On 100mg Thyroxine for 10 years but now getting constant palpitations and head pressure.Why is this happening?

[Joshua2703]

[Clarebear]

Hi - Di you have any recent blood test results - it maybe that you need a change if dosage? I get those symptoms when under-medicated. Xx

[Joshua2703]

I'm trying to get a GP appointment as we speak but not until May 7th! I feel really awful for the first time in ages and the skin is peeling on my hands again so I think you could be right. My whole head also feels full of pressure, my hands are really stiff and my tinnitus is worse too. To be honest my last bloods were deemed only just acceptable. Really want to see an endocrinologist as I haven't seen one since the first year I was diagnosed.

Thank you for answering my question.Really shocked someone is listening as I've only just joined. I've been in denial for 10 years

[twinks in reply to Joshua2703]

Hi just wanted to say hello, and I understand how you're feeling. I'm still learning on here. Hoping to get better. They're a great bunch of caring helpful people on here.

[Jackie]

Hi Make sure you are having TSH T4 and Free T3 tested, if not can you pay through the site ( details if asked). If thyroid levels correct, probably not .as go "off" with age. Then look at HR ( pulse). Take 3 times a day for a few weeks. Especially when feel like this. Is it uneven? Swinging? If so that is the first test for Atrial Fibrillation, AF is very common but needs a diagnosis and anticoagulation for safety. If the answer is yes, next test is a home monitor, tiny ECG`s ( GP) if possible 7 days but probably will only be 24 hours.A normal ECG is useless for an intermittent condition. AF is quite common and not too serious but does need diagnosis because without anticoagulation. there is a risk of clots.

I hope this helps, concentrate on the thyroid first.

Best wishes,

Jackie

You may well know but if replying to a set person, you need to click on "reply to this" or we will not know.

[Joshua2703 in reply to Jackie]

Hi

Thank you so much for such an informed reply. My heart is missing a beat every 15 seconds, a sort of pause then a jump.I can feel the pressure in my head and hands together with dizziness and slight waves of nausea. Have been fine for 10 years, well as fine as you can be being a thyroid sufferer There is a history of irregular heart rhythms in the family but this seems so acute at the moment and I feel like I'm going to pass out. I know the GP will suspect stress or anxiety as I am a teacher and they always think this way.Thankfully I'm not stressed other than the stress caused by feeling like this! The irony :/

My last bloods in September were said to be just satisfactory so that makes me think my meds might need to be changed. It is always a struggle getting the GP to see my symptoms and to look beyond the blood tests which are only just in the 'acceptable' range.

I seem like a right moaner today but I do genuinely feel awful and having to wait so long for a routine doc appointment is frustrating.

Thanks for listening Catherine

[Jackie in reply to Joshua2703]

Hi A. F. is very much inherited ,although, of course, not always. It would not do any harm to check out. First test is always a week or take to measure HR. , 3 checks a day, including when "odd." One does not preclude the other and often thyroid and AF are inter connected. Often thyroid disease brings on the onset of what would have eventually have happened.Some people think an ECG is the answer, but it only shows if happen to be erratic at the time measured which is why a home monitor perfect if proved to need it. It can always be intermittent if you are lucky, still needs warfarin etc. There are treatments,some better than others but very common. It can feel unpleasant but not every one finds it so. Falls also can be associated with it and wobbles!Also if HR high, unless constant Ok ( not A and E) but often then the BP goes down to compensate. Good idea to check out your electrolytes, calcium ( especially if on vit D ), Potassium and sodium ( U`s and E`s, kidney function) and Magnesium , s a separate test. They must always be in range regardless.If it does prove to be AF be sure to see an arrythmia expert, usually they are electrical too, fancy cardiologist with really a fancy name

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Joshua2703 in reply to Jackie]

Thanks Jackie

You really know your stuff

I need a whole load of blood tests and B12 might be advisable too. My HR is not that fast, being between 65-75 when resting.My problem is the irregular beating. My BP is usually on the low side , if a bit too low at times.I am waiting on a call from my GP as I can't get an appointment for ages so I've requested a blood test form so that when I do get to see him, he'll have the results in front of him.

P.s Do you get a feeling of pressure in your head? Please say you do :?

