I am at a loss. For a couple of months I have experienced breathlessness and painful rib cage. Breathlessness lasts for about an hour and feels as if my lungs aren’t big enough. I find myself gasping for air trying to take deeper breaths. It is usually accompanied by sore and tight rib cage - sometimes ribs hurt for a day or two and then I get an episode of breathlessness, sometimes breathlessness comes first but there is no specific order.
I have noticed that physical activity - especially walking - seems to always trigger sore ribs and breathing problems. I am not overweight, I was very fit before this issue but now cannot exercise regularly.
My doctor had me do a breathing (lung function) test with methacholine and concluded that I do not have asthma. Also, by listening to my heart and lungs she concluded that I am fine.
So I guess I am just imagining that my chest is tight and burning sore when I gasp for air. Any ideas where or what to look for now that I have to go private with this issue?
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I had so many breathing issues and feeling like I'm yawning and sighing all the time and tight chested and can't breathe well until my b12 and iron were sorted
It's recently come back again but I'm also now pregnant so I'm thinking my iron levels have dipped again and it's been 2 months since my b12 injections
I do also get pressure on lower rib cage and bone and feel as if I have pressure on it
I had chest pain and breathlessness, prior to my bypass, with the slightest exercise. In my view the best check is an exercise ECG. A resting ECG can be of limited value IMHO!
Oddly enough, I have the exact same thing. I’ve been on a starter doze of Levo for 3 months now and after 6 weeks I developed these symptoms too.
( I was convinced I had thyroid cancer and it had spread to my lungs as I was waiting on an ultrasound scan to check a swelling in my thyroid )
Going from out in the cold to inside where it was warm was tough and it almost felt like a panic attack. I’ve since had a scan and biopsies which have proved fine but what did show up was excess stomach acid and a hyatus hernia. Reading up on it, the symptoms do fit.
Still to see the doc for a discussion regarding treatment with PPI’s but I can’t help but feel it’s a knock on effect of the Levo or it’s fillers.
Thanks slowdragon, I questioned the specialist from endoscopy as I felt my stomach acid was weak (after a few times the acid had come up after a burp... ) he said he recommended a PPI for the amount of acid I had, not the strength. ? Thoughts?
Unfortunately having had the breathing difficulties after 6 weeks and thinking the worst my doctor thought I was anxious as a result of being over medicated so ordered new bloods. TSH was around 3.8 and my doc insisted we keep on 50mcg for another 2 months before re testing.
She seemed to think I may have been gently suffering for some time and didn’t want to over medicate early on. She also thinks 3.8 is good as it’s within range and would risk heart problems if it was less than this so you’ll know what I’m up against. I’ve read before on here what tsh should be when on Levo, you mentioned it in my first post. I know bloods should be tested after 6 weeks and increased accordinngly but it’s just baby steps with her at the moment. Bloods at doc last week, TSH still 3.8 and fT4 of 15 (range 12-26)
Appointment not till mid jan to re-negotiate Levo, discuss thyroiditis seen on ultrasound scan and PPI request from gastroscope.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Now I’m bamboozled after reading one of your links. I’m not sure if I have Hashimoto or not. Tell me your thoughts, Both my doc and medichecks tests show I don’t have antibodies (but then I’ve read that you can have it and not necessarily have antibodies) the radiologist said I had “background thryoiditis” Does this mean I do have Hashimotos?
I felt mine was a knock on from pregnancy but 2 and a half years later I’m still suffering (mildly). Both my auntie and grandmother had hyperthyroidism (and then were sent hypo after radiation treatment) and my dad has only recently been diagnosed hypothyroid. (Not sure if he has antibodies or not, he just takes the pills the doc requests and no questions asked!)
Could it be Hashimotos after all?
I was also tested for gluten problems about 3 years ago and was told I was fine. Going gluten free is such a challenge I’d rather avoid if I don’t have Hashimotos but if it is then I’m willing to embrace it.
New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018 clearly state on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be under 1.5 when on Levothyroxine to be adequately treated
Thanks slowdragon. I am upping the vitamins as we speak. The only thing which was low on the medichecks tests were vitamin d. The rest were all in range (but on the low side) so as you suggested at the time I’ve started on supplements.
Will email thyroid uk as suggested in the new year.
Gasping for air is very much low iron symptom. I had that all the time. Also muscle spasms around rib cage is either low iron or vitamin D. The last time I had those pains I took vitamin D and the pain was gone in 2 days. Hope this helps.
Part of my hypothyroid symptoms have been "Air hunger". mine hasn't been nearly as severe as yours, but still unpleasant. I had asthma as a child, and at first I thought it might be coming back, but an inhaler had no effect.
Eventually I phoned the doctor, after being too weak, (the bus stop is only a few hundred yards) to go to town to meet friends. Thankfully I was given an increase in Levo, and haven't been that bad since.
Of course, there are a lot of other possible causes for such chest problems, but being hypothyroid certainly doesn't help!
Thank you all for replying! I was freaking out thinking of MS hug or a serious heart issue. I have had several ECG-s over the last couple years and also a heart ultrasound; last week had a finger prick blood test for infection to rule out pneumonia.
I must insist on iron testing because it seems as the only thing that makes sense. My B12, folate, vit D and other micronutrient levels are perfect (perfect according to advice given here on HU) and have been so for a while. Iron levels though have been very difficult to up, I believe it’s an absorption issue as all women in my family have this problem. To be honest I wish I could find a place for an infusion because the supplements make my stomach hurt so much and cause digestive issues. I have tried several iron supplements but I have not noticed a difference in side effects. I take it with vit C.
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Breathlessness and Hypothyroidism?
Breathlessness
Symptoms - sore throat/lungs hurting??
Burning pain
