Aa
hypo gone hyper now have high BP
Hello!
I have been hypo for about 3 years. I recently saw an ENDO since I was second guessing my family dr. Best thing I ever did. Here I was hyperthyroid for the past few months. I have been feeling all kind of funny! Well they checked my blodd pressure like normal, BUT this time it wasn't normal. They checked it 3 different times and each time it was really high. I have never had this problem! I'm 29 years old!!! Just wondering if this is a side effect from going hyperthyroid? I was taking 100mcg of generic synthroid. Now I take the same dose just skip one day a week. The whole high BP thing just has me really scared. I have anxiety the way it is and this doesn't help matters. Also how long till I feel a little better from the dose change? If anyone could relate or know if this is normal I would apperciate the feedback.
TY
Wendi :)
I have been hypo for about 3 years. I recently saw an ENDO since I was second guessing my family dr. Best thing I ever did. Here I was hyperthyroid for the past few months. I have been feeling all kind of funny! Well they checked my blodd pressure like normal, BUT this time it wasn't normal. They checked it 3 different times and each time it was really high. I have never had this problem! I'm 29 years old!!! Just wondering if this is a side effect from going hyperthyroid? I was taking 100mcg of generic synthroid. Now I take the same dose just skip one day a week. The whole high BP thing just has me really scared. I have anxiety the way it is and this doesn't help matters. Also how long till I feel a little better from the dose change? If anyone could relate or know if this is normal I would apperciate the feedback.
TY
Wendi :)
I understand exactly what you mean. I take a beta blocker, which I never needed until I started levo, and the whole idea of having to take one med to counter the effects of another I find pretty disgusting. However, not taking levo is not an option, and the beta blocker really eliminates the heart symptoms for me. If you take something now for your HR and BP, it will most likely be temporary until your levels fall back down a bit.
It's the second number in BP that's more important. The first number is when your heart's pumping, the second is when it's at rest. When the second is high, your heart's not getting adequate rest.
From experience here...my endo's triage nurse tried to get me to call my PCP when my BP was high due to overmedication.. Since my endo knew the high BP was directly related to overmedication, I flat out refused to call my PCP. I wanted my endo dealing with the problem by adjusting thyroid meds; I did not want my PCP messing with something he had already demonstrated he had no expertise in whatsoever. I could just see him freaking over the BP and wanting me to have all kinds of tests because he didn't realize high BP can be from thyroid overmedication.
So, just make sure your PCP has the complete picture. If he doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about, he probably doesn't.
Best of luck today...I hope you get something to help you over this hump...
It's the second number in BP that's more important. The first number is when your heart's pumping, the second is when it's at rest. When the second is high, your heart's not getting adequate rest.
From experience here...my endo's triage nurse tried to get me to call my PCP when my BP was high due to overmedication.. Since my endo knew the high BP was directly related to overmedication, I flat out refused to call my PCP. I wanted my endo dealing with the problem by adjusting thyroid meds; I did not want my PCP messing with something he had already demonstrated he had no expertise in whatsoever. I could just see him freaking over the BP and wanting me to have all kinds of tests because he didn't realize high BP can be from thyroid overmedication.
So, just make sure your PCP has the complete picture. If he doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about, he probably doesn't.
Best of luck today...I hope you get something to help you over this hump...
Oh no!!! We lucked out with temps in the 60's today!! Had our fair share of snow tho. Glad your powers back up :)
I did call my Endo the other day. He just said hyperthyroid does elevate BP. Watch it for a few weeks, if it goes over 150/100 to call my family dr. Well right along it has been 180's/100's. Today was the lowest 177/1?? I could never remember that second number. I guess I'm to busy freaking out over the first one LOL I called my family dr yesterday but they were closed. I am going to call tomorrow. I really hate the thought of taking another medication, but I'm sick of feeling this way!
I did call my Endo the other day. He just said hyperthyroid does elevate BP. Watch it for a few weeks, if it goes over 150/100 to call my family dr. Well right along it has been 180's/100's. Today was the lowest 177/1?? I could never remember that second number. I guess I'm to busy freaking out over the first one LOL I called my family dr yesterday but they were closed. I am going to call tomorrow. I really hate the thought of taking another medication, but I'm sick of feeling this way!
