What's the thyroid numbers mean

[toby47]

I know I'm probably worring about nothing, but that's part of my life now. I cannot asume anyone is monitoring my labs thoroughly.I don't have a baseline on my TSH but 8 wk lab was 3.2 now my 12 wk lab is 4.2 . No one has said anything about them but it seems to be going up rather fast.Should I be trying to find a Endo doc or is this normal. My doc not going over my labs with me is normal.My list of new Drs. so far --- oncologist,urologist,dermatologist,optomologist. Who me worry? Damm straight.Any ideas?

[nygirl7]

Yup another hyper to hypo (which is most common for us) x-treater here. Thyroid went hyper about week 24 and then by 30 was completely hypo. Synthroid every day for me.........it DEFINITELY is something to keep an eye on and any doctor prescribing treatment who does not think so is totally and completely 100% WRONG.

Especially with women it is a big autoimmune issue from the Ifn.

[roostermom]

I have been on synthroid ever since I finished my first hep c tx on peg/ribo for 48 weeks in 2001. All last winter I would come home from work and be out like a light on the couch by 8 pm. It wasn't until I was getting all my blood work done to start t
Incevik treatment that they noticed that my thyroid numbers were high and the increased my synthroid. The next month the numbers were worse, and they increased my dose again.

The treatment can cause long lasting thyroid issues, so make sure you ask for a monthly thyroid check along with your other blood work.

[toby47]

I wasn't aware enough at the time I started tx, now that I'm half way done, maybe-- the one close to me is 3 hrs away if I can get an app't.I'd never had a major health issue in past and I am sorry to say I was one of the sheep who just blindly followed what any doc said.My fault , but I was naive.Eyes are wide open now or is that just the Riba. Thanks for the help.

[toby47]

Great I get 2 sides with the liver and onions.Notice I didn't say fava

[pooh55811]

Are you seeing a specialist? Mine is a Gastroenterologist. She is excellent. I know many here are seeing Hepatologists. I think the docs who do not specialize in treating Hep C patients don't know too much about it and don't know how to treat it.

If you start a new topic and ask if anyone knows a good GI or Hepatologist in your area, someone may be able to give you a recommendation.

[willbb]

toby &pooh....Yes... it can be bit of a maze for us at times out there...best to you folks
Will

[pooh55811]

Oops: In my first post the first set of side effects are for Ribavirin and the second set are for Pegasys. I forgot to say that the first set are for Ribavirin.

[toby47]

Wish I could find one.So far you guys are the best I've found.

[pooh55811]

.....good thing none of us are professionals   :)

****************************************************************

LOL. I think people on this forum know more than some of the professionals.

One would think that any doctor treating Hep C patients would familiarize himself/herself with the side effects of the drugs and the protocols for treating Hep C patients, including which labs to monitor. Obviously some do not.

[willbb]

.....good thing none of us are professionals   :)

[pooh55811]

My doctor is keeping close tabs on my thyroid.

I remember reading that the Hep C drugs can affect the thyroid so I looked up Ribavirin and Pegasys: (If you follow the links, go down to the section that says side effects for the professional:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ribavirin-side-effects.html

"The most common serious adverse event (3% in CHC and 5% in CHC/HIV) was bacterial infection (e.g., sepsis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia). Other serious adverse reactions occurred at a frequency of <1% and included: suicide, suicidal ideation, psychosis, aggression, anxiety, drug abuse and drug overdose, angina, hepatic dysfunction, fatty liver, cholangitis, arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune phenomena (e.g., hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), peripheral neuropathy, aplastic anemia, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, colitis, corneal ulcer, pulmonary embolism, coma, myositis, cerebral hemorrhage, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, psychotic disorder, and hallucination."

  
And here are the side effects (for the professional) under Pegasys:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/pegasys-side-effects.html

"In all hepatitis C studies, one or more serious adverse reactions occurred in 10% of CHC monoinfected subjects and in 19% of CHC/HIV subjects receiving Pegasys alone or in combination with COPEGUS. The most common serious adverse event (3% in CHC and 5% in CHC/HIV) was bacterial infection (e.g., sepsis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia). Other SAEs occurred at a frequency of less than 1% and included: suicide, suicidal ideation, aggression, anxiety, drug abuse and drug overdose, angina, hepatic dysfunction, fatty liver, cholangitis, arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune phenomena (e.g., hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), peripheral neuropathy, aplastic anemia, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, colitis, corneal ulcer, pulmonary embolism, coma, myositis, cerebral hemorrhage, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, psychotic disorder, and hallucination."

[willbb]

"WAR OF THE WORDS
Seems what I am in with my spelling most days  :)

[toby47]

Guess its overdue to add another doc to list, will be trying to find one fast. "WAR OF THE WORDS"  due out over the winter holidays.

[willbb]

in other wars     ha... meant   "in other words"

[willbb]

toby &brianmo...Normal thyroid values are  .35  -5.0   however many up to date docs and endriconologists  are setting the upper limit at 3 instead of 5  and treating when it is such.
Keep in mind the higher the number the more under active your thyroid is(hypo)  
What often happens(not always ) early in tx. ..the interferon ramps up the thyroid and puts in into overdrive and then can somewhat damage it and  as treatment goes on or after tx. the thyroid  gets underactive( hypo)..in other wars not working so good and the numbers will rise.
The bad news if this happens ..it is usually the way it stays ..however the good news is the medication synthroid  is a simple once a day med to keep the thyroid hormone in balance if needed.It is well tolerated
Best Will

[flcyclist]

Since I was referred to a hematologist, I've only had a few appointments with my GI.  At around week 18 of trt during a discussion with the GI, I suggested to have my TSH level checked and he quickly agreed.  He might have brought it up prior to the end of our discussion and he did run a TSH baseline prior to trt.  I also suggested to have my vitamin D level tested and ended up being deficient.  

Unfortunately, many have to become their own advocate since there is so much to consider during trt.  This forum has helped me immensely so I feel well informed, know what questions to ask the doc, and have a good idea if something isn't being handled properly.   The nice thing about going to my hematologist for the rescue drugs is getting the cbc's immediately and they can take the sample for PCR, TSH, vitamid D, etc. to send off instead of going to Quest.  I hated going to Quest.

[brianmo]

I feel the same way you do. I am afraid something will get missed. I told my hep doctor there is more to me than a liver, she doesn't feel I need to worry about thyroid. So, I added another doctor to my pot and she wants my thyroid checked every two months. Handed me all the lab slips to cover me for six months. Although I never had thyroid problems in the past, this makes me feel better.

Good luck to you and I say go for it!