heart rate (graves)

[mommyof2909]

Hi  I am wondering why my heart rate is high all the sudden.  I was sick for about a week and then all the sudden it from 70 to 85 and now i just checked and it's 113.  It goes from one to the other.  I could check in about 2 hours and it will be 88.  i am having my levels checked today.  the doc about a month ago has me taking 20 mg of methimazole a day then the next day 10 mg.  Maybe when I was sick my graves got worse.  Does my meds need adjusted?  I also am taking 30 mg of propranolol a day.

Does this happen when you have graves where you get better and then all the sudden it gets worse?
Will it get better again?  
Thank you

[Totie]

When I had symptoms of graves my heart raced (but did not notice it), I thought it was how everyone was. It was not until (long story so won't get into it) a tech during a scan uptake realized I was in a thyroid storm in his office that they told me my heart rate was 144 sitting down. (admitted immediately).

Be careful with the heart rate, it can dangerously fast. I had RAI & TT to take care of my graves. Now my normal rate is about 70-90 at any given time. I am not on any heart medication just thryoid. I have not had any issues with the heart since & that was 16 yrs ago.

[Smilerdeb]

I agree with acker...I did the same too on a few ocassions...I would take 1/4 of the beta blocker (20mg) to bring the heartrate down a bit.
As you have Graves,.....hyperthyroidism can be very dangerous if not managed.
It would be wise to tell your Doc about the heart rate although I also found too that sometimes it was anxiety.
So I would take 1/4 of a beta blocker and if it didnt 'kick in' within half an hour then would trot down to the hospital.
Dont take any risks with the heart rate.
But make sure you keep getting your levels checked on a regular basis ( I had mine done every 2-3 weeks).
In my view...the 6 weekly labs are no good for those with hyperthyroidism.
The 6 weekly labs are for people with HYPO and those who have had permanant treatment.
Also as I said earlier....anti-thyroid meds can make you hypo very quickly in not enough meds are taken or you can go hyper very quickly if not enough meds.

Post yr labs when you get them ..with the ranges.

Start researching all you can on Graves disease and hyperhtyroidism and also remember that at some time down the track, you may need permanant treatment if the hyperthyroidism is too hard to control.

Read my journals if you want...they may help you.
Hugs

[acker]

my heart rate also went up at a rates similar to yours, i noticed this on a hot day, or after mild exertion, or slightly stressful incident (e.g. traffic!). only on the rare occasion when this happened - if it hadn't gone down in an hour - i would reach for a quarter tablet of betablocker, just to help. esp if it was keeping me awake...

[Smilerdeb]

I was on 40mg of neomercazole (Carbimazole) prior to RAI and also at one stage got to 80mg beta blocker.
Are you spacing out your beta blocker so you dont get heartrate spikes?
I split mine in 4 and took throughout the day.

You may need to increase the anti-thyroid meds but dont do this until you have had labs done.

You have Graves for life and most patients after a year long therapy of anti-thyroid meds are given permanant treatment as Hyperthyroidism and Graves is very hard to treat.

I had RAI and then TT (as cancer found) and havent looked back...feeling great!
I get the odd day where I feel a little hyper but I just cut back my T4 med by 12.5mcg that day (1/4 of a tablet).

But be very careful as Hyper and Hypo symptoms are very much alike.

Illness and stress CAN aggravate the Graves antibodies.