Is it common to get chest pains with thyroid problems?

[MrsSuzuki]

I saw a post today from someone who was having chest pain with their thyroid problem and was wondering if my pain could indicate I have the same.

I have been in A&E today for the second time in 10 days with ongoing short, sharp pain on the left hand side of my chest with palpitations. Last week they said it was a gastro problem (I am on aspirin, clopidogrel, BP tablets, beta blockers and statins as I had a heart attack and stent fitted December last year. PPI's to reduce acid cause me problems with wind coming up).

Today I spoke to my GP who said that I should go to A&E to be checked again. I also asked him if he would check my thyroid as I moved house last September and it hasn't been checked for over 18 months. In hospital last week my TSH was checked at 5pm, so not fasting and it was 0.63 (0.27-4.5) so T3 or T4 wasn't checked.

I had radio iodine treatment 11 years ago, I'm on levothyroxine, 75 for 2 days, then every 3rd day take 100, and managed ok on it as far as I know. I asked GP to arrange TSH, T3 and T4 and he'll do that, but refused point blank to do ferritin or anything else! I asked if my chest pain could be thyroid trouble and dismissed it straight away. He said if my TSH is ok then T3 and T4 will be ok too! My GP is very difficult to deal with! Looks like I will have to do a private test sometime to get the full picture. How many phials do I have to fill for a thyroid test?!! Struggled with filling just one for cholesterol test, despite following the tips on here. Will have to try again on that one as medichecks did send me a free replacement.

So basically I am asking would it be a good idea to get a full thyroid check to rule out any problems, so I can go forward with finding other possibilities of chest pain.

Sorry for the long post.

Lily

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ESSENTIAL To test vitamin D, folate, B12 and especially iron and ferritin

Low iron/ferritin frequently results in breathlessness and chest pain

Which beta blocker are you currently taking

How long have you been taking PPI

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

On levothyroxine we MUST have GOOD vitamin levels for conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

PPI tend to lower vitamin levels

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/ne...

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

PPI and increased risk T2 diabetes

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Iron Deficiency and PPI

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

futurity.org/anemia-proton-...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

High cholesterol levels suggests you’re under medicated thyroid wise

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Strongly recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done privately

NHS lab frequently refuses to test FT4 and Ft3 even if GP requests

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

What brand levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning, before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Come back with new post once you get results

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo?

[MrsSuzuki in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.Always take Mercury pharma or Actavis, cannot take anything else, been on them years.

I weigh 55 kilos, lost 10 pounds since HA .

No vitamins.

PPI's taken for 6 months but only managing one every 2 days. Just about to try famoditine which is alternative to PPI'S .

Beta blockers are bisoprolol.

Many thanks again for taking the time to help.

Lily

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsSuzuki]

On ppi and levothyroxine highly likely to become extremely vitamin deficient

Test vitamin D twice year

Test folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually, along with full thyroid testing- via Medichecks or Blue horizon

If you can’t do DIY finger prick test, paying extra for private blood draw

Both Medichecks and BH have list of clinics or nurse can visit you at home (make sure appointment is 9am latest)

Don’t expect NHS to monitor, it just doesn’t happen

[Imaaan in reply to MrsSuzuki]

Hi,

Slowdragon mentioned it more in depth that PPI's and h2 blockers reduce your ability to absorb nutrients and meds. Its entirely possible that your chest pain could be attributed to lower magnesium levels and lower circulating thyroid levels. I'm glad to hear that you're planning to try famoditine since it's doesnt shut off acid production as much.

I was briefly on a ppi and then I switched to pepcid ac 30mg. I couldn't tolerate 40mg because it made my heart race too much. During that period, my thyroid levels changed. After 6 to 8 weeks of slowly weaning off, I switched to a herb called slippery elm. Was on it for quite a long time. It coats the lining of your stomach to protect it from the acid. It too decreases the absorption of meds and vitamins but it doesn't affect acid production. Eventually I weaned myself off it as well. Incorporated diet and lifestyle changes and that's helping .

[lisabax]

I think you only have to fill one phial

[MrsSuzuki in reply to lisabax]

Thank you

[Jasp6]

I just thought I should mention that chest pain is also very common post covid.

[MrsSuzuki in reply to Jasp6]

Thanks but I haven't had covid.

[Jasp6 in reply to MrsSuzuki]

That is good to hear. I thought I would mention it as I know many people have had Covid and there is not a huge amount of discussion of some of the post Covid symptoms that people commonly experience.