Aa
TSH 0.05
Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Started on 110 mcg Synthroid, then increased to 125 and then 137, have been taking 125 mcg Synthroid daily for more than 3 years now (because I requested the $4 generic version which isn't available at 137 mcg), and began experiencing atrial fibrillation 6 years ago. Sometimes TSH was within the guidelines, sometimes above, sometimes below. I also take coumadin daily because I had an artificial mitral valve installed over ten years ago to replace a defective valve due to rheumatic heart disease. Heart rate runs between 75 and 160. On calcium channel blocker, the heart rate is now 70 - 90, but it goes up to 120 with stress or physical exertion. Cardiologist decided to perform ablations to slow the heart rate last month, but they were unsuccessful aside from a few hours in sinus rhythm, which began approximately 6 hours after extensive ablations on the right side of my heart. My family practitioner requested a routine TSH test, which came back two weeks ago at 0.05. I was not informed until I requested the information today. He was waiting for my next office visit to discuss the results of all of my tests, which is not for another week yet. And I go in for mapping and further ablations in a couple of weeks. Last night I searched online on a medical website for "hypothyroid" and "atrial fibrillation" and discovered that too much Synthroid can cause angina and/or atrial fibrillation in heart patients. Question #1 - What is the ideal range for my TSH to be? One co-worker told me her doctor said anything under 60 is normal for her, yet my family physician apparently didn't seem to think 0.05 was an urgent issue. I called today to request a decrease in my Synthroid prescription before I have my appointment with my family practitioner, and after conversations with 3 individuals at the doctors office, the Rx was changed today to 100mcg. Question #2 - What is the possibility that this lower dose may lessen the effects of the atrial fibrillation, and might it be beneficial in keeping my heart in sinus rhythm if we can get it there at all? Question #3 - Is two weeks before the ablation enough time to make any difference? The next step, if this mapping and ablation doesn't slow down my heart rate, is a pacemaker so that the atrium remains in atrial fibrillation the rest of my life and the speed and rhythm of the ventricles are regulated by the pacemaker. The cardiologist had told me before the ablation procedure that a pacemaker was not an option - too many risks. After my heart did not stay in sinus rhythm, his NP told me that a pacemaker would be necessary if my heart rate goes over 110. Getting different answers confuses me.
my lab results say TSH, third generation. What's with the third generation deal? Is my TSH a different type or something? Or is that just the lingo?
My results are also 0.05 and my dr wrote a note to me on my lab sheet, "We may want to lower you thyroid dose after your surgery." She is an awesome dr and I trust her but after I read this post I feel a bit concerned. I intend on calling her asap to ask her about it.
Her words suggest to me that this is not an immediate concern and not much of a concern at that ('We may...") Perhaps it has to do with the third generation deal and perhaps it is measuring something else.
After hearing about the heart stuff I am concerned about my surgery. I am going under general anesthsia and never have before and I am scared as it is. It is just gall bladder surgery and I am a little overly freaked out as it is even though I know it is a minor surgery.
Could the low tsh value do something freaky to my heart while under that heavy sedation?
My surgery is this Thursday. Yikes. I welcome anything you have got to offer!
thanks
My results are also 0.05 and my dr wrote a note to me on my lab sheet, "We may want to lower you thyroid dose after your surgery." She is an awesome dr and I trust her but after I read this post I feel a bit concerned. I intend on calling her asap to ask her about it.
Her words suggest to me that this is not an immediate concern and not much of a concern at that ('We may...") Perhaps it has to do with the third generation deal and perhaps it is measuring something else.
After hearing about the heart stuff I am concerned about my surgery. I am going under general anesthsia and never have before and I am scared as it is. It is just gall bladder surgery and I am a little overly freaked out as it is even though I know it is a minor surgery.
Could the low tsh value do something freaky to my heart while under that heavy sedation?
My surgery is this Thursday. Yikes. I welcome anything you have got to offer!
thanks
Thank you. I appreciate your feedback. I intend to watch my thyroid levels closely. I am going to request another thyroid panel to see all factors if that was not done. I know that April 2 is a bit early to retest, but I'd like to know my levels before I go in for the ablation.
The cardiologist said that the erratic electrical impulses are in some way connected with the scar tissue in the right side of my heart as a result of the valve replacement surgery. The circuits going awry are in the scar tissue I guess. He is a specialist in heart ablation and pacemaker therapy. I just don't want to go the pacemaker route until it is absolutely necessary.
