Test results today, elevated AST, ALT and TSH

[Crux]

May I just put a caution about iron supplementation?

We humans have a defective iron excretion system. Even iron deficient people can accumulate it in the organs.

I suggest making sure enough iron is in the diet.
Copper is necessary for iron metabolism.

@erin ,

Bad news about the headache.....

Sometimes, thyroid meds. increase the need for electrolytes, like potassium and magnesium.

 

[erin]

Last night woke up with terrible tachycardia at 4 a.m. I haven't had such a bad episode for a long time, possibly a year. I normally take my beta blocker around every morning 6.30 - 7.00 ish. I waited 40 minutes for the tachycardia to disappear, sipping water, breathing gently, changing my posture in the bed. Nope, it wasn't going away. I felt like crying. I was determined not to go to A&E. I took my beta blocker at 4.40 and it stopped. During this I became very cold. Ice cold. It was quite scary and I never had this before. When I used to have palpitations in the past I felt hot and sweaty. This was a terrible experience.

This morning I didn't take euthyrox (50 mcg) went to the doctor and told him what happened. He repeated the test and I'll get the result tomorrow.

No doctor understands Hashimoto's stages on patients and I have to go through nightmareish 40 minutes in the middle of the night.

 

[Crux]

Horrible experience!
We're the most complicated patients. I hope your doctor understands better than mine have.
They try to blame the patient when standard procedure doesn't work.

I hope the heart rate slows quickly.

 

[erin]

Heart rate is back to normal after the 4.40 a.m. beta blocker and no more thyroid hormone so far.
I doubt the doctor will understand.
I think I reacted to thyroid medicine. It was good for the energy, stomach bloating but gave me a headache and tachycardia. Maybe 50 mcg is too much for me.
Disappointing.

 

[CFS_for_19_years]

@erin
I think your tachycardia was a warning sign that your thyroxine dose was too high. If your TSH gets too low, you are at risk for atrial fibrillation. I would really hope that your doctor understands this. Many an endocrinologist has had to be consulted when a patient shows up at A & E with atrial fibrillation and on thyroxine.

I hope you won't be faced with any more problems like this. Are you seeing an endocrinologist or a GP for this? It really sounds like you need to be under the care of an endo to get your dose right.

 

[erin]

I went to my dr today, well he is a specialist in internal diseases. A dr for very generalized, wide range of health issues including thyroid and gastro issues in general. Because I live in a small town with a small hospital with limited sources.

My test result was pretty baffling,
Tsh increased to 9.1 and free T4 is 1.4

Am I the only person with an increased THS level taking when taking levothyroxin?

He simply didn't know what to say at first. He thinks something is wrong with my heart and I probably need an angiogram! This is the last thing that I want. I was very disappointed with his lack logic. He even mumbled that maybe the palpitations are psychological. I almost started to bark at him!

He could not understand why I need the betablockers in the first place. He said probably I have hypothyroidism because of the beta blockers! I said I have Hashimoto's Thyroid not hypothyroidism and the beginning of Hashi you get hyperthyroidism and that's why you get palpitations and cardio dr prescribe the betablockers to protect the heart and forwarded me to a thyroid specialist who diagnosed me Hashomoto's.

He strongly suggests that I should keep taking the same dose of thyroxine med if not more and cut the beta blocker! I am so confused and I really don't know what to do.
Can anybody suggest anything?
What would you do?

 

[CFS_for_19_years]

I think your tachycardia was a warning sign that your thyroxine dose was too high. If your TSH gets too low, you are at risk for atrial fibrillation

@erin, well I was wrong about your TSH being too low.

My test result was pretty baffling,
Tsh increased to 9.1 and free T4 is 1.4

I don't know enough about Hashimoto's to give you any more suggestions, but I'm glad you're going to see a thyroid specialist.

 

[erin]

Well, I was thinking that tsh was going to be too low too @CFS_for_19_years

I can not believe taking thyroxine hormone supplement made me produce more TSH! It is unheard of! Free T4 is increased though. Really totally unexpected result.

I maybe need to see a cardiologist first. This two medication; betablocker and the levothyroxin needs to be adjusted somehow.

In the meantime should I still take the levothyroxin? I don't know what to do...

 

[CFS_for_19_years]

I maybe need to see a cardiologist first. This two medication; betablocker and the levothyroxin needs to be adjusted somehow.

In the meantime should I still take the levothyroxin? I don't know what to do...

I can't offer any opinion on whether you should still take the levothyroxin. I have no clue.

 

[erin]

I wasn't really directly asking to you, sorry about that you had to write me the above. I think I am just talking to myself I am lost with the unexpected weird result. But thank you for your input.

 

[erin]

The endo (he is a prof) I saw nearly 2 years ago answered my email and he suggests I should take the levothyroxine 50 mcg. I will start again tomorrow, wish me luck. I hope I don't get a heart attack.

I also made an appointment with cardio after 3 years I will discuss beta blocker use and now being on thyroxine etc. I am a little nervous, I hate mainstream health checks.

I also booked an appointment with UK ME specialist Dr Abhijit Chauduri in the new year.

 

[Crux]

Wouldn't they be amenable to a lower dosage for starters? Have they ever had tachycardia ?

 

[erin]

@Crux they don't seem to be overly concerned! Probably because they never had tachycardia. I am the one who has it

 

[Crux]

Well then,
I hiss in their general direction !

 

[erin]

Well then,
I hiss in their general direction !

Thank you

 

[Crux]

Whatever you decide to do, please take care.

 

[erin]

I can't make decisions easily. I will probably be spontenous in the morning. Probably giving a second chance. And not sure yet about the dosage. I will see a cardio on Tuesday, it is probably the best time to go for it.
Thank you so much for your caring and concern.

 

[barbc56]

@erin

I am not a health professional but I can certainly relate to how scary tachycardia can be. Many years ago I was hyperthyroid and the tachycardia was something I would not want for my worst enemy. I was given a beta blocker which immediately worked. This eventually went away and I ended up being hypothyroid.

Take care and hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

[erin]

Thank you @barbc56 do you suffer from Hashimoto's as well? How did you manage both medications, do you still take them both?

 

[barbc56]

Thank you @barbc56 do you suffer from Hashimoto's as well? How did you manage both medications, do you still take them both?

I was hyperthyroid about thirty years ago, so don't know if the medical procedures are the same as today. It was so long ago, my memory may not be the best.

When I ended up in the ER, they gave me the beta blocker, sent me home with a prescription and a referral to a cardiologist. It wasn't until two days later that I found out I was hyperthyroid. Now,at least in the ER near me, you get these results while in the ER. I continued to get my thyroid levels tested, I think every six weeks. After three months my thyroid levels were normal and I was weaned off the beta blockers.

It wasn't until ten years later that I became hypothyroid. This is managed by my primary physician. I don't have Hashimotos.

I should also mention that hyperthyroidism runs in my family.

This is the short version so feel free to ask questions if this isn't clear.