[Jackie in reply to Joshua2703]

Hi Have you actually checked it when having sensations.? It can be very low,or anyhow and stable in between the bouts. You may go days or hours between them. That is why so hard to detect.Yes B12 and Folic acid a good idea and ferritin/iron. vit D, cholesterol and glucose. All go with autoimmune Hypo ( if you are ) and lots of them are hormonal. Pressure in the head, when AF bad I get very bad migraine type headaches . Tinnitus most of the time. Terrible vertigo, that is definitely AF. Hard to analyse myself as I have very serious heart diseases and end stage heart failure. I had AF all my life and many many years before developed, probably unconnected VT`s clots and arrests, my electrolytes are a nightmare and that is very serious indeed.

You just need to be sure.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden]

sorry to but in but is palpitations different to being able to 'feel' your heat beat? - i lie in bed and feel mine, sit at my desk and can feel it beating really hard; last few months i've noticed this.

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hayface,

Not always . people describe it either way. I was once asked to describe mine to a cardio, impossible! really any funny feeling, fluttering, light headedness etc. Main thin is to do the checks. I have put more info on a second answer to Catherine, above. To read go back to main question on today`s site.E mail me back if I can help further.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Jackie in reply to Jackie]

Hayface, I forgot to say. If replying to a set person cllck on "reply to this" or we do not know, I picked your message up when I looked at Catherine`s.

Jackie

[Joshua2703 in reply to Jackie]

I agree with the symptoms you describe. My missed beat can be detected when my pulse is taken. My tinnitus also seems to get louder along with the pressure in my head ..... Think I will put myself in the bin! It's so difficult explaining this to your GP in 10 minutes as the list of strange little things seems to grow! My skin is peeling on my hands but this would add another strange phenomenon to the ever growing list!

[Joshua2703 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

I believe palpitations are a series of missed, jumping beats, that create an irregular pattern ..... but I'm not a doctor so I'd mention it to your GP when you next visit

Catherine

[Jackie in reply to Joshua2703]

Hi GP will just take the pulse ( HR ) when visit and unless very lucky nothing will show, That is why the recognised test is doing it yourself ,then a home monitor, Essential to have a proper diagnosis. If you go to a GP and they find nothing, harder to get the right treatment.

Jackie

[merissa in reply to Jackie]

Jackie, its Merissa, How is the vertigo connected to AF? also sorry to sound dence lol but your electrolylites, does that mean nerve funtion or diabetic? or neither lol.

just need educating.

xxx

[Jackie in reply to merissa]

hi Merissa,Vertigo is sometimes caused by AF. also Menieres.I was diagnosed with them both( I do have tinitus) But it turned out it was the AF,that happens a lot as really no way of telling without experience them with a very bad AF "attack"

Electrolytes mainly Potassium, sodium( U`s and E`s ), magnesium ( tiny range) and the corrected calcium ( they normally give 2 results)Must always be in range, for the heart and kidney , and of course lots of other reasons too Vit D may cause calcium to go too high, which is why it has to be checked for that too.If out they can cause arrythymia ( AF, V T`s or other), and at the extreme end ( like me) cardiac arrests. If Potassium ,especially is low , acute renal failure, coma etc, which I also have because my elerctrolytes are so unstable.

Does not effect nerve function or diabetes which is autoimmune and hormonal ,so fairly common with autoimmune thyroid disease.

I hope that is clear?

Best wishes,

Jackie.

[Joshua2703 in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie

Just got my blood results for all of the tests you suggested and they were normal. GP is now sending me to see a cardiologist for further investigations as I am still having the fluttering and jumping heart. Just wondering whether the clear blood tests suggests it isn't too sinister or not?

The fact my mum suffers from AF seems to be the main concern as my pulse is now 80bpm, the 5 minute (waste of time ) ECG was normal and my BP is also normal.

Very confused and desperate for it to be something simple like caffeine intake now that my thyroid tests are apparently good.I don't get any chest pains or breathlessness but I do get dizzy and feel feint. I get a lot of hot sweats from the menopause and this can trigger an erratic beat.

