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Low Thyroid

Just had my 12 week labs done, and the good news is that I'm undetectable.  But now my thyroid is low.  Is this something that can be fixed with meds?  I hate to see my weight shoot back up after losing so much on treatment.  Going to see the doc in 2 weeks.
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Avatar universal
Hey! I didn't realize your thyroid could cause many problems, with ot w/o tx. When I went to Duke Medical..I didn't quaifiy for any studies...doctor there said, you need to do another round of tx. He did however seem concerned about my thyroid. He had a thyroid blood test done. He said he would send me the results in the mail. He even said my thyroid could be the cause of a lot of my pain! So I'll let you all know when I get my results back. I do go to a new doctor on the 21st. He's supposed to be one of the best in the South/East area. The doctor @ Duke knew of him. He's a hepatologist. So here I go again!!! Thrill, thrill....but if that's what it takes to kill that nastsy 'ole dragon...I'm up for it!!!! Doc @ Duke says I need to do a full 52wks more, instead of 48 wks. I'm ready to get started...like NOW!!!! The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. I hope you are feeling good...where are you now in terms of second time around? I know I've asked you before, but my brain is mush!!!! LOL I love ya bunches....Cindee
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Avatar universal
hi, boy i sure could'nt add to all the great advice given...and i am going to keep checking my thyroid too...it was hypo befor tx and i am on synthroid for it now...but GI says he thinks he could increase my dosage...my primary says my doseage is fine...who to believe??? i gotta find those test results and see for myself where i'm at...i should be less than 3 i guess...

but,i did want to congragulate you on your 12 week...that is fantastic news....yeah!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I am not sure how to sort out the post tx symptoms and sides, regarding their origin...thyroid, interferon after-effects, general autoimmune dysfunction, sjogrens-like syndrome, etc.  My approach will be to attack each suspected cause, seeing a specialist in that field, giving them the full history along with my suspicions, and then.....hopefully trying medication to see to what degree the side effects are mitigated, whether I feel and function SIGNIFICANTLY better, and whether there are other lingering sides that may relate to another cause.  Maybe I am being perfectionistic, or idealistic, but I feel that most if not all of the bothersome side effects should clear up with proper medical intervention and/or just fade away completely after treatment.  I intend to pursue the possible causes, along with a program of progressive exercise, good sleep, great healthy foods, and enjoying life.  Having this disease, and treating it for long periods of time (and beating the disease) does provide some benefits:  It strengthens the spirit, the soul, restores self confidence, and provides a foundation of discipline, and medical thoroughness to battle any other lesser 'dragons'.  We should settle for nothing less than GREAT health once we achieve SVR.  It has taken me the past six years of difficult therapy (with a two year break), to finally overcome this obstacle to living.  I hope to make the most of all the hard work.  I hope that all of you do the same.  One step at a time.  Find a strategy to achieve SVR, stay with it...then work at dealing with the aftermath.  I am planning on lots of fine tuning and specialized medical consultation in order to sort out and treat any long term HCV and/or tx health problems.
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Avatar universal
Hey, thanks a bunch for all the thyroid info!  Where are you finding the latest, like that lab value update?  Some of those symptoms of hypothyroid are ones I had not seen before, and most are ones I have.  My thyroid function has not been checked since before I started treatment (and I had to insist, then).  How would one sort out side effects of chemo, such as hair loss and dry skin and low energy/ feeling heavy, which might not be directly related to thyroid, from those which might be??  My eyebrows are doing that thing.  When you mentioned that, I realized my friend (not in treatment) with hypothroid might not be getting enough relacement, as hers are doing that.  Anyway, I appreciate your taking the time to give so much detail, it is helpful.
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Avatar universal
I am surprised that you haven't been put on thyroid supplements with a TSH of 6.5. Mine went up to over 10 before it was discovered and that means the damage will be permanent. It is now down to 1.5 as i am on 75mg of thyroxine (synthroid) a day. We had to juggle around a bit to find the dose that I needed. On 50mg a day my TSH hovered around 3.5 which wasn't considered to low enough (although technically "normal"). I suppose I am lucky in that I haven't put a lot of weight on, but I have lost a lot of hair. No fatigue or depression or anything like that. All the best to you both/all
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Avatar universal
After two weeks of constant weight gain, hair loss(more than just from the tx) lost most of my eyebrows and increasing sleepiness and a few other unpleasant sides(constipation for weeks, stomach bloating )I had my doctor recheck my thyroid, In two weeks my TSH went from 1.5 to 24. I have now been on snythroid (50 mcg) for 5 weeks. It is still not to a "normal" level but we are still working on the right dose.

I would suggest that everyone talk to thier doctor should you have any of these side effects that you might be just righting off as sides from tx.

Good luck to everyone. I am so glad this forum is back up and running, I missed you guys
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Avatar universal
Thank you for sharing your story.  Your Attitude, strength and perserverence are a wonderful example to us all.
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Avatar universal
I am also in the same boat.  I am almost seven months post tx, and got my test results back recently... PCR Undetected (SVR), BUT, still mild Thyroid abnormalities.  My TSH is about 6.5, and free T-4 is just below normal criteria.  The TSH normal range used to run from .3 to 5.5, but the Endocrinologists Asso. issued a change in the last two years calling for .3 to 3.4 TSH as the normal range.  My doc says to just monitor the Thyroid, since it is close to normal.  I am going to an Endocrinologist, since my lingering symptoms are all in line with Hypothyroidism:  fatigue, heavy, weighted-down feeling, complacency, low energy, big weight gain (15 lbs.), dry skin, gritty eyes, muscle aches, low temperature(96.2 to 97.8), outer eybrow margins very thin, hair loss, etc.

My internet research is showing that even MILD Hypothyroid disease can cause major symptoms in many people.  It looks like the ideal TSH number should be in the 1 to 2 range.  Since both HCV AND Interferon are associated with the onset of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's), I would be surprised if I do not also have antibodies to thyroid on follow up testing (TPO test).

I believe the Thyroid may be the "missing link" in some people's post-tx lingering side effects.  I think the doctors may be very conservative in diagnosing/ treating the mild to moderate thyroid abnormalities stemming from Tx and HCV.  I want to feel all the way better after reaching SVR status, and I will bet that in my case the thyroid is a large contributing factor to my ongoing sides.  I just read an article on sub-clinical thyroid disease, on the PostGraduate Medecine web site, and lo and behold they listed one of the additional symptoms of mild hypothyroidism as : Peripheral Neuropathy!!!  Which many post-tx,ers seem to experience.
Could that be related to thyroid dysfunction as well!!!!
I am anxious to see what an Endocrinologist will diagnose and recommend, given my numbers.

What is your TSH level, and T-4 levels after tx????
Let us know what you find out as well.  Best Luck!!!
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Avatar universal
Congratulations:)
Good luck with the thyroid issue.
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