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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel really afraid?

116 replies

SpidersareTapdancing · 18/04/2022 12:17

I got a taxi to a&e this morning( no ambulances), because I had a heart rate of 180. Straight in for an ecg which confirmed it. Then directly into resus.

I was in resus for 6 hours and they had to use adenosine to reset my rhythm. That was horrendous as I felt like I was dying during it (I know that's normal)

Then about an hour later I went back into super ventricular tachycardia so had to have cardio version.

Then it settled, still sinus tachycardia but not svt anymore and I was told to come back if It happened again because there were no beds.

They also did some bloods and told me my thyroid hormone was 105 so extremely toxic. The dr couldn't find the medication I was prescribed because there wasn't any in the hospital (not even in the emergency drug cupboard)

So I've been given some propranolol and I have to go back tomorrow to get carbimazole? Apparently it's my thyroid hormone causing the svt and palpitations?

Aibu to feel scared it's going to do it again and there will still be no beds, no medication to stop it happening ?

OP posts:

Squiff70 · 18/04/2022 16:21

@SpidersareTapdancing

I went to a hospital about 40 mins away, I'm being admitted, I'm having a thyroid storm. I've never had any problems with my thyroid before.

I'm currently in resus but the medication they've given me has made my heart stop being so fast. I feel clearer than I have in days

Thank GOD you're in hospital and it has finally been recognised!

I agree, your GP and the previous hospital who let you go home have been hugely negligent and it absolutely needs reporting to stop this from happening again. Don't worry about that right now though. You need to put all your energy into getting through this and on the road to recovery. I desperately don't want you to go through what I went through (if you want I'll tell you more about it when you're feeling better).

I'm so glad you're getting the care and hopefully treatment you need and deserve.

Hang in there. I got better - you will too.

Original poster

SpidersareTapdancing · 18/04/2022 17:50

Thank you so much. I do feel a lot safer here. My heart is down a lot from what it was when I came in. I've not had the medication for my thyroid and another medication for my hr so it should come down now

OP posts:

catfunk · 18/04/2022 19:53

So glad you went to hospital op. Dread to think what would have happened had you not.
Wishing you a speedy recovery x

nonevernotever · 18/04/2022 20:04

So glad to read your update and so glad that @Squiff70 was here at the right time to give you life saving advice

Wagsandclaws · 18/04/2022 20:21

Dear Lord, only echoing what everyone else has said which is thank god you went to another hospital and yes absolutely complain about your gp and the other hospital!

I hope you get better very soon OP, you are in the right place now and they will hopefully have you sorted out very soon

When I was six stone heavier no one took anything that was wrong with me seriously just said to lose weight.

Thank god I didn't have a severe health crisis such as you have just experienced, health professionals ( not all but a fair few ) seem to put everything down to being overweight/obese and don't take things seriously ( such as your gp). It's awful it really is.

Sadandfedup2 · 18/04/2022 20:29

How scary glad you're getting sorted out

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 18/04/2022 20:34

I’m not sure what a thyroid storm is but I get SVT regularly and it’s proper scary. But my consultant always said it feels awful but isn’t dangerous.

I usually hold my breathe, splash super cold water on my face or push down like doing a number 2 when I go into SVT.

Obviously I’m not sure this will help if caused by a thyroid issue.

Glad you’re in a safe place.

AbsoluteTruths · 18/04/2022 21:02

I had the same issue op, with a new baby and I was reassured the weight loss was from breast feeding GP fobbed me off for six months by which time I was having a nervous breakdown and weighed six stone. Ended up with a total thyroidectomy. Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders is utterly abysmal. Glad you are finally being treated.

GreenClock · 18/04/2022 21:09

Bravo to @Squiff70 who might’ve saved your life tonight.

I’m not a “make a complaint” merchant usually but I think that in this case, it’s merited.

I hope you start to feel much better soon.

Squiff70 · 18/04/2022 21:42

Thank you, but absolutely not a problem. I'm just so relieved that you pushed for help OP and are crucially now receiving it. I'm not sure if your last post was a slight typo when you said you're not receiving the thyroid meds (I think and hope you meant 'now' rather than 'not') but hopefully the treatment will get you out of danger and an endocrinologist will work with you to work out a longer-term plan. You won't be fixed overnight but you're in the right place now.

Let us know how you are whenever you feel upto it.

Helpwithbills · 18/04/2022 21:49

Wow Squiff70 proper hero, well done 👏

HotDogKetchup · 18/04/2022 21:53

I’ve just stepped onto this thread and so relieved you’ve been admitted. Hope you’re feeling better soon OP.

Crimeismymiddlename · 18/04/2022 22:02

I had the exact situation you are in, right down to going back to hospital-though in my case they called me back in and made me stay overnight. When I first started going to the gp they blamed stress, then anxiousness and told me that I could not hyperthyroidism because I was very overweight-you can. Luckily I changed my gp and he saw straight away that I was in bad shape.
Please don’t worry, I know it is hard with the hyper thyroid messing with your emotions but please know a few days on the carbimazole and propanol you will feel so well, you will be able to sleep, you won’t be too hot, all the aches will have gone and your brain will clear and the rollercoaster of emotions will be over. If you can get them to sign you off for a week or two-I insisted on going back to work but I was still exhausted.

