Which is more prevalent?

[ladybug52]

Thyroid disease from hep c, or thyroid disease from tx?
I didn't have problems with my thyroid before I  treated, but I wonder if my hypothyroidism is due to hep c, age, genetics, tx, or all of the above. I'm pretty much asymptomatic, the only reason I know is because of my labs. Started tx in December 05 and ended in March 06. Dxed with hypothyroid in Dec 08. Does this sound unrelated to  hep c and tx?

[Rockerforlife]

Natural Support
Support the thyroid with optimal nutrition by eating foods rich in iodine such as kelp, dulse, spinach, kale and turnip greens. Foods packed with omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium and zinc are also an excellent support system for the thyroid.

Avoid gluten products such as wheat, barley, rye and replace with sprouted (no-flour) grain breads such as Ezekiel bread, Essene and Manna. Limit dairy other than organic eggs and avoid products containing MSG, soy, peanuts, unsaturated and polyunsaturated oils and fats (replace with olive oil, coconut oil and flax seed oil), white sugar, bok choy and mustard greens.

Heavy metals can interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize thyroid hormones and testing should be done if suspected. There are a number of heavy metal cleanses available on the market in addition to detox foot pads that target the elimination of heavy metals in the body.

[Bill1954]

Hiya, Ms Bug—

Unless I’m missing something, I don’t think HCV by itself is known to trigger thyroid events; although IFN certainly can. I’m not up much on thyroid stuff though; maybe I should have remained quiet on this topic :o).

And by the way, I was bitten once by a ladybug, and it hurt like hell. Surprised the dickens out of me… never as a kid, but only five years ago, I had one bite my hand as I was carrying it out of the house :o).

LOL, cut that out :o)!

Bill

[Lynno711]

I had thyroid disease years before tx.  Some kind of virus.  Anyway I took Eltroxin all the way thru tx. didn't affect the thyroid at all.

Good luck - Lynne

[Marcia2202]

From what I've read, it definitely is tx.

The 2 permanent sides the doctors in Denmark have to inform you about before tx are the possibility of permanent thyroid damage and diabetes. You kind of have to consent to it before doing tx.

[becksta29]

omg my partner was on tx for6 months and had really high sugars in last few months of tx he nearly died from high blood sugar cos he thought he was real thirsty from tx etc but he is now insulin inject dependant and his liver is fatty now cos diabetes is bad 4 liver too it can cause fatty liver etc.now i on tx and im crappin me self cos i test my sugar yesty and it was 8.9 which it has never been b4 i hope to god i dont get diabetes too,my sugars were always around 4 b4 tx now they double,its th tx that causin these probs in my oppinion not hcv.

[ladybug52]

Thanks for all the info. I'll have to look up Eltroxin and some of the dietary supplements. Marcia, interesting how Denmark gives out way more detail in the way of informed consent before tx than I got from any dr here.

Bill: The little ladybug was probably looking for a fire extinguisher. Her house was on fire and the children were all alone. (Please tell me you know that nursery rhyme and don't think I'm crazy)

Well, the only reason I asked about what causes it, is that I was trying to find out how common it is with women who've treated, now that i have problems myself. When I started researching it (read: Google as research) I found out that hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity is associated with chronic hep c.

My doctor has been convinced I'm headed towards Diabetes, I think it's because of tx. I fooled him though, my labs last week were all within normal (fasting blood sugar of 95) my liver functions were 18 and 27 but my thyroid is still not working well even though I've been on medication since December 08.

[Marcia2202]

I guess it's because they have to follow certain guidelines. Also when the nurse explained to me how to take the meds and do the injections, I had to listen to everything she had to say, even though I had checked the videos and had read a lot on the forum. They have to go through the whole procedure by the book. I even had to do the shot into a fake skin silicone thingy. I then went home and did my shot a bit later the same day.

[jdwithhcv]

My thyroid was fine before tx.  I now have Hashimoto's, which my PCP says was caused by the interferon.  Grrrr.....

[Trish77]

I've had HCV for 20+ years and no thyroidism until I got onto treatment. Then I went hyper then hypo.  I also have Hashimoto's now and it's permanent.  I take daily synthroid and will forever.  I personally feel it's perhaps latent but that INF sets it off.  I had read somewhere that those of us at risk for thyroid issues due to treatment are those that already have some sort of antibody but I'll need to check that out to be sure.

Interferon is known to have the potential of kickstarting the advent of autoimmune diseases and thyroidism is an autoimmune disease.  As well, once you have one you're at risk for more so it requires monitoring for other things such as AIH (autoimmune Hepatitis).  So when liver enzymes start rising later on in treatment....you want to keep an eye on the possibility of AIH, even though it's very rare.

Fun stuff, that Interferon, eh?  Nothing to trifle with, for sure.

Trish

[ladybug52]

Ok, so my next question is what's the difference between Hashimotos, and hypothyroidism? Are they the same?

