted, early stages of Hashimoto's can be characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism.
Do you mean RAI, rather than "RIU"?
She is guessing because of my symtoms but has ordered the necessary tests to confirm. I just got my TSH and free T4 back and they are 90-1.70. I had an uptake test done on Friday. That, along with the antibody test will confirm whether or not it is Graves. I am hearing bad things about the RIU. Do you know anything about that?
COMMUNITY LEADER
I don't understand why your endo is "guessing" about anything. Why isn't she simply doing the antibody test via blood work, as I mentioned above? Not everyone with Graves has eye symptoms.
Hyperthyroidism is, typically, treated with anti-thyroid meds.
I'm glad she agreed that not treating the rapid HR was worse on your heart than taking the med, and that you feel better, already.
Hyperthyroidism is, typically, treated with anti-thyroid meds.
I'm glad she agreed that not treating the rapid HR was worse on your heart than taking the med, and that you feel better, already.
I finally saw my Endo yesterday and she ordered a bunch of tests. I am also having an iodine uptake test today. She is guessing I have Graves although I don't have any eye symptoms. I started taking 20mg of propranolol twice a day yesterday and already feel better. The endo told me that not taking the beta blocker can cause more harm to my heart. I am hopeful I will be feeling better once they fogure out the cause and how to treat it.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had anxiety, when I was hypo, as well and my heart rate would rise and I'd have a horrible pounding that felt like my heart was going to leave my chest. I did end up on a mild anti-anxiety med, because I had a situation in my life that I had no control over. The anti-anxiety med, helped considerably, with both the heart rate and pounding.
The situation I was dealing with, mostly, resolved about a year ago and I'm working to get bring it to completion. I've since gone off the anti-anxiety med. The med I was on was Buspirone (15 mg morning; 15 mg bedtime). It's quite easy to wean off when no longer needed.
None of us wants to go the anti-anxiety/anti-depressant route, but sometimes it's necessary until we get things resolved.
I still wake up in the night, sometimes, with rapid heart rate/pounding, and I know it's anxiety, but nothing like it was before.
The cause of your hyperthyroidism, could easily be determined via the simple blood tests for thyroid antibodies: TPOab and TGab to test for Hashimoto's. The TSI is the definitive test to Graves. I'm not sure why your endo wouldn't already have ordered these.
The situation I was dealing with, mostly, resolved about a year ago and I'm working to get bring it to completion. I've since gone off the anti-anxiety med. The med I was on was Buspirone (15 mg morning; 15 mg bedtime). It's quite easy to wean off when no longer needed.
None of us wants to go the anti-anxiety/anti-depressant route, but sometimes it's necessary until we get things resolved.
I still wake up in the night, sometimes, with rapid heart rate/pounding, and I know it's anxiety, but nothing like it was before.
The cause of your hyperthyroidism, could easily be determined via the simple blood tests for thyroid antibodies: TPOab and TGab to test for Hashimoto's. The TSI is the definitive test to Graves. I'm not sure why your endo wouldn't already have ordered these.
Thank you Barb135. My heart rate only rises when I am experiencing a panic attack which is brought on by the increased anxiety related to excess thyroid hormones. Otherwise my heart rate is very low thus my concern about beta blockers. I called the endocrinologist yesterday to get in sooner and i have an appointment today. It has yet to be determined why my thyroid is producing to much hormones but hoperfully they can help me because these panic attacks are life altering.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay, so there was quite a long period between the heart monitor and your current episode of hyper. If your heart rate is currently over 140, that's putting quite a strain on your heart and it would be in your best interest to bring it down.
I started out on 20 mg Atenolol, in late 2008; was on that for about a year, and it, ultimately, slowed my heart rate too much, so we dropped it to 10 mg, which I was on until early this year, when I asked my doctor if I really needed it. We looked over all my records and decided that I'd be okay without it.
A lot of people are able to get off beta blockers, at some point, just like I did.
I started out on 20 mg Atenolol, in late 2008; was on that for about a year, and it, ultimately, slowed my heart rate too much, so we dropped it to 10 mg, which I was on until early this year, when I asked my doctor if I really needed it. We looked over all my records and decided that I'd be okay without it.
A lot of people are able to get off beta blockers, at some point, just like I did.
The heart monitor was a year ago and at that time my TSH was normal. Im was having SVT but they were benign. This hyperthyroidism is very recent. I have an appointment on November 1st with an endocrinologist to see what is causing it. What dosage of Beta blocker did you take? I'm glad it helped you.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Tests done a year ago, would be outdated now, and most likely when your heart rate was measured at 48 while sleeping, you weren't having a hyper episode, or anxiety attack. That low heart rate is a hypo symptom; are you swinging back and forth?
When I was really hypo, my heart rate went into the 30's when I slept and I was still put on a beta blocker because even though the hr was quite slow, I had horrible pounding, with anxiety. The beta blocker helped with that, as well.
Do you have Hashimoto's? While Hashimoto's is, typically, associated with hypothyroidism, early stages can be characterized by periods of hyper and/or normal, before the thyroid finally "poops out" and becomes permanently hypo.
When I was really hypo, my heart rate went into the 30's when I slept and I was still put on a beta blocker because even though the hr was quite slow, I had horrible pounding, with anxiety. The beta blocker helped with that, as well.
Do you have Hashimoto's? While Hashimoto's is, typically, associated with hypothyroidism, early stages can be characterized by periods of hyper and/or normal, before the thyroid finally "poops out" and becomes permanently hypo.
I don't have a free T3 and the range for free Thyroxine is .7-2.0 so I am not that high but I am experiencing the symptoms. My concern about the Beta Blocker is that my heart rate isn't always high only when I experience increased anxiety and panic. I wore a holter monitor for a few days a year ago and it measures my heart rate while sleeping at 48. I am concerned a beta bblocker will put me at a dangerously low number.
No, beta blocker aren't harmful, you can take it without any fears. Actually, a lot of people take it right before they're gonna do a public speech or something that they know will make them nervous. The beta blocker stops them from trembling, since it slows down the heart beat and helps with panicky breathing, making it easier to speak. It has been a godsend for many who wouldn't have been able to go trough college or such otherwise.
The only thing is that it can be hard to exercise, it's hard to get the heartbeat up. A normal jog can feel heavy and hard to manage. But if your normal heartbeat is very high on it's own it might not be a problem for you anyways. You just have to try.
O, and one more thing. Beta blocker, like Inderal, can cause hair loss ( I'm obsessed with hair loss right now, since I'm experiencing it myself right now, sorry, lol) But, it's like with everything, individual. And not permanent. So I'll say give it a try! It must be exhausting for you with a constant racing pulse.
The only thing is that it can be hard to exercise, it's hard to get the heartbeat up. A normal jog can feel heavy and hard to manage. But if your normal heartbeat is very high on it's own it might not be a problem for you anyways. You just have to try.
O, and one more thing. Beta blocker, like Inderal, can cause hair loss ( I'm obsessed with hair loss right now, since I'm experiencing it myself right now, sorry, lol) But, it's like with everything, individual. And not permanent. So I'll say give it a try! It must be exhausting for you with a constant racing pulse.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm not sure why you think a beta blocker would be harmful. A beta blocker will bring your heart rate down. The beta blocker would be better for you than leaving it at 140 bpm, which puts extra strain on it.
Do you have a Free T3 result? What's the reference range for the FT4? Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
Do you have a Free T3 result? What's the reference range for the FT4? Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
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