7week post TX and any other questions

Hi Everyone
I hope we are going OK. I know its Friday night just thought I'd
post this info. Thank you for the thread.
I'm genotype 2B 7weeks post TX. Just did liver panels with my primary care DR. Looks like my tyroid did not make it through treatment. My TSH's are climbing up. I start back on the Synthoid tonight. ALT's are now at 67 AST's are at 46. Whooopy getting closer. Forgot to have DR. look at RBC/WBC oh well I am feeling better so I'm sure there getting better also. I think I've won but won't know for about 6 more weeks.

Love Peace and Happiness

[Ambush]

I've just joined the thyroid club, too (see my post below under 4/1 Lab Tests).  My TSH on Monday was 77.58.  I'm pretty sure that's fried for good. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better post tx and hope to hear more great news from you soon!
ambush :)

[CommdudeLA]

Was a regular poster here for a while..just wanted to say to you guys, as well as newbies...Just got the call.....Essss....Veeeeee.....Arrrrrrr!!!!!

Yippeeee!!!.......hopefully won't kill myself doing backflips now!


There is hope!

Tom

[OkieJim]

You did it. Congratulations to us. This is wonderful news. I'm so happy for you. Now go out and enjoy life virus free!!!!!

Ambush,
Just read your post holy cow. You have been really having it hard. It's good that your DR. has recognized you needs and is working on them with you. I feel so bad when someone hits the dark side of TX. It will get better. You are almost there. Just take it easy and try to coast thru the end. I remember I just wanted to stop as I got nearer to the end but I continued and finished. You can too.

Love Peace and Happiness.

[raheem]

Sorry about the thyroid problem.  I'll be finishing up tx in 4 weeks.  I never had my thyroid levels checked though.  Did you folks have any symptoms or was it simply picked up by blood tests?

[oldhippiechick67]

Congratulations Commdude!  Good for you too OkieJim!  Sorry to hear some thyroids bit the dust.  Low thyroid, Raheem, is shown by usually weight gain, sluggishness, fatigue, hair loss, and I cant remember the others, but they are similar to tx sides.

[Oreos]

Okie, great to hear the news and hope all continues well : )

Raheem, Thyroid issues can be detected by simple blood tests or you may have symptoms.  Having had both underactive and overactive thyroid (not due to tx) here's some high level info:

Blood tests:

1. TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.  TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 hormone which regulates your metabolism.  A high TSH indicates an underactive thyroid and a low TSH an overactive thyroid.

2.  T4: Thyroid Hormone.  High T4 indicates overactive thyroid and Low T4 = underactive.

Symptoms:

1. Underactive thyroid (high TSH, low T4): Sluggishness, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, etc.  Treatment: typically Synthroid (synthetic T4) is prescribed.  

2. Overactive thyroid (low TSH, High T4): Rapid pulse and heart rate, sweating, weight loss, panic, etc.  Treatment:  short term, typically beta blockers are prescribed.  The Dr. will run further tests to determine longer term course of treatment if req'd.  

INF treatment can cause, as we WELL know, alot of these same sypmtoms.  It can't hurt to check with your Dr.

Hope this helps : )

[audreywald]

I just read your thread a few threads down.  It scared the hell out of me for you. I do not remember your particular details, what stage you are at, how much liver damage you have ... but I do know that only 3% of Hep C people die of it.

I also know that the biggest fear of the drug companies and the medical people are psychiatric. This has nothing to do with your character and many people with no history of psyche problems have a nightmare of a time on tx. The meds affect brain chemistry; and it most certainly sounds like that is what is happening to you. Severe depression is taking you over. This is treatable. The problem is that when a person is in a depression, the last thing they want to do it seek the help they need to get out of the depression. Depression is a very serious chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is very dangerous. More dangerous than Hep C.

You must seek help. Get someone to bring you to an ER if you have to. My dear friend went on tx, no antidepressants.

He was also uninsured and had to go to a county hospital. He went into a terrible depression; signed himself into a psyche ward, went off the tx, got ON an AD - went back on tx- and is

cured. 3 years svr, and this was on the 3 shots a week at a county hospital.

It upsets me to hear people tell you to snap out of it. Depression is a physical illness, it is a chemical thing, not a self pity thing.

What you CAN do is get help. This is much easier to treat than Hep C. Right now do it for the people you love, until you can do it for yourself again.

Sweetie, if God punished us for past mistakes and errors in judgement, most of us would not be here. I know you know this. I put a needle in my arm many times when I had a three year old who just wanted my attention. It is 30 years later, and my three year old grew up with plenty of problems, my heart is heavy a lot.

But God saw fit to entrust me with HER son, also when he was 3. It is the greatest gift I NEVER deserved, in Audrey's world.  Fortunately, God is a little nicer to me than I am inclined to be to myself.

And keep in mind that the person who got upset with you for being so upset is probably damn depressed himself.

You will be ok - you just need some help right now. PLEASE get it.

