Thyroid problems

[julesblanchland]

Just been disgnosed with over active thyroid, after having palpatations lasting 7 hours and heart rate up to 192.

Very scarey

[Judithdalston]

Worth sharing your thyroid blood test results here- your heart / Bp symptoms can result from both hypo and hyper thyroidism, and early diagnosed patients can be apparently swinging between the two due to having Hashimoto's disease. Have you any other symptoms? Have you any blood results already to share ( sadly NHS tends to do TSH and perhaps FT4 to diagnose, then only TSH, and have you had the two thyroid autoimmune antibodies, TPO and TgAb tested?)?

[julesblanchland in reply to Judithdalston]

I think I've had the antibodies one. At first they thought it was a thyroid infection and only gave me Diltiazem for my Atrial Fibrillation. But I was getting worse, trembling high heart rate etc so eventually yesterday they have given me carbimazole. My muscles are so tired, it's an effort to walk. My second week off work. Really wanting to get back to normal 😞

[MaisieGray in reply to julesblanchland]

With thyroid disorders, the antibodies that appear most frequently are Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO Ab) aka Antithyroid Microsomal Ab; Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TG Ab); & Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI Ab).

TPO Ab are found raised in Hashimoto's disease aka autoimmune thyroiditis, & confusingly can be raised in over half of patients with Graves' disease.

TG Ab levels can also be elevated as well as the TPO Ab levels in autoimmune thyroiditis, but generally to a lesser degree.

TSI Ab targets the TSH receptors in the thyroid gland, indicating Graves' disease.

Can you post your results showing which antibodies were tested, and what the results were, including the reference ranges (generally given in parenthesis), as it's not unknown that Drs make the wrong diagnosis of which autoimmune thyroid disorder is present.

[julesblanchland in reply to MaisieGray]

I havnt got any results. Waiting to see a consultant, and need more blood tests in 3 weeks time .

Thanks for your replies x

[MaisieGray in reply to julesblanchland]

You are lawfully entitled to have all test results, so when you have the results of the new tests post them here and members can help. Meanwhile, perhaps telephone where ever you had the diagnosis and ask them to read the results to you if you would like input before then.

[Marz in reply to julesblanchland]

Did you receive your results with ranges from the Consultant ?

[Valarian in reply to MaisieGray]

They seem to be testing TRAb for Graves' under the NHS, rather than TSI. But one or the other, at least.

[MissGrace]

Sounds really frightening jules, I’m glad you are getting some proper treatment now. I once had racing heart due to over medication. If I moved, stood up, took a step, my heart would suddenly race to over 120 (I’m used to a heart rate of around 56-66), you could really feel it. I ended up creeping around and taking incredibly slow light steps to try and control it. I didn’t have to anything much and it would just go beserk! 192 must be incredibly frightening - I can’t imagine the wild thumping and banging! I hope you get good treatment and will soon be well. Good luck. 😄

[julesblanchland in reply to MissGrace]

Aah thank you, mine is usually around 60, but yes 192 was very scary, and it lasted 7 hours. Fingers crossed I've not had many today, just the odd flutter, so May be thyroid tablets are helping. Thank you for Your message

[JemBron]

Atrial fib is very scary. Mine have lasted five hours and it is not so much the high pulse rate as the mad dance the heart does as the heart thumps about!

As has been suggested, get as many blood tests as you can, especially the antibodies so you can see what you are really dealing with concerning the thyroid. Post as much as you can/would like to for support/advice.

The Carbimazole will kick in quite quickly and hopefully this will be the correct medication for you - when you have received the correct diagnosis.

Re-testing in three weeks will give a good comparison how well you are doing.

Try to rest as much as possible and not push yourself and worry about returning to work. Your body is more important at this time.

Look at diet to help you focus on doing helpful things.

Take care. x

[julesblanchland in reply to JemBron]

Thank you for this message,they are really helping me understand what's going on.

I do think I'm feeling slightly better since I've started the carbimazole, but I'm having major sleep problems, sometimes just 3 hours then I'm awake for ages feeling anxious.

[JemBron]

Disturbed sleep is a characteristic of thyroid problems. Your adrenals undoubtedly will have been under streas and your whole body needs to come back into balance.

Whatever wellbeing practices you use try to get yourself into a good routine throughout the day.

I love Epsom salt baths. Magnesium is a good relaxant and there are some good sprays too.

For overactive advice I would suggest looking at these two American sites. Both have had overactive thyroids.

Until you have a clear diagnosis and perhaps understand why your thyroid has flipped hyper, having a better understanding of what helps good thyroid health may be helpful to you.

natural endocrine solutions and Dr Eric has lots of articles. Elaine Moore has been extremely help to me. x

[julesblanchland in reply to JemBron]

Thank you very much. I appreciate your advice x

[TamtamCanada]

Jules that is indeed quite scary and I wish you well. About eleven years ago I got diagnosed with SVT, at times my heart rate can go to nearly 200 bpm and sometimes the strangest things will set it off such as drinking a soft drink, too much wine, anything with caffeine, cough medicine...so of course I had to make some lifestyle accommodations to make sure this does not happen. In any event when it does I drink several large glasses of ice cold water really fast which shocks the heart back into regular rythym. I see a cardiologist once a year to keep it all I’m check but this is a quick fix if it does happen. I am not sure if it would work on anyone else but it works for me. Wishing you well.

[julesblanchland in reply to TamtamCanada]

Thank you, my Diltiazem seems to be working, but that's good advice about the ice cold water, thank you

[Valarian]

Very scary. Hopefuly the calcium channel blockers will take effect quickly, and deal with AF and any tremor, and possibly help with breathing problems.

The muscle stuff will probably take a bit longer - carbimazole (how much are you on ?) can only inhibit production, it won't deal with stored hormone, so you have to get through that first, which may take a few weeks. I've got Graves, and remember when I was first diagnosed, getting down to plug a projector into a power strip at a presentation. and realising I would need help to get up. Mortifying !

As others have said, when you get the test results, you'll have a better idea what you are dealing with.