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Hypothyroidism and Heart Palpitations
Hello Everyone - I am a 34 year old female who was diagnosed about 8 months ago with hypothyroidism. Additional testing then diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. My initial TSH level was 12.7, so I was I placed on 50 mcg of Levothyroxine. My TSH level is now 4.8.
I have had all of the normal hypothyroid symptoms - weight gain, muscle pain, tiredness, etc., but my biggest complaint (that doesn't fit symptoms of hypo) is heart palpitations. At their worst, I was having them for sometimes 5 - 6 hours a day. I did see a cardiologist, who did an EKG, echocardiogram, and also had me a wear an 24-hour heart monitor. After reviewing all of the tests, the cardiologist said that I had a perfectly healthy heart, and that the palpitations were most likely a result of hypothyroidism.
For the first few months after being on the Levothyroxine, I can honestly say that I did NOT feel any better. However, over the past 6 - 8 weeks, I have begun to feel more like my old self again. FINALLY, the palpitations started to subside - occurring for only 3 - 4 hours a day, then about 1 hour a day, then only a few flutters here and there. I was absolutely elated to have them gone!
Within the past week however, as soon as I woke up in the morning, I could tell I just didn't feel right. I've been having more palpitations again (an episode last night lasted for about 2 hours). It's only been a few days since the palpitations have returned, but I am scared to death that I am going to have to start dealing with them again. They make me feel awful!
I promised myself I was going to keep this as concise as possible, and looking at the above I appear to have failed. Has anyone else been diagnosed with Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism and suffering from long episodes of heart palpitations? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
I have had all of the normal hypothyroid symptoms - weight gain, muscle pain, tiredness, etc., but my biggest complaint (that doesn't fit symptoms of hypo) is heart palpitations. At their worst, I was having them for sometimes 5 - 6 hours a day. I did see a cardiologist, who did an EKG, echocardiogram, and also had me a wear an 24-hour heart monitor. After reviewing all of the tests, the cardiologist said that I had a perfectly healthy heart, and that the palpitations were most likely a result of hypothyroidism.
For the first few months after being on the Levothyroxine, I can honestly say that I did NOT feel any better. However, over the past 6 - 8 weeks, I have begun to feel more like my old self again. FINALLY, the palpitations started to subside - occurring for only 3 - 4 hours a day, then about 1 hour a day, then only a few flutters here and there. I was absolutely elated to have them gone!
Within the past week however, as soon as I woke up in the morning, I could tell I just didn't feel right. I've been having more palpitations again (an episode last night lasted for about 2 hours). It's only been a few days since the palpitations have returned, but I am scared to death that I am going to have to start dealing with them again. They make me feel awful!
I promised myself I was going to keep this as concise as possible, and looking at the above I appear to have failed. Has anyone else been diagnosed with Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism and suffering from long episodes of heart palpitations? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hello Kodifik,,
New to this but I have been placed on 50mcg and now 75mcg in last 6 months
by my GP was diagnosed with Hashi last June. I do now have these palps and it is scary, had to let you know I tried movement and it worked for me the other day and plan to continue. However, with all research I have done I feel
the Levo is the cause and have app with endo and will ask to go on Armour.
Do not want to risk these palps from throwing a clot into blood stream as this can certainly happen. Thanks for your input!
New to this but I have been placed on 50mcg and now 75mcg in last 6 months
by my GP was diagnosed with Hashi last June. I do now have these palps and it is scary, had to let you know I tried movement and it worked for me the other day and plan to continue. However, with all research I have done I feel
the Levo is the cause and have app with endo and will ask to go on Armour.
Do not want to risk these palps from throwing a clot into blood stream as this can certainly happen. Thanks for your input!
...almost forgot, also have irregular heartbeat...misses then hits several quickly.
My HB's running about 105 regularly
and my tsh was tested at 3.84. (age 60 male)
(on diltiazem 60mg slow release, which seems to be keeping my BP down)
other symptoms - out of breath quickly, dry skin on hands and heels, a few times I've had depression moods in early morning that go away quickly once I'm up and going.
Does this seem to be hypothyroid?
and my tsh was tested at 3.84. (age 60 male)
(on diltiazem 60mg slow release, which seems to be keeping my BP down)
other symptoms - out of breath quickly, dry skin on hands and heels, a few times I've had depression moods in early morning that go away quickly once I'm up and going.
Does this seem to be hypothyroid?
