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.
Background: I've had AFIB for decades, diagnosed about six years ago. Metoprolol for five years. Stroke last December, ablation April 7, 2014. NSR for the next four months. Beginning in August I started having events again, although not as debilitating as last year. Now I take metoprolol PIP and the event stops with 1/2 hour. I have copies of my blood work going back to 2001, never had thyroid issues.
In mid September I saw my PCP for my 'Welcome to Medicare' visit. My TSH was 0.048 (acceptable range of 0.45-4.5) not good. The TSH is one of those reverse indicators (low means hyper). My PCP sent me to an endocrinologist (who specializes in thyroid and worked at the Cleveland Clinic ... guess she knows AFIB). She did a battery of blood work, and guess what, I came back hyperthyroid. So next I need to go for an Iodine Uptake Test at the hospital. Then decide on a course of treatment.
The good thing is that thyroid problems are readily treatable (hyper a little more difficult that hypo). Also, we all know the hyperthyroid is directly related to AFIB (and anxiety ... thought I should just throw that in). So maybe this can explain the return of my AFIB after the ablation. Just looking on the bright side.
On another bright note, my implant when in this morning, only a little pain and minimal blood. Sitting here with an ice pack. I six months the new tooth goes on the implant.
In mid September I saw my PCP for my 'Welcome to Medicare' visit. My TSH was 0.048 (acceptable range of 0.45-4.5) not good. The TSH is one of those reverse indicators (low means hyper). My PCP sent me to an endocrinologist (who specializes in thyroid and worked at the Cleveland Clinic ... guess she knows AFIB). She did a battery of blood work, and guess what, I came back hyperthyroid. So next I need to go for an Iodine Uptake Test at the hospital. Then decide on a course of treatment.
The good thing is that thyroid problems are readily treatable (hyper a little more difficult that hypo). Also, we all know the hyperthyroid is directly related to AFIB (and anxiety ... thought I should just throw that in). So maybe this can explain the return of my AFIB after the ablation. Just looking on the bright side.
On another bright note, my implant when in this morning, only a little pain and minimal blood. Sitting here with an ice pack. I six months the new tooth goes on the implant.
I'm Kevin, you and I have much in common. My A-fib was first diagnosed in the late sixties, although it was called PAT at the time. I have had a recent thyroid ablation, my thyroid went hyper and then hypo many times before the ablation, now I take levothyroxine daily, and my TSH has stabilized. I think it has reduced my A-fib episodes also. I hold NSR for a long time between bouts, but when they hit the bouts are intense, 200 + BPM and higher, usually short in duration, but occasionally needing cardio-version to abate. Are you T-3 or T-4 thyro-toxic? Not that it really means anything, I was T-3 toxic, but both make you a bit on edge, and the weight stays off, even when you gorge on a large pepperoni pizza by yourself.
I have been on Atenolol for over 20 years, I take warfarin, have had a TIA, but I seem to have fully recovered now. Also, seem to have metabolic syndrome, only based upon tri-glyceride levels, other levels are within norms. They found a pair of cold nodules when I did my last uptake.
If it shows abnormal I would go ahead with the thyroid ablation. Tablet based level control works, and you will finally get a whole nights sleep every once in a while, they really help.
I just did a quick search and I came up with the following videos from doctor Brownstein about thyroid nodules and lack of iodine. I have his books and I could not find any extensive discussions in his book for thyroid. So, I think the following video should be helpful:
http://thethyroidsessions.com/dr-david-brownstein/
By the way, when he talks about iodine, he means Lugol iodine, which is a combination of iodine and iodide potassium. I take 12.5 mg of lugol iodine every day.
Also, I used to use iodine tablets to disinfect my water when I used to backpack in the 90s before I got a high tech filter :-) You probably did the same when you were backpacking, right? So, iodine is not going to hurt and NOT a poison. The body excretes it if it does not use it.
I wish you lots of luck in treating your nodule and getting rid of your episodes, which are probably caused by it.
Best wishes,
Scott
I hope this thing can be gotten under control. Last night was a bad one. About three AM, the heart started pounding and I had to get up four times to pee. I hoped it would slow by itself, no such luck. I didn't get up to take a metoprolol until about 5:00 am. I had always attributed episodes of frequent urination to the production of Atrial natriuretic peptide from the AFIB. But these recent episodes don't seem to be AFIB, just pounding and moderately fast 80-100 BPM. So I Googled hyperactive thyroid and frequent urination, sure enough a common symptom. Gee I love to get a good nights sleep.
I loved t the video and read Brownsteins book. Agreed, he does not say much about nodules in the book (and his thoughts on hyperthyroid are fairly limited). I eat a lot of fish, so I doubt if I'm iodine deficient. Let's see what the Ultrasound says. I bet she sends me for a fine needle biopsy next. Ouch!
Grrrr, frus-zzzzzz-traiting is right. It takes time (something like 6-8 weeks) for the thyroid medis to kick in completely.
I am glad that you liked the video and Dr. Brownstein's book. All I know, so far anybody who has followed his book for his/her thyroid has had excellent results.
In my opinion, you should turn over every stone before you do anything drastic for your thyroid. You need hard data for your decision. If I were you, I would do a 24 hour urine test for iodine to make sure you do NOT lack this essential element for your thyroid. I understand you eat fish and may be iodized salt, but still you might be deficient in iodine because of fluoride in the water and bromide in the breads. He discuss all this in his book. So, the only sure way to know, is the 24-hour urine test for iodine. That is what I call hard data and not going by estimates and guessing.
