Can anyone interpret remarks on a ecg?

[KatyMac]

Had an ecg on Friday & "everything is fine, all normal"

Then I noticed this, don't really want to Google but I'd like a bit of help knowing if I should ask the GP about it

004 Normal sinus rhythm
150 Left ventricular hypertrophy
275 Abnormal repolarisation, possible coronary
ischemia
284 Prolonged QT interval

Thanks

An ekg is a snapshot of your heart rate and rhythm at that moment in time. It does not predict the future and is not always a reliable predictor of past events. Although I do not solely rely on the machine generated interpretation it’s often correct. Artifact interferes with a clean tracing…poorly prepped skin, movement, body morphology. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) can be caused by high blood pressure which your value is high. You have an abnormal ekg. If you can (not sure of uk availability) I would request to see a cardiologist and/or an echocardiogram… an ultrasound of the heart..which is a better predictor of LVH.

I'll try; I just thought it odd when I saw the increased meds (I put in a repeat prescription) without any discussion!

Today I picked up my prescription for 50mcg

Then at 4ish I got a phone call saying they were going to increase my Thyroxine by 25 to 75

Oh wow I said - Thanks so much, I really need the extra as I feel so crap atm

Oh have you noticed a difference she asked

I said well I didn't even know I had a thyroid problem before I started on the Levothyroxine in October and it hasn't helped much and I've been waiting for the blood test so I could get it raised but I thought it would only go up to 50

Oh she said so your normal dose isn't 50,
no its 25 I said

Oh she said then its only going up to 50

Bugger I said

Ah it's actually a good thing she realised and only put you up to 50. 25 to 75 is a big jump. There's a reason you have to start on a low dose and slowly go up, your body can't handle a huge dose at once.

You should have repeat bloods again in 6-8 weeks and if your numbers are still not where they should be, then it'll be 75.

I get a blood test in 12 weeks so, I guess so

Im just tired of feeling like crap and my BP was really ok this morning and crap this evening (125/71 then 176/82)

I had a short bike ride this morning then I spent most of the day in bed too ill to do anything else

God I sound a right misery - sorry

No I totally understand! I've been ill since August, off work since October. Only found out it was my thyroid in December, and even though I've been on 50mcg levothyroxine for 5 weeks, I actually feel worse! I can't even do bike rides, I'm basically house bound right now. Sometimes I'm sleeping up to 16 hours a day.

So I know how it feels! But I've been assured by a thyroid specialist I'm seeing that I will get better - it just takes time, especially if thyroid has been struggling for awhile. Fingers crossed you'll get there too.

I've been ill since 96, a change in meds got me out the house in 2017 sleeping 16 plus hrs a day is normal for me and has been for decades

& I've been deteriorating since early 22 and ignored, I'm falling over, incapable of proper work for years now I feel like I'm in my 80s, I can do less that my nana could when she was 80

This is long and slow and painful; I've coped with a lot but I cant do it anymore

My "buck up and get on with it" has run out and I've been ill for more than half my life

Sorry miserable talking again, I'm better than that

I'm so sorry you've been so ill for so long. It sounds extremely tough. I have only been this ill for a few months, I can only imagine what it's like for years.

However - your thyroid really can make you feel very unwell if it's not working properly. So there's hope that getting yours under control could help. From the look of your recent blood tests the 25mcg hasn't done anything, so it's no wonder you don't feel any different. Most people require around 100mcg ultimately, so give it time. You may improve!

Sorry @DaisyCat33 I was a miserable cow last night and rude I apologise

If you haven't been ill before feeling like this long term must have been a shock! It's a really awful way for anyone to feel.

Knowing I've had bad results since Sept 21 and that it should/could have been picked up before is quite upsetting and makes me feel that I am unimportant and insignificant as I have certainly been complaining of ill health at the GP surgery

25 to 75 really isn't a 'big jump'. 50 mcg is usually the 'starter dose'. 25 mcg would only be for the elderly or those with other conditions that indicate a very low starting dose. It's a shame you will now have to wait yet another 5-6 weeks to do yet another test. Please don't wait 12 weeks, that's madness.

