Hi everyone. I’ve been having palpitations for a few days now. At the beginning they were off and on but now I’m lying up because they are constant and I can’t function as normal, plus I’ve a tiredness that’s come over me. Feels like my heart is flipping over and it’s coming up my neck! I had these a few years ago but can’t remember if docs reduced meds or increased.
Just wondering has anyone any experience of palpitations which were linked to thyroid
Thanks in advance
Can you share your thyroid blood tests (with ranges in brackets) and let us know what type/ dosage of thyroid medication you take? It may be that although your results are ‘in range’ (so not flagged by your GP) they are not optimal for you. Likewise, key vitamins have a huge role in thyroid health; have you ever had tests for ferritin, folate, Vitamin D or Vitamin B12?
In the past I’ve had palpitations when both under & over medicated thyroid wise, so it’s very important to test levels and share with members for further advice.
Very best wishes to you 🦋
Thank you for your reply Buddy! I actually haven’t had my thyroid function tested recently so I’ll book an appointment tomorrow and get those done asap.
I haven’t had the other levels tested before or at least, not in years. Apart from ferritin as I have haemochromatosis and those levels are just slightly too high but I am getting treated for that with regular Venesection’s.
It’s worth asking for full thyroid tests (TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus key vitamins) and look to test privately if you are u able to get all tested via GP. We recommend you book an early morning test and take your usual Levo medication after the blood draw (not before).
how much levothyroxine are you currently taking
you were very hypo a year ago
Were your levels retested 2 months after increasing to 125mcg
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Palpitations can be due to being UNDER medicated
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking
Do you always get same brand
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
There are a lot of causes of palpitations and which ones are relevant to me are not necessarily the same ones that could be relevant to you. But I'll tell you what has helped me in the past.
1) Low iron. I used to self-treat my low iron and took a dose every day. I no longer do that but I keep high dose iron supplements in stock and take one if I get persistent palpitations or cramps or muscle twitching. Don't forget that the heart is a muscle and will often respond to the same things that help reduce cramp or twitching. If a single iron tablet works to stop your palpitations then it is a signal that you should probably test your iron/ferritin (iron stores) - it might be getting low.
2) Low magnesium is also very common. I take magnesium about 4 times a week. In my case it is magnesium citrate powder (which is a mild laxative) taken in orange juice but there are plenty of other types of magnesium supplement, and they have different properties.
naturalnews.com/046401_magn...
drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...
3) Keeping vitamin D at optimal levels (usually 100 - 150 nmol/L) is well worth doing permanently.
4) Low potassium. I take a small dose (level quarter teaspoon) of potassium bicarbonate powder in orange juice. Read both the article and the comments in the following link.
drmalcolmkendrick.org/2013/...
5) Low sodium. I take a tiny pinch of salt and this sometimes helps.
I don't take all these every time I get palpitations. Keeping my vitamin D optimal is ongoing, but the others I would take for palpitations only when I think it necessary. For example, I could take magnesium, and five minutes later the palpitations might be gone. So I wouldn't take the salt or the potassium. For me personally the iron and magnesium are most effective. But I always have the other things in stock for when they are necessary.
Before embarking on any of this you should probably see a doctor. You could have atrial fibrillation which might need a mobile heart monitor to diagnose. The doctor can provide the heart monitor and you wear it going about your normal life for a day or a few days.
You might benefit from beta blockers, which are prescription only, but they can reduce conversion from T4 to T3, so you have to decide for yourself.
You should be aware that doctors will often assume palpitations are caused by "anxiety" (i.e. they think the patient is mentally ill) or "health anxiety" (also known as hypochondria), and both of these labels might stick to your medical records and be used against you in future.
I dread to think how many labels are stuck to my own medical records. Doctors seem to think that everything I suffer from is caused by depression and/or anxiety. When I treated my own low iron for long enough the depression and anxiety disappeared. But I still monitor my iron and ferritin levels and treat myself if my levels fall too low for me.
The doctor might also decide that you should cut your thyroid hormones, so be prepared to defend your dose.
Some additional info I've just remembered ...
6) I have discovered that a sugar binge (which will lead to high blood sugar) will induce palpitations for me, so keeping my sugar intake at sensible levels helps me. For some people low blood sugar might actually cause palpitations.
7) Indigestion and bloating can cause palpitations for me too.
8) For more info :
Hello, I thought I’d mention that I’ve been having palpitations recently too. I know that mine are caused by a higher intake of sugar & a little alcohol over the Christmas holiday. They’re worse when I have both triggers.
I’ve been trying to control my blood sugar with a low carb diet & suddenly adding more sugar in has given me heart palpitations & flutters. Having googled it seems quite common. So it could be a side effect of a different diet because of Christmas.
If you take T3 that can cause higher blood sugar levels.
Thanks for all your replies. Im only experiencing one or two flutters every few hours now compared to the constant palpitations a few days ago.
I have booked bloods with GP and will look into getting vitamins if need be. I still have constant stomach ‘pain’ (not painful but sharp twinges and/or burning sensations for almost 2 yrs) - see previous post) and I’m now starting to think this might be related to whatever is causing the heart palpitations. I’ve had fit test, scan and colonoscopy. All clear.
Need to really start looking into it myself with all the info you have provided so I can get to the bottom of it and maybe start feeling better.
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