Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
I have not posted in a while, so to catch up:
I was diagnosed hypothyroid in Dec 2014. Dr prescribed Levothyroxine 25 mg
I returned for testing. Dr said I was ok, as my numbers were in the "normal" range, even though I felt anything but normal. Testing again 6 months later. Doc says I'm normal, but still feeling like crap. In August last year I was feeling really bad and noticed my heart was beating very slow. Saw my cardiologist. He seemed to think it was caused by another med I was prescribed for tachycardia. But now I have bradycardia ( slow heart beat). I suggested he check my thyroid. He tested TSH and free T4 only. Told me the numbers were in the "normal" range so it couldn't be caused by thyroid. The bradycardia continued.
The past few weeks I really felt horrible. I had headaches almost daily. I decided to check my blood pressure and it was extremely high. (230/89) My family doc called in a med for that. Blood pressure was going down, but bradycardia was worse. Heartbeat 36 bpm? I got in to see my cardiologist. He decided to lower the metoprolol. I suggested that thr bradycardia may be caused by hypothyroid. Can you believe my cardio increased my levothyroxine? He was reluctant, but said "well, I guess it couldn't hurt". So today is my first day on my increased dose. Keeping my fingers crossed. Here are my last labs as of
Dec 15, 2015
Free T3 2.9 (2.8 - 4.2)
Free T4 1.2 (0.8 - 1.6)
TSH 3.74 (0.34 - 4.82)
Did my numbers still look off ? Sorry for such a long post, but I am so hoping this increase helps me. I did a little research and found that hypothyroid can cause bradycardia and also that bradycardia can cause high blood pressure. I've never had high blood pressure!
Thanks for any input.
I was diagnosed hypothyroid in Dec 2014. Dr prescribed Levothyroxine 25 mg
I returned for testing. Dr said I was ok, as my numbers were in the "normal" range, even though I felt anything but normal. Testing again 6 months later. Doc says I'm normal, but still feeling like crap. In August last year I was feeling really bad and noticed my heart was beating very slow. Saw my cardiologist. He seemed to think it was caused by another med I was prescribed for tachycardia. But now I have bradycardia ( slow heart beat). I suggested he check my thyroid. He tested TSH and free T4 only. Told me the numbers were in the "normal" range so it couldn't be caused by thyroid. The bradycardia continued.
The past few weeks I really felt horrible. I had headaches almost daily. I decided to check my blood pressure and it was extremely high. (230/89) My family doc called in a med for that. Blood pressure was going down, but bradycardia was worse. Heartbeat 36 bpm? I got in to see my cardiologist. He decided to lower the metoprolol. I suggested that thr bradycardia may be caused by hypothyroid. Can you believe my cardio increased my levothyroxine? He was reluctant, but said "well, I guess it couldn't hurt". So today is my first day on my increased dose. Keeping my fingers crossed. Here are my last labs as of
Dec 15, 2015
Free T3 2.9 (2.8 - 4.2)
Free T4 1.2 (0.8 - 1.6)
TSH 3.74 (0.34 - 4.82)
Did my numbers still look off ? Sorry for such a long post, but I am so hoping this increase helps me. I did a little research and found that hypothyroid can cause bradycardia and also that bradycardia can cause high blood pressure. I've never had high blood pressure!
Thanks for any input.
(Did she TEST him for it???? OF COURSE NOT! His TSH was "normal!" Hahahahahahaha! Sorry I am laughing, but this is soooo typical!)
Hope you feel better soon!
GGGGGGRRRRRRR!
Free T3 7%
Free T4 50%
That's a way low T3. I don't know much about conversion issues, maybe someone else will chime in here about that. But I'm surprised your T3 is that low with a T4 at 50%. Make sure that they run BOTH of those again the next time you go in for testing.
Good luck and I hope you feel better!!
It's obvious by your lab numbers that you needed an increase a looooooooooong time ago.
I'm so sorry you had to go through this, but it's all too typical. I, myself, nearly died before getting thyroid medication.
The thing that seems to trip doctors up is the overwhelming (and undocumented) fear that too much thyroid medication will kill the patient. Of course, too much will, but when you're obviously at a deficit, you need more! Ugh. We should not have to beg, plead, and nearly die before we get adequate treatment...but most of us do/have.
I'm glad your cardiologist upped your dosage, and I'm not surprised at all that your Free T3 is at the rock bottom of the range. With a Free T4 of 50%, you're not getting enough T4 to convert to Free T3. That's obvious by your Free T3 numbers.
A typical healthy person aka *most people* will feel well with a TSH of 1 or below, a Free T4 of 60-100% of range, and a Free T3 of above 50% of range.
You're sitting at:
TSH 3.74 (almost 4 times what it should be)
Free T4 50% of range (still too low)
Free T3 7% of range (waaaaaay too low)
I'm surprised you haven't been in the ER by now.
And YES low thyroid can cause badychardia, tachycardia, and high blood pressure! Here's just a few articles (there are MANY) that describe such a problem:
http://hypothyroidmom.com/is-your-thyroid-killing-you-heart-disease/
Unfortunately, too many doctors believe the TSH "gold standard" lie, and patients suffer. There's a 30-60% mortality rate for untreated/undertreated hypothyroidism...more than one of my relatives has died/nearly died due to myxedema coma.
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hypothyroidism/possible-complications.html
There *are* studies that back up the notion that subclincial hypothyroidism prevents/decreases risk for heart disease/failure.
PS Subclinical hypothyroidsm is defined as "Normal TSH and LowISH Free T4" or "Normal Free T4, High-ISH TSH)"