Thank you all for replies. The doc called me to the surgery, checked my heart, showed me my rather reassuring Qrisk algorithm and did not push me to statins like the last one did, (with death threats!).
Script given for propananol as I can’t seem to bring down this pounding heart (he couldn’t pick it up) and sending me for blood tests - TSH alone of course, eGFR with U&E, bone profile, CRP, FBC, ferritin, LFT, I can’t go til Monday morning anyway as it’s too late. I have also my Medichecks waiting to be opened, so I’ll do one Monday, the other Tuesday. I’m on a waiting list for the electrode machine thing.
Crashed out on sofa and woke up feeling grim but somewhat reassured.
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I use bisoprolol and haven't had a drop in conversion (only before that with a dose increase if levo). Calceolaria, might be worth asking if bisoprolol is an alternative.
Thanks Obsidian. What a shame doc didnt suggest that as I carefully asked if prop would clash with levo. I honestly can’t be bothered at mo to attempt another foray into GP World.
Not having ectopic beats or palpitations, it’s a strong, heavy pounding., reduced somewhat at present, largely around my back/shoulder blade area.
I’m about 70 kilo, still on 75mcgs and my last Medichecks TSH level, on Jan 8th, was 1.0, range 0.27 - 4.2.
I take 3x spray D/K2 and Your Supplement magnesium glycinate 1 cap, 80mg.
I take 1 Super B Complex, Igennus, stopped Monday, preparing for Medichecks next week. Substituted Jarrow Formula Methyl Folate and sublingual Nature Provides Bioactive B12 drops.
How's your cortisol level? Elevated cortisol can cause palpitations. Do you have any symptoms related to that, like insomnia, systolic hypertension, abdominal weight gain, bloating, skin fragility, etc.? This was my personal experience. I had heart beats so strong that I would stiffen my neck just to keep my head from rocking forward and backward at night. The adrenal glands (in my case) compensated for the lack of adequate thyroid function (atrophic thyroiditis) and I spent almost 2 years with severe insomnia. The palpitations began to lessen once my thyroid therapy began and included adequate amounts of T3.
How Cortisol Affects Heart Contractility
1. Increases sensitivity to catecholamines (Adrenaline & Noradrenaline)
-Cortisol upregulates beta-adrenergic receptors on heart muscle cells, making the heart more responsive to adrenaline.
-This leads to increased stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected per beat) and a stronger contraction.
2. Enhances Calcium Handling in Heart Cells
-Cortisol modifies calcium channel activity, which is crucial for muscle contraction.
-More calcium availability means stronger contractions even at a normal heart rate.
3. Increases Blood Volume & Blood Pressure
-Cortisol stimulates sodium retention via aldosterone, leading to fluid retention and increased blood volume.
-More blood volume can increase preload (the amount of blood returning to the heart), resulting in a more forceful contraction.
Thank you, that’s interesting. I did send for a Medichecks test a few months ago but sent it back as I thought ‘Nah, get over yourself’ but some of the symptoms you describe definitely ring bells.
High FT4 @ 83% with low FT3 @ 48.65% indicates poor T4 to T3 conversion
When conversion is poor we usually need to introduce some T3
But be aware that prop can reduce conversion
High cholesterol is a symptom of hypothyroidism (usually low FT3) adequately replacing T3 should lower cholesterol....made a big difference to my cholesteril level.
The heart needs a lot of T3.....deficiency can cause cardiac symptoms.....eg pounding heart
I'd suggest they can go racing round the houses looking for answers but until they correct your FT3 level with adequate T3 they will be chasing their tail
Clearly we are all different but it is worth remembering that for good health every cell in the body must be flooded with T3 by way of a constant and adequate supply....that is the first step.
How much thyroid hormone are you now taking?
Oooops.....I see it's 75mcg levo, you don't have much room to raise T4 so I'd be pushing to add a little T3.
I need high dose T3-only to function!
Sadly medics knowledge of thyroid disease is miserably poor as is diagnosis and medication.
I would drop the prop ....it will take a few days to clear from your system
Have a full thyroid test
check to see if conversion has improved without prop
( that is %ages are closer)
Then start to correctly medicate with replacement hormones......post new results for help
I'm not sure your medics know what they are doing other than trying to look as if they are busy doing something!!
Thank you NL. I’m not going to take it. It would give a very inaccurate reading. I want to know what my thyroid or whatever, is up to and this has been waiting to happen for a while!
Thank you. It has settled into extremely painful shoulder/upper back muscle pain/soreness. I’m wondering about injury but I can’t think what - and why the heart pounding.
My situation (a very long time since and never properly diagnosed) was I now realise, the first very important symptom of my hypothyroidism. I think it’s probably extremely rare to start with this symptom. “Rare” is always accompanied by a scarcely polite reply from medics, implying to the patient “Liar”. However the upshot/conclusion I have come to is it’s the most important symptom of the state of my hypothyroidism.
I would advise that you examine your dosage and blood tests very carefully. What could be going on? Don’t see any current useful testing in your post.
Unfortunately I have found medics total lack of any respect for the patient gets us nowhere fast. We experience such a rigid culture re: heart, it’s not thoroughly examined.
It’s very likely your Levo is an issue. One way or another. I found 75mcgs a very ‘difficult dose’. I have seen others report this too. I have seen it explained as a sort of transition dose. I think that might be a very important point for quite a few of us. Anyway there does seem to be an issue at this dose. Anyone’s guess why though, as so little research is done on dosing. Each to their own it seems.
Get full blood tests done privately and don’t waste any more time on medics.
I’ve had 3-4 private tests over past two and a half years and posted regularly on here. The consensus seems to be poor conversion.
Definitive ( I hope) private fully comprehensive thyroid and vitamin etc test due tomorrow and GP also wants NHS tests tomorrow so it’ll be interesting to compare TSH at the least.
Thanks. I’ll be updating my results on here next week - I really must sort out my profile.
Curious if “pounding heart” is all the time or only specific time, such as following meals or anticipating meals. The stomach produces H2 (histamine 2) which the heart is very suspitble to. This is a little different than the histamine that causes allergies, though it can contribute a bit to allergies. I have found taking an H2 blocker. such as famotadine (Pepcid) once in a while “as needed” helps me. Plus it doesn’t mess up your gut like PPI stomach acid meds do.
Food has revived the ghost of it, especially if sweet. I did consume a lot of calories - well, more than usual anyway - yesterday, the day after the episode.
That’s well worth a try. Thanks. I won’t try anything until after my blood tests. I do have Peptac liquid ( like Gaviscon but no aspartame) in the house which I occasionally use as I don’t like the PPI stuff and am aware if it’s negative impact.
Having now looked it up I can see Peptac wouldn’t be useful as a blocker.
How would you know when to take it, as it’s a pre-emptive medicine?
I take it if my heart rate goes up a tad, if I have any feeling (even slight) of “pounding”and before heavy meals (my neighbor is a chef who loves having us for holiday and birthday dinners). And, hard to explain, somethimes when I just feel I might need it. 🤗
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