Aa
Post Hep C 6 mo txt/Hashimoto's Thryrodism/Thrush
Curious, If any of you have experienced this- I'm post Hep C treatment approx 3 mo but during the course of my treatment...I developed "Hashimoto's thyroidism" and a persistent case of "Thrush". I'm working my way back to a stabilized TSH in the thyroid and thrush is getting under control...I finally feel like I might be "turning things around". One of the biggest symptoms of the above is "extreme hair loss". I always feel "shallow" in mentioning this...considering things could be so much worse...but I'm befuddled...is the hair loss (as it continues at a slower pace but persists), a cause of Hep C txt...lingering...or because of the thyroid malfunction? I guess I'll never know until the thyroid is completely stabilzed and the hair loss completely stops. It is important to note that although my hair continues to fall out...it still is still growing at the same time. Kind of like the ("tortoise and the hare") Seriously...have lost nearly 95% of my hair and am almost down to the scalp. Has anyone experienced this? Thanks for any feedback. Monica
I was put on Synthroid week 1 of my tx back in June 2007. I continued to take the thryroid meds and they upped the dosage from 25mg to 50mg.
I finished tx in May 2008, so I am 7 mos post tx and am SVR! At my last appt I insisted on continuing my thyroid medicine which was now the generic Levoxythy...
After reading several posts on this forum about people with thyroid issues before, during and after tx I decided to go see an Endocrinologist on my own. I went and he examined my throat and said I had a 'slightly enlarged thyroid' and sent me for a sonogram. Additionally, they did some labs and within the same week I got a call informing me that my Vitamin D level was low - 17 (should be between 32-100) and a prescription for vitamin D. I am to go back for labs in 1 more week to see if there is any improvement.
I got another call after the sonogram informing me that I had a nodule and now am scheduled for a biopsy on Jan. 6th.
Because the tx can and does damage and or destroy the thyroid it is imperative that everyone do a follow up with an endocrinologist just to be safe...I am glad that I did.
The dx also told me he thought I too had Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease. He also said that I should NEVER take generic brands of thyroid medicine and wrote me a script for Synthroid. Normally, I would have made a big deal out of all of this but I am also taking Paxil (life saver for me) which keeps me, calm, cool and collected for 95% of the time.
I didn't lose too much hair on tx and now 7 mos. post tx I can say that my hair is very healthy and strong and doesn't fall out and isn't brittle and dry like it used to be. I do know that thyroid issues also cause the thinning of the hair. I would go see an endocrinologist.
I am very concerned right now about my bones and Vitamin D level. I took Neupogen 3 times a wk for an entire yr and I hope that doesn't have anything to do with my bones but I am a little worried that it may have.
Congrats on finishing tx and hope your hair improves soon. Keep me posted on your post tx results and your thyroid as well.
Smile, you are not alone!
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!!
TV
I finished tx in May 2008, so I am 7 mos post tx and am SVR! At my last appt I insisted on continuing my thyroid medicine which was now the generic Levoxythy...
After reading several posts on this forum about people with thyroid issues before, during and after tx I decided to go see an Endocrinologist on my own. I went and he examined my throat and said I had a 'slightly enlarged thyroid' and sent me for a sonogram. Additionally, they did some labs and within the same week I got a call informing me that my Vitamin D level was low - 17 (should be between 32-100) and a prescription for vitamin D. I am to go back for labs in 1 more week to see if there is any improvement.
I got another call after the sonogram informing me that I had a nodule and now am scheduled for a biopsy on Jan. 6th.
Because the tx can and does damage and or destroy the thyroid it is imperative that everyone do a follow up with an endocrinologist just to be safe...I am glad that I did.
The dx also told me he thought I too had Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease. He also said that I should NEVER take generic brands of thyroid medicine and wrote me a script for Synthroid. Normally, I would have made a big deal out of all of this but I am also taking Paxil (life saver for me) which keeps me, calm, cool and collected for 95% of the time.
I didn't lose too much hair on tx and now 7 mos. post tx I can say that my hair is very healthy and strong and doesn't fall out and isn't brittle and dry like it used to be. I do know that thyroid issues also cause the thinning of the hair. I would go see an endocrinologist.
I am very concerned right now about my bones and Vitamin D level. I took Neupogen 3 times a wk for an entire yr and I hope that doesn't have anything to do with my bones but I am a little worried that it may have.
Congrats on finishing tx and hope your hair improves soon. Keep me posted on your post tx results and your thyroid as well.
Smile, you are not alone!
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!!
TV
AT the six month point exactly I developed Graves and went extremely hyper (TSH 0.0). Then in three weeks (the amount of time it took to get to the nuclear imaging appt) I went the other way to Hashi and the TSH was 6.2
I totally get you about the hair. In fact, I went to ebay and bought a bunch of wigs to wear to work. They helped me feel much better about myself and with an average cost of about $30 instead of $500 I got a whole selection of styles and colors so I had fun with it. Recently I went out and put one on even cause they are FUN!
I started synthroid way back then. Stayed on it through all the rest of the 72 weeks and have now been on it for the next two years I've been SVR. It's not that bad. Just one pill a day and my TSH is now .63 which is perfect. I had started gainning a lot of weight when I first went hypo so I"m glad that it works!
