Hi, I have just joined, so probably asking questions that I'll find down the line. But - I had a thyroidectomy 7 years ago, for Graves and Nodules; I had hope that the palpitations would stop, but, of course, they didn't, and I now have Afib I guess.. once or twice or more times a week, heart rate of 150 or so, for sometimes 24 hours. My Gp has given me Bisoprolol 2.5mg, and I take 125g thyroxine daily. Thats it. I am in the back of beyond, and only see my GP. He says all my levels are fine. I know I am out of kilter - hair falling out, all joints hurting, etc. Bad tempered!!!!! So, my question is should I pay to be seen privately to get all my levels checked? Should I just suck up the fact that I have Afib, that seems to be getting worse...OR is there another small road of hope?
Thank you!!
Written by
Bena22
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First step, yes….. is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
When were vitamin levels last tested
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
do you have any recent blood test results from GP you can add?
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Finding a Grave's Disease specialist is near impossible, let alone a thyroid specialist especially if stuck out in the woods, and if like me, unable to travel too far, though of course many now offer visual consultations.
Thanks to this forum and a couple of books I've been able to put myself back together again, as best I can, and now self medicate and am much improved.
I've Graves and went through RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 becoming very unwell around 8 years later and when I started my learning curve as according to the doctor, I was fine and good to go, though falling apart and referred to as a conundrum and offered anti depressants.
First and foremost we do need to see a full thyroid panel - TSH Free T3, Free T4, antibodies, inflammation, and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D run as already detailed as then you will receive considered opinion on what you can do for yourself to get back on track and it is where we all start - many of us are forced to arrange this for ourselves - so you are not alone if your doctor is not able to help you.
If you go into Thyroid UK - the charity who support this patient to patient forum there is section detailing companies who will run the appropriate blood tests for you and once you have back the results and ranges just start a new post with all these details for considered opinion.
I think both Medichecks and Blue Horizon offer a nurse home visit to draw your blood so this might suit you best as living in a remote area and certainly less stressful.
Your small road to hope is here - on the forum - it twists and turns - but widens out as you read of other people's situations and the answers suggested, and you will undoubtedly take a detour or two but there is an end and you can do much for yourself once you follow a map.
Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy written by a doctor who, on resigning his position wrote to equip patients better to advocate for themselves. Barry Durrant-Peatfield writes in an easy to understand manner and it's a go-to for a basic human body physiology and I think recommended on the reading list that you'll also find within the Thyroid UK website.
Yes I remember that feeling - ask any questions as you go, we are here to help and start a new question with new information, so everybody has the opportunity to help and support you with your thyroid journey back to better health.
Just wanted to say - you can have tachycardia (fast heart rate) without Atrial Fibrillation. They are different conditions. You may need a proper diagnosis of AFib from a doctor. But if it doesn't happen all the time perhaps the doctor wouldn't catch it.
Although I don't have such a gadget I have read that some Apple watches or Fitbits or other things of the same type can actually detect AFib. I don't know how accurate they are or how reliable. Nor do I have a clue how much they cost.
I have a couple of gadgets that I find helpful with respect to heart health (although mine don't detect AFib I know some more modern and sophisticated ones do) :
1) A blood pressure monitor. Omron is a good make, and you will see them in use in hospitals and surgeries. Make sure it uses an upper arm cuff, and that the cuff is the right size for you.
2) I have a gadget that measures oxygen saturation in the blood (an oximeter). It's one of those gadgets that gets put on your finger. It will measure pulse too, the same as the BP monitor.
Apple Watch are very reliable for catching Afib and providing a 1 lead ECG that can be emailed straight to your GP.
I too have Afib and hypothyroidism. The Afib for me is all the time. Never stops. And for me, that's way better than the sort that just used to start out of the blue and knock me off my feet. I don't feel it now. My watch tracks my heart rate and oxygen levels as well as the pattern. The only thing the watch can't do is BP.
Afib can be hereditary. My dad, his brother and sister and one of their kids at least had/has it as well as me. And my mum's family had thyroid problems. I have inherited from both of them 🙄
You will probably have to do a lot to help yourself here. GPs are scared of Afib with thyroid. If you want the name of a private endocrinologist that I see (and rate highly) send me a message. He has been a great help and gives me the private prescriptions I need for T3 (to buy) and other things. He is not afraid of T3 and Afib.
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