when will palps stop

[mandy72]

i was advised by dr on monday to stop levo so have had none sine sunday night

im still getting palpitations shortness of breath and very anxious

how long do i have to put up with these feelings?

i feel i cant take any more

my chest feels bruised

[shaws Administrator]

Were you getting palpitations before your doctor told you to stop? What symptoms began after your stopped.

[mandy72 in reply to shaws]

the dr told me to stop because of the palps and anxiety

no new symptons

[shaws Administrator]

You should change your GP as, to me, he appears out of his depth. I have never heard of a GP advising someone to stop levo when you did have a TSH of 10+.

You should ask to be referred to an Endocrinologist Your GP could have given you a small dose of betablockers for a short period to see if that reduced your palps. You could be sensitive to fillers/binders in the levo.

I would go to the A&E for a check up for your own peace of mind and to check your breathlessness and palpitations.

Someone may also give their views but I feel very sorry for you to be left to cope on your own.

[mandy72 in reply to shaws]

TSH5.2 in august

they started me on levo with a TSH 10.2

was given beta blockers a while ago sometimes they help sometimes they dont

i have appointment with endo december the 9th but called last week and asked if i could have a cancellation if one became avaialble as im quite ill

ive allso been given 2mg diazepam for the anxiety which eases things a bit and im allso taking kalms throughout the day

was in A/E about 7 weeks ago with palps and they did ecg chest xray and bloods and all came back fine was told by cardiologist i needed to lose weight and give up smoking

ive tried to lose weight and it just wont happen allthough i did lose 9lb on the levo

ive had a dozen failed attempts with giving up smoking so have ordered an ecig which is due to arrive tuesday

i get a 24 hour tape fitted monday night

ive had a lung function test 2 weeks ago and it showed lungs of a 42 year old and im 41 and the nurse said she would never have known i was a 20-25 a day smoker

should allso add i didnt know what a palpitation was until i had been on the levo for 2-3 weeks

[shaws Administrator in reply to mandy72]

Levo gave me palpitations too. It is not pleasant at all, especially if you've never had any previously.

You are doing all the right things and hopefully an earlier appointment will become available.

Let us know how you get on and I hope the Endocrinologist will get you better.

Hypothyroidism causes weight gain and hopefully it will gradually reduce when you are on proper medication for you.

[mandy72 in reply to shaws]

I think the palps are scaring me which is causing depression and anxiety as there is a lot of history.....my nan my uncle my mum and dad all had heart problems

dad had stroke

nan died heart attack

uncle died heart attack

mum had heart attack but the cancer got her in the end

i was allso started on levo with no symptons only weight gain

[Jackie]

Hi Mandy, a 24 hour tape is not always enough to show arrythmias, or any thing else. It is why often takes years to diagnose. If nothing on the 24 ask for a 7 day, may make a huge difference.

Make sure your TSh, T4 and Free T3 are re tested. The FT3 level, I have found impacts most both ways on my heart. if too low,( denied of course by docs) or too high, it makes it very bad. It is extremely dangerous of course to go over range with FT3, it is such a potent drug.It certainly sounds to me like Atrial Fibrillation, I had it many, many years before diagnosed. it can also cause drop attacks, beware if this happens of being told it is psyche, ignorance everywhere!It is more noticable in bed. If this is you, then be sure to see a rythmn cardio at a large hospital. I saw countless before diagnosed, although very bad. It takes years to become all the time, not really dangerous till then. of course, vital to be diagnosed and be on anti coagulation ( strokes, are the main risk), then also there is ots of treatment you can have, it is not cured , except if lucky by an ablation. Even then important to continue with the anticoagulation, for when it ineviterably returns.If it is constant and very high or low, then go to A and E, insist on being on an ECG monitor.Keep an eye on BP too. Not recognised but I know, when mine high , my BP goes very low, logical, and Cardio`s agree, when explained to them!

Best wishes,

Jackie

Sorry about the spelling, no spell check, dyslexia bad today!

[mandy72 in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie

ill ask about the 7 day monitor but its took a few months to get the 24 hour

my heart rate is normally 65-70 and im very comfortable with that. Im allso thinking of asking for another chest xray as have had a cough that allmost dissapreared after lasting 5 weeks to continue for the last few weeks mainly first thing in the morning (normally on the first fag)

ill have to hope my endo does all the blood tests as drs wont do another until next year as they claim everything is in range

i really feel levo started all of this as i had no symptons at all when started only TSH10.2 and was within a couple of weeks that palps started

im hoping after a few weeks of no levo things will improve

makes me angry that i was started on levo with only a hight TSH as heard when people start they normally have symptons

i just wish there was a pill i could take to get the thyroxine out of my system faster

i have checked blood pressure during an episode and it seems ok 91/62 hr 96 (i googled a blood pressure chart and it shows ranges)

[Jackie in reply to mandy72]

Hi Mandy,

First, I would heck your Heart rate, manually ( pulse), when ever feel the Paps. It will wing,very noticeably ,if a problem. In view of what you have said, if those a definitely your readings when , having paps, it is not a real heart problem and will be fine with the correct blood results.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Jackie in reply to mandy72]

Sorry Mandy, just noticed the last sentence, rush today. If that is your BP when having paps, below 100 is significant, or even below 120 for systolic reading.I would check both BP and Hr, about 3 times a day, to include paps. Make sure Bp monitor is cuff and sitting still, arm straight, no talking, table level, sitting. H.R only reliable manually.