My hair is now longer and thicker than ever.....I don't have that shallow feeling anymore and basically if I didn't know better I'd totally forget I had this autoimmune disease at all!
Hang in there. I'm glad I got the monitor on my home PC back up and running so I could come on on the weekend and answer this!
You'll be fine. Just make sure you take the meds every day. I just wish the co-pay wasn't so high, I think it's $40 for the synthroid but the synthroid is supposed to be better than taking the generic (levothyroxine or something like that) because it is a much cleaner version of the medication. A lady at work who had Graves told me this. She had her thyroid radiated and then cut out and her eyes are still REALLY huge from having it. It's much more dangerous to be hyper than hypo so at least we got lucky there!
Check out the wigs........I tell you you can make it fun - hard to imagine but boy it was so much easier to look in the mirror with a wig and a bit of self tanner on to hide the grey look - and the moisturizers in the tanning lotion helped hydrate my skin better than any product I could find on the shelves!
Those are my secrets to fighting through hashi on treatment anyway, I hope that they help you!
I totally get you about the hair. In fact, I went to ebay and bought a bunch of wigs to wear to work. They helped me feel much better about myself and with an average cost of about $30 instead of $500 I got a whole selection of styles and colors so I had fun with it. Recently I went out and put one on even cause they are FUN!
I started synthroid way back then. Stayed on it through all the rest of the 72 weeks and have now been on it for the next two years I've been SVR. It's not that bad. Just one pill a day and my TSH is now .63 which is perfect. I had started gainning a lot of weight when I first went hypo so I"m glad that it works!
My hair is now longer and thicker than ever.....I don't have that shallow feeling anymore and basically if I didn't know better I'd totally forget I had this autoimmune disease at all!
Hang in there. I'm glad I got the monitor on my home PC back up and running so I could come on on the weekend and answer this!
You'll be fine. Just make sure you take the meds every day. I just wish the co-pay wasn't so high, I think it's $40 for the synthroid but the synthroid is supposed to be better than taking the generic (levothyroxine or something like that) because it is a much cleaner version of the medication. A lady at work who had Graves told me this. She had her thyroid radiated and then cut out and her eyes are still REALLY huge from having it. It's much more dangerous to be hyper than hypo so at least we got lucky there!
Check out the wigs........I tell you you can make it fun - hard to imagine but boy it was so much easier to look in the mirror with a wig and a bit of self tanner on to hide the grey look - and the moisturizers in the tanning lotion helped hydrate my skin better than any product I could find on the shelves!
Those are my secrets to fighting through hashi on treatment anyway, I hope that they help you!
I have not experienced any thyroid problems so far. Some of the counts were indicating a tendency towards hypo, but it stabilized last week.
I don't have the thrush either, just a persisting candida, if I do not take the fluconazole time release. If the thrush persists, you might need to ask your doctor for some medication. Eliminating sugar, refined flour etc, should help in the process, as fungi feed on this.
I'm really sorry about the almost complete hair loss. It must be really 'painful'. I don't think anyone's feelings are shallow. This is how YOU feel about not having your hair and I respect that. I would probably feel the same. I love my hair and I would not want to loose it.
I don't care about what people think about me having hep c, but there are people who do care and I would never call them shallow, because they feel differently from me. So no, your feelings are not shallow!
I have plan B ready, if it should happen to me, I will shave off all my hair. I don't even think I would go for a wig. So far, week 18, I have lost about 30%, but since my hair is curly, it is not really noticeable. My hubby and kids noticed, but not others. There is also a lot of new hair growing back.
I wish you all the best in recovering from treatment. And sorry that you are having this kind of aftermath...
Hugs, Marcia
I don't have the thrush either, just a persisting candida, if I do not take the fluconazole time release. If the thrush persists, you might need to ask your doctor for some medication. Eliminating sugar, refined flour etc, should help in the process, as fungi feed on this.
I'm really sorry about the almost complete hair loss. It must be really 'painful'. I don't think anyone's feelings are shallow. This is how YOU feel about not having your hair and I respect that. I would probably feel the same. I love my hair and I would not want to loose it.
I don't care about what people think about me having hep c, but there are people who do care and I would never call them shallow, because they feel differently from me. So no, your feelings are not shallow!
I have plan B ready, if it should happen to me, I will shave off all my hair. I don't even think I would go for a wig. So far, week 18, I have lost about 30%, but since my hair is curly, it is not really noticeable. My hubby and kids noticed, but not others. There is also a lot of new hair growing back.
I wish you all the best in recovering from treatment. And sorry that you are having this kind of aftermath...
Hugs, Marcia
Monica,
I dont have much experience with thyroid I know NyGirl does she usually doesnt post on the weekend, but she should be able to help you when she is on.
Charm also has lost alot of hair, and is post tx but only a couple of weeks.
I am sure those with the same experience will post soon.
good luck
peace
rita
I dont have much experience with thyroid I know NyGirl does she usually doesnt post on the weekend, but she should be able to help you when she is on.
Charm also has lost alot of hair, and is post tx but only a couple of weeks.
I am sure those with the same experience will post soon.
good luck
peace
rita
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