I have to believe that the change in thyroid medication will bring about some amount of change and that I will have a better chance of staying in sinus rhythm after the ablation. So I am going to try to think only positive thoughts about it now. Worrying can cause chemical production in the body that is counter to the healing process.
I will definitely keep on top of the thyroid levels. Thank you so much!
The cardiologist said that the erratic electrical impulses are in some way connected with the scar tissue in the right side of my heart as a result of the valve replacement surgery. The circuits going awry are in the scar tissue I guess. He is a specialist in heart ablation and pacemaker therapy. I just don't want to go the pacemaker route until it is absolutely necessary.
I have to believe that the change in thyroid medication will bring about some amount of change and that I will have a better chance of staying in sinus rhythm after the ablation. So I am going to try to think only positive thoughts about it now. Worrying can cause chemical production in the body that is counter to the healing process.
I will definitely keep on top of the thyroid levels. Thank you so much!
While I understand your reasoning. With the plan you have in motion with combining everyone to work as a team is great, I also believe right now you need to really watch these tests yourself and speak up if things do not seem right. I just have a really hard time getting past the comment you said above about your doctor not being concerned about a 0.05 TSh with all your heart troubles.
That concerns me.
In light of the question regarding Synthroid dosages ( 100mcg) - It may take up to 6 weeks to tell if things are better for you. I had serious trouble with Synthroid and other T4 meds, where I never leveled off on it - Many here say within 3 to 6 weeks there Synthroid dosage feels different for them.
That concerns me.
In light of the question regarding Synthroid dosages ( 100mcg) - It may take up to 6 weeks to tell if things are better for you. I had serious trouble with Synthroid and other T4 meds, where I never leveled off on it - Many here say within 3 to 6 weeks there Synthroid dosage feels different for them.
Actually, an emergency room doctor put me on a beta blocker the week following the attack on the towers (911). That helped the tachycardia that I was having at the time - stress induced because of my sensitivity to the constant media coverage. That medication slowed down my heart rate a little too well. And I was fatigued. I couldn't even pick up a deed book at the county clerk's office. I had to ask for assistance. My cardiologist thought I might have a blood clot on my artificial mitral valve. Tests showed no clots.
Next cause to eliminate was the beta blocker. He cut my dose in half. My heart rate was better then, but I was still fatigued. After awhile I took myself off the beta blocker and felt much much better. That was in 2001. In 2003, I went into atrial fibrillation and was prescribed the calcium channel blocker. I have remained in A-fib and have been on the medication ever since. Seems to work better for me with the arrhythmia.
While in the hospital in February, the cardiologist doubled the dose of calcium channel blocker so that I take it morning and evening. In March, for 48 hours prior to the ablation, I was on Betapace to help my heart return to sinus rhythm. It should have helped my heart stay in sinus rhythm once I was converted. That was supposed to be appropriate in preparation for the procedure. (But even antiarrhythmic medications can cause thyroid disorder I understand.) As that procedure was not successful, the cardiologist put me back on my double dose of calcium channel blocker. With atrial fibrillation, that is the correct medication at this time.
For the next round of ablations, he will put me on Tikosyn, which has both antiarrhythmic and beta blocking properties.
As for firing the general practitioner, I wouldn't do that. He isn't a specialist in these particular fields of medicine. He's my family doctor, my go-to guy for everything and anything under the sun. I trust him. He has been great in working through other health issues. He accepts input from me. He listens to concerns and my thoughts on possible causes of health issues. I voluntarily kept a log of everything I ate or drank when my coumadin levels were so far out of the normative range at one point.
But, again, I needed to really look at the fact that he is not an endocrinologist nor cardiologist. And, until this past year when I finally was hired by a local company, I worked for temporary employment services. When I did have any insurance, it was an "indemnity" insurance. The way the plan was worded, I was allowed one office visit per year for previously existing conditions, one for an annual check-up, and three for health issues that are not pre-existing. And three days per year of lab tests. It's pretty tough to find doctors who will adhere to those guidelines. And I couldn't afford a lot of tests and office visits on that kind of pay. So my GP became my doctor for everything.
Now I have a really good insurance plan. What I'd like to do is ask my GP to be the facilitator for me with my cardiologist, coumadin clinic, oncologist, and my future endocrinologist (I now plan to add one to my list of specialists). To keep an open dialog between the various medical professionals. So perhaps I can discuss questions and concerns with him for him to share with the other doctors. Because he has worked well with me over the past 6 years, I trust him to be a voice of reason with the other doctors.
I just wonder how soon it will take before I see any signs of improvement now that I am on 100 mcg of Synthroid.