Sorry to be so long getting back...major snowstorm and no power all day yesterday.
I know, it's scary to have heart symptoms. And it's very uncomfortable to be overmedicated in general.
Let me tell you what my endo told me to do last time I was overmedicated. He told me to discontinue thyroid meds for three days, then resume at a lower dose. I had been on 75 mcg, and he had recently increased me to 81.5. After the three days, I was to go back to 75 mcg. I've been on that ever since (about two years).
How high is your BP? I think it's going to take a long time for your FT3 and FT4 to come down just skipping one pill a week. If you're BP is high and you are having palpitations (you could feel your heartbeat), you want those levels to drop a little faster than they're going to on this plan. Could you call your doctor and explain that your BP is still high and that you're having palps, and ask her for suggestions? She could have you d/c meds for a few days, or she might give you a beta blocker until your levels get back down. Beta blockers slow heart rate, lower BP and help with palps.
Give your doctor a call...don't put up with feeling this way.
I know, it's scary to have heart symptoms. And it's very uncomfortable to be overmedicated in general.
Let me tell you what my endo told me to do last time I was overmedicated. He told me to discontinue thyroid meds for three days, then resume at a lower dose. I had been on 75 mcg, and he had recently increased me to 81.5. After the three days, I was to go back to 75 mcg. I've been on that ever since (about two years).
How high is your BP? I think it's going to take a long time for your FT3 and FT4 to come down just skipping one pill a week. If you're BP is high and you are having palpitations (you could feel your heartbeat), you want those levels to drop a little faster than they're going to on this plan. Could you call your doctor and explain that your BP is still high and that you're having palps, and ask her for suggestions? She could have you d/c meds for a few days, or she might give you a beta blocker until your levels get back down. Beta blockers slow heart rate, lower BP and help with palps.
Give your doctor a call...don't put up with feeling this way.
Ty again for writing back.
All this has me lost LOL Yes the high BP is new. It has always been normal. Anxiety I have been dealing with for a few years. In fact just a few weeks ago I talked w/my dr because I felt anxiety/panic attacks kickin in again. Now this hasn't happened in YEARS!!! I have been doing great on my meds. So she increased my Effexor. My biggest symptoms are high loss (LOTS) always tired and will sleep all the time. Weight, well I think more of gain and headaches. The dr noticed hand tremors.
Today I feel about the same. I could feel my heart beat at times and it drives me nuts. While out I was able to check my BP and again it was high :( Knowing it is high causing my anxiety to go sky high. Esp when I feel anything "funny" I just about panic.
All this has me lost LOL Yes the high BP is new. It has always been normal. Anxiety I have been dealing with for a few years. In fact just a few weeks ago I talked w/my dr because I felt anxiety/panic attacks kickin in again. Now this hasn't happened in YEARS!!! I have been doing great on my meds. So she increased my Effexor. My biggest symptoms are high loss (LOTS) always tired and will sleep all the time. Weight, well I think more of gain and headaches. The dr noticed hand tremors.
Today I feel about the same. I could feel my heart beat at times and it drives me nuts. While out I was able to check my BP and again it was high :( Knowing it is high causing my anxiety to go sky high. Esp when I feel anything "funny" I just about panic.
Bipolar symptoms come with the disease... I have to take lorazapam/anti-depressants.. Once your thyroid is balanced you should see some decrease in symptoms though.
Well, I can see why your doctor was taking a bit of a conservative approach on adjusting your meds. While your TSH is quite low, your FT4 is also lower than many, but not all, of us feel comfortable with. Your FT4 is in the bottom third of the range, and many don't feel good until they get to midrange or slightly above.
That being said, there are those of us who feel quite comfortable lower in the range, myself included. My FT4 has never been near midrange, and I have been overmedicated more than once.
