Thyroid Problems

[Big eyes]

Are there any meds to help when one is on treatment and the thyroid acts up?

[lizzee]

I KNOW WHEN MY THYROID ACTED CRAZY ON TX I WAS FIRST PUT ON A MED THAT MADE IT GO FROM HYPER TO HYPO.I CANNOT REMEMBER THAT NAME OFFHAND. SORRY...
NOW I AM TAKING SYNTHROID FOR HYPOACTIVE THYROID.
I KNOW BRITGIRL HAD PROBLEMS TOO.
BE WELL,
LIZE

[Steve']

Can I ask a question hear how does one know whe the Thyroid is going hyper or hypo, I've heard of this before, Tx people saying they had Thyroid troubles... I hope I don't have problems
sorry to hear you did....Good Luck with it...
Steve'

[DebbieDo]

I'm on Thyroid meds(Synthroid) now and I haven't started treatment yet.  Am I going to have problems with my thyroid when i do start treatment? My thyroid results have been stable with meds for a long time?

[lizzee]

Hi Steve,
They check for this monthly.
SOME people have no problems...while on tx with their thyroid.
I hope you r one them!!!!:0)

Hi Debbiedo:
I think with you already on meds for thyroid, that u will just need to have it checked faithfully. I would make sure your DR. treating you for hep knows all about this.
Be Well,

Lize

[lizzee]

WHOOPS, I FORGOT..THEY CHECK THYROID THRU A BLOOD TEST..
I AM SORRY I FORGOT TO POST THIS.
THE GOOD OLE' BRAIN SOMETIMES GETS FOGGIE STILL.
BE WELL..
LIZE

[britgirl]

How do you mean your thyroid is "acting up"? Is it underactive or over active? Only blood tests will tell. Have you had them?
As Lize said, my thyroid became damaged after about 20 weeks on tx (it was detects in a blood test; I felt fine)and I have been told that it is permanent damage and I will be on a supplement (thyroxine/synthroid) for the rest of my life. I have just had the dose increased and I will have to be monitored every 3 months to see if the dose needs adjusting. Some people are lucky in that their thyroid adjusts itself when they come off tx, but this is not usually the case.

[no where to turn to]

In the beginning when this THING showed its ugly head I had started gaining weight. Could not understand why. So, as time went on and I got on tx that's when the labs showed that my thyroid was out of wack.

[regmel]

What do you look for on a blood test that indicates your thyroid?

[oldhippiechick67]

Its a T3, T4 &/or TSH.

[odessit]

Just a thought... is it possible to prevent the damage to thyroid in early stages so in doesn't become permanent???

[Galen]

From the following site:http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/advocate0803.html#4

Many studies have shown that interferon therapy can cause autoimmune thyroid conditions or worsen existing thyroid disease (either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism). This is thought to occur because interferon stimulates immune system activity. Research shows that thyroid problems occur in about 5-15% of people taking interferon (often several months into treatment) and that levels of anti-thyroid antibodies may rise. Treatment-related thyroid disorders are seen more often in women than in men, and are more common in people with pre-existing thyroid problems or high levels of anti-thyroid antibodies. Usually thyroid dysfunction resolves when interferon is discontinued, but it is sometimes permanent (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis). In some cases, thyroid problems develop after interferon is stopped.

Although interferon therapy is a common cause of thyroid problems in people with hepatitis C, research indicates that HCV itself can trigger thyroid disorders. Several studies have shown that thyroid dysfunction is more prevalent in HCV positive people than in HCV negative people, even among those not receiving treatment. Dr. Luisa Fernandez-Soto and colleagues compared patients being treated with interferon for hepatitis B or C; they found that anti-thyroid antibodies were about four times more common in people with HCV than in those with HBV, and at the end of treatment people with HCV were four times more likely to have thyroid dysfunction. However, because some HBV patients being treated with interferon do develop thyroid problems, HCV can’t be given all the blame. Importantly, HIV infection is also associated with thyroid disorders, so HCV/HIV coinfected people may be at even greater risk.