Palpitations : Hi All, I'm still gradually... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

140,931 members166,058 posts

Palpitations

tamhen profile image
8 Replies

Hi All,

I'm still gradually increasing my Levothyroxine since being diagnosed in July. I have a blood test due on Mon. I know I am still undermedicated as I had my TSH levels tested as part of a health check and it is still of the scale.

I have noticed I am getting palpitations a few times a day for the last couple of weeks. I'm also feeling irritable - like constant bad PMS.

Can anyone advise whether this is likely to be because I need an increase or should I be worried?

Thanks

Written by
tamhen profile image
tamhen
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Tamhen, palpitations are a common symptom when undermedicated or overmedicated. Uncomfortable and distressing as they are, palpitations won't usually cause heart damage and may not even show up on ECGs.

____________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

tamhen profile image
tamhen in reply toClutter

Thank you. Hopefully an increase will help. It's tragic how much I look forward to these blood tests!

Spareribs profile image
Spareribs

Also good idea to check iron levels, a link here...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

tamhen profile image
tamhen in reply toSpareribs

I'm having them checked too! Thanks.

RustyMary profile image
RustyMary

I think I can be a bit reassuring here, as I've checked back in your posts and see that your profile looks quite similar to mine. I was diagnosed in April '14 with a TSH of 240, and my recovery has been slow but steady until after about a year I felt better than I had for years, and I seem to be still improving. Hold fast! Your current symptoms are almost certainly due to under-medication, and it's still only a few months since your diagnosis. It's frustrating how long it takes to recover, but it's taken you years to get this ill, so it takes your body a long time to recover.

Here's my brief timeline, to show you that you CAN get well:

April '14 - diagnosis, started on 25mcg levo rising in 2 week intervals to 75mcg. Felt desperately ill at this point (as I was about at the point of collapse, I guess).

June '14 - Feeling much better but aware still needed more - went up to 100mcg.

Sept '14 - Recurrence of digestive symptoms (which were what sent me to the doctor in the very first place, and my digestion was slow to recover), and then woke in the night with terrifying palpitations which sent me to A&E - admitted for 2 nights, but they couldn't find anything wrong. They tested my thyroid and found it 'normal' - but I'm a member of Thyroid UK and thought I knew better ;), and indeed, my TSH was 3.99 (range 0.4-4.0), obviously enough to put me in hospital, because I am NOT normal! After advice on here persuaded my doctor to put me up to 125mcg, which I've been on ever since, in spite of discouragement from the endo and a new GP. But that's when I feel well - when my TSH is 0.05 or below.

Oct '14 - that put me back about 2 months, but I recovered on the new dose and my results been stable since. Went gluten-free on the advice of a nutritionist (and on here) and haven't looked back. Had vit D tested which was 17, so went on supplements.

Jan '15 - went dairy-free, which tipped me over into the 'radiant vitality' bracket :) Spent this summer walking, climbing hills and cycling, feeling fantastic. :)

tamhen profile image
tamhen in reply toRustyMary

Thank you very much for sharing your history. It was reassuring. I know you're right and I am trying to be patient but I want to be trekking and climbing hills too!

RustyMary profile image
RustyMary in reply totamhen

It's awful how long it takes. But I now think of 2014 as my year of being ill, and here in 2015 I seem to have felt great all year. I'm 54, and thought that my days of adventures were over - but they are not. Hope to hear from you next year that yours aren't either! Let us know your blood tests when they come back this week.

punkyb profile image
punkyb

Only your doctor can tell you for sure...( we hope right) but I was taking 100mcg a day and my weight was not stable so the doctor put me up to 125mcg. I told him I thought it was causing heart palps and he reduced my dose to 112 mcg. the heart palps stopped. If medicine is what is causing your palpatations I hope they can give you a different med. let us know!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Palpitations

Hi, today I am feeling rubbish I have palpitations and feel really tired, I have hyperthyroidism...
Lauren85 profile image

Anxiety and Palpitations

I am on 100mcg of Levothyroxine and have been for some years now and doing relatively ok. Over the...
norwood1 profile image

Palpitations

I've had a high dose of Steroids, due recurring Mouth ulcers, which I'm not sure were coursed by my...
Kathy6 profile image

Heart palpitations

Could anybody give me a little advice as to what might be happening and if it’s normal. In May I...
Daisy1624 profile image

Anxiety and palpitations

Urgent. I am going back to see the endo tomorrow. Since my thyroxine dose was reduced last year I...
QueenBee53 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.