Can anyone tell me if Hashmoto's can cause Atrial Fib.

midwest1

It absolutely can, and the information is easy to find by doing a websearch.
It didn't happen to me, and perhaps you won't get any responses here saying that it happened to others. The main thing is that it can happen, even if you don't get any anecdotal evidence here.

It amazes and truly dismays me that you've known for 17 years that you have Hashi's and no one has bothered to treat you for it!!! That happened to another member here, whose doctor was a total dingbat and denied her treatment for decades. She eventually suffered heart failure and other permanent damage due to the hypothyroidism. Don't let that happen to you! Get yourself into treatment for it ASAP!

aussiejenni

I had af with Graves disease and was put on warfarin to keep my blood from clotting and I had to take propranolol. After my TT the af settled down, although I get palpitations from time to time, but nothing like before!

sunny59

midwest1

I have read a lot of your advice and you seem very knowledgeable.
can thyroid problems cause person to be sensitive to oral medication?

The cardiologist is rushing me to cardioversion and antiarrhythmics and I'm afraid.
My heart is healthy and no blockages and I'm afraid he will give me some meds that
will kill me. I have where to go for information. So far I haven't been able to
take ccbs or bb. The Cardo said thyroid won't stop A Fib

midwest1

Sunny, you haven't directly told us whether you are being treated for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's disease at this time. Yes or no? It's vital that you be given supplemental hormone, because I'm positive after 17 years of antibody assault on your thyroid gland, it's pretty much shot. If none of the MDs you've seen understands that, you're going to have to start making demands on them to get what your body cannot do without.

(I need to cut this answer short for now. I'm in the middle of a huge lightening/thunder storm, so I have to shut the PC down. Be back later!)

sunny59

midwest1
No I have not been treated for Hashi. The Doc said yesterday that
it doesn't matter if I treat the Hashi or not, I must go on medication and
do cardioversion. I am afraid of the meds because they all seem to cause
great anxiety and depression. He wanted to put me on antiarrhythmic today
but I said no. He has step up my cardioversion. He is testing for TSH,FT3,
FT4. He said I must do something now because nothing else will stop the
A Fib. Can I still be treated for the Hashi if I go on antiarrhythmics?

i'm very down today. I think they might kill me or make me crazy.

sunny

midwest1

I'm sorry this is happening to you, Sunny. A-fib is a serious thing. I'm sure you understand it can be life-threatening. Even worse than that, IMO - it can cause a stroke which will permanently disable you without taking your life. That happened to my mother. She lived a miserable 10 years in a nursing home after a-fib threw a clot to her brain and caused a major stroke. I can't advise you about your MD's recommendations how to treat it, but clearly, it has to be treated soon.

After you pass that crisis, you need someone to pay attention to your hypothyroidism. I have to be honest... It will be harder to treat now that your heart isn't working right. If that heart dysfunction has been caused by 17 years of thyroid neglect, that would be a terrible, terrible shame.

I'm just a layperson, but I would have to guess that it's too late to fix this problem with thyroid hormone alone - assuming hypothyroidism is the reason for it in the first place. (It's still possible that hypoT isn't the cause, however. Just because hypoT can cause a symptom, that doesn't mean it is causing it.)

You seem reluctant to discuss the reasons for going so long without treatment. Guess it doesn't really matter. Lack of insurance and other economic conditions are frequent and understandable reasons; but far too often, it's doctors' miserable ignorance and and refusal to treat that make us suffer so long and hard, and that's just unforgiveable.

Best wishes and restored health soon.

sunny59

midwest1

I was told that it was ok as long as the levels were normal. I had a doc
that new I needed it but she started out on too high a dose. I had my
levels check every year and no one suggested therapy.

I know I should of kept up with it but I didn't. I was so happy to be
able to function a a semi normal rate after my bout with a virus (cmv)
I had aids caused by CMV and not HIV. Also a long chemical exposure to
propane leak in my bedroom for two years.

The doc I say was a Environmental Specialist and she saved my life with
Transfer Factor(made from blood). After 15,000.00 I was back on my
feet again and forgot all about the thyroid until now. I hope not too late.

I'm going to a specialist tomorrow. I found there web site here and on
other sight. They are about 2 hours away. Holtorf Medical Group.
I know it will be a long process but I will take it one step at a time.

You know I have prayed the last year for a healing and I would never
of done anything about anything if I hadn't gotten that attack of A fib.
I don't trust regular doctors and the alternatives are expensive. All I
know I have been soooo sick for the last two years it shook my faith.

I bet your sorry you asked.

sunny

midwest1

You're singing to the choir when you talk about mistrusting doctors!
And this statement is one good reason why I don't:
You see, there is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to thyroid tests. There is only what's "normal" for you. Just as you have a "normal" shoe size within its range and can't comfortably wear any size within that range, you have thyroid hormone requirement that fits you. You won't be healthy at just any place within that range; the amount of hormone has to 'fit' you. Then... they might have only been testing your TSH, not the free portion of your actual thyroid hormones - T4 and T3.
Bottom line... if your TSH was above 2 and your free T hormones were in the lower half of their ranges, you needed treatment. The lack of it is almost certain to have caused your body some damage over such a long time span.
Ignorant thyroid-treaters frequently make the mistake of starting a dose too high; then when the patient crashes, they say, "See there. You didn't need it in the first place."

I didn't trust doctors before my thyroid failed. What I've learned about them since then has destroyed my trust even more. I'm very worried that someday soon I'll develop a life-threatening problem of some sort and will have to trust more than I feel capable of right now.

Still wishing you the best... mw1

mauz

68 Most Commonly Reported Symptoms of Hypothyroidism*
( look at the one, RAPID HEART RATE )


o Fatigue o Swelling of eyelids o Emotional instability
o Lethargy o Dry skin o Choking sensation
o Low endurance o Dry mucous membranes o Fineness of hair
o Slow speech o Constipation o Hair loss
o Slow thinking o Weight gain unexplainably o Blueness of skin
o Poor memory o Paleness of lips o Dry, thick, scaling skin
o Poor concentration o Shortness of breath o Dry, coarse, brittle hair
o Depression o Swelling o Paleness of skin
o Nervousness o Hoarseness o Puffy skin
o Anxiety o Loss of appetite o Puffy face or eyelids
o Worrying o Prolonged menstrual bleeding o Swelling of ankles
o Easy emotional upset o Heavy menstrual bleeding o Coarse skin
o Obsessive thinking o Painful menstruation o Brittle or thin nails
o Low motivation o Low sex drive o Dry ridges down nails
o Dizziness o Impotence o Difficulty in swallowing
o Sensation of cold o Hearing loss o Weakness
o Cold skin o Rapid heart rate o Vague body aches & pains
o Decreased sweating o Pounding heart beat o Muscle pain
o Heat intolerance o Slow pulse rate o Joint pain
o Non-restful sleep o Pain at front of chest o Numbness or tingling
o Insomnia o Poor vision o Protrusion of one or both eyeballs
o Thick tongue o Weight loss o Sparse eyebrows
o Swelling of face o Wasting of tongue