I spent most of Tuesday in A&E because my resting heart rate was high. After lots of tests they found out I have an overactive thyroid. I am being refered to a specialist but just wondered how long that might take so I can get some medication. Felt dreadful again this morning. Trembling, High HR, Feeling queezy, short of breath, panicking etc and was on the verge of going to A&E again but started to feel a bit better. It's quite scary isn't it.
It took about a month and a half to complete all the testing that diagnosed me with Graves disease but I was given a beta blocker right away to slow down the heart rate. I live in Canada. I don't know what the situation is in UK for waiting times for specialists. Luckily I got seen within a couple of weeks. What you can do is start on supplements. There was a research paper by an Italian endocrinologist that showed that hyperthyroid patients benefit from taking Regular L-Carnitine, 3,000 to 4,000 mg per day. Most of us are deficient in vitamin D. I take 1,000 IU per day of that and I was low on Magnesium so take 200 mg of Magnesium Citrate a day. Omega 3 helps fight inflammation. Avoid the artificial sweetener Aspartame. I would go back to A&E again if you need to. Keep us posted on your progress.
I woulld go see your GP if you haven't already. He/she will probably put you on beta blockers to manage your symptoms in the short term. I couldn't take beta blockers due to bad reaction to them but was lucky in that my GP was prepared to treat me in-house without referring me. He put my on the anti thyroid drug carbomazole straight away and made sure I was closely monitered with blood tests every two weeks for the first two months. I could also get to see him at any time during surgery hours without appointment. He did refer me to the heart clinic just to check things out thoroughly. Personally, I think you get far better one to one treatment if your GP is very good and prepared to treat you in house.
Thanks. I can't have beta blockers as used to get asthma. I've got an appointment with my GP this afternoon.
Hi, I'd really recommend Linda187s advice. Supplements are absolutely Vital to help to get your body back in balance. (and Magnesium helps to relax the heart blood vessels to reduce the symptom of palpitations) If you're taking any synthetic hormones I would also suggest you research their impact on the thyroid. Similarly if you've had any long term use or short term high dose use of antibiotics this may have depleted your immune system and contributed to an autoimmune dis- ease state. Best wishes.
I agree. ANtibiotics are said to have triggered off an attack on my thyroid gland especially the group called the fluoroquinolones.
Hi, thanks for replying. I haven't taken any antibiotics or anything at all for years. No idea what caused it? Luckily my GP spoke to the Endocrinologist and he asked her to start me on Carbomazole immediately. Does anyone else wake up with headache every day? I take loads of water to bed to try and keep hydrated as i expect that's what might be the problem as my metabolic rate is raised?
Hi Caroline
With the fluoroquinolones these reactions can occurr several years later.