Not directly Valve Related but Heart Failure..........

[Jkm7]

I'm hoping someone here among this fabulous group can help me find a forum I can visit to learn more about hyperthyroidism and heart failure.

I've recently (and quite surprisingly) learned my bloodwork indicated a high thyroid reading. I have no weight issues and my weight has been well within normal ranges prior to my MI and since my surgery. I don't show any of the typcial presentations, however, it's good I had the bookwork done.

I have not yet met with my PCP to discuss this and fully intend to have a retest. I know that hyperthyroidism can have a very negative effect on heart failure to depending upon my visit with my PCP, think it appropriate I also speak with my cardio.

I have so much to learn and would like to know 'what I don't know' before these Doc visits. I don't even know what to ask at this point.

Thanks if you can help.

 

[strawberry]

Hi!

I had Grave's disease at a young age: 18. My primary symptom that brought me to the doctor was my pulse was 120 at rest. I wouldn't have even realized that except I took an aerobics test and my resting rate was other people's target rate. Later I realized I had symptoms that I had not put together. diarrhea, loss of muscle strength (thought I was getting old...ah to by 18 again). I didn't have weight loss but in fact gained ten pounds. I've always been thin and I think this came from not being able to be my active self due to the muscle weakness. I went from doing backflips across the gym to landing on my head and not being able to do one pushup. Anyway, I think the concern for heart failure is a constantly high rate, expecially if you develop a thyroid storm. My pulse stayed high for a year. Does your rate seem to be affected by the thyroid? I think that's the main thing to look at. If your already in CHF I would think it would be more of a problem to have an elevated rate.

 

[barbwil]

heart, thyroid

heart, thyroid

http://heartdisease.about.com/od/lesscommonheartproblems/a/thyroidheart_2.htm

You might like to check out this article by Dr. Rich Fogoros on the relationship of the thyroid and heart problems. I have had hypothyroidism for 15 years and in the 3 years that I have been on warfarin it has been an up and down battle to keep the two meds on course. I recently became over suppressed and became hyper, no picnic!

God bless and Happy New Year, Barb

 

[Jkm7]

Thank you for your responses.

My pulse is not elevated and, thankfully, I am not on Wayfarin.

I seem to have none of the lengthy list of symptoms and am very puzzled.

It doesn't sound like my TSH level is all that elevated but as we know, anyone with heart conditions get 'extra attention' with something like this.
My TSH is 5.29....not all that high depending upon which doc you speak with. There seems to be some disagreement in that regard.

I most assuredly will be retested and wait for the opportunity to speak with my PCP who is away this week.

Thank you again for your help. I need to learn as much about this as I can. As I said, I don't even know 'what I don't know'.

 

[hpuehler]

hypothyroid?

hypothyroid?

Are you sure that they said you had hyperthyroid? A TSH of 5.29 is not out of normal range of 0.30 -5.90 according to my labe results. A high TSH is indicative of hypothyroid. This happens because the pituitary gland secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and sends it to the thyroid, which in turn "stimulates" the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone.

Did they tell you that your thyroid was hyper or is that just a guess due to a high lab range? If they did tell you that based on a TSH of 5.29, I would talk to your PCP before you worried about anything. My TSH was 31.26 when they found my hypothyroid. Hopefully it is nothing, but if it is hypo or hyper you will want to discuss this with your PCP, cardio and may want to ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Heather

 

[Nancy]

My husband has CHF (congestive heart failure) of long standing. His thyroid is normal. So I can't answer anything about that, but I have vast experience helping him with his CHF. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer.

He has been in and out of every stage of CHF from mild to severe, and all of the advanced aspects of CHF.

 

[Jkm7]

Again, My sincere thanks for all your help. It is so wonderful of you very knowledgable people to be willing to help those of us with so much to learn.

Heather......the nurse with whom I spoke said hyper but I agree that either I misunderstood or she misspoke and it is hypothyroidism. (Since I posted my question, I have done some reading.)

She told me that some doctors, until about 2002, considered the normal range to be .5 to 5.0. Many doctors now say normal range is .3 to 3.0. It seems my PCP is of the .3 to 3.0 school.

In either case, my numbers would be not much more than slightly abnormal but I certainly don't want it getting worse when there is treatment available.

 

[Christina]

Thyroid problems & Low Body Temperature.

Thyroid problems & Low Body Temperature.

I cannot help you with a forum where you can go for support but I have a free E-book you can read about Thyroid problems, including Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. (Remember, there is a difference)
http://www.wtsmed.com/eBook/ (Sorry, I had forgotten the promised link earlier)

Good Luck and Happy New Year to you.

 

[Jkm7]

Christina.....Thank you.

Would you direct me to where I can find the e-book on hypothyroidism?

 

[Lynlw]

I would like the link for hypo too. I was just dxd w/ that and started synthroid, but I have a few other issues they're still looking into thinking it may bean auto immune thing, so I want to be as knowledgible on a couple things when we go over the results, so I understand a little and ask good questions, thanks Lyn

 

[Christina]

Sorry I forgot...

Sorry I forgot...

Sorry I forgot the link earlier but it is up in the original post now as well...
Here it is again.

http://www.wtsmed.com/eBook/

 

[jax3172]

great website for thyroid...

great website for thyroid...

try:

www.thyroid-info.com

Run by Mary Shomon, a thyroid patient advocate and author. Read as much as you can from her site and resources before your visits. A TSH of 5.29 is considered a "sub-clinical" hypothyroid condition. Endo docs are like cardio docs: some great, some clueless and potentially harmful. Sub-clinical is treated if accompanied by symptoms. Find a forward thinking endo doc. I've just been through all this hypothyroid stuff as a result of a reaction to cardio med, amiodarone.

Jack

 

[strawberry]

OK, so since I worte my reply I've had an education in what your'e talking about regarding the 1-3 or 1-5 range. I've felt ill and taken my temp and it was in the 95.4 range. No kidding. Two thermometers. Take with that my unexplained edeam for a year and a half, I looked up my tsh from 9/04: 4.38. So I go to my doc today and he says oh your tsh last time was normal. Other guidelines including the ones by the American Endocrinologists say 1-3. I'm positive this is all related. It IS like having a slowly worsening valve!!! I feel like I have to put up with the symptoms until I get really "in the range." He took a retest and I'm hoping it will be into the true hypo range. I'm sure some of you can relate to that.

 

[tobagotwo]

Go to Google search, and enter "hyperthyroidism AND heart failure"

There's enough to read there to keep anyone busy for a long time. Like Ross says, "Did you Google it?"

I hope you find something that helps you.

Best wishes,

 

[hensylee]

since the subject has come up, I have questions. I was reading my bro's drug bill this week and saw synthroid. He's been on it some time, he had a PSH (or is it TSH) last Feb and we've scheduled for another one. What does hyper or hypothyroidism have to do with the heart? Bro has heart issues but I didn't think he had a thyroid problem. This is new to me and any comments would be appreciated.