[cathycnm]

#1069836

Embw – the fast pulse comes from stimulation of our fight-or-flight nervous system. The same thing that can increase panic or anxiety increases pulse.

Your pulse may be high because as your thyroid responds to the RAI and the cells die, they release the thyroid hormone that is inside. This often causes a surge in thyroid hormone before we go hypo.

One thing you need to be aware of is that sometimes the fast pulse can be a health concern. How fast is it??? Do you know how to check it yourself??? If it is running high or you are not sure – please let your doctor know. There are medications called beta blockers that slow down the electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat faster. These medications can prevent some abnormal heart rythems, as well. It is best to prevent those if possible, as they can cause serious complications.

How long ago was your RAI???

[ewmb]

#1019173

I tried to search archives for this information. Didn’t have any luck. I am wondering what exactly causes the heart rate to increase with Graves. I am going through healing from RAI and one of the things that has come back, is a higher pulse. I was trying to reason a cause for this and can’t. Could it be an increase in the antibodies? I never tested positive for them but my endo says he doesn’t believe the test is sensitive enough. My family history includes a dad with graves and a mom with hashimotos.I have often wondered if I have some of both. My ultrasound and uptake were positive for Graves etc……… atds didn’t work for me so had RAI finally after two years of waiting.

If anyone knows the answer or a place where I can read more in depth about the symptom changes after RAI please let me know. Answers are what keep me going sometimes. I have several books but they aren’t very in depth about the physiology.

Thanks,
ewmb

[ewmb]

#1069837

My RAI was about nine weeks ago. I had several weeks where I thought I was getting some better then about two weeks ago the pulse thing started again. It can be around 110-115 when I wake up. About two or three hours after I’m up it tends to go down and stay closer to the 90s the rest of the day. I am also very sore now all over and I am really tired. I felt like this when I was very hyper so I don’t know if it’s what you said about the excess hormone being released now or if I’m starting to go hypo. I go next week for blood work.

I was only on beta blockers for a few weeks near the time I was to have RAI. I didn’t really like the way I felt and we cut the dosage down which helped but then after my RAI my pulse had gone down so much we stopped the beta blockers. I don’t really want to go back on them again.

I guess I’ll just try and wait it out and try to relax! I find it hard when I thought that as the symptoms went away I wouldn’t feel them again but I guess that’s part of the healing process.

Thanks for the answer.

ewmb

[cathycnm]

#1069838

EWMB – It sounds like a good idea to do some relaxing and stress management. It does sound like your thyroid may be in the process of releasing excess hormone. The pulse being above 100 sounds worrysome to me, however. The heart can go into abnormal rythms when it gets too fast. While beta blockers are not particularly fun to be on – they are miracle drugs for our hearts in this stage. I think the fast pulse is worth a call to your doctor to let them know what is going on and to see if they think meds are necessary. Pulses are a reflection of the work our heart is doing – and it sounds like yours is working very hard when you first wake up – which is not a time I would expect the pulse to normally be higher than average. Keeping the heart from working too hard is important even if it means some unpleasant drug side effects for a few weeks. The relaxation may certianly help – but when we are hyper, we are so sensitive to adreniline and the fight or flight nervous system that it may not be possible to get the pulse low enough to ease the load on your heart.

I so remember going through the stage you are at now – I remember wondering when the new symptoms and new meds would ever stop. It sounds, however, as if you are responding to the RAI – and that is a positive. I wish you the best – please let us know how it is going.

[hyperm]

#1069839

HI the way I was led to understand the elevated heart rate ( don’t quote me because I am not a doctor), is because the thyroid sets the metabolic rate. So when you are hyper your metabolism is higher and your body is working harder and overtime and thus the heart that is responsible for sending blood to all our organs then catches on and works harder too.

After my TS my endo had a great way of explaining it all to me by basically saying that my thyroid is making my body believe its running a marathon so it was going hell for leather basically. All the thyroid hormones and the adrenaline which cathy was saying builds up in our systems to allow us to either fight or flight is there even though we are not in a life threatening situation.