Also, you should put your engineering hat on and approach your thyroid like an engineer and NOT like a doctor. You will have a lot better results. Looking at all the facts and the data rather than shooting from the hip :-) I know you can do it , LOL.
Here is another idea to verify your thyroid is the reason behind your heart pounding:
Have a standing order for Free-T3 thyroid hormone blood test. Go for the test when your heart starts acting up during the day. Of course, if it happens at night, naturally you can't go.
Free-T3 hormone is the active thyroid hormone. It goes way up if you are hyperthyroid (with TSH way low). The idea is to see if your free T3 spikes way high and causes the heart pounding. If that is the case, then for sure you know your thyroid is a problem.
In case of Daisy, she is taking thyroid meds and more than likely her dosage still is too much. She is taking T4 which has to be converted to T3 by the body. More than likely, her T3 also spikes. I think the above blood test is the ultimate way to verify if the pounding is caused by the thyroid (or too much med in case of Daisey). That is what I call HARD DATA. There is no guessing or thinking. The data shows where the problem is.
Let me know what you think. Again, I wish you luck in solving your thyroid issue. Just curious, what was your free-T3 when your TSH was at 0 .048. Around 8 or 9 (very high)?
Scott
TSH 0.01 LOW (normal range 0.40 - 4.50)
Free T4 normal
Free T3 normal
Thyroid Peroxidase AB 16 HIGH (normal range < 9)
TSI normal
TBII 26 HIGH (normal range
I finally got a copy of my lab and radioactive iodine uptake tests. Seems the endo's office sent the lab specimen to Quest instead of the lab I requested (the one on my insurance, Quest is not under my insurance). They apologized and will make up the cost difference. So here's the results of the lab:
TSH 0.01 LOW (normal range 0.40 - 4.50)
Free T4 normal
Free T3 normal
Thyroid Peroxidase AB 16 HIGH (normal range < 9)
TSI normal
TBII 26 HIGH (normal range
Based on my limited understanding this looks like an autoimmune thing however, reading about these abnormal test is about as clear as mud, other than hyperthyroid.
I also got the Radioactive Iodine Uptake test results, which showed a slight enlargement of the right thyroid, within normal range, no obvious nodule, but recommended a Thyroid Ultrasound to look for one. I scheduled the Ultrasound for Monday, will probably see the endo by the end of the week. My guess is if no nodule, then no fine Needle Biopsy. We'll see. Input and advice is always welcome.
It would appear to be an odd thing to me, I would expect to see a high T-3 or T-4, the peroxidase is a T-3,T-4 precursor as I understand it. It is used to make the thyroid from the iodine. I think that lots of it being available could mechanically cause excess thyroid, but I would still be expecting a high thyroid number somewhere. I will stop in and say hi more often. I have been remiss in keeping in touch with the A-fibbers.
Your thyroid situation is very interesting. As Kevin said, for hyperthyroid, I expected very high free-T3 and T4 hormones. So, I did a search because I was very curious about your numbers. May be you have seen the following link about your numbers. In the case you have not, it describes you as having Subclinical hyperthyroidism:
http://www.jfponline.com/fileadmin/jfp_archive/pdf/5506/5506JFP_ClinicalInquiries6.pdf
Of course, the link describes the main stream clinical diagnosis and how to approach addressing the problem.
However, I am a follower of Dr. Brownstein since I have seen several excellent results among the people who have followed what he says.
In my case with Hashimoto's, my specialist scared me to death about taking T3 hormone or iodine. My Thyroid anti-bodies were climbing and I was feeling worse and worse for three years. Finally, after reading several books about thyroid, I stopped going to my specialist, started taking iodine, and through my PCP I got prescription for synthetic T3. So, I did exactly what the main stream doctors were saying I MUST NOT do for Hashimoto's.
Well, I am still here kicking very strong and feeling great. My thyroid anti-bodies have come down to normal levels now, which indicates my Hashimoto's is totally under control.
Out of the thyroid books that I read, I thought Dr. Brownstein was the best. That is the reason I recommended that particular one to you.
Based on my experience with myself and others, I think he is correct about the importance of iodine for auto-immune disease and specially for all kinds of thyroid disorders. I just went by his stats that most people are deficient in iodine. I started taking iodine without testing myself for iodine first.
By the way, I started very slow with iodine (only one drop 1.5 mg per day) to make sure nothing bad is going to happen. Then, gradually I increased it to 12.5 mg of Lugol iodine per day. The same with taking the T3 hormone. I started with 5 mcg and now I take 12.5 mcg (from a mixer pharmacy).
By the way, when my wife was hyperthyroid (low TSH and very high Free-T3), she was agitated, she lost lots of weight, she had bad thoughts (world about to end), she could not hold a cup of coffee since her hands were shaking, and her heart rate was around 110 to 120 resting. Yes, she was a mess. The same with people at work who were hyperthyroid. I sort of don't think you are having those symptoms since your free-T3 (the active hormone) is normal. So, in that respect you are lucky. That is great.
Daisy - Thanks very much for your kind words about me. I try to share my experience with others specially if the outcome was great. To me, that is the purpose of forums like this. To share real experiences that you don't hear from the medical people (doctors).
Good luck to you both in solving your thyroid issues. But, please try to consider what Brownstein says. He seems to be right on the mark as far as thyroid disorders. I can NOT say that about the main stream doctors. I wish I could, but I have seen too many failures following the main stream doctors for thyroid.
Scott