Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Any information about thyroid medications and Afib would be appreciated. I have had hypOthyroidism for 4 years and was prescribed Armor thyroid. When I was recently diagnosed with Afib, my cardiologist told me that the Armor has an extra T3 element to it that may have sparked my Afib and I should switch to Synthroid. I stopped the Armor and have gradually been increasing my Synthroid since my Afib diagnosis in April. It has not helped because I go into and out of Afib every couple of weeks.
I just joined this discussion group today and have found much helpful information here but nothing about hypothyroidism, the medications and the connection to Afib.
One thing that I have noticed is that many of us have Afib and many of us have it for different reasons. No matter how hard we try to figure out why we have it or what caused it, everyone's story is the same, we have it, no matter what.
I would be fibbing if I said it wasn't scary and a little depressing. I seem to do fine when I'm in NSR but the fluttering episodes of Afib scare the heck out of me.
I just joined this discussion group today and have found much helpful information here but nothing about hypothyroidism, the medications and the connection to Afib.
One thing that I have noticed is that many of us have Afib and many of us have it for different reasons. No matter how hard we try to figure out why we have it or what caused it, everyone's story is the same, we have it, no matter what.
I would be fibbing if I said it wasn't scary and a little depressing. I seem to do fine when I'm in NSR but the fluttering episodes of Afib scare the heck out of me.
Welcome to the group. I recently was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and am currently taking 50 mg of Levothyroxine once a day. Its taken weeks to feel the effects but just this week I had my 2nd cardioversion and put on Sotalol in the hospital. Both these meds are for life which bothers me but I am starting to feel better being out of afib for the first time since my ministroke in Feb. I asked my dr about the thyroid issue and it does seem many with afib end up with thyroid problems. Hope things get better for you and you continue with the group here. Ive found lots of support here!
Vinny
Thank you for your reply and warm welcome. I will definitely stay connected to this group. It is very informative and has helped me calm down a lot. I was on 50 mcgs of Synthroid and my endocrinologist told me to go up to 75 mcgs. I'm thinking maybe that is too much but she says I can go higher. It's too bad the endocrinologist and the cardiologist do not work together. They are in separate parts of the city and don't know each other. One Dr says to high and the other says the dose is too low. Meanwhile, I'm the one left wondering if they know what they are talking about. Thanks again!
I have had AFIB for about 40 years (long before they knew what it was). Finally had a stroke and an ablation about 1 1/2 years ago. The ablation reduced my AFIB so its more tolerable (less frequent, less intense), but I still have episodes (AFIB burden of 10.8%). About 1 year ago, my blood work came back markedly hyperthyroid. Over the next 9 months the endo had me on a thyroid suppression drug then gradually reduced it. When I see her again in two weeks, I suspect she will take me off it. When she started the drug, I went hypO and gained weight (lost it now). However, I noticed a slight reduction in my AFIB, but nothing major.
Yes, a lot of us have thyroid issues, and they can be a contributing factor ... but only contributing. AFIB has a mind of its own. Some of us learn to live with it.
As for thyroid problems and a-fib. Its easy to blame the a-fib on thyroid problems (after all, a heck of a lot of people have thyroid problems!) but as the saying goes it aint necessarily so. A lot of us have the combo; some have hypo others hyper. Ive had a defunct thyroid for about 40 years now and Ive always taken L-troxine (never the Armor thyroid). My PCP controls the levels about 3 4 times a year. So they are seldom out-of-whack (and never for long). If it doesnt go away when you get your thyroid back in range then that wasnt the reason. I got a-fib in Feb 2013 so its more than likely, in my case that my thyroid is NOT a major player. If your a-fib goes away after getting your thyroid in range then THAT was the problem and you could very well be cured.
If you have read up on a-fib (and it looks like you have from what you have said) then you know almost ANYTHING can cause it. For a while there I was looking at everything I was doing and eating trying to find an answer. Unfortunately, to no avail; when I thought I had found something and would eliminate it from my diet the devil a-fib would show up. Dont get me wrong, some people have found their triggers and have been able to keep a-fib at bay for many years! Ablations work for some, most of those people drift away from Daily Strength after success, so yes, that can and does work for some. Some have decided to learn to live with it. A-fib will not kill you (although it sometimes feels like it) BUT a stroke can (so you might want to look into anticoagulation if your a-fb continues). TIAs (mini-stokes) and strokes are not something to be taken lightly.
The Daily Strength group is great, there is lots of good information and the best support around. Just knowing that there are a lot of people out there who KNOW firsthand what you are going through helps immensely. Its family.
This has been posted many times but is always good to read it again. Its from an EP who also has (had) a-fib:
13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation (by Dr. John Mandrola, MD)
Here are 13 things I tell AF patients.
