I have had hypothyroidism for around 25 years. I now have a problem with my heart and have been diagnosed with A Fib and Bradycardia.Some months ago I had an echocardiogram that showed something in my heart that might have been a myxoma. A cardiac MRI did not pick this up, though I do have a severely dilated LA.
My current meds are:
Levothyroxine 75 mcg
Esomeprazole 20 mg
Bisoprolol 1.25 mg
Edoxoban 60 mg
Atorvastin 40 mg.
However, I am still experiencing palpitations every couple of weeks, which are overnight and last for 12 hours plus and recently pain and discomfort in my rhs neck, upper arm and shoulder.
I am awaiting the results of a 48 hr cardiac monitor, during which I did have an overnight episode of palpitations.
Should I still be getting these while on the meds listed?
Written by
JuliaGemstar
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It depends on where the palpitations are coming from and whether or not they are AF. I often get palpitations that are of no concern and an arrhythmia that was diagnosed as completely harmless.
I’m in a similar boat, but I find sometimes if my thyroid meds are out they can cause the same problem. Make sure you’ve had a recent thyroid blood test and that meds don’t need changing. So it might not be the heart problems causing it but the thyroid. Xx
I have had Hypothyroidism for 25 plus years and believe this causes more problems than the medical fraternity would admit! The T3 and T4 debate is dampened by the NHS because of the cost of drugs. My daughter also takes Levothyroxine and is never 100% well.
I too have had Hypothyroid for 30+ years and also believe my health conditions are the result of this but no medical practitioner has ever admitted this also. I take 125mg Thyroxine and my reply to Julia Gemstar is to get an up-to-date check for her thyroid. My dosage was increased after diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation. Good luck and stay well.
When I took dessicated organic thyroxine I was fine. When I was switched to Levothyroxine I reverted to having symptoms that I had pre diagnosis. Of course, I am told "Oh that's rubbish, it's exactly the same"! No. that's rubbish!
I also take natural thyroxine and have done so for many years although the cost has increased enormously. I pay for this privately.. Levothyroxine just did not suit me. My daughter also takes the natural thyroxine as synthetic Levothyroxine always caused her palpitations. Sadly doctors know very little about this treatment, which was the only treatment until the early sixties which saw the introduction of the synthetic Levothyroxine, and the virtually outlawing of Armour (natural) thyroid. I belong to TPA UK a very informative forum.
Thank you for this. I have heard about natural thyroxine but GP's are not interested in prescribing it or finding out where it can be sourced so I have never tried it.
I also have a friend who never "feels well" and is convinced that T3 balancing is as important as T4. I agree totally. What kind of cost is organic thyroxine? I have contemplated buying T3 hormone in Europe as it's significantly cheaper but would be stumped as to what dosage to take, whereas the dessicated thyroxine would be the same as Levothyroxine one presumes!
I have Peripheral Atrial Fibrillation for many years and my consultant is always telling me to check my thyroid. The Endocrine system works in unison, when one is out of sync, they all will be. I’m a qualified complementary therapist of 25 yrs and had to study the body.
Your question was "Should I still be getting palpitations while on the meds listed?".
The only drugs on your list that are specifically relevant to AF are Edoxaban and Bisoprolol. However, neither of these drugs are designed to prevent episodes of AF, so the answer is yes, you may experience palpitations while taking them (assuming that your palpitations are a result of AF).
Edoxaban is an anticoagulant prescribed to reduce stroke risk for people with AF and Bisoprolol is a beta blocker prescribed to keep your resting heart rate in the normal range, say below 100 bpm.
You mention that you also have Bradycardia, a resting heart rate below the normal range of 60-100 (although a resting rate of 50-60 is not at all uncommon). Presumably you don't have AF and Bradycardia simultaneously - it's apparently possible but quite unusual, since AF is normally accompanied by a high heart rate.
Do you know what your heart rate is when you are experiencing palpitations? If it's not over 100 bpm, I would ask your doctor why you have been prescribed Bisoprolol, since it can only make your Bradycardia worse!
Best wishes,
Paul
PS Palpitations usually just means that you are aware of your heart beat - even when there is nothing wrong. In AF your heart beat will be completely irregular with no pattern to the beats - it's quite easy to detect by feeling your pulse.
Feeling palpitations mainly at night is quite common, especially if you sleep on your left side. If this is the case, try sleeping on your right side instead.
Thank you, Paul, for your detailed response.Palpitations usually occur after mild exertion over a few days. I cannot walk far even at a moderate pace before becoming breathless, and do some light housework / cooking and gardening. My heartbeat rises from around 44 to 180 bpm during an episode. Afterwards I am exhausted and feel nauseous and dizzy until I have had a good sleep. My resting heartbeat is usually around 50 bpm.
Thyroid condition has been stable for years.
I am hoping that something shows up from my recent 48 hr cardiac monitor, during which I had palpitations for 16 hours. I might find out sometime next week.
180 bpm is certainly a "palpitation" that most people would notice! Hopefully the 48 hr cardiac monitor will be diagnostic and guide your doctor to the best treatment. As you have Bradycardia, you may need a "pill in pocket" to take to limit your heart rate when you are having an episode but not reduce it at other times.
I have hypothyroidism ( hashimoto) and take Levothyroxine I also take Citalopram Aspirin Diltiazem Ranexa Ezetimibe Rosuvastatin Forceval Fultium Remedium all for various ailments. As well as the cardiac issues I am under a Lysosome team for a metabolic disease and so they monitor drug interactions. They informed me that nearly everything will affect the absorption of Levothyroxine. So my way of getting around this is to take it at 4am in the morning with water I go back to sleep so when I get up I can start my day with the other meds knowing I’ve given it the best chance to work 🥴 Caffeine food etc will also affect it so it’s a tricky one and if I slip ( over sleep) yep I get palpitations. I have regular blood tests which so far are ok so maybe I’m getting something right 🤷🏻♀️
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