Thyroid plus Lupus

[floraD]

I was diagnosed with Thyrotoxicosis 8 months ago and take Carbimazole 10mcg and Levothyroxine. 75mcg. I have recently been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. I suspect that the thyroid meds are linked to this but this has been dismissed by the medics. Has anyone else any experience of this please ?

[shaws Administrator]

I had constant palps when on levothyroxine. I often had to call an ambulance (even from work) but they found no problem with heart but cardiologist was going to put an implant in heart to see what was happening. I have never needed procedure as I now take T3 only, so for me, levo was the culprit and for all other symptoms I had on top of the palps.

I think you need both Free T4 and Free T3 tested. All thyroid blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow about 24 hours gap between last dose of levo and test and take afterwards. This helps TSH to remain higher as doctors only seem to take notice of the TSH (from the pituitary gland) and ignore our clinical symptoms.

[floraD in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your reply. I find my Endocrinologist does not communicate my results and levels at all. In fact I confess I find the condition quite difficult to totally understand. My blood test request says TFTF and nothing else.

[shaws Administrator in reply to floraD]

Request a print-out from your surgery as he would have to send your doctor details, with the ranges.

Once you get the hang of it, it will become less confusing.

I believe TFTF means (and I am not medically qualified) Thyroid Function Tests although there's an extra T

We have to read, learn and ask questions and we will get better even if it means sourcing some of our own.

[floraD in reply to shaws]

I have now had a diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation and been advised to take a blood thinning medication. I remain suspicious that Levo is at the base of this but the Cardiologist has dismissed this.

[shaws Administrator in reply to floraD]

Sometimes our instinct takes over and you could ask for a second opinion.

I have had quite a few wrong diagnosis in my time in connection with hypo, first of all remaining undiagnosed and having undergone anaesthetic for something I didn't have.

The following is an excerpt:

However, the relation of hypothyroidism to AF has had limited investigation. Hypothyroidism is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical cardiovascular disease and overt cardiovascular disease, all of which predispose to AF. We investigated 10-year incidence of AF in a community-dwelling cohort. and

Conclusions

In conclusion, we did not identify a significant association between hypothyroidism and 10-year risk of incident AF in a community-based study.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, hypothyroidism, risk factors, cohort study

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[floraD in reply to shaws]

Thank you I will certainly study this.

[floraD in reply to shaws]

Thank you. I have made this request today and been told that hospital results are available to the GP but not available to print out for patients. Wake up Wales!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to floraD]

Did you ask the surgery as I thought it is against the Law not to provide results to patients if they request.

[floraD in reply to shaws]

Yes I have asked and have now been told my TSH is 1.49. I do not think any blood test other than TSH has been done during my diagnosis.

[shaws Administrator in reply to floraD]

They usually do TSH and T4 but maybe because your TSH is 'in range' they didn't do T4 and they don't think you're hypo due to TSH.

I'll give you a couple of links for information. Before blood tests and levothyroxine were introduced we used to be diagnosed upon our clinical symptoms alone and given a trial of NDT.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

I posted this link earlier and Dr Skinner was a doctor who trialled thyroid hormones according to symptoms and being a Virologist he came up against the might of the Endocrinology for treating patients who were dismissed by other doctors as not being hypo.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You can get a Full Thyroid Function Test from one of our recommended labs. Home pin-prick. It should be the earliest possible and make sure, if you decide, you are well hydrated a couple of days before test. If you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and the test and take afterwards.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate too.

I wont tell you how many diagnoses I had and treated before I demanded a blood test (advised by a First Aider) (not one doctor thought of hypo).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[floraD in reply to shaws]

My thanks again for your time and your advice