Next cause to eliminate was the beta blocker. He cut my dose in half. My heart rate was better then, but I was still fatigued. After awhile I took myself off the beta blocker and felt much much better. That was in 2001. In 2003, I went into atrial fibrillation and was prescribed the calcium channel blocker. I have remained in A-fib and have been on the medication ever since. Seems to work better for me with the arrhythmia.
While in the hospital in February, the cardiologist doubled the dose of calcium channel blocker so that I take it morning and evening. In March, for 48 hours prior to the ablation, I was on Betapace to help my heart return to sinus rhythm. It should have helped my heart stay in sinus rhythm once I was converted. That was supposed to be appropriate in preparation for the procedure. (But even antiarrhythmic medications can cause thyroid disorder I understand.) As that procedure was not successful, the cardiologist put me back on my double dose of calcium channel blocker. With atrial fibrillation, that is the correct medication at this time.
For the next round of ablations, he will put me on Tikosyn, which has both antiarrhythmic and beta blocking properties.
As for firing the general practitioner, I wouldn't do that. He isn't a specialist in these particular fields of medicine. He's my family doctor, my go-to guy for everything and anything under the sun. I trust him. He has been great in working through other health issues. He accepts input from me. He listens to concerns and my thoughts on possible causes of health issues. I voluntarily kept a log of everything I ate or drank when my coumadin levels were so far out of the normative range at one point.
But, again, I needed to really look at the fact that he is not an endocrinologist nor cardiologist. And, until this past year when I finally was hired by a local company, I worked for temporary employment services. When I did have any insurance, it was an "indemnity" insurance. The way the plan was worded, I was allowed one office visit per year for previously existing conditions, one for an annual check-up, and three for health issues that are not pre-existing. And three days per year of lab tests. It's pretty tough to find doctors who will adhere to those guidelines. And I couldn't afford a lot of tests and office visits on that kind of pay. So my GP became my doctor for everything.
Now I have a really good insurance plan. What I'd like to do is ask my GP to be the facilitator for me with my cardiologist, coumadin clinic, oncologist, and my future endocrinologist (I now plan to add one to my list of specialists). To keep an open dialog between the various medical professionals. So perhaps I can discuss questions and concerns with him for him to share with the other doctors. Because he has worked well with me over the past 6 years, I trust him to be a voice of reason with the other doctors.
I just wonder how soon it will take before I see any signs of improvement now that I am on 100 mcg of Synthroid.
Oh my gosh.... what kind of doctor do you have?? I am so glad you googled up that information.
YES - Synthroid - or any thyroid medications have a direct link to the heart and it's functions. You SHOULD be monitored very closely with frequent tests on thyroid labs because of have a heart condition.
Even though I don't pay much attention to the TSH lab for myself I feel you need to and also be specifically tested for your Free T3 and Free T4 labs too. You also need to have a doctor paying VERY close attention to your symptoms of palpatations and KNOW thyroid medication IS effecting your condition.
TSH 0.05 to low for almost every thyroid patient and many experience heart palpatation at that level. Your friend is way off on the 60.0 comment to you too.
Most regular thyroid patients are comfortable at a 1.0 - or so - on a TSH. Most do not experience any symtoms around there. You are unique though ( as really all of us are) so you need to find the right labs values that work best for you. Your family physician should be FIRED by you immediately if he is clueless on the 0.05 effecting your health.
It is proper treatment to lower the Synthroid you were on to what you have and definately could help your heart recover from the higher dosages taken. Your doctor should be looking at beta blockers first before a pace maker until your thyroid is leveled out.
YES - Synthroid - or any thyroid medications have a direct link to the heart and it's functions. You SHOULD be monitored very closely with frequent tests on thyroid labs because of have a heart condition.
Even though I don't pay much attention to the TSH lab for myself I feel you need to and also be specifically tested for your Free T3 and Free T4 labs too. You also need to have a doctor paying VERY close attention to your symptoms of palpatations and KNOW thyroid medication IS effecting your condition.
TSH 0.05 to low for almost every thyroid patient and many experience heart palpatation at that level. Your friend is way off on the 60.0 comment to you too.
Most regular thyroid patients are comfortable at a 1.0 - or so - on a TSH. Most do not experience any symtoms around there. You are unique though ( as really all of us are) so you need to find the right labs values that work best for you. Your family physician should be FIRED by you immediately if he is clueless on the 0.05 effecting your health.
It is proper treatment to lower the Synthroid you were on to what you have and definately could help your heart recover from the higher dosages taken. Your doctor should be looking at beta blockers first before a pace maker until your thyroid is leveled out.
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