I didn't get much training on the injections Marcia because I was late for my appt. The nurse tried to blow mne off, but I said I had already started the riba that morning and would give myself the shot with or without her help. So I got minimal help and an attitude.

I think your answer was good Trish. I  was so afraid that I would develop diabetes because of my PCP's dire predictions and I beleive that's related to interferon also, right?

Jd what do you take for the Hashimotos? I was on .50 mcg of a generic synthroid, but I was switched to .75 mcg and advised not to take the generic as it doesn't work as well. The PA said that there are 2 drugs she advises against generic use and the synthroid is one of them. And Interferon is the other.....(just kidding)

[GoofyDad]

A year and a half after tx I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Furtunately, this is the  most treatable of cancers, which is good 'cause unfortunately it looks like I'm gonna get to treat it twice.

My thyroid was whacko on tx, settled down after, then a very competent doctor discovered a "lump". Tx related? Who knows?

[ladybug52]

I remember when you were dxed, and I was so shocked and saddened. So what do you mean, you're going to have to treat it twice???

Did your doctor say why your thyroid problems advanced to cancer? Do you have a history of it in your family? Did you know that people with chronic hep c are at a higher risk for thyroid problems. Did your doctor know this?:

"Researchers report that people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at a significantly higher risk of having thyroid disorders. The study authors recommend that HCV patients should be periodically screened for thyroid function, in particular hypothyroidism, which affected 13 percent of the HCV patients in this study. HCV-infected patients also had higher rates of being positive for anti-thyroid autoantibodies, an early indicator of autoimmune thyroid disease." (SOURCE: American Journal of Medicine, July 1, 2004.)

I'm talking to you the way I talk to my husband when he comes home from the dr. Usually husband's answers consist of "I don't know"; "I didn't ask him"; or the classic: "He didn't say anything about that" (which translates into "And I didn't ask him about that either)  

It just makes me want me to want to rip off my wings!
Are you seeing an endocrinologist? I guess I'll check your profile to see if there's any more info on your thyroid tx.....

Bug

[Marcia2202]

Wow. I'm really sorry to hear that.

[GoofyDad]

I had my thyroid removed a year ago. That was a pretty easy deal, all considered, -- but it has been a bit difficult getting the synthroid balanced. Even when the dose is upped enough to make me edgy and teeth grindy - I'm still kinda lethargic and definitely wiped late in the day. I may try a different drug.

Apparently there's still some thyroid tissue in there - will be doing further testing to find it and plan for getting rid of it.  

Bug - He just thinks it's bad luck. Meaning he doesn't know.

[ladybug52]

Wow Goof! Your one line answer sounds just like I'm married to you:)

[nygirl7]

I had dcv for over 20 years but only got the thyroid problem when I treated. Don't know if I would have gotten it in the future though.

Hashimoto's is the same as hypothyroid.  It's not a real family thing although I do have a cousin who got thyroid cancer and had it radiated and removed.......other than that I can't think of anyone else who had it.

At first mine was perfect on the synth and  levothyroxine but lately it's start to creep up slowly so I really have to watch it (it was .063 and now it's like 1.30 which is still fine but better to be careful).

[GoofyDad]

And the level of physical intimacy in our relationship would seem to confirm your suspicions. (I'm not bitter, LOL).

[DoubleDose]

The answer is really both!  HCV, which itself promotes autoimmunity in many who have the virus, can cause thyroid issues, as you have read in the above comments, and article.  I think that HCV can produce some similar effects to the Interferon that we use, because both have a big impact on the immune system.  The Interferon probably, in the end, causes more thyroid problems in tx'ers, because of the sheer intensity and duration of use.

So, in a way, I guess it really doesn't matter that much which causes the thyroid dysfunction...because unless the thyroid returns to normal on its own after tx, thyroid treatment will usually be called for, regardless of the cause.  I am beginning to conclude that HCV and its symptoms often mimic the tx symptoms and side effects.  Maybe it all has to do with the immune system being over-stimulated, chronically (both in HCV infection, and in interferon treatment), and bringing about certain types of autoimmune problems or diseases.  By the way, I have been on Synthroid for almost six years, or since right after my SVR was achieved, and tx ended.  Its not a big deal using the synthroid supplementation.

DoubleDose

[ladybug52]

DD: Good answer! I like your line of reasoning. It's kind of a chicken or the egg question....and it doesn't really matter, does it?

Deb: I know that your thyroid problems were one thing that I thought would never happen to me. Basically because you treated 72 weeks, and I.....didn't treat that long.
When I first found out, I kind of thought it was a mistake, or that it would go away as silently as it started.

Goof: Physical intimacy is so over rated...I just like being with you and and having these meaningful conversations......I ask questions and you give one-liners in response:) At least I don't have to talk over the tv...

[GoofyDad]

It's kind of a chicken or the egg question....
Were they intimate too?

Physical intimacy is so over rated...
They keep telling me that.


Thanks for the laugh....

Oooops ... I  went two lines over....