Lungs heart thyroid

[Jump1]

Just a question out interest. Can untreated hypothyroidism cause fluid on lungs?

[radd]

Jump1,

Yes! Do you have sleep apnea syndrome as well?

When I was diagnosed after years of symptoms I was suffering from dry lungs, a constant raspy cough & hoarse voice. These conditions were reversed with Levothyroxine & later when I investigated I learnt that thyroid hormone is essential in the making of pulmonary surfactant which is like a protective coating in the lungs made up of proteins & lipids.

What changes our body’s make with untreated/mismanaged hypothyroidism differs from person to person. I lost my lung fluid and you have accumulated more. Pulmonary oedema is more commonly a secondary issue arising from cardiac issues in hypothyroidism but equally can be secondary to other issues as cited in articles regarding 'non-cariogenic pulmonary oedema' commonly resulting from sleep apnea syndrome .

‘Severe hypothyroidism can lead to congestive heart failure and cardiogenic pulmonary edema through the loss of inotropic and chronotropic effects of thyroid hormone. However, on rare occasions such as our patient's case, severe hypothyroidism can indirectly lead to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema’. (Sadly the patient took her Levo with breakfast).

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

[Jump1 in reply to radd]

No it's not me. Someone I know has it. I suspect it's because of thyroid. I wasn't sure if it caused it. I would be concerned the hospital and go aren't doing the full thyroid panel tests. Based on my own experience with the gps. So do you think the thyroid I'd affecting the heart which is affecting the lungs? It's what I'm suspecting but I'm a newbie to all of this what does that mean sadly she took levo with breakfast

[Jump1 in reply to radd]

What is sleep apnea like. I know I've heard this person say they don't sleep well.

[radd in reply to Jump1]

Jump1

Sleep apnoea refers to when our breathing suddenly stops & starts whilst sleeping.

Whenever it has happened to me it feels like a gasp in the night but fortunately I just roll over & fall straight asleep again. However, some people are plagued with it so many times every night it become a debilitating condition.

The article I supplied referred to how some people with sleep apnea go on to experience pulmonary oedema due to a very specific set of circumstance.

[Beads in reply to Jump1]

My old boss had it. She said she felt as though she slept ok, didn’t realise she was waking up in the night, but she’d be sitting at her desk during the day talking to you and she’d just stop. It was little 5 to 10 second sleeps that she wasn’t aware of because her body was so tired from being disturbed overnight even though she didn’t realise.

Once she got the referral to the sleep clinic and the pap machine (?) she was fine.

[MikeM46]

Oh absolutely & unfortunately because it’s initiated by poor circulation caused by hypothyroidism & may well include poor heart function. If someone has fluid retention affecting lung function it is essential to get their heart function tested as well as the 3 key hypo tests TSH/FT4 and very much FT3. Should also be put onto diuretic medication.

Does this person also have swollen ankles & feet?

[Jump1 in reply to MikeM46]

They have been given diuretic and yes ankles were swollen last night

[Jump1 in reply to MikeM46]

Theyve been told they have a very high percentage of having heart failure. If they were treated with thyroid drugs now would It help,? Don't think there has been any outcome on thyroid results yet

[MikeM46 in reply to Jump1]

So much depends on if & how being long-term hypo (NB as an inadequate FT3 level) has effected the heart & cardiovascular system. Different people get affected differently and it much depends on the extent & nature of what has been affected. Unfortunately, by the time heart failure becomes obvious there may be little chance of improving heart function but possibly proper hypo treatment that restores good FT3 levels may help mitigate or avoid further deterioration. The horrible truth is that while cardiologists recognise the importance of a healthy level of triiodothyronine (supplied as T3/Liothyronine in medication format) the same cannot be said of endocrinologists as a whole. And if the patient’s body is unable to convert the standard T4 meds into T3 the patient is effectively left hypo although TSH & FT4 levels give the impression of all us well on th thyroid front.

But low FT3 levels can negatively affect all sorts of other body functions so should not be left untreated even if restoring a good FT3 level in itself may not “cure” or restore heart function.

It is important that all 3 levels are assessed & dealt with if necessary even if heart function itself needs other treatment to provide stability & maximise remaining functionality.

Has this person had an actual diagnosis specifying the nature of their heart failure yet?