Jackie

[mandy72 in reply to Jackie]

ill start logging times and readings to take to the dr.........i do have a memory on blood pressure monitor but you never know if the batteries will die or not

[Jackie in reply to mandy72]

It is a good idea, just for 2 weeks or so. There is a well known relation ship between A.F and thyroid, thyroid often brings A.F on sooner than normal. Well documented. it is only recent years that much has been known, There were no proper tests before. Hopefully it will be fine but if nothing else it will relieve you. of worrying about the problem

Best wishes,

Jackie

[mandy72 in reply to Jackie]

i got a cheapo digital theremometer for now

bear in mind i never take my temp so im used to underarm for the kids

is it best under arm or under tongue for me?

[nobodysdriving in reply to Jackie]

Mandy72, if you were not started on Levo until TSH was 10 and over it may well be that you have been hypothyroid for a very long time. This is often associated with adrenal fatigue and low cortisol output by your adrenal glands. People with low cortisol can find it very hard to 'tolerate' thyroid hormones and often can get symptoms like heart pounding (this is palpitations essentially but just a pounding in your chest or throat but no irregular or fast heart rate), anxiety, panic attacks and also shortness of breath yes. Adrenal fatigue is very common and affects so many of us. I am waiting to have another adrenal cortisol saliva test soon as I have been getting heart pounding for a year now, though it is getting better and it is now almost totally gone....but I am sure it is cortisol relate, long story why I think/know that is the case.

also do excuse me if you have mentioned this before but breathlessness/pounding and anxiety is also linked with low ferritin/low iron/low b12, have you had these checked in the last 3 months? for iron ask your GP to have a full 'iron studies' blood test, this will give you a far better picture of what is going on, also ask for a ferritin blood test. And finally, Shaws is right, some people just do not get on with Levo or some fillers, but I think it is wise to exclude the most common things first (of course while getting checked you are ok which you are doing ie: you are having the 24hr tape and your doctors are aware etc etc), which are iron and cortisol.

Levo can take a good 8 weeks to go out of your system by the way and if you have adrenal fatigue your pounding will almost certainly go away but your other hypo symptoms could return.

[Jackie in reply to nobodysdriving]

Hi I would not disagree, but still a good thing to rule out other causes.

Jackie

[mandy72 in reply to nobodysdriving]

i had no symptons at all i only asked for the blood test as in 2011 thyroid came back high but no treatment was given (tested due to skin infection) i kept gaining weight and no matter what i did i couldnt lose it so requested the test TSH 10.2 and 25mcg levo started i felt fine for couple of weeks then the palps started so i thought maybe needed increase to 50 called dr told her what was happening and she agreed to put me on 50mcg and things never got better they got worse and all the usual hypo symptons hit me like a brick

my dr never checks T3 so im hoping endo will check everything because i cant go on like this i have several young kids and a grandaughter who visits regular and i just feel some days i wish they would all vanish (i know it sounds awful)

but one thing has changed since stopping levo and that is my crochet i had a stage where i couldnt follow/understand a simple pattern but now im attempting and succeeding on a new difficult pattern and the only thing im struggling with is using black wool but thats a horrid colour to work with

[Jackie in reply to mandy72]

Hi I always have to pay for Free T3 now, my endo and I consider it essential, especially as I was overdosed, long ago on armour. I had no idea, no bloods done. I use Blue Horizon, you need 3 tests done together TSH, T4 and FT3. However, do not go through a private hospital, main site venous blood if some one NHS will take it , for free,when doing other blood, or slightly dearer finger prick. Quote TUK 10 for a discount. Costs £60-£70. I have used them ever since my NHS stopped doing T3.

A lot of GP`s are not good with thyroid. certainly worth seeing a good Endo,, especially in view of paps, whatever the cause.

Jackie

[nobodysdriving in reply to Jackie]

Whilst in your case jackie it may have been atrial fibrillation, in my case my heart palpitations/pounding is not, I have had it for a year and it is mostly present or worse on lying down in bed. It is there whether I take my medication or not, irrespective of my dosage or my fT3 levels. My fT3 levels are always over range (except of course when I stopped my meds or reduced the dosage) but my heart could not be healthier and my bone density is improving by the way. Just to say that yes in some situations over range fT3 can be dangerous, in others not at all, it depends 'why' one has over range fT3 first of all (ie is it hyperthyroidism, too much thyroid hormones) and how long this is left to go on for if it is for a 'pathological'/negative reason.

