Hyperthyroidism or Damaged Heart?

[Guest guest]

I am currently on block and replace therapy of 12.5mg Methimazole and

120mg Armour. I am still experiencing palpitations which is contrary

to what I have read. Most people indicate that the palpitations

disappear when they start antithyroid medication.

I was taking 100mg of Desipramine for depression. I decided to wean

myself from it when I read that tricyclic antidepressants shouldn't

be taken with thyroid replacement medications. I also read that

tricyclic medications and COQ-10 (which I was taking for my heart)

shouldn't be taken together. Antidepressant medications can also

interfere with efforts to lose weight. (I have 20lbs to lose.)

I have been off Desipramine for about a week and the palpitations

have still been occurring with my pulse, after just walking around

the house, at 136bpm, today.

I have been told that the Armour may be causing the palpitations, but

I am unwilling to give Armour up until I have the blood tests in mid-

September (after three months of BRT) to show where I am in my FT3

and FT4 and TSI.

I have not done any dosage adjustments since June 11. Based on

symptoms, alone, I would not have been able to tell what has been

going on. Some weeks, I am energetic and other weeks, I am

lethargic. I feel reasonably well, although I am very disappointed

in my efforts to increase my exercise. I can't walk any more than 30

minutes without feeling very tired. I am unable to sustain any

activity for more than an hour without resting. I still have heat

intolerance so I am unable to enjoy outdoor activities in the sun.

I have very dry skin on my face which I never had before. I have to

sweep my bathroom floor every other day to remove hair from it.

I guess I am used to asking the questions, here, before asking my

doctor, just to get some feedback so I will be able to recognize if

my doctor is not really listening to what I have to say. My question

is: How we can tell that years of undiagnosed Grave's Disease may

have damaged our hearts? My GP did an EKG right after I was

diagnosed with GD, just to be on the safe side. The results of that

test were normal, but is that the only test that needs to be done to

rule out damage to our hearts?

Thank you for any information anyone has.

54 years old. One year anniversary of diagnosis coming up on August

20. On antithyroid medication since December 7, 2002. Tried natural

remedy before that which did not reduce the thyroid hormone

levels.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I do not know the answer to the heart question -- but I would like to know

it as well!

I hear that hypO can also cause heart palpitations. However, if I'm reading

you right, your heart rate is elevated? Then maybe you need more ATD. Or

less Armour. Or a switch from Armour to synthroid (as it doesn't have the

T3 as does Armour). Why not get labs done now? The blood work should guide

you. And it is best to have it done every 4 weeks (at least for FT3 and FT4

and WBC).

Best wishes,

At 10:49 PM 8/9/2003, you wrote:

>I am currently on block and replace therapy of 12.5mg Methimazole and

>120mg Armour.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Remember that hypoT can also cause palpitations and hair loss. Depression is

also a common symptom of hypoT.

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get some labs to see what's going on.

Armour, which I also take, is best taken in divided doses, 2-3 times a day. If

the

dose of ATD is too high in B & R, hypo can easily develop.

Is this your resting heart rate? It's best to measure your heart rate after

10 minutes of rest or on rising. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hello, Elaine

Yes, the pulse is my resting heart rate.

I am going to have my labs done sooner than planned and that will

give me some facts to base my decision on of whether I will continue

with BRT. After reading, here, that it is better to have a very

knowledgeable doctor to help with BRT, I have decided that it would

be best for me to go back to ATD's, alone.