Mysterious chest pain: Hoping for someone... - Thyroid UK

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Mysterious chest pain

Ponkysue profile image
8 Replies

Hoping for someone experiencing similar issues. I have had excruciating upper left chest pain for over 5 weeks. My Gp has sent me to a and e twice because the symptoms match a heart attack. ECG bloods and chest X-ray all normal. Diagnosed first with Costochondritis and then Bornholm disease. No painkillers touch the pain - including morphine. Sent to cardiologist for echocardiogram who thought it was pericarditis - but that did not show in the echocardiogram.

I do not have racing heart or palpitations.

Pain is terrible esp when lying down or bending over. I am at a loss.

My thyroid levels have been fluctuating since diagnosis is March when my T4 was 86. Currently my T4 is in range but T3 still raised.

Of course no one seems to think there is a link between this pain and the thyroid but I just don’t buy that.

Anyone had similar?

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Ponkysue
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8 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Looking at previous post your Ft4 and Ft3 were very low

Low thyroid levels results in low vitamin levels

Low iron/ferritin often cause chest pain

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

Please add results and ranges

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking…if any

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Presumably you have had Graves’ disease definitely confirmed by testing TSI or Trab antibodies

Has Carbimazole been reduced recently

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

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) or with Graves’ disease

Low vitamin levels common as we get older too

Request GP test iron and ferritin or ideally a full iron panel test for anaemia, plus vitamin D, folate and B12

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

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

Ponkysue profile image
Ponkysue in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you I have full range blood tests every 6 weeks and recently had iron vit d etc and all ok. I am on 15 mg carbimazole.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Ponkysue

Exactly what are your most recent iron and ferritin levels

Being within range is frequently not adequate

We need OPTIMAL Levels

What were most recent Ft4 and Ft3 results

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I had many bouts of extremely severe chest pain a few years ago. I fixed it myself in the end (almost by accident), because doctors just kept telling me I wasn't having a heart attack and then kicked me out of A&E. The pain started to go when I started improving my iron levels, which were very low, but it did take quite a long time.

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

Does it feel a bit like heartburn Ponkysue ?

Are you taking any medication that might be affecting your digestive system...interesting that it's worse when bending or lying downI ask because I had something similar recently which seemed to be caused by a med for a UTI...Hiprex.

I tried stopping it and the pain started to ease.

My first thought if I have a health issue is.....thyroid related? So many of my issues are/ have been, so I always check now for possible reactions with thyroid meds.

I don't have a thyroid autoimmune condition which may be your problem....explanation for this follows!

Just a thought but this it's probably a red herring!

BUT...

have you had both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested to check for Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune condition which can cause thyroid hormone levels to fluctuate which you say you experience....antibodies will be raised

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Chest pain can be a symptom of Hashimoto's

A gluten free diet is recommended...as is correct dose of thyroid hormone

How much levo are you taking?

This link might help

powerhealthreno.com/hashimo...

When posting results please include reference ranges ( nos. in brackets) different labs use different ranges

Glad you've had heart problems eliminated

Hope things improve soon

Ponkysue profile image
Ponkysue in reply to DippyDame

I am in 15mg carbimazole with Graves. Definitely not heartburn

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to Ponkysue

OK...that's clearer, but we had to start somewhere!

Are nutrients optimal...not just in range? A mistake frequently made by medics

It would help if we have your full test results otherwise we can only guess!

Ah! Just noticed this...3 months ago. You are now hypothyroid.

Your meds need to be changed

You most likely need to replace now with levothyroxine, see article below

btf-thyroid.org/antithyroid...

FT4 is severely low

FT3 only slightly better

FT4. 7.2 (9-23)

FT3. 3.7 (2.4 - 6)

Carmela99 profile image
Carmela99

I get sharp pains on my left side of my chest too when my thyroid levels are too low. It is not a constant pain but a sharp stabbing pain that last for a minute or 30 seconds or so. It’s very scary and weird but always goes away when my levels are optimized for me.

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