heart palpitations and hypothyroidism

[Biloxi]

Hi everyone!

I have a question about heart palpitations. I've been having these for about 6 months now, and its not going away.

I drank one iced tea with lunch today a grilled chicken sandwich on while wheat. That was around 11am. I ate a bowl of chili for dinner around 5pm.

I had a blueberry bran muffin with strawberries and dark chocolate around 7pm. Now, at 8pm I had a strong palpitation that lasted longer than ever, like 5 seconds I guess. Then a minute or so later I felt a stab in my chest.

I don't have any other symptoms.

My thyroid tests are usually normal when this happens. I just got a test today, so I'll post them when I get them.

I had an ekg and it came out normal.

My np said just to keep a food journal, and that it isn't dangerous as long as there are no other symptoms.

I'm thinking of changing to the brand name Levothyroxine, do you think that will help?

[Lora7again]

I have them all the time and especially if I have too much coffee. Mine are caused by my Graves' disease and my multinodular goitre which can sometimes release too much thyroxine into my blood stream. I did actually have a thyroid storm last July and I was sweating and shaking and my heart rate was 112 bpm and my blood pressure was high. I had all the tests needed after being admitted to A & E and my heart was normal. It was a frightening experience and this has only happened twice now. I am 60 and if something similar happens again I will call an ambulance because you can never be too sure at my age whether it is a heart attack or even a stroke.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you have Hashimoto's as you also have other autoimmune disease

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto's

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 often result in poor conversion of FT4 to FT3. TThis can lead to high FT4 and/or low Ft3...,, both can cause palpitations

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose 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)

Is this how you did your last test?

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist

approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[Daisydoo2]

Hello

Have you tried going gluten free? This has really helped me. I also used to have palpitations regularly but since going gluten free these have gone away. (Along with other symptoms) Can’t say if it’s related or a coincidence. Just know it’s helped me