Rapid heart / graves

[Lauren85]

Evening all,

Just a quick question.. Iv been diagnosed with graves last month and been on Carbimazole for nearly 2 month should I still be getting fast heart rate or is this normal for only being on the tablets a short time??

[Greekchick]

Hi Lauren,

It can take some time to adjust to the carbimazole and everyone is different. I noticed a difference with the fast heart rate after about 6 weeks or so -hard to remember exactly as it was 2 years ago.

Give it a few more weeks - if you still have fast heart rate, best to see doctor. It could be dose related, it could be that the carbimazole is not working for you, or, it could be that you may need to add a beta blocker to slow down the heart rate as well . There are several posts I have read where folks use beta blockers to keep heart rate in check. You will need to monitor the situation. But I would not wait more than 2 weeks before taking action.

When are your blood tests scheduled next? I would see what those results are. In the meantime, see if your doc will give you a beta blocker, which might help . The one which is cardio selective and tends to have fewer side effects is called atenolol. It is also good for people with asthma as it supposedly only works on the heart and not other organs. Check it out and ask your MD.

Hope this helps and have a good evening! All the best.

[Lauren85 in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you for replying I’m on propranolol 40mg x3 a day if needed I suffer from anxiety aswell. But just thought it’s maybe the graves. My next appointment is 22nd July. Iv been really busy today and not stopped so maybe just over done it x

[Greekchick in reply to Lauren85]

It could be either - the telltale test will be your bloodwork and antibody readings - hopefully it is not the Graves. I was always overdoing it when my Graves was present - take it easy this evening and tomorrow if you can and see if it helps. All the best and hope you feel better. 🙂

[Lauren85 in reply to Greekchick]

Thanks ☺️ have a good night

[Dodge7 in reply to Lauren85]

Also with graves and having a thyroid it can affect female fertility. If you get the surgery just be prepared for weight gain and keep it mind the weight will be harder to lose once you have it. Just try to keep as active as possible.

[purple64]

Hi it can take a while for it to settle. 2 months is not very long. I would imagine that you are due a blood test soon and hopefully you will see your levels going in the right direction. I've been on Carbimazole for 2 yrs now all be it on a lower dose. I still get rapid heart occasional at night. Did they prescribe beta blockers? Maybe your dose of Carbimazole needs adjusting ? I would give it a bit longer and see how it goes. If you get anxious that can cause rapid heart. Sadly anxiety goes hand in hand with graves. You will also need to learn to pace yourself and rest when your body tells you, it's not easy and I still find it hard when your mind is telling you to get up and do and your body is saying no can do 😂. Take care hope you feel better soon

[Dodge7]

It takes ages to get your levels right and having your levels high makes your heart work harder. I ended up getting my thyroid removed due to graves and apart from the weight gain it's been very positive.

[Lauren85 in reply to Dodge7]

I have the option of RAI or surgery, I was swaying towards RAI but now I’m more surgery side. Glad your feeling good

[Greekchick in reply to Lauren85]

I am not advocating either approach, as there are different experiences with each procedure. However, I will say that in the case of Graves, you may be better off with the thyroid out, as the antibodies will no longer have any thyroid tissue to attack. With RAI, even though the thyroid function has been killed off, you still have the tissue present. My endo explained to me that if tissue is left behind, it can trigger Graves antibodies again. So, again, it's a very personal choice - but the Graves complicates the choice of treatment. Wishing you well, Lauren!

[Lauren85 in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you Greekchick,

I have done lots of reading on both party’s and I do think I’m heading more surgery side of things, ☺️

[purple64 in reply to Greekchick]

That's intersting i was told it makes no difference the antibodies will still be there and will attack somewhere else probably my eyes 🙄😤

[Greekchick in reply to purple64]

It can absolutely attack other places, but endo says less likely if the thyroid is out - there are scientific papers that also suggest this. Of course I am not MD - but just reporting what I have been told and read. Hope this helps and best wishes to you!

[purple64 in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you it was interesting to hear.

[Greekchick in reply to purple64]

And just to follow up - another recent study suggests that long term, Graves patients do better after surgery then those who have RAI. I think helvella or someone else has posted this - and sorry I can’t find the link now. I think you are on carbi, yes? My endo has a patient on it for 11 years and doing well. Hope it helps and best wishes to you, purple.

[purple64 in reply to Greekchick]

Have been on it just over 2 years and he reckons I will go into remission fingers crossed. I already have a problem with left eye due to several viruses in it which are kept at bay with eye drops and medication so I think he is being cautious.

[Greekchick in reply to purple64]

As he should be. Fingers crossed for you and a prayer too 🤞🙏🏻

[purple64 in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you

[kashka in reply to Lauren85]

I opted for surgery end of 2016, as my graves came back with a vengeance after 18 months. Apart from bieng 2 stone heavier I feel so much better.However I did not take the decision lightly. Wishing you well Lauren.

[Valarian]

As others have said, it’s still early days yet. Although my heart rate did come down a bit by the end of the first couple of months (I was prescribed calcium channel blockers rather than beta blockers, because of my age and the fact that my blood pressure was also high) it didn’t settle fully for ages.

If you’re worried, see your GP. Anxiety is itself a symptom of Graves’ and often seems to make other symptoms worse, so although I know it’s an impossible ask, please try not to worry

[kashka]

Hi Lauren. Have they given you any Beta blockers as well? I was given them and carbimazole to help to slow the heartrate down. It is early days though.

[Lauren85 in reply to kashka]

Hi kashaka,

Yes I have propranolol 👌🏻

[437jd]

Hi I’ve been on carbimazole for just over two years. Started on 40mg but have got down to 5mg - 10months now. It took a while almost 8 weeks before I felt anything from it. I remember my anxiety that it wasn’t working but clearly but it does! My ranges are good now . Carbimazole just stops my tipping point. I’m on antenalol now rather than propanol but only because my blood pressure was playing up. I hope now my ranges are slowly returning that I can reduce my antenalol. Stick with it X