Graves Disease?

[ponyshel]

I just completed 72 weeks of interferon alpha 2a/riba treatment for HCV. I had hypothyroidism about week 30 of treatment and my tsh was 78. The doctor started me on levothyroxin 50mcg, 4 weeks later 75mcg,4 weeks later 100, then 150mcg...finally I had one month that my tsh read 2.4. The following month it went crazy and I had a reading of 0.01..he reduced meds and I am still testing 0.01. I am now finished with treatment of interferon 5 weeks post and he told me to stop the levothyroxin 65mcg 4 weeks ago. I went to the dr.s on the 4th and he told me to not worry about being hyper and to go to a family dr. to have it checked. I have all the symptoms of Graves. I still feel hyper and have been having some chest pains. What should I do? Thank you.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

IFN can aggravate thyroid disease.  Can cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism -- thought due to activating immune system attacks on the thyroid.  Close monitoring is important.  Would check levels off levothyroxine at this time to see what the thyroid is doing on its own -- if hyper, treatment may be indicated especially given the symptoms you have.  It is not something to "not worry about".

[runbikeswim]

If your Dr. told you not to worry about being hyper I would find a new Dr.  Hyperthyroid, specifically Graves disease needs to be treated.  There are many, many symptoms that one can have when they are hyper.  I have recently been diagnosed with Graves, my only symptom was my heart racing (resting rate  110- bpm).  My Dr. really scared me about not taking paying attention to the problem and put me on beta blockers immediately.  He got me an appointment to see an endo doc as I was standing there in his office.  Call you family dr immediately and explain to them symptoms, they should see you ASAP.
Good luck and hope you feel better.