TSH is often an unreliable indicator of thyroid status. However, if it is behaving correctly in your case, it is saying that your pituitary thinks your FT4 is a little bit high for YOU.
Unfortunately, you don't have FT3, which is a very valuable piece of the puzzle and correlates best of the three tests with symptoms.
It can get a little complicated because many symptoms "cross over" and can be symptoms of both hypo and hyper (overmedication). You mention your high BP and anxiety. I know you said your high BP is new, that it always used to be low. Is the anxiety something new as well? Is your heart rate elevated? Any other hyper symptoms like hand tremors, diarrhea, insomnia, weight loss, etc?
I understand what your doctor is doing, and I agree that very small adjustments in thyroid meds can make a big difference. However, I've also been overmedicated, and with this small an adjustment, I'm afraid you might remain that way for quite a while...very uncomfortable, I'll take hypo any day.
How are you feeling today?
That being said, there are those of us who feel quite comfortable lower in the range, myself included. My FT4 has never been near midrange, and I have been overmedicated more than once.
TSH is often an unreliable indicator of thyroid status. However, if it is behaving correctly in your case, it is saying that your pituitary thinks your FT4 is a little bit high for YOU.
Unfortunately, you don't have FT3, which is a very valuable piece of the puzzle and correlates best of the three tests with symptoms.
It can get a little complicated because many symptoms "cross over" and can be symptoms of both hypo and hyper (overmedication). You mention your high BP and anxiety. I know you said your high BP is new, that it always used to be low. Is the anxiety something new as well? Is your heart rate elevated? Any other hyper symptoms like hand tremors, diarrhea, insomnia, weight loss, etc?
I understand what your doctor is doing, and I agree that very small adjustments in thyroid meds can make a big difference. However, I've also been overmedicated, and with this small an adjustment, I'm afraid you might remain that way for quite a while...very uncomfortable, I'll take hypo any day.
How are you feeling today?
Thank you for writing!!! My TSH was 0.22 and T4 free was 1.07
I check my BP at the store last night and again it was really high. So of course I just have myself all freaked out :(
Glad I have someone to help me understand all this stuff!
I check my BP at the store last night and again it was really high. So of course I just have myself all freaked out :(
Glad I have someone to help me understand all this stuff!
High BP is a symptom of hyper (overmedication) as is anxiety. It should come back down when your FT3 and FT4 levels lower. In addition, as you know, anxiety will raise your blood pressure.
Did your doctor test FT3, FT4 and TSH? If so, please post the results along with the reference ranges from your own lab report. With those, we can comment more specifically.
I'd really like to see your labs. Skipping one day a week, it's going to take quite a while for your levels to lower. Depending on how high your FT3 and FT4 were, you could be dealing with the effects of overmedication for some time. I've been there, and I know it's not pleasant.
I'd suggest you buy a home BP monitor or pop into a pharmacy that has a BP monitor and keep an eye on your BP for a while.
The last time I was overmedicated, my endo suggested that I discontinue all thyroid meds for three days, then resume at a lower dose. In those three days, there was a tremendous relief of hyper symptoms, although it probably took a couple of weeks before all traces were gone. You might ask your doctor about this approach if your hyper symptoms continue, and especially if your BP stays high.
Please post your labs if you have them.
Did your doctor test FT3, FT4 and TSH? If so, please post the results along with the reference ranges from your own lab report. With those, we can comment more specifically.
I'd really like to see your labs. Skipping one day a week, it's going to take quite a while for your levels to lower. Depending on how high your FT3 and FT4 were, you could be dealing with the effects of overmedication for some time. I've been there, and I know it's not pleasant.
I'd suggest you buy a home BP monitor or pop into a pharmacy that has a BP monitor and keep an eye on your BP for a while.
The last time I was overmedicated, my endo suggested that I discontinue all thyroid meds for three days, then resume at a lower dose. In those three days, there was a tremendous relief of hyper symptoms, although it probably took a couple of weeks before all traces were gone. You might ask your doctor about this approach if your hyper symptoms continue, and especially if your BP stays high.
Please post your labs if you have them.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