[goinseagle]

The threads ran out in your comment area. I am anewby to this forum but not a newby to this. This is my second time on treatment I am a 1a genotype and stage 3 The last time I was on treatment I had an idiot dr. He never even tested for my genotype and left me to deal with all the sx on my own I knew nothing. I was on paxil it did nothing and with the new news about that i guess that is what finally led me to my attempted suicide/homicide because i was so pissed when i woke up i am told that i went for the gun to kill my whole family. That was jan1 2003. I am currently on week six of my second round of treatment I have a good dr and shrink not currently on ADs but will be in aweek Please do not give up hope and if you feel that bad stop treatment and start again when you are ready to fight this YOU WILL NOT DIE that fast there is time to chill. Listen to Audrey and everyone here you can not just snap out of it and whoever says that is an idiot stop treatment now if you feel like you want to die You will get better PLease. My e-mail is ***@**** write me and i will give you all the details I remember and try to help you Don't give in to those feelings

[Galen]

Tom, that is GREAT news!!!  I am so happy for you!
For all the newbies around here, Commdude (Tom) set up a website for all the Friday Night Fight Songs, happy stuff, and photos for the MedHelp crowd.  That site is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hepsongs/
Check it out!

[audreywald]

I love you.  You are a great person. Thank you for seeing a need and reaching out. That is how it works.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

[CARUU]

Okie..thanks for the update.  I'm glad to hear you are getting your strength back and will be starting to get some exercise in soon.  I'm looking forward to that and am already starting to feel stronger

Commdude..congratulations!  Way to go!

Raheem..My thyroiditis was picked up on a blood test about two months into tx.  I felt TERRIBLE (heart palpatations, shortness of breath, intollerance to heat, weak upper arms and legs, dizzy/lightheaded, etc) and thought is was from tx.  Turns out my thyroid was inflammed, which caused it to "dump" all of it's hormone into my blood stream.  When that happens it takes about 3 months to go back to normal and can go low (hypo) and stay there or eventually normalize.  I'm still in the "hot" phase, but have dropped from 5.5 to 2.5 (the upper limit is 1.9) and hope it doesn't go hypo.  I'm seeing an endocrinologist who is doing a thyroid panel every 4 weeks.  They say they will never know if INF caused it, but I think it's very suspect. caruu

[goinseagle]

Thank you for the Birthday wish and of course I want to help anyone who needs it I was just reading some of the other forums and I think gwithhepc is just a little harsh on some she needs to have a little compassion and not be so negative to people who are reaching out to others I am sorry for her and her daughter but as you know my 16 yr old has this too and I want him on tx. But unfortunately he will not because he is not ready to give up his lifestyle. I don't know but at least people on the treatment can release some of their feelings here and there are quite a few cheerleaders here crass or not they make people laugh and lighten up when they are feeling down Indiana you keep doing what you are doing you do just fine Thanks Again audrey and want2live if your there e-mail me

[ts2010]

Congratulations on SVR!  It's great to see so many success stories coming out of the group of people that were treating at the same time I was.

Enjoy the happy news, take care and visit here from time to time.

[Ambush]

My symptoms of severe hypothyroidism started showing up as swelling in the face and hands, constipation, extreme fatigue and weakness in my arms and legs (much worse than tx had caused), decreased mental function, hearing and speech problems. I suppose some of these could be explained off as sides of tx, but be careful if you notice any of these, that you're monitored closely.  I was and still am very, very sick from this development and feel it should have been caught sooner.  I had mentioned these problems to my doc and nurse and they attributed them to anemia and didn't test my thyroid (even when I asked them to).  By the time I was tested, my TSH was 77.58.  I have no idea yet what further damage has been done or what the lasting effects will be.
ambush

[cuteus]

I am always so surprised that most of my life I've had dry skin, tired easily, constipation, later in adulthood; brittle nails, hairloss, depression and my thyroid test always come back normal.  I wonder if more sophisticated tests are needed.  Or maybe I had hcv longer than I thought...

[layla]

Hey I didn't see your post before. Yahooo and congrats to you!! This kind of good news is great to hear. Thanks for posting. LL

[Ambush]

Maybe there are other tests that would define things better.  Ask your PCP and especially keep an eye on it while on tx.  I never had any of the symptoms before tx, so they were changes I was more apt to notice. Unfortunately, while on tx, I'm afraid some of our complaints aren't heard and just chocked up to sides from tx or that we're whining.
ambush

[harley dude]

Congrats Dude, I know the interferon and riba helped kill that Dragon, but I think in your case that Cajun Food and the Tobasco Sauce also helped destroy that monster. Keep us informed with how your doing.- See Ya - Harley Dude

[cuteus]

Ty for that input I will f/u with dr on that.   I always felt that the" normal" range does not  accurately reflect  a person's symptoms or lack of.  Just a tad of high bp sends some into dizziness and ill feeling, same with a tad low rbc. drs should take into account the symptoms in relation to the normal range and apply it individually..., in a perfect world.

[MajNeni]

Hello, Tom,
and thanks for the good news.  I can't remember for sure, but this is your 6-month post test, right?  Congratulations.  Enjoy the spring, and enjoy going out for rides... just don't fall into all that water.

