Graves and arrhythmia

[Sunny70]

Hi, I have Graves’ disease which has come back after stopping Carbimazole. I was restarted on 10mgs daily with propranolol 20mgs daily for palpitations. My levels are improving but my heart rate which is normally 54ish went down to 44 so GP stopped propranolol. Today I had that ‘butterfly’ feeling and felt really dizzy for a few seconds. I am worried it is my heart. I still get very anxious as my husband doesn’t understand that I can’t control the feeling and keeps going on about things. I’m not sure what to do. Your thoughts would be useful thanks.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Have your FT4 & FT3 levels been checked lately. Low levels can lower heart rate. I use a fitbit to track heart rate it correlates fairly closely with levels.

Propranolol does lower heart rate In higher doses. How long have you been off propranolol? What dose were you taking?

Did GP do a ECG?

[Sunny70 in reply to PurpleNails]

Hi, had them done on Wednesday and don’t know what they’re meant to be but going to request them. Off propranolol since Monday and was on 20mgs daily. Thanks.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Sunny70]

20mg dose is low dose, I take this amount for migraine prevention.

Your carbimazole might need adjusting of the levels are too high or too low. Has folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D been checked recently often low when you have Graves and contributes to symptoms.

[Sunny70 in reply to PurpleNails]

Yes it is a low dose. Requested those and had that done on Wednesday along with thyroid so just waiting. I was doing fine until I came off Carbimazole but symptoms seem worse this time. Totally fed up. Feeling far too emotional too!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you have had Graves definitely confirmed by high TSI or Trab antibodies

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

And TSI or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

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

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Good info on Graves’ disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Sunny70 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, I’ve had Grave’s for two years with dose of Carbimazole lowering ad levels improved and next step was to see if I was stable off it but unfortunately not so back on Carbimazole and propranolol but as heart rate lowered so much GP stopped it. I’ve been on vitamin D tablets for years and ferritin was low so on iron tablets. I asked GP to have B12 done this time also which was on Wednesday. I’m going to request a copy of all results. Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sunny70]

Ferritin is often high with Graves’ disease

What are your most recent Ft4 and Ft3 results

Vitamin D needs testing at least annually, ideally twice year

B12, folate and ferritin at least annually

[Sunny70 in reply to SlowDragon]

I don’t know as recent ones not back yet. Probably but GP isn’t checking as should be and I’m not happy about it. Going to change to another as I have to wait at least three weeks to even talk to someone, no use when feeling awful.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sunny70]

That’s why so many thousands of U.K. members test privately

[Sunny70 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks if I’m not happy with what comes back I’ll definitely get them done privately and thanks for the links.