Tinnitus?

[PaulaEKing]

Hey guys! I have a question going out there to anyone - I have been on amiodarone, metoprolol and Entresto for the AF and it's working fine. I just had an ankle replacement and am on other meds such as oxycodone. I have some pretty serious tinnitus lately and am wondering if this is a result of accumulated meds? I throw a few beers in too which hasn't necessarily been a new addition, and am not taking any aspirin or ibuprofen right now. Any words of wisdom or experience with this? The ringing is pretty strong right now....thanks everyone!

[doodle68]

Hello Paula please see an earlier thread on the same topic for a good response...

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[PaulaEKing in reply to doodle68]

thank you so much! I will check it out!

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Paula

Be aware that Amiodarone can damage the thyroid, it did mine and made it underactive. I believe tinnitus can be a symptom of either over or an underactive thyroid. Incidentally, thyroid malfunction can also cause heart rate problems too. I would speak to your GP and perhaps ask to have a blood test.

Jean

[PaulaEKing in reply to jeanjeannie50]

wow thank you so very much. I have gained a ton of weight recently, but as I had an ankle replacement recently I suspect that inactivity was a large cause. I shall do this.

[PaulaEKing in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

New update. Yep. I have thyroid damage. Am seeing my cardiologist next week to discuss options. Ablations aren't done over here too much, nor am I too excited about more surgery, but I definitely need to drop down the amiodarone, even more than I have already. I have all the symptoms of AIH and now know that indeed that's what it is. About to start of some levoxythyroid medicine soon as it's filled but I understand while you're on amiodarone at all that it might not work too well because of the extended half life. While I've had no AF at all, I still would like to get off of it if I can, due to other side effects it's causing. Thank you for your advice!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to PaulaEKing]

Hi Paula

Please stop taking that awful Amiodarone. Have you ever tried the drug Flecainide? That's what I take now and get along with it fine. Over here in the UK Amiodarone is the drug of last resort when all else has failed. It's called the Domestos (that's a bleach) of AF pills.

Be aware that all Levo pills have different fillers. I took 3 different ones before finding one that suited. Have a look at the Thyroid UK site on Health Unlocked, it gives lots of advice from people all over the world. I can't tell you how much taking Levo has improved my life, no more tiredness and sleeping afternoons and I feel so much warmer - used to freeze even with the heating on all day.

Let me know how you get on.

Jean

[PaulaEKing in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean. Seeing my cardiologist tomorrow. Started on levothroxine yesterday. Hoping to lose those tiredness/major cold intolerance symptoms soon! Will definitely push for amiodarone replacement.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to PaulaEKing]

It will probably take quite a few weeks for the Levo to make a difference. Which brand have you been given and what strength?

[PaulaEKing in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean! They put me on the yellow one, which I guess is 100 mcg? Yeah, I can honestly say no difference as of yet, however, I'm hoping! Sorry to be a while responding - I was out of town at a vet converence. My main hope is that now that I'm off amiodarone (thank YOU!) that the old A Fib won't come back! ugh.

[Patches2]

I was interested in your post regarding Entresto. I believe it gets rid of the tiredness that accompanies heart failure. I have been refused Entresto because it is expensive. Do you find that it works well getting rid of tiredness? I was given Amiodarone which I refused as I suffer from severe lung issues

. Sorry I cannot help with your tinnitus problem although My sister did suffer from this and she got a physiotherapist to do some manoeuvre which seemed to work. Sorry I don't know the name.

[PaulaEKing in reply to Patches2]

Hi Patches2! Yeah, the Entresto is quite expensive, although I suppose it helps the heart beat easier, and since, mine wasn't working too well at the height of A Fib, it helped a lot. Now the old heart's having no problem, working at optimum effectiveness. My score is only a 1, which I guess is really low, and thank God my insurance does pay for the Entresto. I still had to get used to the tiredness etc, but I thought that was mainly from the metoprolol. It was very bad at the beginning. I would have rather had the A Fib, I kid you not. but I did get used to it. I still have not too much energy, but a lot of that is related to the thyroid damage I got from the amiodarone (yeah it made the A fib go away but it was killing me you know?) (Literally). I am hoping that the Entresto and the metoprolol will be enough right now to keep the A Fib under control, but I personally have my doubts. One day at a time, as they say in recovery!

Best of luck to you!

[Hidden in reply to PaulaEKing]

Hi Paula. Like you I have Afib, an under active thyroid and tinnitus. I wear hearing aids to help with the tinnitus and really notice it these days unless like now when I am thinking about it.