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Have you eliminated AFIB by normalizing thyroid hormones?
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
I don't have Afib but have been having heartbeat issues. When I stand my heart "races" and I am also often lightheaded and dizzy. I believe that is due an overdose of the synthetic thyroid hormone, levothyroxine. I have been on a full replacement dose after treatment for Graves disease forty years ago. My "heart" symptoms started about 2 years ago. Again I believe that this due to an overdose of levothyroxine. My challenge on this is that my serum TSH is in the "normal" range. Thus my primary care physician is reluctant to make a change. Any recommendations on what else to test for? Perhaps a change in the source of the medication? I am currently using the generic from PUBLIX. Prior to this I used Synthroid.
Replies to "I don't have Afib but have been having heartbeat issues. When I stand my heart "races"..."
do they test your T3 and T4 and are they in the normal range?
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Two years?! Then what does your doctor think is the issue? I don't think an endocrinologist would tell you different. I also had Graves. I had thyroid ablation in 2003. Do you always get T3 T4 and TSH panel? You don't mention other symptoms: insomnia; wired/tired feeling; muscle weakness or soreness - especially in quads; hair loss or thinning issues; sensitivity to heat; weight loss? First glance, it doesn't sound like overdose to me. TSH is always in normal range? I would look to other issues. First, are you drinking enough fluid? Fruits, vegetables? No other overindulgence of caffeine or sugar (chocolate, tea) which can jack you up? Might be something as simple as electrolyte imbalance. Or anxiety. Did your primary suggest cardio referral? That would be my first go2. Lightheaded and dizzy doesn't compute with euthyroid. FYI: I take Synthroid because it has less variance. I assume you know never to self-adjust and wait 6 weeks for testing after doctor recommended dose change.