[Jump1 in reply to MikeM46]

No. They are being tested at moment. Have been told they don't have a blood clot causing the difficulty breathing. Were put through the cat scanner. They don't believe they are hypothyroid the patient that is. I've been saying they need to ask the Dr would it cause poor heart function in an attempt to get them to focus efforts on that front.

Sometimes people themselves won't listen never mind the terrible trouble you have with drs.

[Jump1 in reply to MikeM46]

They have heard a flutter on the heart. Blood pressure is okay. Does hypothyroidism cause heart flutters?

[Scotlass56]

Any suggestions for this total mess!

How can it be that Doctors just don’t seemto put much emphasis on the thyroid until it goes completely off the charts.

My own thyroid cancer on one side (removed) was back in 2017. Now my weight has all came back on (70 pounds +) and my hair is falling out, my neck is large, looks like a big gullet hanging down. My skin is dry, i itch all over from morning to night.

Fatigue is an understatement, I could sleep 12-16 hours a day , my eye sight is playing tricks on me and my joints are all swollen.

To top it all off for the last two years I truly believed I was a Covid Long Hauler as I was very sick back in Dec 2020 and it lasted about 3 weeks, I seemed to recover and then suddenly felt awful again. I’ve had this on going sense of doom for about 18 months now as I can’t do half what I used to, they did test me twice and said no Covid but even that isn’t convincing as I am allergic to so much and have weird reactions to almost everything, I can’t take NSAIDs and most recently DMARDS, I even wonder if it could be they are just grasping at straws.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, lived with it no bother and worked 45-60 hours a week, occasional flairs but nothing like what I’m experiencing now.

My heart rate goes crazy, my tongue swells, I can’t breath, I can’t lift anything, I feel terribly weak , Depression is setting in pretty steadily now, I cry constantly and I am easily agitated. The Rheumatoid Doctor thought it was MS (quite common to take 2nd Auto immune disease supposedly? and so he & my then GP ran a few tests and even did a brain scan but that wasn’t conclusive. Neurologist said he didn’t think so, Rheumatologist said it can take years for proper diagnosis.

I saw a Cardiologist who saw some concerns on my scans so he even did an Angiogram and a lung test but only found 2 minor blockages of plaque. Now my Doctor is retiring due to medical concerns so I have no Doctor and can’t find a new one here in this part of Ontario.

I’m at my wits end! I feel I’ve aged 20 years in only 2 years and now oh wait, ….

there is a new nodule on the remaining side of the thyroid but it’s small so we’ll recheck it in a year, and ironically did you know you have a break in you clavicle? That explains the pain up there I guess. In the interim, we don’t have any explanation for why your count suddenly was at 78 and is now at 37 when it should only be between 2.5-5.8.

Are you taking your thyroid medication in the morning? Yes I am. Is there an optimal time?

But now it’s all walk in Doctors I have to deal with and they are not interested, I have too many problems, they’d prefer I only give them one thing. Unfortunately someone needs to tell them illness doesn’t work like that!

[Jump1 in reply to Scotlass56]

😥😔

[MikeM46 in reply to Scotlass56]

Hi! Have you been able to get TSH/FT4 & FT3 all tested? If so with what results?

[Scotlass56 in reply to MikeM46]

TSH and Free T4 we’re tested, I don’t recall any mention of FT3 .I got a phone call Saying my count was 78. Questioned if I had not been taking my med, I take it every morning .

I have severe allergies and sometimes meds work and sometimes it’s like my body doesn’t even acknowledge the medication . I have no idea if that is related.

Not having a Doctor now is a big problem as the walk in doc just shakes his head. Too many problems.

[Jump1 in reply to Scotlass56]

They've been told they have heart failure and arrythmia(Spelt wrong)

[E_lizab8 in reply to Scotlass56]

Are you gluten free? This can help a lot with allergies and also RA. Also very important to get vitamina and minerals tested, I found that I dont absorb them from food and supplement daily, without them, (and NDT), I am a wreck of pain, itching, insomnia and depression.

[Scotlass56 in reply to E_lizab8]

I am not but am thinking of making major changes to my diet as I can’t get the swelling in my joints under control. I think it’s going to be totally up to me to try to figure this out unless I am lucky enough to find a new Doctor sometime soon. I will try going gluten free. thank you