Heart Problems Or Thyroid problems?: I've been on... - Thyroid UK

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Heart Problems Or Thyroid problems?

celticlady profile image
9 Replies

I've been on Levothyroxine, hypothyroid for 8 years. 50mcg has served me well for years-was raised to 75mcg initiallyr and had terrible panic/nose bleed/high BP etc. back to 50 mcg (Accord) and been fine for years. My GP practice only test TSH -recent blood test =TSH 0.79. Hadn't had test for 2 years, not sure what it was previously as always felt fine and didn't pursue it.

End of Jan started with palpitations-strong, pounding heart/light headed/off balance/short of breath/nausea....quite worrying, paramedics called-BP high fast heart rate but eventually settled down. Off/On for days like this. GP prescribed beta blockers and I was referred to a cardiologist. Side effects of these-Bisoprolol 1.25mg-difficult to deal with but the palps have gone/BP lower, still light headed s.o.b but these are common side effects.

I asked for Endo referral weeks ago same time as cardio as I wanted to be thoroughly checked for all the free T3/4 etc that GP won't do. Just a general check up. GP rang yesterday to say Endo sent a letter saying in so many words 'these symptoms she's been having could be thyroid related as years ago her free T4 results were 18....15....19 and the average is normally 14.8'. Interesting that not one single GP correlated my thyroid with my symptoms-for them I was 'within range' based on TSH results. Although one said it was an even better result than previous-haven't got the previous readings as always felt fine. If this means more thyroid hormone swilling around in my system that's not necessarily a good thing for me.

My GP suggested 'stepping down the thyroxine', continue with the heart tests (got ulrasound next week and holter monitor) then she said yes they would test T4 levels . I just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience where they've been fine for years and suddenly had similar symtoms. It would be a shame if I'm suffering the beta blockers' side effects when all it would have taken is a reduction of thyroxine. I take low doses of everything as I have a reactive system -even some vitamin tablets have a negative effect.

Many thanks for any anecdotal experiences.

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celticlady
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9 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

More likely poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

Most important result is ALWAYS FT3

Essential to have OPTIMAL vitamin levels too for good conversion

Having been left on just a starter dose of levothyroxine, likely to have very low vitamin levels.

Levothyroxine doesn’t “top up” failing thyroid, it replaces it, so it’s unlikely 50mcg is high enough dose

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Is this how you do your tests?

On levothyroxine you would expect Ft4 to be near top of range

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 at least once year minimum

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

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s, just autoimmune thyroid disease (and they usually ignore the autoimmune aspect)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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 and money off codes

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...

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too. Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

Come back with new post once you get results

celticlady profile image
celticlady in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you-will print this off and use for my future meeting with the Endo.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tocelticlady

Before meeting with endocrinologist would very strongly recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing including thyroid antibodies and Ft3

NHS rarely if ever tests Ft3

Always test early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Come back with new post once you get results

Vast majority of endocrinologists are diabetes specialists and hopeless for thyroid

humanbean profile image
humanbean

End of Jan started with palpitations-strong, pounding heart/light headed/off balance/short of breath/nausea

This info could easily be irrelevant to you, but am just reporting from my own experience :

Low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores) may cause palpitations, pounding heart, being short of breath, and if it's bad enough it could cause chest pain, and it might be severe. You would need to be tested though - taking iron when it is unnecessary could cause a lot of problems because it can build up in organs e.g. the brain, the heart, the liver etc.

Note that people with iron deficiency might be anaemic or might not - but iron deficiency needs to be treated in either case. There is a long list of symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia in this link :

thatorganicmom.com/iron-def...

Being light-headed and having poor balance may be caused by low vitamin B12 and/or low folate. Both should be tested because supplementing either of these when you don't need them is just a waste of money.

These may be of interest :

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12deficiency.info/folate-b...

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

takecareof.com/articles/ben...

DottysMum profile image
DottysMum

Have had exactly same problem when I increased my levothyroxine, am now taking low dose blood pressure tablets, lower dose levo. and propagation - am very sensitive to all medication.

mourneadventurer profile image
mourneadventurer

A good baseline “advanced thyroid blood” test will give you an insight as to what’s next. ThyroidUK have a list with discount codes.

In a reference to your name possibly also consider a full iron panel to rule out haematochromatosis where ferritin levels are high possibly due to an underlying untreated infection? Also a High Sensitivity CRP test would also identify underlying inflammation.

Homocysteine might also be a consideration as high levels are brought down by Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (L-methyl folate) and active Vitamin B12 primarily caused by poor methylation. This can be side-stepped with Vitamin B complex supplementation and good Microbiome health.

To replace minerals I’ve found Dr Carolyn Dean’s ReMag and ReMyte (Botanicahealth) to be incomparable with free web educational resources.

Perhaps try Forefront Health’s, thyroid support vitamins as they are absorbed in the mouth sold in UK by Botanicahealth.

ThyroidUK also have a list of practitioners who might be beneficial?

This can be reversed.

meme profile image
meme

I am having the same problems as you.FT3 only over of range once since 2006. FT4 low in range or too low. TSH usually low in range or lower.

Hate BBs, horrid side effects with all the ones I have tried todate. Currently on Tildiem to try to stop palpitations . It’s not working well but my BP goes too low if I take higher dose.

Awaiting another holter( 3rd) and MRI. Had 2 BP monitors which are ok if averaged out but BP up and down, too high too low. Echo shows enlarged heart and mild regurgitation.

Taken over a year to get to this point . Been private and NHS, had to change hospital and go out of area for NHS because my local area was so slow. 7 AxE visits in a year! 2 over night stays. High BP and palpitations. Unfortunately they always refuse to test my thyroid while I am there. Madness!!

I do not get on well with the meds I am given either had about 6 different ones.

I have been taking NDT from about 2008.

celticlady profile image
celticlady in reply tomeme

Did you ever alter your thyroxine dose? Sorry to hearing you have had such difficult experiences. Take care.

meme profile image
meme in reply tocelticlady

I stopped thyroxine at 175 when Dr Skinner put me on Armour. When that was reformulated and it stopped working, I switched to Naturetyroid, then TMan . I still have some left and yesterday added 1/4 to my 1 3/4 daily dose to see if it would help my symptoms, which are getting worse. I will try the higher dose for a few days and see how I react.

I have a stock of thyroid S to use when TMan runs out .

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