Hi Does anybody with hasimotos take thyroxine?

[Ellie1985]

[Ellie1985]

I have been for last year but I have a fast heart and my cardio doc has told me to stop it but I feel rubbish not taking it as it controls my symptoms

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ellie1985]

Did you have a fast heart rate before being given levothyroxine?

[Ellie1985 in reply to shaws]

Yeah but they r concerned the hasimotos may be reason - common symptom of hasimotos is fast heart x but they just keep sending me round in circles I've stopped it currently but very tired and shaky again x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Ellie1985]

If you feel a benefit with levothyroxine, why do they not give you a very small dose of Bisoprolol to see if that will resolve the issue. If you take it well away from the levo it should be o.k.

[Ellie1985]

I have had no tests since being diagnosed I am not anaemic tho x

[Hennerton in reply to Ellie1985]

Are you sure? I was recently diagnosed anaemic but only after asking for a full iron panel, which showed low results for everything tested. I then found out that my Haemoglobin has been low for ten years and my GP has never mentioned it or suggested supplements. Anaemia and thyroid issues seem to go hand in hand plus lots of other low vits and minerals that you will read about on this forum. Best to post your blood results with reference range and people can comment and give advice. I am surprised your heart consultant told you stop Thyroxine. Does he know why you need it??

[Ellie1985 in reply to Hennerton]

Yeah he is fully aware my iron levels r fine these were tested not that long ago and was 13.2g/l which is good x so confused by it all x I asked for results and was told they could not give me exact figures

[Hennerton in reply to Ellie1985]

What is 13.2? There are many iron based tests. He is obliged to give you results if you ask for them and it is rubbish to say he cannot give you exact figures. A print out is what you need. If 13.2 is your haemoglobin it is not particularly good, especially if you take thyroxine, which needs high levels of iron to work efficiently.

You may be confused at the moment but have come to a brilliant forum, which will help you understand what thyroid disease is all about. Just ask questions and do not accept that your doctors are perfectly knowledgeable about thyroid. Most of admit that they know very little. The dangerous ones are the ones who think they know it all!

[Rose2408 in reply to Hennerton]

I totally agree!!! My gp asks me now what I need as he's admitted he knows nothing...I have had to study like crazy to become the captain of my own ship! I've found the endos can be worse as they seem to hate the Internet & self educated patients!!!

[Rose2408 in reply to Ellie1985]

I always say I need copies/printouts for a naturopathic consultation which they requested..woes every time!

[Moggie]

I am also Hashi's, on levo, with a fast/irregular heart rate. The medics tried to put me on beta blockers after giving me heart scans but I refused. Have you got an endocrinologist (thryoid doctors) looking after you - if not I would ask your GP to refer you to one a.s.a.p. as a good endo will be able to run all sort of tests (inlcuding the ones mentioned) and do adrenal tests - which can also cause heart issues - to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Since my endo corrected my VitD, Iron, Ferritin and sent me to a gastro for possible stomach issues (which are common in Hashi's patients) my heart palps have almost stopped. Heart issues can also be down to the different brands of levo you are taking - do you know what brand you are on? Also how long before being diagnosed with Hashi's have you had heart issues?

Moggie x

[Ellie1985 in reply to Moggie]

Hi I am under a top consultant for my heart who has referred me to a endo but he thinks the thyroxine is causing the fast heArt which is y I hVe been advised to stop it x

[Moggie in reply to Ellie1985]

Who has advised you to stop it - your cardio or your endo? and what do they suggests you take instead or do they want to leave you with no thyroid mediation at all - which is definately not a good thing for your heart.

You really need to get your B12, VitD, Iron, ferritin and folates tested as already suggested as if any of these are not at optimal levels for a thyroid sufferer (and that means well above the minimum NHS range) then this could be adding to your heart rate issues. My doctors all said my levels were fine but they were not fine for someone with a thryoid condition. If you have had any of the above tested then phone the cardio's secretary and ask her to send you a print out of the results (she cannot refuse this by law) and then post the results on here for people to comment.

I'm afraid it takes a lot of knowledge and effort to get really well when you are a thyroid sufferer. You need to know what your levels are and should be and not just take the doctors say so.

Hashimoto's does not attack the thyoird constantly, it does it in fits and starts so one week it could be attacking your thyroid so your thyroid is producing hardly any thyroid hormones, which will mean you need your thyroid meds and the next week it could stop attacking your thyroid which would mean the thyroid splutters back to life and starts producing thryoid hormones again which would mean the thyroid meds you are taking could possible be to much. While all this is going on your poor heart is up and down, up and down and can end up over stimulated one minute and lacking in stimulation the next.

Moggie x

[Ellie1985 in reply to Moggie]

I don't think they know what's going on my heart is around 140 a present while on med (csnt take beta blockers as cause asthma attacks) with no thyroxine for over 5 weeks now I have appt with endo next Friday so I will request tests just wish people well god knew more bout it all

[Moggie in reply to Ellie1985]

Hopefully your endo will do lots of tests (ask for adrenal tests as well if he doesn't mention them plus all the above) and ask him for a copy of the results to be sent to you. If he doesn't take kindly to your request tell him that you keep copies of ALL your tests results for, not only your own reference, but to take to other appts as well (this is what I say and it has always worked).

Who gave the diagnoses of Hashi's?

Moggie x

[Ellie1985 in reply to Moggie]

A endo consultant who took bloods then wrote to me to say I need to contact gp to start thyroxine as blood results showed hasimotos

[Hidden]

Hi Ellie, I too take thyroxine. My dose is 125mcg but I have a slow heart rate. Blood tests showed I have elevated Anti-TPO antibodies at 41,000 (<34) but doctors have said I have "autoimmune thyroiditis", not Hashimoto's. At least your doctor has told you that you have Hashimoto's - I'm having such a hard time pulling this information out of my doctors that I've now been booked to see an endo!

Jo xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I thought 'autoimmune thyroiditis' was Hashimoto's ! :(. Thought I was beginning to retain information.

Hey Jo, my Doc didn't tell me I had Hashimoto's I had to ask, the look on his face said it all, he really didn't want me to know. WHY?

Happy days x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Some doctors will NOT apply the label Hashimoto's unless there is (or has been) a goitre present. Whereas other doctors are perfectly happy to use the label with or without a goitre. It appears that the tell-tale signs within the thyroid are identical.

I feel that the goitre is a side-issue and the label Hashimoto's could reasonably be applied to all cases. Or dropped entirely. Certainly, standardisation would seem be desirable.

Rod

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hey Stormyone!! I asked my GPs on more than one occasion if they knew of the name of my thyroiditis - they said no. Just that it makes me go hypothyroid. I've always assumed it was because they just don't know what it is!

Jo xxx

[Rose2408]

My friend does. She takes 100 mg daily & 125 on the weekends.

[Hidden]

I have Hashis and am not on medication. Goiter is a little larger this year but still manageable. I have regular 6 monthly blood tests which indicate my thyroid is working ok.

I do not want to take thyroxine and will only do so as a last resort and when tests indicate my thyroid is struggling. My GP is very good and always willing to discuss issues relating to the thyroid with me. I use supplements, exercise and follow lots of advice from contributors on this forum relating to supplements, gluten free (not managing this very well), etc. In other words, I am doing everything possible to stave off being dependent on medication.

[Chezp]

Yes, I take 125 of levo Why.