Just started with NDT - one random spell of heart palpitations/irregular rhythm - is this normal?

[needt3]

Hi,

My TSH came back at 8 but my T4 and T3 were in the normal range - sub-clinical hypothyroidism.

I had all the usual symptoms of low energy, fatigue, brain fog, heavy legs etc. but haven't taken levothyroxin for over 2 years as I felt no better (only my bloods were in reference).

I know this sounds silly, but although it was only my TSH which was high at 8 (when a typical health persons is around 2.5) but I took half a grain of NDT yesterday and felt amazing all day whether it was all in my head or not. My energy was the best it's been in years, I didn't feel fatigued and my mind was as focused and aware as it has ever been.

In my head, the way I could describe it is as if I was getting more oxygen around my body, especially more to my brain as I could function so much better.

On the way home from work, I was thinking how great today has been by taking just half a grain but around 10 minutes later, I had strange palpitations towards the upper left side of my chest in an irregular pattern for around 2 minutes, then it was back to normal. This made me feel a bit anxious as to whether it was the half grain of NDT and what I should do as I felt amazing (even at around 10pm)...did I put myself in a hyper - thyroid state? Could the NDT have contributed to atrial fibrillation? My upper left arm also felt a bit tender at times, almost as if my veins or arteries where opening up. I really can't explain what I'm talking about properly.

Is it just the fact that the NDT is making my heart pump more blood, clearing my slightly high cholesterol level and fatty acids through my arteries?

Would love to hear from others advice on what to do?

[greygoose]

Could you possibly give us the actual numbers - results and ranges? Because telling us that T4 and T3 were 'in-range' tells us nothing. We need to know where they were in the range because the ranges are far too wide.

How much levo were you started on? And how much were you taking when when you stopped taking it? Nothing will help if you don't take enough of it, and that's where most doctors go wrong: they don't understand about prescribing.

I very much doubt if 1/2 grain of NDT sent you 'hyper' - you can't be hyper, anyway, if you're hypo, the thyroid doesn't work like that. 1/2 grain would just be a starter dose. But, if your body - and especially your heart - has been without T3 for a long time, it could have that effect. Or, it was your body saying 'this is great, but not enough!' Because palps can be a symptom of under-medication, as well as over-medication. However, you were wise to start on a low dose, and then one increases slowly.

If your cholesterol is high, it more than likely means your FT3 is low. Cholesterol builds up in the blood when there's not enough T3 to synthesise it properly. But, that doesn't affect your heart, so don't worry about it.