[Jackie in reply to nobodysdriving]

Hi You are very lucky , then.

Jackie

[Issy]

Underactive thyroid can cause heart problems (as can overactive)

The place to be is in the place you feel well, and your endo can tolerate your blood test results.

You might need testing for T3 and Reverse T3.

You might be better on T3 than T4.

[Jackie in reply to Issy]

Thanks Issy, just what I was saying ,only less clearly.

Jackie

[Issy in reply to Jackie]

Your reply is much more detailed...

[tilly83]

Hi Mandy,

Some great expert advice for you here.... you might be fed up with me adding to it but if there's one thing please give up the smoking... I know it's hard I smoked for 20 years now give up for 10 and thank goodness I did, there is a lot of support out there take it, and maybe try one of those electronic cigarettes as a bridge to stopping. Smoking very detrimental for heart and gut health (latter linked to thyroid) it is hard but really worthwhile given your family history with strokes.....

[mandy72 in reply to tilly83]

tilly i have ordered an ecig as ive had several failed attempts with patches gum ect even failed on champix

i will start on low nicotine but will hopefully land up using no nicotine

i know its not ideal but i went for allmost 6 months on an ecig a few years ago until it was mums first anniversary then i was back on 20+ a day

i know i will come accross upsetting situations again but i have told hubby under no circumstances am i to buy anymore baccy im determined this time i will and can do this

once smoking sorted then going to cut out gluten

[tilly83]

good lucky Mandy, it's worth it..... save the money you spend on an acupuncture session or massage.....maybe even try some yoga, it's wonderul - hatha is easiest....good for breathing too..... when I gave up smoking decided to use energy cleaning, house never ever looked so good, needless to say it has slid back now....x

[mandy72 in reply to tilly83]

thanks tilly im determined this time im not getting any younger

i dont think we will save anything really as it will get spent on something else

and as for putting my energy into cleaning NO WAY lol you aint seen how fast my kids can mess the house up lol they are like mini tornado's

i just want the energy to be able to go shopping without feeling like im about to die or even walk the dogs

[tilly83 in reply to mandy72]

walking dogs is lovely way to relax...x

[Hidden]

Mandy,

Magnesium is VERY important in balancing your hormones and is also vital for proper heart function.

This is what Dr. Neil Nathan says about magnesium. " When our bodies are deficient in it we see fatigue, depression, malaise, muscle cramps and pain, and difficulties with focus, memory and concentration........ Some of the major symptoms of magnesium deficiency are: fatigue; exhaustion; tiredness; muscle cramps; spasm; pain; muscle weakness; manual treatments like chiropractic, physio etc. do not hold more than a few hours; depression; cardiac arrhythmias; cognitive impairment; insomnia.

Most doctors don't know how to measure it accurately. Magnesium is usually found inside the blood cells, not in the blood stream....... The body thinks that magnesium is so important that it will do everything in its power to keep blood levels normal. Thus you could have a perfectly normal blood test result and still have low magnesium levels inside your cells.......Our bodies have a limited capacity to absorb magnesium from the intestines.

When capacity is exceeded we get the one symptom that too much magnesium produces - diarrhea.

All magnesium formulas are not created equal. Most magnesium you buy over the counter is entirely or mostly composed of magnesium oxide because it is inexpensive to manufacture......this form of magnesium is not well absorbed by the body. Only 10% of this form of magnesium is actually absorbed"

Part of my daughter's treatment is regular saunas, and when she had them in the summer she tended to lose a lot of trace elements including magnesium causing palpitations which really scared her. However she quickly remedied it with magnesium. She uses Natural Vitality Magnesium Supreme (magnesium citrate) which makes a delicious refreshing drink.

Jane x

[mandy72 in reply to Hidden]

i have some tesco magnesium tablets here 300mg one a day i can start taking them would 600mg be too much do you think?

ill have to look into some decent ones when funds are a bit better

i allso take co enzyme q 10 daily 90mg

[Hidden in reply to mandy72]

You will absorb some of it even if they are not magnesium citrate, but do try to get the magnesium drink when you can. You'll soon know if you take too much - you'll have to head for the bathroom. If it says to take one tablet I'd start there. Patrick Holford recommends 400mg daily, but he also states that citrate is twice as well absorbed as carbonate or sulfate. He also lists irregular heartbeat as a symptom of deficiency. Wheat germ contains a lot if you can get hold of some.

Jane x

[Jackie in reply to mandy72]

Magnesium test, like all bloods not brilliant, but is better than nothing. I have to have it weekly. magnesium in food is good and safe, However, it is an electolyte and can in particular make the Potassium level very dangerous. For this reason if taking it as a supplement should be under a doc., specially if even the remotest possibility of having heart problems. or kidney. It can effect Potassium, even if mostly excreted, any way that does not always happen.If taking should be weekly tests for magnesium and Potassium ( U`s and E`s)Drinks fine too with Magnesium in.

Jackie