i don’t have a rheumatologist. However, i have an excellent cardiologist and excellent endocrinologist.
I have only had incidents of AFIB when i have been hyperthyroid. Emergency rooms apparently routinely test TSH level when patients have “heart attack like symptoms”.
I have so many specialists and don’t feel like i need a rheumatologist. My endochrinologist and my cardiologist agree that my occasional incidents of cardiac symptoms are triggered by hyperthroidism.
Hyperthyroidism (graves’ disease in my case) is known to trigger afib. I do not know anything about the correlation between other autoimmune conditions and cardiac symptoms.
If all my test results were normal, my next step would have been to go to an electrophysiologist.
I do have heart pain. I don’t know if it is because of me having Sjogren’s but my cardiolologist is very aware and mindful of the fact that I have Sjogren’s. Every single visit (1/yr now) I have an EKG and an echocardiogram. I suffer from congestive heart failure and a left bundle branch block (that part is probably not the Sjogren’s fault). I am really blessed to have a good cardiologist. I don’t care for him (personality difference) but I don’t have to…because he is thorough and efficient. I respect and trust him. It’s really important to have that trust.
@elisabeth007 did your cardiologist do all the necessary tests like an echocardiogram and a stress test? I, too, went to my doctors complaining of severe chest pain. I had all the tests which came back normal. The doctors said that my heart was fine, so the autoimmune condition I have was probably the culprit. You might try for an appointment with your rheumatologist to get their opinion.
Will you let me know what you learn?
Becky, i’m sorry that i don’t have any useful information to provide you. i have repeatedly been informed by numerous drs that An abnormally low level of TSH is a valid root cause of Afib. During each of the few Afib incidents i have had, my TSH has been highly abnormal. Moreover, i have never had chest pain. if i had chest pain i would be inclined to see my pulmonologist. And with thyroid auto-immune disease, i have repeatedly been advised to see an endochrinologist rather than a rheumatologist. The one time i went to a rheumatologist, the Dr told me that i didnt belong there.
I have been tested for Sjorgrens and do not test positive. Nonetheless, i have very dry itchy eyes. which are treated by a cornea specialist at the no 1 ranked eye institute in the country. i am fortunate to live near there. My eyes are treated with Cequa (.09 percent) cyclosporine eye drops . i’ve also had surgically inserted “plugs” in my tear ducts and for a few years serum eye drops spun from my bloodZ i ultimately developed an auro8une reaction to the eye drops made from my blood serum. i also have an excellent allergist/immunologist who has helped me a lot. I wish you all the best. Maybe you want to consider trying some new physicians with different perspectives? That’s what i always do when i feel like i’ve reached a brick wall with any of my physicians c
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
i don’t have a rheumatologist. However, i have an excellent cardiologist and excellent endocrinologist.
I have only had incidents of AFIB when i have been hyperthyroid. Emergency rooms apparently routinely test TSH level when patients have “heart attack like symptoms”.
I have so many specialists and don’t feel like i need a rheumatologist. My endochrinologist and my cardiologist agree that my occasional incidents of cardiac symptoms are triggered by hyperthroidism.
Hyperthyroidism (graves’ disease in my case) is known to trigger afib. I do not know anything about the correlation between other autoimmune conditions and cardiac symptoms.
If all my test results were normal, my next step would have been to go to an electrophysiologist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI do have heart pain. I don’t know if it is because of me having Sjogren’s but my cardiolologist is very aware and mindful of the fact that I have Sjogren’s. Every single visit (1/yr now) I have an EKG and an echocardiogram. I suffer from congestive heart failure and a left bundle branch block (that part is probably not the Sjogren’s fault). I am really blessed to have a good cardiologist. I don’t care for him (personality difference) but I don’t have to…because he is thorough and efficient. I respect and trust him. It’s really important to have that trust.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionBecky, i’m sorry that i don’t have any useful information to provide you. i have repeatedly been informed by numerous drs that An abnormally low level of TSH is a valid root cause of Afib. During each of the few Afib incidents i have had, my TSH has been highly abnormal. Moreover, i have never had chest pain. if i had chest pain i would be inclined to see my pulmonologist. And with thyroid auto-immune disease, i have repeatedly been advised to see an endochrinologist rather than a rheumatologist. The one time i went to a rheumatologist, the Dr told me that i didnt belong there.
I have been tested for Sjorgrens and do not test positive. Nonetheless, i have very dry itchy eyes. which are treated by a cornea specialist at the no 1 ranked eye institute in the country. i am fortunate to live near there. My eyes are treated with Cequa (.09 percent) cyclosporine eye drops . i’ve also had surgically inserted “plugs” in my tear ducts and for a few years serum eye drops spun from my bloodZ i ultimately developed an auro8une reaction to the eye drops made from my blood serum. i also have an excellent allergist/immunologist who has helped me a lot. I wish you all the best. Maybe you want to consider trying some new physicians with different perspectives? That’s what i always do when i feel like i’ve reached a brick wall with any of my physicians c
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions