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Heart flutters with hypothyroidism

Posted , 11 users are following.

Hayhue
Hayhue

The first time I ever experienced a "heart flutter" was after my low thyroid had been diagnosed and I started levothyroxine. I asked my doctor about them and she said that if my levels are off that it can happen.

Ive been having intermittent chest pain for the last year to where I've had a 24 hour holter monitor, an echocardiogram, a lot of EKGs, bloodwork, and a nuclear stress test. It doesn't come with physical work or anything like that and feels mostly sharp.

Anyway, I've been messing up my medicine times and taking it with food because I absolutely cannot take it in the morning anymore on an empty stomach. These flutter feelings started Thursday and have been happening multiple times throughout the day. It's to the point where I'm not sure if they're happening or if I'm imagining them.

Could messing up the medicine time be a reason for this heart flutter feeling? Or can low thyroid cause this in general even if we take medicine to keep levels steady? I know I've read HYPER can but I've not seen anything about hypo. I've had so many heart tests this last year I'm just confused as to what could be going on.

Thanks! 

1 like, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • melissa71133
    melissa71133 Hayhue

    Posted

    Thought I'd add on, in case it helps someone else. I'm slightly hypo and was prescribed 25 mcg levothyroxine per day, which is a low dose according to my doc. All was fine for four weeks and then I had knee surgery. A week later I began to feel some fluttering or skipped beats, and I've never had any issues with my heart before. Five days ago those beats intensified and were 30 seconds to 1 minute apart for 24 hours. I literally could not sleep because my heart was bouncing out of my chest. I stopped taking the meds 3 days ago, and I'm still having some fluttering every hour or so. Only lasts 1-3 seconds but is always super scary. Feels like my heart will stop.

    Went to the doctor yesterday, and they retested my thyroid. Looks like everything is normal, but the fluttering continues. He told me to stop taking the medication this week, so we can rule out if it's a side effect. Hopefully I can make it without turning myself into the ER, and hopefully this will end soon!

    Just thought I'd share.

    • Chimama
      Chimama melissa71133

      Posted

      blocker I hate to have been having heart palpitations and fluttering since last December. Started when I was being overmedicated. It has been a long road since then. Was still having them even when my medication was lowered, but it can take 5 to 6 weeks before they can disappear. Ever since last December my doctor can’t seem to get my dose right. If you have two little you can have heart palpitations, as well as palpitations if you are receiving too much. I’m wondering if you even need to be on medication at all? Wondering what your lab results were before you were given medication? I finally decided I am switching my doctor and have been figuring out my own dosage that works for me, since she can’t seem to figure it out herself. I was being told to take 75 µg every day, and I was having palpitations that we’re getting worse and feeling like I was going to have a heart attack. I called my doctor the next day and was told that I needed to continue taking the medication and just work through the palpitations and take propranolol, which is a beta blocker, To get through the heart palpitations. What a bunch of crap!! these doctors don’t know anything . I hope this is helpful

    • melissa71133
      melissa71133 Chimama

      Posted

      Thanks for responding. Before medication my TSH level was 5.33. And, most recently, after 2 days without taking the meds, 2.33. I also wonder if I needed to take the medication, bc I had no symptoms of hypo before this whole thing started. I feel more sluggish and sick today than I ever have.

      Last night was very bad. I was feeling a skipped beat every 10 seconds or so. Was a worse day than the previous day, which is weird bc i would hope it would continue to get better. it took all of my power not to go to the ER.

      Thanks for the heads up about the 5-6 weeks. i knew it had a pretty long half life. How are your palpitations now? have the beta blockers helped?

      Thank you. This thread has made me feel better.

    • Chimama
      Chimama melissa71133

      Posted

      My palps are gone right now with taking 75 mcg 5x per week and 62.5 (125 cut in half) 2 x per wk. I don’t know if this is my ideal amount, but it seems to be working for now. Balancing these things is very tricky I have come to understand. Yes I do wonder if you really need to be on medication and that you are getting more than your body needs. You are not that much over from the normal range. I would like to suggest researching foods and natural supplements that will help support your thyroid function. Make sure you are getting enough iodine in your diet with salt and if you like seafood also good. I do not have any choice of being on medication, because I have Hashimoto’s, which causes the hypothyroidism and is destroying my thyroid . I hear that celery juice is also good for her thyroid . Also if you like Brazil nuts or sunflower seeds, those can optic your production of thyroid hormones. Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds have selenium which your body needs to support your thyroid function. If I find any other helpful suggestions I will let you know !

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine Hayhue

    Posted

    It isn't a mystery. The meds CAUSE heart palpitations.

    Heart palpitations are known side effects of thyroid meds.

    • melissa71133
      melissa71133 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      Do you think you could keep having heart palpitations on this med even if your numbers are normal? That is what's going on with me. My fear is that it's not the medication and that I just have a heart problem now.

      Are you still experiencing palpitations? If they've stopped, how long did it take?

      Thanks.

    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine danielle2500

      Posted

      they all cause heart flutters. Fir me Armour was better than levo. The belief is that the high T3 in Armour causes heart irregularities. It's been my experience that all the meds cause heart problems. I had such horrible anxiety on the levo, I could hardly function.

  • Chimama
    Chimama Hayhue

    Posted

    Yes that maybe true, but I believe that if you are getting the proper amount that your body needs ,as I am now, they will eventually go away. Yes they are a side effect for some people until you get the proper dosage

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