I have a resting heart rate of 120 again even though everything had settled down after the TS my bloods have went slightly off and at my pre-ax I had to have another ecg as it was in the 140’s. I am chronic asthmatic so can’t take beta blockers

Sometimes your pulse is slower in the morning but actually research has shown in a documentary I watched just a few weeks ago (and don’t panic ok) that heart attacks usually happen in the morning as that is the most dangerous time as our body starts to awaken etc… Sometimes I wake in the morning and my heart is thudding.

I really don’t know alot about the effects of RAI but perhaps its just a sign of things starting to settle down.

It may be worthwhile mentioning to your physician afterall worrying about it only makes that ticker go quicker ” title=”Wink” />

M x

[ewmb]

#1069840

Thanks Hyperm for your explanation. I reckon my heart is still in good shape. It certainly has a lot of practice. Hope your resting heart rate won’t go up again but after the surgery I guess you’ll have to deal with a big change too. Hope that everything goes well. Sorry to hear about your siblings and their thyroid problems. My dad has Graves, my Mom hashimotos and I’ve had various cousins of all ages on both sides with either or. I think that the genetics needs to be studied a bit more.

ewmb

[Kimberly]

#1069841

I’ve noticed lately that my heart rate really speeds up after a meal. I checked it this morning, and I was at 72 while puttering around the house…then 99 right after breakfast.

I suppose this makes some sense, as the body has to re-route blood flow to aid in digestion…but I’ve never really paid attention to this before.

I have an endo appointment in 2 weeks. I was stable when I had my last appointment in April, but I suspect I’m creeping hyper again after 3 weeks of vacation eating!

[cathycnm]

#1069842

Kim – metabolisms do spead up for about an hour after a meal normally. You are very observant and correct about digestion causing some changes.

I think letting your endo that it is getting up to 99 is a good idea – that may be a little faster than norm. Sounds like you are taking good care of yourself!!! ” title=”Very Happy” />

[ewmb]

#1069843

Cathy,
Am I right in remembering that Graves hit you right around menopause? I am headed that way and I am unable to sort out what is that and what is RAI healing. Last night my heart rate woke me up at 3:00, around 125, all sweaty etc.. Today it’s not gone well. I had the night sweat last month a few days before my period, such as it was, actually started. I know that when I head toward hypo my period may become heavy. When I went hypo on medication I had an 11 day period after almost 48 hour periods when I was hyper. My gyn did hormone levels and said I was in perimenopause but then I read that being hyper can affect those tests and who knows were I was the day I had the blood drawn last winter.

I am thinking about starting the beta blocker again. The doctor has left it up to me. I hate to do that if this is not from the RAI. I guess it will be ok for a few days. I was taking only a quarter of a tablet at the end of stopping the beta blocker so thought I would start with that. I really just need a good nights sleep and am worried about the extra stress on my heart.

Any advice on sorting out the menopause and the RAI effects would be appreciated.

ewmb

[cathycnm]

#1069844

Ewmb – I am sorry I almost lost your thread but I found it today ” title=”Very Happy” />

Graves disease and menopause symptoms are so similar in some areas that it can throw the doctors off! Many times Graves has been missed because those hot flashes, etc are blamed on menopause. I went through natural menopause at 50 and never had a hot flash until the tender age of 53 after they diagnosed the Graves. I recall them being the worst right after RAI when my levels of thyroid were probably pretty high – now that I am stable, the flashes are gone. I teach nursing and have those nifty devices that you can clip to a finger to see the pulse and oxygen. All last summer, I kept one on my desk by my computer and each time I flashed with heat, I read my pulse with that. It did go up each time sometimes to 100.

It sounds like you have a good plan with your doc about the beta blockers. If you get hypo and, then, normal and are still "flashing" then I guess you will know it was menopause. There are no real good tests to differentiate the cause of the hot flash that I am aware of – other than seeing what thyroid treatment does to them. If you continue to be bothered by them (sleep, etc) you may want to check with your doc about treatments. Midlife insomnia – I feel your pain ” title=”Confused” />

Let us know how it goes with all of this and thanks for the question. C

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