Hi, Ambush,
I'm sorry you're having such a lot of trouble with your thyroid.  I'm glad the docs are finally paying attention, and hope it will soon be sorted out.  My mother had her thyroid removed when she was about 35.  She lived WELL (with respect to the thyroid-regulated functions) on Synthroid type supplements into her mid-eighties.  
Do you go to Strong?  My daughter was a Strong baby... They should know what's happening.  
Someday soon when you're feeling better, you might yet be hauling down past here, and hope to get at least lunch with you.
Maj Neni

[Ambush]

Tom ~ Congrats on the SVR! Be careful with those backflips!

Okie ~ Thank you for the encouragement.  Doing #46 tonight.  Got this far......there's no stopping me now.  :)

caruu ~ Yeah, that's an extremely high number for TSH. I thought they were mistaken, but I have it in print. Couldn't believe it. Sure got everyone in the office jumping. There were 3 gals on the phone to thyroid specialists to try to get me in to see someone.  I was in bad shape and felt like c@#p x 100. I seriously don't remember most of the last 2 or 3 weeks. I have another draw to check the TSH on Monday and will see the doc again on Wednesday and am seeing the thyroid specialist on 4/12. I was put on 100mcg of Unithroid (Levothyroxine)right away along with Procrit. Thx for the link on thyroid disease, too.

Majneni ~ Yes, I'm going to Strong ~ almost daily lately :) Can't drive, so it's really straining my support system. I remember you said your daughter was a Stong baby. I think they're finally on the right road to solving these problems, but I'm concerned about the Riba reduction. Don't want these complications to jeopardize my last 3 weeks. I got so darned close without much trouble, I'm even more determined to succeed now. #46 tonight......I think I can.....I think I can....
I definitely intend to stop and meet you this spring or summer! I hope this face swelling goes down by then, I don't want to scare you!  Pretty horrible looking right now. Thank you for the encouraging words about the long term outlook for what I'm thining will be forever thyroid problems. How are you feeling? I sure hope you're enjoying some great days.  You must be nearing your PCR? I'm sending all my best to you for great news as I do to everyone.
ambush :)

[CARUU]

ambush-Wow, that seems like a very high number for TSH.  You must feel like c@#p!  Do you know what it is now?  Have you started synthroid?  My TSH went to .002 and my T3, T4 levels were very high.  I didn't have a clue that thyroid problems could make you feel so crummy.  

cuteus-I've read a little bit about hypothyroidism and understand there is a wide range of TSH that is acceptable; however, what is right for most people may not be right for you.  I think most people feel best at the high end of normal.  Here is a good place for learning about thyroid disease:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/index.htm?PM=ss12_thyroid

caruu

[CARUU]

Hang in there!  You have come a long way and will make it through this thyroid problem.  I also had to see an endo. and am having my levels monitored now every 4 weeks.  I really feel for you having this with the tx.  It made me feel so weak I couldn't hold my arms up or walk from one room to the other for about 10 days.  Things have very gradually been improving. It's now been a little over 12 weeks. I know it's hard for you to even type on the computer at this point.  You are really tough to have come this far!  I did 24 weeks of tx and was soooooo happy to be done last week.  I'm thinking about you and hoping you feel much better real soon.  caruu

[Ambush]

I'm so happy to hear you finished up last week and are feeling better!  I hope it's all uphill for you from here on.
The arm and leg weakness and pain is horrible. I never thought typing could actually hurt.  Did you have any numbness in your hands and fingers?  I guess you were hyper, though, not hypo, right? Did you have any swelling? I don't know how similar hyper and hypo are, but I do know now that the thyroid can really mess with us!  I hope you keep feeling better everyday!
ambush :)

[CARUU]

I do have arm/hand numbness and tingling, but I think it's related to bulging discs in my neck.  I've had some ankle swelling, but I don't know if it's thyorid related.  Here's what I understand about the thyroid hormone:  It controls the function of every cell in your body.  It is what regulates metabolism.  If you have too little thyroid hormone in your blood stream(hypo), your metabolism is very low and you have zero energy (as well as a bunch of other unpleasant symptoms that you already know about).  If you have too much of the hormone(hyper), then your metabolism is high and everything is operating at about 70 to 80% of normal.  For me the symptoms have been "bounding" heartbeat, fast pulse, heat intolerance, very lightheaded, anxiety, irritability.  It's extreme, there is no way I could stand and talk at the same time and my forehead felt like it was burning up.  I could HEAR my heart beating in my head (sounded like someone playing basket ball off in the distance) most of the time.  I think both thyroid problems cause extreme fatigue and weakness, either because your metabolism is so low or because you are worn out from over activity.  I can say it has gotten better, but I had several days when I wondered if it ever would.  I'm very thankful for the help I received from family and friends, but I think it's a big chore even to get that kind of help lined up and so there has been a lot of time that I just stayed in the house and wondered what the hell was going on.  Make a grocery list?  Yeah right!  Tell people on the forum what's going on.  Only a very limited explanation was possible.  Too hard to think and feel like that at the same time.  So, I offer you encouragement and caring.  I don't know how long it will take, but I'm sure you will be on your way to feeling better real soon.  Hang in there and let me know how you are doing, hugs, caruu