Heart problems, thyroid, any advice please?!

[grimeofthecentury]

Hi

I have recently been having trouble with my heart rate. It's rarely below 90bpm even when lying down chilling in front of the tv for hours at a time. Last time I was at Drs it was 155 after driving a short distance, walking up steps and sitting down for fifteen minutes waiting in the waiting room.

I also have periods of fairly high blood pressure. It is never low but is normal sometimes also - I used to a few years ago be told all the time what low blood pressure i had like it was a good thing. (at pill checks etc)

In the middle of all this I have been diagnosed as hypothyroid and started thyroxine. The gp was confused as she said normally hypothyroidism causes SLOW heart rate. Not fast like mine is.

I was sent for a 24 hr holter monitor. The consultant has reviewed the results and said my heart on average is too fast. Nothing urgent or massively panicking but abnormally fast.

They have referred me to the bigger hospital for an Endocrine appt with a specialist. I was expecting a referral to Cardiology??

Does anyone know what this might be? Do you think they'll take me off the thyroxine as it increases your heart rate?

I've also been told the referral might take a little while as NHS so busy which I totally understand. In the mean time I don't feel comfortable going for a run etc, exercising as usual. I've been walking the dogs and doing some swimming and yoga but I ran for about 4 minutes a couple of weeks ago and my heart rate on the treadmill said 185bpm quite quickly and took ages to go back to normal. I worry I could pass out or my heart rate could go bonkers but I also don't want to seem like a drama queen and put my life on hold.

Just to add I don't feel panicked or anything when my heart rate increases and I can only sometimes "feel" it pumping in my chest/throat. Not like palpitations really.

I'm in my mid twenties, slim and normally healthy.


Any advice would be welcomed!

[WhyDidIEatThat]

They put me on an actual ton of propranolol when my resting heart rate was 90bpm, almost double its usual, but my thyroid is overactive rather than under - hope they get yours sorted out soon.

[grimeofthecentury]

Thank you so much for answering. I want to get to the bottom of it so I can get on with things!! I'm just wondering why a dr at my local hospital where I was under the cardio clinic, has now referred me to Endocrinology. Apart from my gp diagnosing me with hypothyroidism there has been no mention of this being linked to it at all. But I suppose it must be?

[grimeofthecentury]

Hopeful bump

[MargoLovebutter]

Have you had any thyroid blood tests recently? It may be you are not absorbing the thyroxine particularly well and you are not being optimally medicated.

How about other tests of your vitamin & mineral levels?

Do you know why you are hypothyroid? Do you have Hashimoto's disease or a pituitary problem or some other reason?

[grimeofthecentury]

Thank you for the reply I'm anaemic also and on 3 lots of iron per day but apart from that they said everything else was normal. I've been started on 50mg I reckon they might up the dosage? Do you think it would be a good idea to get my go to do me a blood form and test levels again or wait for this endocrinologist?

I have been told im most likely hypothyroid as it runs in my family?

[grimeofthecentury]

Go to do = gp to do

[MargoLovebutter]

You need to get knowledgeable about your condition Grime.

Find out exactly why you are hypothyroid & ask for copies of your blood tests. GPs often don't have time to do a thorough analysis of results and so as long as you are in range, then it is called 'normal'. That can sometimes mean you are right at the bottom of a huge range and that may mean that your levels are not optimal.

What were your ferritin levels? How low were they? If they were really, really low, then an iron infusion or injection may be better than taking supplements, which aren't always the most effective way to absorb iron. Ask your GP & discuss this with them.

What is your diet like? Are you eating sufficient protein & plenty of veg?

Have your thyroid blood tests improved at all since you've been taking the thyroxine? Has your GP been giving you regular reviews to check this - like he/she should?

(I am not medically qualified, so I'm not giving advice, just commenting on your thread.)