1. I am sorry that you have AF. Welcome to the club, there are many members. (Three million Americans and counting.)
2. I know how it feels.
3. Your fatigue, shortness of breath and uneasiness in the chest are most likely related to your AF.
4. AF may pass without treatment. Really.
5. Important new work suggests AF is modifiable with lifestyle measures. As in you can help yourself.
6. AF isnt immediately life-threatening, though it feels so.
7. Worrying about AF is like worrying about getting gray hair and wrinkles. Plus, excessive worry makes AF more likely to occur.
8. Emergency rooms treat all AF in the same way. One hammer often a big one.
9. There is no cure for AF. (See #5)
10. The treatment of AF can be worse than the disease.
11. The worst (and most non-reversible) thing that can happen with AF is a stroke. For AF patients with more than one of these conditions: Age> 75, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, or previous stroke, the only means of lowering stroke risk is to take an anticoagulant drug. Sorry about the skin bruises; a stroke is worse. Know you CHADS-VASc score.
12. The treasure of AF ablation includes eliminating AF episodes without taking medicines. But AF ablation is not like squishing a blockage or doing a stress test. It will be hard on you. It works 60-80% of the time, has to be repeated one-third of the time and has a list of very serious complications.
13. If your AF heart rate is not excessive, its unlikely that you will develop heart failure. Likewise, if you have none of the 5 risks for stroke, or you take anti-coagulant drugs, AF is unlikely to cause a stroke. In these cases, you dont have to take an AF-rhythm drug(s) or have an ablation. You can live with AF. You might not be as good as you were, but you will continue to be.
Theres obviously more than 13 things to say about AF. Its a complicated disease with many different ways to the same end. We need adequate time with our patients to give them this kind of powerful knowledge. They need time to digest all the possible treatments, or perhaps no treatment. Patients need to weigh the disease against the treatments.
All this is why AF treatment should not be rushed.
I hope this helps some. If you have any questions or just want to vent, feel free.
Take care,
Carpe diem,
across the pond (atp)
Thank you so much for your reply to my question. Acrossthepond, I want to let you know that I am on an anticoagulant medication called Eliquis and that I am very aware of the CHAD scale, (I am a #3 on the scale. and will be on Eliquise for the rest of my life, and a beta blocker callet Metropolol. Sometimes I think the medications make the symptoms feel worse. When I was first diagnosed, I was Asymptomatic and didn't know my heart was pounding 150bpm. My GP found it when I went for a normal check up. Now when I go into Afib, I can feel tightness and pulling in my chest which makes me think that is the medication trying to slow my heart rate down. I'm not sure because it's all new to me. Fighting the anxiety that Afib causes is a constant. I work hard to avoid depression by thinking about Dr John Mandrola's 13 things about Afib, and it helps. Right now, I'm in the middle of a 2 day episode and I'm constantly wondering when it will go away. Thank you again for your reply, I will stay tuned in for all of the great information here.
Its true, once you know you have a-fib and know what it feels like you are more apt to be aware of what your heart is doing (or not doing). If your heart isnt racing away and you can function while in a-fib then my way of thinking runs along the lines of Im the master of my life NOT my a-fib. If the a-fib has got the better and you really cannot function then its time to see an EP to see what options are available to you.
As far as anxiety goes, I was only REALLY afraid when I didnt know what was going on. After the doctor said this isnt going to kill you, I thought, Umm, okay. (Im the type of person where knowledge calms me down). Thats not to say there are not people out there who have anxiety because of the a-fib. They might chime in and help you find ways to deal with it (there have also been a couple of posts dealing with anxiety). Im also not saying there arent days when the a-fib stops me in my tracks, but I do what I can. I hate, Hate, HATE it but thats not going to get me anywhere.
Carpe diem,
atp
Did you know there is a onnection between magnesium deficiency and irregular heartbeats?
I used to get irregular beats all the time. Sometimes they would trigger afib so bad that I would end up in the emergency room.
Ever nice I started taking magnesium, I no longer get the extra beats, and o far, haven't had another afib attack. This has been since April, so it may be too soon to tell.. But so far, so good.
I buy Wholefoods brand and take 200mg twice a day. Give it a try. It can't hurt!
And btw, I'm on synthroid.
what magnesium brand and amount do you take?
I was also told about the magnesium deficiency connection and hypothyroidism so I added a magnesium supplement to my vitamins about 2 months ago, 500mgs a day. Obviously it didn't help because I went into Afib again this past weekend. I will continue to take the magnesium because it works well with the calcium supplement I'm taking, but I don't think it's an answer for me.
Now I am very tired. After 2 days of my heart beating irregularly and fast, I'm exhausted and will rest today and back to my regular routine when I get my strength back.
200mg 2x daily
a hypothyroid blog on DS. I found it very confusing so I don't bother with it much.
Good luck