Hi all, Happy Sunday.
I just wondered if anyone knows anything about the connection between cardiomyopathy & thyroid issues. I have been diagnosed with both. Cardiomyopathy recently. Underactive thyroid 22 years ago after the birth of my third son.
Many thanks in anticipation
GardenRescuer,
Both hyper and hypothyroidism can cause cardiomyopathy google.co.uk/search?q=cardi...
Hi,
Thank you for your responses.
Cardiomyopathy is not cardiovascular but to do with the heart muscle & heart failure.
Does anyone have any suggestions how I get the NHS cardiomyopathy doctor to consider the implications of the thyroid along with his heart diagnosis.
I am seeing him privately on Tuesday
Thanks again 🌻
Have you been on levothyroxine alone since the birth of your son and what dose. Did they ever do a Free T3 and Free T4 blood test.
If you read the article it does refer to cardiomyopathy.
Hi, the following is a link showing the role of selenium in cardiovascular disease. It so happens (as Greygoose has mentioned in another post) that selenium is required for the thyroid.
Hi,
I have been on 150mcg levothyroxine for most of the 22 years but it's recently been reduced to 100mcg
I have been tested privately for T3 & T4 in the past but the results never seemed to make any difference to the prescribed dose.
I am considering having private blood tests done again
Most people on levo need low TSH around (or even slightly below) 1 to be adequately treated. Do you have your latest blood test results since they reduced your dose? That was huge reduction
Did cardiomyopathy start after going to lower dose?
If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells
Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.
ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out.
Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.
When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed
If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these. (£99)
This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.
Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible
If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too. Selenium helps too
You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance
Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this. You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.
Propranolol slows conversion of T4 to T3 & may also lower magnesium
It also lowers Parathyroid hormone, so very important to check that vitamin D is at GOOD level, to keep bones healthy. If you have gluten, or gut issues very common to have very low vitamin D
(See my profile- I was on propranolol 17years)
I should probably mention that I am now on 5mg Ramipril - Ace Inhibitor & 40mg Propranolol - Beta Blocker
I'm very sorry you've had 22 years so far with levo and now have a bigger problem. I will say that I had severe palps when on levo which I haven't had since T3 was added and I've not visited the A&E since I now take T3 only. T3 calmed by whole body as it was a horrible experience previously, first by remaining undiagnosed/unmedicated and then treatment. Have they checked your Free T4 ad Free T3. FT3 being the most important. See TUK's statement re FT3:
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
This is from hypothyroidmum which might be helpful - an excerpt:
Why does hypothyroidism increase your risk for heart disease?
Both thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) are related to heart disease because they affect your heart rate and the amount of blood pumped by your heart. Thyroid hormones help your blood flow smoothly by relaxing the muscles of your blood vessels and keeping your blood vessels open.
Hypothyroidism also can lead to increased levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fats related to heart disease.
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