Throughout the internet, hypo people are asking the same questions. I've been hypo for almost two years. My VA doc doesn't seem too "on" about this and I have had to do my own research and implementation. The VA ONLY prescribes levo, not Armour/NDT, etc... The levo made me sicker and the lower the dose, the sicker I'd be. All of the classic stuff - weight, flu feelings, migraines, heart stuff...BAD heart stuff...terrible experience!!!
So I insisted on Armour - I have to pay for it. 2 days after being off levo my 24 hr migraines disappeared. Now, 8 months later and my weight is at 182 from 206... I'm only taking 1/2 grain per day but am bumping it to 3/4 today because of heart palpitations and upper valve issues probably from hypo...
I believe that we are not educated properly, do not know what questions to even ask, and are essentially relying on our dr's to be HELPING us. NOT!
They are too busy running us thru like cattle every 15 minutes all day so they can make pmts on the Jag and their country club dues.
YOU need to be your own lab rat!. I am 67 yr old male... male thyroid is not that common, comparatively. So my stuff may be different, but generally the same. Don't be afraid to bump up the doses to see if it makes an improvement in your condition. Generally the dr's will keep you on too low of a dose and then forget about you. Get a blood draw every 6 weeks. I usually have to remind them and they say "OH YEAH! You're right!" WTH are computers for??? Take your (hopefully) armour/NDT by dissolving it under your tongue. It's not bad - just kinda chalky. You'll get used to it and it goes to work better. You'll peak in about 4 hours, so break up your doses thru the day. My doc wants me to take mine all at once, once per day.... thats BS. Then I get a let down in the afternoon... TAKE CONTROL! It's YOUR body and YOU are the one feeling like crap! Some of the forum people have been sick for 20 years!!!!!
NO THANKS! If you can't get to feeling better, see another doc or a naturopathic person. And lastly... Treat yourself as if you were your own only child! It really helps to love ourselves! Honor your ill feelings if you're not feeling "right"... Listen to others (including your doctor) with a bit of skeptical acceptance. You WILL get better!
So I insisted on Armour - I have to pay for it. 2 days after being off levo my 24 hr migraines disappeared. Now, 8 months later and my weight is at 182 from 206... I'm only taking 1/2 grain per day but am bumping it to 3/4 today because of heart palpitations and upper valve issues probably from hypo...
I believe that we are not educated properly, do not know what questions to even ask, and are essentially relying on our dr's to be HELPING us. NOT!
They are too busy running us thru like cattle every 15 minutes all day so they can make pmts on the Jag and their country club dues.
YOU need to be your own lab rat!. I am 67 yr old male... male thyroid is not that common, comparatively. So my stuff may be different, but generally the same. Don't be afraid to bump up the doses to see if it makes an improvement in your condition. Generally the dr's will keep you on too low of a dose and then forget about you. Get a blood draw every 6 weeks. I usually have to remind them and they say "OH YEAH! You're right!" WTH are computers for??? Take your (hopefully) armour/NDT by dissolving it under your tongue. It's not bad - just kinda chalky. You'll get used to it and it goes to work better. You'll peak in about 4 hours, so break up your doses thru the day. My doc wants me to take mine all at once, once per day.... thats BS. Then I get a let down in the afternoon... TAKE CONTROL! It's YOUR body and YOU are the one feeling like crap! Some of the forum people have been sick for 20 years!!!!!
NO THANKS! If you can't get to feeling better, see another doc or a naturopathic person. And lastly... Treat yourself as if you were your own only child! It really helps to love ourselves! Honor your ill feelings if you're not feeling "right"... Listen to others (including your doctor) with a bit of skeptical acceptance. You WILL get better!
1 Comments
You got it right! I have some sort of thyroid problem (I got most of the symptoms except weight gain), but I take kombu seaweed every other day. It helps with the total exhaustion I was feeling, though I still get heart palpitations and night sweats sometimes. But better than taking pills for me anyway! I hate pills, bleech! The seaweed also got rid of these nasty zit type things I would get (they weren't zits, but they would appear on my face or neck and were like zits but there would be a lump under the skin).
Doctors like to think that TSH accurately reflects levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. In reality TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less correlate well with symptoms, which should be the priority.
When already taking thyroid meds, TSH is basically useless as a test. Many hypo patients taking adequate levels of meds to relieve symptoms, find that TSH becomes suppressed below range. That does not mean hyperthyroidism, unless hyperthyroid symptoms are present due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
When already taking thyroid meds, TSH is basically useless as a test. Many hypo patients taking adequate levels of meds to relieve symptoms, find that TSH becomes suppressed below range. That does not mean hyperthyroidism, unless hyperthyroid symptoms are present due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
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