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Thyroid Problems / NYgirl & others

Hello, my friends,

Unfortunately, finally, my thyroid gave up (or giving up?).
After ~1.5 years of daily Infergen w/Riba, my Thyroid Stimulating Hormon (TSH)became elevated:

7.617 (normal range 1.35-5.5)

I'm still on Infergen treatment (couple months left).
What should I do?  
Should I stop the treatment?

Will it help if I take L-Tyrosine (amino acid) with kelp?
Any advise will be greatly appreciated!

NY girl: how did you handle this problem? How do you feel now after completing your treatment?

I love this forum, but lately my eyes are giving me more and more problems... So now I limit my computer exposure to work only... BTW, now I feel like my hearing is decreasing too (!) Is it also treatment related? I just had my 38th birthday and I'm going deaf and blind?? God help me to finish this treatment!

Atherwise, everything is great! :)

All the best to everyone!!

E
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Avatar universal
Thank you, NYgirl!  You are so funny!

I read that with autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid may be overactive for a short period of time but this may be followed with underactive thyroid function.  I guess I should feel lucky that I have a "hypo" thyroid instead of a "hyper" one! :)

You should know that you are the one who inspired me to ask for extension of my treatment!
I silently followed your story and was extremely impressed with your determination and always upbeat attitude!

I wish you big, fat & juicy SVR!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Sorry I didn't answer sooner - I just got online!

My TSH dropped to 0.0 meaning I ws EXTREMELY hyper thyroid. I thought "yay I can eat all I want" and he said no we might have to remove your thyroid after killing it with radiation so it doesn't kill you. Oh boy.

I went to the endochronologist (sorry about spelling there).  He ordered me a nuclear imaging scan - the appt ws three weeks later.

Well by the time I got the scan - my thyroid flip flopped completely around and i was extremely HYPOP thyroid now!

I don't know if that can happen with yours since you are starting Hypo but thought I'd better mention it.

Anyway - he prescribed Synthroid 75 mcg a day to keep my thyroid level right at 2 (which is in the middle really).

So far it's been working great.  There is a chance that after we discontinue the meds our thyroids can come back to life.  But I think since it IS an autoimmune disease that has been triggered already - it's worth it to finish the meds. As you know I did 72 weeks and I was diagnosed with this problem at 30.

I am one month post tx and hoping that it will come back. Of course the only way we can find that out is to stop me doing the meds and I don't want to do that....I need a little break from problems for a change!

You can learn alot about the potential problems by googling hypo thyroid. I was so shocked to see that both hyper and hypo sides mimick the TREATMENT sides so absolutely perfectly - no wonder and thank God the doctors keep an eye on our number or we would never known.

You know I wish you ALL of the BEST and if I can do anything...you just let me know. I'm here for you my fellow autoimmune disease sharing hep patient!  hahaha :)

Debby
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Avatar universal
my thyroid went bonkers around week 20 or so. was up to tsh 76 and started txing with synthroid/levothyroxine. took months to get a normal reading. now on week 51/72 and last blood work showed 1.5 normal again. hang in there,chances of it returning to normal post txing is slim. wishes :)shelly
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Avatar universal
Thank you all for your support!
I guess I was shocked when I learned that my thyroid was mess-up. Prior to treatment, my TSH was ~1.88.
Ten months later (April 2006), my TSH became ~4.9.
Ten months later, TSH became ~7.6.

After speaking with a nurse, I understood that after stopping my treatment, my thyroid not likely to reverse and function normally again...  Oh well, I guess I will start taking synthoid too!

HUGE congratulations to official winners of the battle with monster Hep C!

And hopefully, in no time this disease will be only listed in history books!!

Thank you again!
Enjoy your life while you have it!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry for all misspellings in my original message.

Obviously, I did not have a good day! :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also had my TSH go up during tx, at around 24wks.  I felt horrible and I figured it was just the tx, couldn't go to work, I couldn't even get out of bed! My husband thought something was very wrong, so he took me to the doctor's. They checked my TSH and was 82.4. They couldn't believe it! They said because of the tx my immune sytsem attacked my throid.  But after that I started taking sythroid and I got better in about 3-4 weeks.  I'm 20wks post tx (went 48wks) and so far undetectable...woo  I have 4 more wks until the big 6mos after tx PCR. I'm on pins and needles.  
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Avatar universal
I had a thyroid problem before starting treatment.  Did a thyroid test about 2 weeks ago and they dropped my synthroid by 50.  I guess it was going hyper on me somewhat (I won't complain as I can loose the weight with more to spare).  But anyway good luch and once usually you are on synthroid then you always will be on it from what myt doctor said.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
geno 2 week 15 during week 13 was informed of abnormal blood results low thyroid.  normal range as you specified mine was way out like 37.53 can't remember exact number but really high meaning low thyroid. i was feeling very poorly recent posts in last 2 weeks will attest to that.drs increased levothyroid meds. within 5 days feel great.

continue tx.this is a great place for support and information, always consult with your own dr. with medical concerns.

best to you as you continue treatment

rose.
Helpful - 0
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