Help with heart palpitations and Blood results.

[zowiebean]

Hi All

I have been on levothyroxine for 16 years now. diagnosed with under active thyroid when I was 40yrs old after having test for irregular heart beat. Was on 75 mgs for quite some years. But have had palpitations on & off through out this time. I went to see a cardiologist in 2017 and had lots of test, resulting in them saying there was nothing wrong and a percentage of the population get them and nothing to be concerned about, eat a banana a day & my heart was fine.

I have been gluten soya, free for the last year and feel a lot better. I have also started to eat VEGAN too. I have symptoms of intolerance to cold, thinning of hair and bouts of tiredness. My weight has always been good under 9st for my 5ft 4 frame. I supplement with B12 lozenges, magnesium, Vit D (with K3) and have just started Ferrous Fumarate as well. My problem is that I still get these palpitations or strong beats of my heart. Sometimes quite bad and can be scary at times.

I read somewhere that being anaemic can cause these issues with the heart, but my HB is within range.

I am currently taking 50mgs of levothyroxine (doctor reduced it last year). I think I probably need to do a full thyroid function test too.

Recent blood test taken 30.1.18

TSH-----2.75 (0.3 – 5 )

FT4-----13.1 (7.9 -16 )

FT3-----5.3 (3.8 – 6)

VItD----90nmol (50 – 150)

B12---- 914ng (120 – 900)

Cortisol—478nmol (185 – 624)

Ferritin ---53ng/ml (15 – 300)

Folate-----13ng/ml (2.5 – 9,999)

Haemoglobin concentrate ---13.9 g/dl (11.5 – 16.5)

Total white blood count -----4.7 -------(4 – 11)

Platelet count----------------- 196 -------(150 – 400)

Red blood cell count--------- 4.52 (3.8 – 5.8)

Mean cell haemoglobin------30.7 (27 – 32)

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Zowiebean.

You are a little undermedicated to have TSH 2.75 and that may be why you're having palpitations. Ask your GP to increase dose to 75mcg. The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.3 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

TSH, FT4 and FT3 is a full thyroid function test. You could ask your GP whether thyroid antibodies were ever tested as 90% of hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's).

VitD 90 is in the replete range >75. VitD is optimal 100-150 so I would continue supplementing until April when ultraviolet light is high enough to stimulate natural vitD.

B12 and folate are good.

Ferritin is optimal halfway through range. Low iron/ferritin can cause palpitations but Haemoglobin and MCH don't indicate iron deficiency so try eating more iron rich food to raise ferritin. Liver once a week is a particularly iron rich.

[zowiebean in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter. I have managed to get the DR to increase my dosage to 75mcg, which i started two weeks ago. I started to noticed a slight difference not so many palpitations or flutters. But on some days it is worse, when i feel I have air hunger. Dr wants re -test in two months time. so I am going to give it the 6 weeks and get a full thyroid re-test done then.

[shaws Administrator]

Do you have your blood tests at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test? If not your results may be a bit skewed.

I had severe palps on levothyroxine but have none on liothyronine (T3). The cardiologist was puzzled why I had palps. It was when I stopped levo that the palps disappeared

I've had none since. T3 suits my body.

Mind you that may not be the cause of everyones palps.

[zowiebean in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws. Yes I had my blood tests early and fasted, also stopped taking my supplements for couple of days too before the test. I went to see a cardiologist too last year who did loads of tests and then said" it was normal for some people to get heart flutters. there was nothing wrong with my heart". But the point is they are worrying and not nice to have to live with. I have increased to 75mg 2wks ago and re-testing in 6 wks time, but still getting flutters.

[shaws Administrator in reply to zowiebean]

You've followed the correct procedure and do you have blood test results with the ranges that you can post.

I suggest putting it on a new question for more comments. Heart flutters aren't the same as as palpitations. Our heart can react if our body doesn't convert levo into sufficient T3 as heart and brain needs the most T3 - the active hormone but I doubt cardiologist know that. I hope you had a Free T3 and Free T4 test.