Catherine :/

[Jackie in reply to Joshua2703]

HI Catherine,

Two different things . GP`s often say thyroid bloods are normal, but we on the site and very good endos etc consider often they are not. You need to ask the receptionist for a list of the bloods and the ranges. They should have done tSH, T4 and Free T3. We usually find T4 needs to be in the top third of range and FT3 near the top, to feel well.A lot of docs, especially GP`s just go by TSH, this is a modern idea, down to costs.The receptionist will check with the GP while you wait but this is routine, your blood!

The second thing is I do think a cardiologist is a good idea, he will do home monitor, which is the only way to check for A.F ,unless very lucky. The normal recognised first check is home HR ( pulse ) measurements by you. However you have now gone beyond that. He should also do an ECG, echo and stress tests and bloods. Makes sure all your electrolytes are tested, calcium ,Potassium and sodium ( both U`s and E`s, kidney) and magnesium. This is very important as AF is an electrical problem.Do not take any without a s script, this goes for Vit D too. Always ask a consultant`s secretary for copies of his letters and bloods with ranges ( all vary). Some send them automatically.

Apart from the fact that doctors are not always careful with checking results this means, you know which tests done, what needs retesting and have records to compare. All ranges vary Lab to Lab for most tests., which is not a problem ,if you have the ranges.

If turns out you have AF , make sure you see an arrythymia expert and go on anti coagulation, very important.Also if positive it is important to be under a really good endo ( research needed ). I have had a lot of cardio`s over the years, so you need to be careful who you choose, Mine says that I need to know more than them to keep safe! A lot of ignorant about electrical heart problems.Does not help that most of them think they are God.

Make sure that you have your iron/ferritin and B12 and Foliates, tested as these may cause the symptoms you describe. I suspect you thyroid is under treated.it is common for both conditions to nbe worse after the menopause, an endo may think you should take Oestrogen, bloods! AF can cause terrible sweats and diabetes too ( that needs checking.) A good endo does check all these associated conditions. I was told by cardio`s I must always see a good endo.

I hope that has given you some ideas. If not happy with any consultant always have a re referral I have learnt the hard way!

Do let me know how it goes. You can always PM me any time, if I can help.

Best wishes,

jackie

[Joshua2703 in reply to Jackie]

I have requested a referral to an endo time after time, but get the same response , which is your thyroid levels are 'Fine'. I will ring and ask for my blood results to be printed off for me and put them on a post.I had a really great endo at the start called Dr Vora..... well I thought he was but perhaps due to the state I was in he seemed great. ... not sure.

When I started the menopause early he was really great but after a period of 2 years of feeling relatively normal I was told I was good to go (so to speak :/ )

That was when I was 42 and now at 50 I seem to be reliant on GPs (never the same one of course) and the receptionists!

I do know that the tests for diabetes, anaemia,potassium, sodium, liver and kidney function and cholesterol were '' Normal'' according to the GP but will get the details.

I dream of getting referred to an endo who would look at every aspect of how I'm feeling now and get to the bottom of it all.

When I went to the GP at the start of it all in 2002 I was diagnosed with ;Anxiety -triggered depression'.It was only after returning with my hair coming out in clumps, skin peeling of my hands and feeling insane that he did a thyroid test. He rang me and said, verbatim, ''Good news! It's not all in your head, you have an over active thyroid!'. Within 8 weeks I haemorrhaged as my thyroid collapsed and become severely under active to such an extent that my endo Dr Vora used my data in one of his papers :/

Happily I have coped with 3 kids and full time teaching since and this is the first blip in quite a while.

Sorry I'll shut up now! This has turned into a novel!!

Catherine

[Jackie in reply to Joshua2703]

Hi Catherine, Rubbish treatment! Also thyroid disease more common after the menopause.I see a wonderful endo , but you need a referral,. Lots of TUK see her and just pay her charges, reasonable and she writes to GP for tests, which they always do, scared of legal consequences!Thyroid disease is not a simple disease, GP`s like to think so as common.There are few good endo`s who treat the patient, not just the bloods. You would still need a referral but GP`s usually fine if you are paying.

you will go down hill, without the proper treatment. often we have to fight for it, I hate doing that but health the most important thing.Your symptoms are obviously down the thyroid and perhaps low vit D (hormonal). A good endo should test everything relevant.

If i can help further ,send me a PM. Click on my name,is the easiest way.

Jackie