I had a total thyroidectomy 4 weeks ago. During the operation I had a high pulse (100) and woke up to a pulse of 140 afterwards. My pulse has been really high on and off since the op. It can go down into the 70s on occasions but can also randomly spike when I’m resting or asleep. I’ve suspected adrenal issues and had a blood test and 24hr urine sample (doc refused the four point saliva but I think I will pay for it privately) .
I’ve been thinking it can be worse after I’ve eaten. Today it’s been particularly awful after I had a chocolate milkshake at lunch. Just tested my blood sugar with a home kit and it was 7.9 which is obviously high. Could I be diabetic ? Or could this be caused by adrenal issues? Or is everything just messed up because of the op? I have had heart palpitations and high pulse for years and years which improved once I was properly diagnosed with overactive thyroid and put on anti- thyroid meds .
I know my thyroid levels could also still be out of whack but it feels like something else is going on too.
Any ideas?
Thanks so much!
Written by
ajw38
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I am sorry you've had a thyroidectomy and those members will respond who also have had the op.
I am hypo and feel for those who've had the whole gland removed. I do hope you have a sympathetic doctor who knows best how to treat you and will at the very least give you a combination of T3/T4 hormones.
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after.This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Did you have Graves' disease confirmed before thyroidectomy? If so you might find strictly gluten free diet helps too
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased
Which brand are you taking? Hopefully it's not Teva (upsets many people)
Thanks very much for your reply. Yes I have had the bloods, only just got the results today!
Serum folate 17.5. (>3.8)
Serum vitamin B12 515 (197-771)
Serum ferritin 36 (13-150)
Vitamin D. 86
So looks as if ferritin low?
No I didn’t have Graves confirmed but only had one of the antibody tests as my doc didn’t think the other was necessary.
I have been taking calcium since the op which also has D3 in it. Though calcium levels seem fine.
I have also just bought selenium tablets with A,C, E and zinc but only been taking for a couple of days.
My most recent bloods (only 10 days post up and I’m now 4 weeks)
TSH 0.66. (0.3 to 3.94)
Free T3 4.3 (3.7 to 6.7)
Free T4 24.5. (12.3 to 20.2)
I am taking 100mcg levothyroxine . I took 125 for the first 2 weeks. I’ll check brand when I’m home. My endo said levels were perfect but contacted a private doc who thought the high T4 could be causing my palpatations and so I have been taking 100mcg for the past 2 weeks.
Thank you very much, I am so grateful. I am next seeing my doc in a month so will ask about T3 if t hasn’t improved, sounds as though it’s difficult to obtain on NHS though?
So that good quality vitamin b tablet could help improve my ferritin?
Ferritin - you need GP to do full iron panel test to see if iron is low. If it is then you need iron supplements, usually ferrous fumerate 1-3 times per day
Low B12/folate can be improved by daily good quality vitamin B complex - eg Igennus Super B complex or Jarrow B right.
If You also have symptoms of low B12 may need sublingual B12 or B12 mouth spray as well
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
T3 is currently a huge and expensive political potato, but if you push hard enough you might get prescribed. Alternatively private prescription enables access to cheap EU Liothyronine from Germany
I suffer from tachycardia when I've eaten lots of sugar (I'm a serious sugar addict). I'm not diabetic but I would guess I'm insulin resistant. I'm taking this as a warning to myself that I need to get some control over my diet. I've switched to a lower carb, higher fat diet, and it has helped lower my heart rate (most of the time). I'm still struggling with all the lovely fruit available at this time of year though - and I know its been manipulated to be as sweet as possible, so I should cut it down or out.
Other possibilities... Low iron can cause tachycardia. I think low B12 can screw up the heart rate too. Both B12 and iron can be compromised during surgery and anaesthesia. Perhaps its time to test?
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