So am I very elderly at 55 or is my list of CFS/ME, FM, IBS, hypermobility and menopause too much!

I'll try and push for 6 weeks but I reckon they will say no, they are arsey! mind you so am I, not an easy patient

Is there anything in writing that says 6 weeks is long enough to trial a levothyroxine level

I found this on patient uk

But I don't know if patient uk is reputable

Every 6-8 weeks according to the GP notebook:

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/ear-nose-and-throat/monitoring-thyroxine-levothyroxine-therapy

From a research paper:

Given the half-life of levothyroxine (approximately 1 week), reassessment of thyroid status by serum TSH levels, and free thyroxine levels if desired, is indicated after 6 weeks of therapy when the pharmacokinetic steady state is reached. If the TSH is not at the desired goal, the levothyroxine dose can be adjusted up or down.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822824/
Levothyroxine Dose Adjustment to Optimise Therapy Throughout a Patient’s Lifetime

I had an actual argument with a GP today about the thyroid could not possibly make me feel this ill, so I said what is and got a lecture about cholesterol (which is very high admittedly)

& when I said treating the thyroid would bring it down she told me it wouldn't

And I should go on statins - statins didn't work for my mum or dad (both drank and smoked I do neither)

I felt so bad after the appointment - I guess I do cling to the idea that if this is fixed (whatever this is at the time...its been many things) I will feel better

Your cholesterol is high because you have hypothryoidism!!!! Your GP should know better! And no you shouldn't go on statins. What is the matter with them. If you have hypothyroidism it can make you feel at death's door. It's no exaggeration. I suggest you visit HealthUnlocked thyroid forum and you will find hundreds of patients with your experiences and many others who can advise you.

I am glad you are at least arguing (even though you may not feel good about it) because thyroid patients shouldn't just roll over and accept everything they are told (much of which is misinformation). You could accept what your GP says, stay on the same dose and take statins. Guess what? You won't feel any better. Gosh I am feeling angry on your behalf. I am so tired of seeing people in this situation, it really has to stop, because these are people's lives that are being diminished when they could be regaining their health!

Subclinical CANNOT cause this level of cholesterol - I have been TOLD!

my bad cholesterol is very high & my good cholesterol is very low (but I think that would matter less if my bad were lower & thyroid affects bad)

I have been on unlocked but its a bit overwhelming

She made me doubt what I have read

Yes it is a bit overwhelming. You might also try TPAUK, it might take a bit to get registered but it's far quieter there and better for individual help.

https://www.tpauk.com/main/

She made me doubt what I had read

Good old medical gaslighting at its finest.

Oh gosh, NHS GPs really don't know enough about the thyroid. I have been told this by a private thyroid specialist that I see. NHS GPs get hardly any training on it. Also my NHS GP has admitted it himself!!

I'm on 50mcg and went to see my GP yesterday to tell him I'm still feeling awful. He said "well your TSH is fine now so... It must be depression causing your ongoing symptoms"

I emailed my private doctor when I got home to tell her the same thing and she said "let's do more tests and see what's going on, you probably need a dose adjustment or different meds"

I'm so sorry OP but it's actually a real scandal how thyroid is treated in this country by the NHS. Your GP is wrong. Is there any way you can afford to go private? I can recommend a great doctor who does virtual appointments if you can.

In addition to learning about thyroid and cholesterol I need to learn about blood pressure

My morning is averaging 124/64 & evening 161/75 (only 5 days readings)

So off to learn

Thanks for your help @DaisyCat33 @CrunchyCarrot I'm feeling gaslight and bullied

Lack of knowledge is a killer

Do let us know how you get on!

😂😂😂Like I'd ever shut up!

@KatyMac while being hypothyroid does raise cholesterol, if yours is really really high your GP may have a point that it wouldn't raise it that much.

Especially if both your parents had high cholesterol which hints yours may be genetic.

However there isn't a lot of point assessing your BP and cholesterol until your thyroid is sorted as both may have changed as a result.

Unfortunately neither BP or cholesterol tend to give you symptoms so neither of them is going to be the cause of you feeling crap.