Graves Disease and Arterial Spasms

[dejasi96]

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid/Graves disease in July 2007.  When this first occurred, my symptoms were pain in back, neck, head and left arm, fast heart beat, body tremors, dizziness, weakness, heat intolerance and increased saliva.  I was so debilitated during these episodes that I had to lie down and could barely speak. I had to be in direct air conditioning or air and my daughter would have to use a massager on my back.  The pain would subside after about 15 minutes.  My primary care physician first sent me for a stress test which was not normal.  She then noticed that my neck was swollen and performed tests for my thyroid.  At the time my levels were as follows:  T3 768, T4 4.5 and TSH 0.01.  When I was going to take the iodine test, I had another episode in the doctor's office.  I was sent to the emergency room where I had an abnormal EKG.  My cardiologist performed a catheterization and thought there were blockages.  After a CT angiogram, there were no blockages.  However, they said that I had arterial spasms.  I have since been prescribed Tapazole (first 30 mg daily now 20 mg daily), Imdur, Lipitor, niacin and a baby aspirin daily.  I am 44 yrs old.  Has anyone had spasm in association with hyperthyroid.  When one of these episodes is about to begin, I can feel it coming.  If I take an Imdur, the pain subsides in my neck and back.  My levels currently are T3 190.1, T4 0.8, and TSH 0.02.  

[skymax2000]

I meant on and off PTU for 1.5 years. I'm currently takingone 50 mg tablet a day at night.

[skymax2000]

I also have Graves and on PTU and off for 1.5 years. I can feel my heartbeat when I'm laying down. Cardiologist said it was tachycardia. It feels like an uneven rythm but not sure I would label it spasm. Doc said it wouldn't kill me or shorten my life and I could take meds or have surgery to stop it, but I decided to do nothing. I'm glad I had it checked out though because it was freaking me out.

[kcmigs]

I've been a Graves patient since Jun07... with thyroid storm at the onset.  Heartrate 180bpm got me admitted into the ICU, and thyroid storm a couple of days later.

Since then up and down the thyroid ladder twice. i.e. Hyper-Hypo-Hyper-Hypo which is where I sit today.  All my visits to the hyper numbers have been addressed with 450mg of PTU (150mg three time per day)  PTU sucks because of it's numerous side-effects especially in those huge doses but it gets my numbers down.  Hypo sucks too but then the PTU is reduced to 50mg twice a day.  I have yet to reach anything stable.

A far as my heart goes.  A-fib came from the start and a heart cath confirmed no other heart issues.  But an attempted cardioversion failed - so the heart meds stay.

[dejasi96]

Is there anyone out there that can let me know if they have also experienced spasms with hyperthyroid.  Graveslady, you answer a lot of these posts, can you please let me know if you have ever heard of anything like this.  My levels are lower than they were when I was first diagnosed in July, but my spasms have come back.  PLEASE if there is anyone who can give me some information I would appreciate it.