I've had ectopic heart beats since I was 30 (now 64), Thyroid problems 8 years ago but T4 did not help and been on T3 for the last 5 years very successfully. On 28th September I went into Atrial Fibrillation which lasted 30 hours (24 of them waiting a day to see my GP). He put me on anticoagulant and 2.5mg beta-blocker. He started me on a double dose of beta-blocker and it corrected the atrial fibrillation within 4 hours. However, over the next week I was very tired and put it down to the beta-blocker (which can be used to slow down hyperthyroid patients). After 10 days the doctor agreed to reduce to 1.25mg beta-blocker which is a very small dose.
I am still completely wiped out. My heart has been checked out by specialist and its OK. I am completely hypo. Brain fog is not bad, so T3 is helping there, but physically I can hardly do anything. Has anyone experience of T3 and Atrial Fibrillation treatment?
Thank you.
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T3sortedme
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Doctors usually jump to an assumption that the dose is giving us palps. But, as greygoose has suggested - too low a dose can also cause unpleasant symptom. Especially if GP only takes account of the TSH alone.
These results are well before the atrial fibrillation.
TSH 0.67 (0.3-5)
T4 2.0 (9-25)
T3 4.5 (3.5-6.5)
T3 has been 5.9 in the past. The doctor gets the tests done as I request them and he leaves it with me to adjust dosing as recognises I understand what I am doing. I take 60mcg split into three doses (6.45m, 12.00, 5pm) and always exactly on time.
I have had 2 episodes of atril fibrilation and on beta blockers after each episode. I cannot take beta blockers as the inhibit my breathing, basically stop intestinal peristalsis and make my head feel as if it's going to explode. I am now on beta blocker as a pill in the pocket when needed. I take a quarter of a tablet when needed and it usually stops the af.
I am on natural dessicated thyroid. 2 things I have noticed that push me into af; heavy lifting, i am 67, and too much thyroid. I use the basal temperature method to determine my proper thyroid dose. Last hospitalisation I was given a drug in the ER for cardioversion iv that stopped my thyroid gland being able to absorb thyroid medication and for about 1.5 weeks I had constant palpitations and irregular heartbeat. Once it was out of my system I went back to normal. Blood test are poor indicators of proper levels of thyroid hormone. I have used the basal temperature method for 35 years to good results. I will recommend you read Solved: the riddle of illness by Stephen Langer for a good overview of hypothyroidism disease. I read it in the 80's and it has continually been updated. As you age your ability to control your illness gets more difficult, as your bodies ability to tolerate variables narrows.
That's very helpful. Thank you for sharing your experience and for your advice. I have a basal thermometer but not used it regularly (just in patches to check how I am doing) as I find it easy to measure my energy/ability, heart rate and blood pressure which I do and note constantly. I will do more on basal. If you have a moment to tell me more about how you use basal measurements, that would be helpful (frequency of measuring, times of day and what for you is too low or too high a temperature indicating over or under medicated). Feel free to PM me. Thank you.
The Basal (at rest) Temperature Test was first described by Dr Broda Barnes in 1942 in The Journal of the American Medical Association. At that time the Basal Metabolic Rate was used as a test for hypothyroidism and involves the resting patient having their oxygen consumption and heat output being carefully measured over a time interval. This was a difficult procedure and Dr Barnes was looking for a better alternative. He found that people with low Basal Metabolic Rate had consistently low temperatures and it became clear that the relationship between low BMR and low body temperature was so consistent that the basal temperature alone was sufficient to make the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
There are few causes other than hypothyroidism which produce a consistent low basal temperature. These include malnutrition (or crash dieting), alcoholism and liver failure.
A basal temperature test should be done as soon as you wake up and before you get out of bed. In women who are menstruating, their body temperature varies with the cycle; creating errors which can be avoided if the basal temperature is taken on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the cycle.
It doesn't really matter which kind of thermometer you use when doing the basal temperature test, although it is important to be consistent in how you do it.
1) Note the reading and do it for several mornings so the results can be averaged out, since they may vary slightly day by day.
2) If you have taken your temperature under the tongue the normal temperature is 36.5ºC to 37.2ºC (97.7ºF to 99.0ºF).
If your temperature is below 36.5ºC (97.7ºF), hypothyroidism/undermedication should be considered if symptoms are present.
If your temperature is above 37.4ºC (99.2ºF) hyperthyroidism/overmedication is possible if symptoms are present and if there is no other illness present to cause a fever.
This test is a guide only as some temperature variations could be due to infection, virus, etc. This test should be used in conjunction with the signs and symptoms.
Yes HughH is correct and explains the process well. I would still order the book i recommended Solved the riddle of illness and also you may consider natural hormones. I find they provide support for the thyroid as well as everything else. Dr John Lee has several very good books explaining the interaction of hormones. What your Dr May Not Tell You series. I have been on natural hormones for about15 years and they make a big difference. In addition for your information even a small dose of beta blocker makes me feel terrible for several days, so I could not take them daily. My mother has been on them for about 18 years and has no problem with them, so it's very individual.
I use beta blockers when I have tachycardia (very fast heart rate). When I was first put on them I was prescribed 2.5mg bisoprolol to be taken every day. It slowed my heart down and also lowered my blood pressure enormously, and the effect lasted more than 24 hours. So when I took another dose before the previous one had worn off I was utterly wiped out and I could barely stand.
I started halving the tablets and only taking them when I needed them. Nowadays I get through about one prescription a year. I never told the doctor about halving the tablets, which means I get twice the doses out of each prescription. She does know that I only take them when necessary for me.
Obviously I can't say whether or not this will work for you, is safe for you, or is even a viable option for you. (I don't have AF as far as I know.)
The alternative for me was having a heart rate of about 50 (ish) and a BP of 90/47, and I couldn't live like that.
Are you sure you are in sinus rhythm? Also beta blockers may control your palpitations but it's just a sticky plaster. Beta blockers slow you down and cause weight gain. A Fib can be triggered by many things, usually cause unknown. However too much T3 will aggrevate it or bring it on as it drives the pulse rate. Maybe reduce your dose for 3 days to see if it helps. I presented with AFib and Hypothyroidism, they go hand in hand along with Hyperthyroidism. See my profile. I take blood thinners and arrythmic drug and blood pressure meds and T3 only. GP mis read my ECG told me my heart was fine, couldn't walk far for a year until I was shocked back into sinus rhythm.
Thank you for your advice. Yes, I am definitely in sinus rhythm- 2 ECG’s, echocardiogram and consultant listening all confirmed it’s OK. Thank you for confirming that betablocker does slow you down. I have to stay on them until next summer! I’ve had palpitations for many years (long before thyroid problems) and it gets worse if T3 dose is too low or too high. Thank you for your time taken to reply.
No change to medication but I’ve improved a bit the last 3 days which is a relief. Still far from right but moving in the right direction. Consultant says I have to stick with betablocker until June 2019 but can come off blood thinner in January.
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