Very low heart rate - pounding heart - Thyroid ??

[AJWS6]

Hi,
I am a 45 year old male, great physical health until last year.  I now have an enlarged thyroid 5.5 x 3.3, biopsy mid 06, returned benign, and a very low heart rate, pounding heart.  I have had all cardio work up, stress test, heart cath, 24 hour monitor 3x, echo, ultrasound and all my thyroid blood test return normal, boderline 3.0, since April 06.  Blood pressure always in the normal range.  But overtime my heart rate continues to decrease, last year at rest it was between 70-80 bpm.      

But my heart rate is always between 50-60 bpm now, and my heart is always pounding slow & hard, as if it's working hard to continue pumping, one night I woke up from a deep sleep, cause my heart was beating strong, my heart rate was 42 bpm.  When I visit the cardiologist, my heart rate goes up to 66 bpm, and that's the highest it gets, even during anxiety or panic.  My heart doesn't beat faster, it just beats stronger, as if it is about to burst.  I am always exhausted, hardly can get out of bed, always out of breath, the doctor and cardiologist doesn't care, because they cannot find anything abnormal with testing.    

But something is causing my heart rate to be very slow & hard.  Has anyone ever experienced the symptoms I describe, recieved an answer & treatment, anyone have knowledge about thyroid bradycardia, experience symptoms, etc....  any help would be appreciated, so I can discuss with my doc, endo or cardiologist.  

I'm so frustrated, because nothing is every found with any tests, for causes of symptoms, so the doctor just say's, okay your fine.  Just because a test result doesn't show something, doesn't mean everything is normal, I'm getting really tired of the "nothing is wrong answer", I am the one suffering.

Last week, while at the ER, the doc say's, Thyroid cancer can cause the symptoms your having, you need to get it checked as soon as possible "Thank you doc"  ER thyroid test, returned normal.    

Also I am not on any medications.  
Thanks for any help.  
AJ    

[Barb135]

Hey Oldie - haven't heard from you for a while. No, I didn't post much after I had the tests.  All 4 of the valves in my heart leak, but none of the leaks were enough to be of concern at that time.  I have to have periodic echocardiograms to monitor and if they become an issue repairs will be made.

I actually determined, on my own, the the biggest problem I had was anxiety, causing the pounding.  Yes, it would wake me up in the night and I'd feel like my heart was going to leave my body.  Even though I was going through a very stressful time, both personally and with my job, it took me a long time to realize what anxiety really can do to us.  I did go on an anti-anxiety medication for a couple of years; circumstances have changed in my life, and I've been able to get off the anti-anxiety medication a few months ago.  Certain circumstances will bring back the familiar pounding, now I recognize it for what it is.

Since you already have a known heart issue, you should make sure you eliminate all possible physical causes, but don't rule out anxiety.

[oldie]

in December 2008 you were about to have tests for a pounding heart. Did you post any info afterwards? I've got one now i.e. heavy beat but not faster. Wakes me sometimes. I'm 84, one stent RCA in May 2010. I hope being four years late is not too late.

[Barb135]

Before I was diagnosed hypo, my heart rate was very low also.  A 24 hr Holter monitor showed my heart rate at 35-38 bpm at times when I was sleeping, waking was also very low.  My PCP said that hypothyroidism will often cause that;  I was sent to a cardiologist, but not until after I'd been diagnosed and started on med and by then heart rate was pretty much normal.  The cardiologist said he doesn't think there is anything wrong with my heart and that low heart rate is not always a bad thing.  He wants me to have a stress test and echocariogram just to be sure because I have a very long family history of heart disease.  

Over the past couple of weeks I have been experiencing the very strong heart beat referenced above - not necessarily fast, just real strong.  Will be interesting to see if the cardiologist changes his mind.  Am scheduled to see my PCP tomorrow morning and stress test is next Monday.  

[Nell36]

This won't help you, but at least we don't have to feel alone. What interests me in your case is that it you say you were in great physical condition until a year ago. So was I a year ago, actually at the peak of my fitness, competitive sports, then started getting seriously short of breath, and going totally downhill. After being well and slim, I now have the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism from the hair/skin/sex drive/weight issues to constant fatigue and shortness of breath, but my thyroid results came back normal; an ECG showed moderate to severe bradycardia. My whole life has altered.

I'm seeing a cardiologist soon, but expect to be brushed off as I have been for the past year by internal med doctors. They say I have a pituitary tumour, but are not sure it is causing any problems. Apparently patient symptoms don't matter. Personally I wonder if they mislabelled my blood serum since my thyroid tests in the past have never been so optimal.

In your case with an enlarged thyroid, you should be with an endocrinologist. But it also sounds like you have bradycardia, which can be caused by hypothyroidism. Time to change doctors. I feel for you, and I am sorely sick also of the lack of answers in medicine.

[AJWS6]

Hi,
Hpoe your having a wonderful day.  Thanks for responding.  No, I don't have test results to post, I live alone and hardly ever get out of the house, from exhaustion.  Endo doc told me, thyroid was borderline 3.0 and normal ever since then.  Antibody test returned normal.  

I just don't get it, even though I have chornic hypothyroid symptoms, doctors will not provide any treatments, until tests confirms abnormalities ??  So a person has to suffer, until something shows up on paper.  

But if someone catches a cold, no tests are performed, the doctor provide treatment from knowledge/experience.  I just don't get it ??

Isn't this the profession of an Endo, to help stabilize Endocrine abnormalities.  Doctors are uselss.  

My thyroid is huge, and they are not doing anything about it or my symptoms.  It's been a very long time, and my health just continues to decline, so now I have to just accept, living like this for God knows how long, years before abnormalities show on a test, and I recieve treatment.  I'm just venting, sorry.

Something caused my thyroid to grow, and after a year, no doctor, endo or oncologist has any idea why ??  This is really crazy.  

Hope your sister, recieves proper medical attention and gets well soon.  

[jax190]

do you have your test results. thyroid problems can be apparant for  months and years before they actually show up on blood test an enlarged thyroid is a sign of thyroid problem also heart problems my sister is hyper and her heart was racing so fast she was exhausted all the time when the doctor checked her bloods he said that her results were equivalent to someone running 24 hours a day she was so tired she couldnt do anything.  as a result she is having RAI next week to destroy her thyroid. go back to your DR. and ask for more thyroid tests
good luck