Hashimotos and Ectopic heartbeats

[HypoM]

Hi everyone. I'm a 39 Yr old male. I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos Hypothyroidism for the past 10yrs. I take 100mcg levothyroxine daily and my thyroid profiles are stable. For the past 2-3 yrs I have been experiencing some ectopic heartbeats throughout the day. Some days I may have a few and others none at all. I have had ecgs, echo, stress test and event monitor where 1 pvc was recorded. The Ectopics are uncomfortable and cause some anxiety.

Have any of you who have stable thyroid profiles experienced similar symptoms and has anyone found any literature that links treated Hashimotos with these Ectopics?

Thank you so much for your input.

[greygoose]

Low thyroid hormone levels - such as you would get with Hashi's - can have all sorts of negative effects on the heart.

The question you should be asking yourself is not: am I stable? But: am I optimal. If you're having problems with your heart than you probably aren't optimal. Do you have copies of your blood test results? If so, post them here with the ranges, and let's have a look.

[HypoM in reply to greygoose]

Hi. I don't have the results to hand but will post once I do have them. My endo is very happy with the results and has been for some time and I have no reason to question his assessment.

When you say optimal, what exactly do you mean?

My overall health has been excellent. Blood pressure is normal. Number of annual blood tests and check ups are normal.

I am interested to know if there are any sciencific studies on patients with successfully treated Hashimotos with stable levels and ectopic heartbeats.

Thanks again.

[greygoose in reply to HypoM]

I'm afraid I can't help you with scientific studies, sorry.

Optimal is when all your hypo symptoms have gone.

[lisabax]

I get ectopic heartbeats. Sometimes quite distressing as my whole body seems to jolt. They started when I was not optimally medicated, and now only tend to happen when I’m really tired. I’ve been told they are harmless. I’ve gone through all the heart tests like you and even worn a heart monitor for several days, but all was normal. The doctor who told me the results after wearing the heart monitor said he had ectopic heartbeats too, so I guess it’s not necessarily related to Hashimoto’s

[Marz]

Thyroid and Heart Failure - a book of research papers whereby Endocrinologists and Cardiologists came together for the first time for the purpose of research. Check out Heart and Low T3 Syndrome on PubMed ...

Levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin and VitD - if low in range can affect heart health. How are your levels ?

[HypoM in reply to Marz]

Thanks a lot for this. I'll check out that publication.

I think those vit levels are OK but will have a look at previous and recent bloods.

Thanks again.

[Marz in reply to HypoM]

B12 is good at 500 + - Ferritin and Folate are good mid-range and VitD good around 100.

Do you supplement ?

The Book I mentioned is available on Amazon where you can Look Inside to read contents of each chapter. Have you googled Low T3 syndrome and heart - PubMed ? Your FT3 result may need to be towards the top of the range ...

[HypoM]

No. Doc advised against supplementing as there are effectively no benefits in supplementing if within normal levels.

Seeing the cardio soon and will ask about this.

[helvella in reply to HypoM]

You have inadvertently replied to yourself - rather than Marz - so I have called out to her.

[Marz in reply to HypoM]

Normal means in range - not optimal. I have been an active member here since 2011 and have learnt a great deal - especially with regard to thyroid hormones and how they work more effectively when vitamins and minerals are good - both your own and the ones you take. Docs receive little or no training about vitamins at Med School.

Not sure what you are asking the Cardio about.

Oxygen is transported around the body by attaching to iron in the red blood cells. Low Iron = Low Oxygen = Heart beat issues.

If you wish to know more about a member you can click onto a Username and read the Bio.

[HypoM in reply to Marz]

Thank you for the info. I'm seeing my cardio about my ectopic beats. I was interested to know the links between Hashimotos and Cardiac function.

[Marz in reply to HypoM]

With Hashimotos nutrient levels are invariably low . Doubt the Endo or Cardio will be aware of any connections ...

[gabkad]

I had increasingly more frequent palpitations as the years went on while taking 112 mcg

Synthroid. There were times I thought I was going to die.

The dose was increased to 125 mcg and the palps stopped.

Right now I'm on 150 mcg and have had zero any cardiac symptoms since early 2013.

My TSH was 0.9 to 1.0 at the time when I was having palps.

Now it's very low, like 0,02 to 0.04. And believe it or not, when I was having palps

nobody wanted to do an EKG. Now the endo wants an EKG done. Don't know whether

to laugh or cry.

[HypoM in reply to gabkad]

Thanks a lot. I'll be asking about this. The endo may have some more insight into this.

[FaithnHope36]

Yes ectopic beats are common in Hashimoto's. I have had Hashimoto's for the past 10 years that I know of and I have not had to start levothyroxine because my labs are normal. My TPO is never under 400 and has been as high as 4500. However I suffer with all of the hypothyroid symptoms. I have been suffering with PVCs, PAC's, and skipped beats and it's very distressing and they give me a lot of anxiety. What helped me is starting metoprolol xl 25 mg and Ativan. I have had every cardiac tests you can think of and they can't find anything but PVCs/palpitations. The medications really help.