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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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 :
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.
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.
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?
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 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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