Hi, I can’t go much higher on my levothyroxine as my last blood tests end of April were,
TSH 0.44 Range 0.27-4.2
FT4 18.8 Range 12-22
FT3 4.9. Range 3.1-6.8
I have bradycardia constantly and I’m really worried I’m just gonna drop dead. Even standing not doing anything it can be 48. An I just had a nap and my watch woke me up saying my heart rate was low at 39. It’s been like this for pretty much since I gave up drinking and smoking 5 years ago but I also started sertraline and nebido around the same time. I’ve noticed over the last year it’s gone down further than it was. I’m always tired even though I can manage to go gym 3 times a week but as soon as I stop I’m pretty much asleep. Could this be just because I’m not on enough thyroxine?
Written by
Cade83
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I don't think it's lack of thyroxine the problem...
FT4 18.8 Range 12-22 68%
FT3 4.9. Range 3.1-6.8 48.65%
it's just that you aren't converting it very well. Your FT3 is pretty low, and it's the T3 that is the active hormone, needed by every single cell in the body.
You don't want to increase your levo by too much, or it could make conversion worse. What you need is to either improve your conversion - check nutrient levels, try taking selenium - or try and obtain some T3 to take with your levo.
Well, that was just a suggestion. There can be many, many reasons for poor conversion, and the likelihood of you finding it is pretty small. So, you need that T3, I'm afraid.
I’m currently taking 87.5mcg which I’ve been on since around February. I always get wockhardt brand at every prescription. I stick to taking the 25mcg tablets because otherwise I end up with TEVA if I get 50mcg tablets so I just take 3 and a half 25mcg. I’ve had a coeliac blood test which was negative and no not on strictly gluten free diet.
Suggest you consider trying strictly gluten free diet
Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but further 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Ah ok, I do eat mostly non gluten foods, but have been eating fibre one bars so that would have to go. Never seen an endocrinologist for my thyroid. I doubt a dr would prescribe it?
Yeah I’m in the uk. Yeah I have a Apple Watch so it records all the time. I just ordered Deiodinase 2 test on country health. I’ll do some searching for endocrinologists. Thank you.
I did think that and I’m trying to come off it to see, I’m down to 12.5mg and I was on 50mg. I’ve read conflicting information on sertraline, some sites say it can cause mild bradycardia and some say it doesn’t. It’s not easy coming off it though.
I went to a&e 2 weeks ago because I was getting constant ectopics. Stopped by the time I got there. Had ecg and blood tests. I also paid for an echocardiogram about 3 weeks ago and all was fine. I’d like to get an exercise tolerance test but it’s hard trying to get a dr to get a referral and the last cardiology appointment I had, I waited over a year for.
Hi there, I was very similar a year ago, really ridiculously slow heartbeat. In the end I trialled a combination T4/T3 and the t3 really worked (in a good way) to normalise my heart rate. Feel a lot better for it.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
The link between bradycardia and hypothyroidism
Bradycardia…others symptoms please..new to.
Help with what to do next 
help please, liothyronine, Roma brand