SummerWhisper · 18/04/2022 22:11

Bravo to @Squiff70 who definitely saved you from serious illness or even death

Rest up @SpidersareTapdancing and I love your username. Update us when you are well and feeling bright

OxeyeDaisy · 18/04/2022 22:14

My OH has an over active thyroid. Once you start on the carbimazol it will work quickly. My advice is watch what you eat, he very quickly gained weight. Keep on top of regular blood tests. Get your bit D and calcium checked. Hope you start to feel better soon.

SockFluffInTheBath · 18/04/2022 22:22

Good grief OP. I was going to write something reassuring about svt (I’m medicated for this) but then read further. Flipping heck. Im so glad you’ve gone to a second hospital. I hope they fix you

AngelinaFibres · 18/04/2022 22:33

@SpidersareTapdancing

They said they wanted to keep me in but there were no beds and I was taking up a bed in resus and because there was no medication for my thyroid (that I didn't know I had an issue with) I should go home.

I've lost 2 stone in 3 weeks is that my thyroid too?

I had exactly what you have. Can't remember the exact throid figure but it was something big like yours. I lost a stone in a week, couldn't leave the house after I'd eaten anything as I was trapped on the toilet. Carbimazole is brilliant, I hope you get it tomorrow. You may be put on a big dose initially. I was but the headache was agony so they reduced the dose. I had radiation treatment to reset my thyroid and I take levothyroxine now and forever. It does feel very frightening when your heart goes berserk.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/04/2022 22:35

Your GP isn't fit to practice!

A lot of them aren’t, they do it so they can eat biscuits and stop thinking. GMC won’t strike any of them off unless they absolutely have to and mistakes become “learning opportunities” for med students.

Gp’s really let the side down in healthcare. Anything more complicated than a chest infection and their out their depth.

Dhs put he had an asthma check and his asthma was well controlled. I was there as it was actually a mh appt so she lied to charge the health authority extra & earn the practice more cash. I think it’s called fraud.

Bettyboopawoop · 18/04/2022 22:48

Op go on Facebook and look for Btf hyper page it's the British thyroid foundation, I'm sorry but you really need to be in hospital I'm astounded they sent you home, I was kept in for 7 days with a heart rate of 170 and a T4 of 66, was given steroids ect, please go to another hospital where they will treat you, thyroid storms are life threatening.

Bettyboopawoop · 18/04/2022 22:49

Oh and the weight loss is down to an.overactive thyroid.

Original poster

SpidersareTapdancing · 18/04/2022 22:52

@Squiff70 thank you so much for your posts. Honestly I probably wouldn't have gone in unless I'd seen those

OP posts:

DogInATent · 18/04/2022 23:00

@SpidersareTapdancing

I've lost 2 stone in 3 weeks is that my thyroid too?

Classic hyperactive thyroid symptoms. You may also notice that your arms shake. Mine took a bit longer to develop - 6-8 weeks from first symptoms to being impossible to ignore. Several months after starting carbimazole I experienced my only thyroid crisis/storm. It's not pleasant. It also affects your thinking. I had quite strong thoughts of paranoia, and my decision making was definitely impaired.

I was lucky when it came to diagnosis as Grave's disease (one cause of hyperthyroidism) was quite well-known in the family history. It can be harder getting a quick diagnosis when there's no family history to point in the right direction. I was also lucky to get a locum, that was young, keen, and recognised the symptoms straight away.

The good news is that hyperthyroidism is usually easy to treat. Carbimazole is very effective, but the dose has to be built up gradually and you can expect to be on familiar terms with the vampires phlebotomists at your GP practice as the levels are monitored. But, it's not a long term solution and hopefully your thyroid will reset (it often does). If it doesn't, there are alternative treatments.

You need to get a referral to a endocrinologist for full investigation and diagnosis. Unfortunately, like almost all specialisms, there's a shortage of them.

(PS. please avoid the online thyroid support groups until you've got things under control and can think straight. They are packed with quacks trying to sell lifestyle cures to thyroid problems, and they prey on the muddled thinking that comes with hyper- and hypothyroidism)

Original poster

SpidersareTapdancing · 18/04/2022 23:01

@Bettyboopawoop thank you so much that, I'll join the group

OP posts:

Greyarea12 · 18/04/2022 23:02

I'm so glad you went back to the hospital. Must of been scary for you. Hope you feel better soon.

Bettyboopawoop · 18/04/2022 23:03

Sorry I hadn't read through all the thread when I posted so glad you have got help, having such a high T4 it might take you a while to feel better even when you start the meds, the British thyroid foundation are amazing especially on Facebook but you need the hyper page not the hypo page, I went down to 6 stone when I landed in hospital with a thyroid storm most dreadful experience of my life in more ways than one but that's another story lol. The propananol will bring the heart rate down and I assume you will need a high dose of Carb and maybe some steroids never did find out why I was given them, you may have a lump on your neck which is a goitre so don't be alarmed if you do. The road ahead maybe rocky but don't automatically be pushed into having radio iodene treatment or thyroid removal, do your homework first, if you have Graves dieasese it's fifty fifty chance of remission with meds.

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