need help - Rose

[tootsie99]

I have been on thyroid medication for many years. somewhere along the line I developed upper body tremors and complained to the doctor all the time about them. after many years of tremors suddenly I started with Atrial Fibrillation, at first no blood test told the story over the years. then they said the medication was too high at 150mcg, then lowered to 125mcg, (at this level they said the medication was stimulation my heart) still having Atrial Fibrillation, then a blood test came through saying to be on a lower dose 100mcg, according to the last test I was supposed to be ok, but I am still going into Atrial Fibrillation. I even lowered it to 75mcg and it still is happening. could I be allergic to thyroid medication, or could they be wrong, that I do not need anything because I possibly do not have thyroid problems?????  I have lots of allergies. I need to find something that will help my thyroid, but not synthroid, I need something natural, is there anything out there that I can try? Just cannot go on with the tremors and Atrial Fibrillation. I am afraid to take this medication now, I keep getting worse each day. can someone help me solve this problem. also they have put me on a few generics'. I am at wits end. Was in the hospital twice for this also. it seems all they can do is keep adding another medicine after another, most I cannot have because of allergies to sulfur.

[merimary]

I had ASD surgery in May 05 and have been suffering recurring atrialfib since. I've been hospitalized dozens of times with it and had cardioversion. I took Amirodrone for about six months but suffered bad side effects to that drug and it was the only one that worked for me to stop the atrialfib completely. It gave me plumnary hipertension and messed up my thyroid, thus levothyroxine 50 mcg now and I don't think that's enough because I'm putting on weight like crazy. I'm on 100mg of Tambacor now and I get so dizzy I feel like I'm going to faint, plus I have headaches every day. Isn't there something else out there that would work and not make me feel so bad?

[GravesLady]

Underlying causes of atrial fibrillation and flutter include dysfunction of the sinus node (the "natural pacemaker" of the heart) and a number of heart and lung disorders, including coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve disorders, pericarditis, and others.

Hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and other diseases can cause arrhythmias, as can recent heavy alcohol use (binge drinking). Some cases of atrial fibrillation or flutter occur in the setting of a heart attack or soon after surgery on the heart.

Some Atrial Fibrillation drugs can cause tremors.  If drugs are not working you might ask doctor about:

Electrical cardioversion which restore normal heart rhythm with an electric shock, when medication doesn't improve your symptoms.

Or Radiofrequency ablation may be effective  when medications don't work. In this procedure, thin and flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel and directed to the heart muscle. Then a burst of radiofrequency energy is delivered to destroy tissue that triggers abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.  

Or Surgery can be used to disrupt electrical pathways that generate AF.

Or Atrial pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to regulate the heart rhythm.

Many people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of the abnormal heart rhythm. The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation is palpitations, an uncomfortable awareness of the rapid and irregular heartbeat. Other symptoms of atrial fibrillation are caused by the diminished delivery of blood to the body. These symptoms include dizziness, fainting, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscles).

American Heart Association recommends aggressive treatment of this heart arrhythmia.

[artsyrose]

when and what were your last labs? perhaps your tsh has been lowered too much and you are hyperthyroid at this point. do you have copies of your lab reports?

As far as the allergies...I too am allergic to sulfa based drugs, (among lots of other things) but as long as the doctors are aware of this when prescribing and I read labels, I have had no problems...