HCV tx and thyroid related question

[paen53]

For those of you that ended up hypothyroid after or during tx, what were your symptoms? And were they resolved once you began the meds? Does it ever resolve on its own?

[nygirl7]

Especially for us 72 weekers this doesnt seem to be uncommon...too much interferon for to long is my guess.  But hey we're SVR so it's a pill a day that's all (I try to think of it that way anyways ;)

[paen53]

Thanks guys. My thyroid tests had all been normal until 6 months post when the TSH went to 7.25 (last test was 3 something back in September) T3 and T4 normal, by ThyroAB inching upwards, now at 53.5. It certainly would explain some of my sx since the 3 month post point. I was hoping it might just go away (I know, I know...) but have another test soon to check it out.

[meakea]

I started trending towards hypothyroidism prior to starting treatment and treatment pushed me into it so that I started on levothyroxine a month or two into treatment for HCV.  The thyroid med keeps my thyroid levels perfect and I'm doing fine.  As far as symptoms, I probably had some but it just blended into everything else so I didn't really know it.  I'm under the impression that once a person is hypo they are always hypo but your doc will continue to check your thyroid levels on a 6-month or yearly basis after they get your levels stabilized.

[nygirl7]

The symptoms pretty much mirror a lot of the sides during treatment. Google up Hashimoto Disease and they'll be listed.

Fortunately, taking Syntrhoid every day my TSH is at 2 (first it went to 0.0 hyper then to 6.2 hypo) which is pretty good.  Just have to get a blood test evey once in a while to check it out and monitor that and it's OK.

Remember ours is a bit different because it develops quickly not like a normal person but it's all the same and due to our whacky immune systems, it's an autoimmune disease.

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending on the severity of hormone deficiency. At first, you may barely notice any symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as the disease progresses, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Fatigue and sluggishness
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Pale, dry skin
A puffy face
Hoarse voice
An elevated blood cholesterol level
Unexplained weight gain - occurring infrequently and rarely more than 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
Depression
Without treatment, signs and symptoms gradually become more severe and your thyroid gland may become enlarged (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.

[willbb]

I  Have had hypo thyroid issues for many years even before tx. and once your thyroid gland is not working properly it  usually does need the meds to correct it.

The thyroid controls the bodys metabolism so hypo means the  "slowing down"  Very often if you are just slightly "hypo " there is no symptoms,however higher degrees can cause one or more of many symptoms   ie.  fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fog type mental capacity to name a few.

and yes.. once your levels are checked it is usually always corrected by "synthroid"   and it is usually taken for life.

Hope that helps some

WILL