I have just received test results from my doc for Thyroid, one of the tests to be taken whilst on Amiodarone These are higher than previous normal results. Does anyone have experience for Amiodarone and the Thyroid. The Potassium test was high Offcut, but I ate potatoes every day before the test and a few bananas (maybe too much) will be dropping the potatoes and using bananas occasionally, thanks again
Ultramarine
Hi Ultramarine - I was on amiodarone for 6 months before having my 2nd ablation in June of this year. Over that time my thyroid function was tested and this showed that the amiodarone was damaging it as my results were a bit on the high side too. After my ablation, I came off it and my doctor suggested waiting to see if my thyroid could recover, before taking drugs to help. Unfortunately after about 13 weeks my pulse started racing again at 160. I was admitted to hospital for 6 days, put back on amiodarone, warfarin and also digoxin. When I was discharged my pulse was still a bit fast and has been ever since. I'm waiting to have a cardioversion on November 20th. My pulse now is usually between 100-125. I don't know if I had a potassium test. What was that for?
Jean
Thankyou jeanjeannie50 bit late in responding unfortunately ended up in emergency again. This time for the first time it converted itself so thats a good thing, did all the tricks before calling ambulance including deep breathing from the stomach and did this in the hospital aswell. Was sent home around 4.30am so have had to catch up on sleep. In answer to your question about potassium. In laymans terms its important to have enough in your body to balance the fluids and electrolytes. If you dont have enough it can and I stress can cause fatigue, irritability and hypertension. In my case I had it checked as I had diarrhea at the time which could indicate this. I am concered about this drug Amiodarone more than ever now, as no ablation has been scheduled, will be discussing this with my GP next week. Do you have a machine to check your pulse because I cant seem to read it when its all over the place?
Hi Ultramarine - Yes, I have a machine to check my pulse and blood pressure it has three levels I can switch it on to according to how fast I think my heart is racing. I agree with you it's so difficult to take your own pulse when it's all over the place and going so fast. I eat a banana every day and usually eat potatoes (what effect do they have on heart) more often than not, so hopefully l will be o.k. with my potassium levels. I too hate taking amiodarone because of the way it affects my body/thyroid. I'm also taking digoxin as well now and I believe that too can have nasty side effects. You are right to be concerned about amiodarone affecting your thyroid, it worries the hell out of me to!! When I was first put on it just before Christmas I was told it was as a last resort to stop my heart racing after a cardioversion had failed. I was told I would only be on it for a few months as I'd been put on the waiting list for an ablation. Well that ablation didn't happen for 6 months!! I'm 62 and was also told that I was too young to be put on amiodarone permanently and it is generally given to older people because the of the side effects. Saying that, I know someone who was taking it for 10yrs with no side effects at all, other than a slight discolouration of his skin. I'm off to the hospital again this morning to have yet another ECG to see what my heart is doing now. Last Wednesday it recorded my pulse at 125. My heart has been racing for several weeks now, this is the worst episode I've ever had and I can't wait for my cardioversion in a few weeks time. Sorry to hear you've had a trip to hospital with your heart again, but thank goodness it reverted to normal on it's own this time. I live on my own do you?
Jean
Thankyou Jeaniejean50 I think this would be a good idea for me to get one, firstly I hope your results don't show a need for any increase in Amiodarone, its an awful long time to have your pulse racing. Your potassium should most likely be OK if you are eating both potatoes and bananas, I will be doing either one or the other. Yes I do live on my own and this situation is not considered readily as its a very frightening condition, and you have only yourself to rely on. This was the longest I let it go on for, as it kept going in an out of rhythm, at the end of 2 hours I did take an asprin and took 25mgs of Amiodarone. I am getting really fed up though, so I have made some of my own decisions as to how I should proceed and will put these forward to my GP this week. One is getting off ALL medication (now that I have drastically altered my diet) the other two are getting a referral to a Gastroenterologist and getting a 2nd opinion from another Cardiologist in Brisbane who does complex procedures maybe the Mini Maze which I keep reading about, its quite a distance from Sydney though. Every doctor looks at me rather strangely when I mention breathing from my stomach but I will keep doing it if it works most of the time. I feel really old now even though they keep telling me I am not old. I am 73 and have been somewhat healthy most of my life so its hard to accept this condition and its hard to accept that inadequate knowledge of the condition amongst health professionals seems to be the norm. I am thankful they are there though. Let me know what you need to do now!
Ultramarine
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