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Original poster

Hashimotos

12 replies

Emmasian94 · 16/04/2023 20:04

Does anyone get bouts of heart palpitations / feeling of heart racing in your chest with hashimotos? I'm not over medicated (I think) TSH in the right range and not too low. I'm on 50mcg, but keep getting this on and off. It's horrible.

OP posts:
indecisivewoman81 · 16/04/2023 20:16

Yes I have started to in the last year or so; wasn't sure if it was linked to Perimenopause or not. I take slightly more than you and have been on them for many many years at the same dose

TheOtherHotstepper · 18/04/2023 12:38

50mcgs is a starting dose and the guidelines actually say now that doctors should consider starting patients on a dose based on 1.6mcg per kilo of body weight.

Guidelines also say that the dose should be titrated 'until well-being is restored', which is clearly not happening in your case as palpitations are a symptom of underactivity. Do you have any results (with reference ranges) to show us?

Original poster
Emmasian94 · 18/04/2023 12:44

TheOtherHotstepper · 18/04/2023 12:38

50mcgs is a starting dose and the guidelines actually say now that doctors should consider starting patients on a dose based on 1.6mcg per kilo of body weight.

Guidelines also say that the dose should be titrated 'until well-being is restored', which is clearly not happening in your case as palpitations are a symptom of underactivity. Do you have any results (with reference ranges) to show us?

Thank you for your reply. That's really interesting!
I'm due some more blood tests at the end of this month but the last test suggested my tsh was 2.68 - range is 0.27 - 4.20mU/L
However last year it was as low as 1 still with these issues.

Thank you.

OP posts:
BatshitCrazyWoman · 19/04/2023 21:32

What were your FT4 and FT3 levels? Your GP shouldn't be prescribing based on just your TSH!

Original poster
Emmasian94 · 19/04/2023 21:49

BatshitCrazyWoman · 19/04/2023 21:32

What were your FT4 and FT3 levels? Your GP shouldn't be prescribing based on just your TSH!

The only thing that's ever been tested is my TSH and because it was high (last April) they checked for antibodies which were also high and confirmed hashimotos. They started me on 50mcg because I was 'symptomatic'.

OP posts:
TheOtherHotstepper · 20/04/2023 09:18

BatshitCrazyWoman · 19/04/2023 21:32

What were your FT4 and FT3 levels? Your GP shouldn't be prescribing based on just your TSH!

Hear! Hear!

Original poster
Emmasian94 · 20/04/2023 09:23

Now I'm concerned they've not done the sufficient tests and I've been on medication for a year...

OP posts:
Redstopgreengo · 20/04/2023 09:30

After initial testing of tsh and ft4 my gp now only tests for tsh too. I'm on 25mcg and tsh is around where yours is but no palpitations since starting medication. I'd maybe speak to them and explain you're still symptomatic and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Original poster
Emmasian94 · 20/04/2023 09:33

Redstopgreengo · 20/04/2023 09:30

After initial testing of tsh and ft4 my gp now only tests for tsh too. I'm on 25mcg and tsh is around where yours is but no palpitations since starting medication. I'd maybe speak to them and explain you're still symptomatic and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.

They were super dismissive of me - when I went to discuss the palpitations they said that Levothyroxine can cause them so put it down to that and offered no help. You're right with the request of referral. They've been so unhelpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Emmasian94 · 20/04/2023 09:37

TheOtherHotstepper · 20/04/2023 09:34

Thank you, I appreciate that.

OP posts:
Redstopgreengo · 20/04/2023 09:39

Emmasian94 · 20/04/2023 09:33

They were super dismissive of me - when I went to discuss the palpitations they said that Levothyroxine can cause them so put it down to that and offered no help. You're right with the request of referral. They've been so unhelpful.

Show quote history

Ah that's really annoying! Can you change gp and see if someone else will take it more seriously? At first they weren't even going to medicate me as I was "subclinical" despite a tsh of 37 because t4 was .1 over the reference range but another gp spoke to me after my results and she put me straight on levo because in her words "you must feel bloody awful". Hopefully you can get a more sympathetic one who won't just make you live with it. And if it is a side effect they should be trying you on another brand, you shouldn't be expected to continue with side effects forever.

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