Feeling sick

[scaredandconfused84]

I know this is another tread but I feel its necessary. Just today I started feeling really lousy. I mean like wanting to throw up and super tired, my feet are freezing and body temperature is only 93.7. I was wondering if this is what the starting of hypothyroidism will feel like until I get medication. Has anyone else felt like this? I am super weak too.

[Barb135]

Yes, your levels sound good.  

You can find a lot of good information on the thyca web site.  

I was going to link you to the MedHelp Thyroid Cancer forum, as well, but I see you've already found it.

[scaredandconfused84]

Thank you for the quick response. So I guess my levels sound good. I had a really good surgeon. Probably the best in the metro detroit area. I will check that out. Thank you again.

[Barb135]

Thyroglobulin is a protein used entirely in and by the thyroid.  When the thyroid has been removed the thyroglobulin (Tg) test is used to determine if there's any thyroid tissue left.

Since Tg is only made/used by the thyroid, the test is used after thyroidectomy/RAI as a tumor marker to determine whether or not the cancer has all been removed.  

Because you still have a small amount of Tg left in your blood, that indicates a small amount of thyroid tissue left, but doesn't necessarily mean cancer left.  The RAI will any remaining thyroid tissue and from then on, your Tg level should come back as undetected.

Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) are antibodies that attack thyroglobulin. Your level at less than 20 is considered negative, which is good as high TgAb can cause false low Tg results.)

The next Tg test, after RAI, you have should be undetected.  You will be tested periodically, for the rest of your life and the Tg test will be used as a marker to determine that thyroid cancer has not returned.

Once you've had the RAI and been started on regular thyroid replacement hormones, your TSH will kept suppressed, as well.

Here's another link you might find interesting:
http://www.thyca.org/pap-fol/more/thyroglobulin/

[scaredandconfused84]

Can someone tell me what these test results mean?
Component Standard Range          Your Value
Thyroglobulin 0.0 - 55.0 ng/mL             1.0
Thyroglobulin Antibody 0 - 20 IU/mL <20

[scaredandconfused84]

They also told me I will only have to stay in my room at home with the door closed for 2 days.

[scaredandconfused84]

Yeah I did I called the dr and he said this is how they have always done it and the fact that I dont have the pins and needles anymore or I don't have any other symptoms. I am fine. But there are also other people ahead of me, they got me in as soon as they could and the fact that he took out 26 lymph nodes and did a lot more work then he originally thought he had to they want me to heal a little more.

[Barb135]

We've had quite a few members who have had RAI much sooner than 6 weeks and have had the thyrotropin injections to avoid the hypothyroidism, but whatever they told you is what you have to do... did you even read the link I posted?

[scaredandconfused84]

And it has to be at 40 or above.

[scaredandconfused84]

I have to do this diet for 10 days before I can even get the RAIT done. They did everything they could in the time they did. They usually wait 6 weeks with patients to even start the RAIT, but they are starting me 2 weeks early.

[Dee1956]

This is really good information, thanks, Dee

[Barb135]

You can read about it here.  It also tells about the low iodine diet and what to expect after the RAI...

http://www.thyca.org/pap-fol/rai/

[Barb135]

Your TSH only has to be above 30 and yours has been there for some time!!

Your doctor could also have chosen to give you a Thyrotropin injection, which raises your TSH quickly and only has to be done a few days prior to the RAI, and would have eliminated the weeks of hypothyroidism.  

Now you'll have to spend weeks on thyroid replacement medication trying to undo the hypothyroidism before you get back to feeling "human" again.

[scaredandconfused84]

I mean dose not does.

[scaredandconfused84]

no no, I cant be on any medication once the diet starts. Which is on the 30th. the higher the TSH lvl the better the treatment works. I get a small does on feb 6th of rait, then i get a blood test, then another scan and the 12th I get the full dose.

[Barb135]

He only gave you 10 cytomel to last until you have RAI on Feb 12?  OMG...

First off, 25 mcg of cytomel is not a small dose.. it would be if it were a T4 med, but not since it's T3, which is 4 times stronger than T4.  Secondly, what the heck does he expect you to do after the 10 days is up?  

I'm not liking this doctor at all.  But of course, you have to do what he says, though if I were you, I'd have been on the phone demanding that this be moved along much more quickly.  It seems very unreasonable that you should have to wait that long for the RAI...

[scaredandconfused84]

Well he only gave me 10 pills. And it says directly on the medication to NOT take iron or calcium supplements within 4 hours of taking the thyroid medication. And they checked my calcium and I was taking it at noon and then again at around 8 or 9pm. And everything has been going ok so far. No pins or needles feeling, Just tired.

[Barb135]

Almost all cytomel says to take it once/day, but those of us who have been on it for a while realize that doesn't work...

[Barb135]

If you're not waking up till noon, you're not taking your calcium as directed either!!  We all have to learn to juggle things so we can get in all our med(s), along with vitamins/minerals and sometimes we have to fudge it a bit closer than the 4 hours - we do what we have to do to get the meds in.

I realize you can't have "high" levels when you have your RAI, but don't want to get so hypo, you end up in an emergency situation, either and that can happen very easily, since thyroid hormones control so many body functions.

I'm very skeptical about any doctor waiting this long and letting you get this hypo prior to RAI.

[scaredandconfused84]

And I don't even wake up till noon half the time.

[scaredandconfused84]

It says take it once a day in the morning, It is a small dose because I can't have high lvls when I get the RAIT and I can't split it anyway. I have to take 8 calcium pills throughout the day. I have to get up at 8 or earlier just to take the cytomel so i can take my calcium before noon. You can't take any calcium within 4 hours of taking Cytomel. And I have to take 4 in the morning and 4 at night.

[Barb135]

How are you taking the cytomel?  Are you taking it all at once in the morning?  If so, try splitting it into 2 doses - half in the morning and half around noon or so.

T3 med (cytomel) is fast acting and only stays in your system a few hours, so if you're taking it all at once, you're getting an initial "blast" when you take the dose, then when it's gone, you have nothing the rest of the day.  By splitting the dose, you keep your level more steady throughout the day.

Even with the cytomel, you're going to be hypo... you're having the symptoms and you still have almost 3 weeks to wait.  I didn't have my thyroid removed, but I sure remember those hypo days...

[scaredandconfused84]

I'm on some t3 medication right now called Cytomel 25mcg to tide me over. I start RAIT on February 12th. So then I'll get the medication when treatment is over.

[Barb135]

Yes, what you're feeling is definitely hypothyroidism.  Your TSH last week was already at 37+,  and we know your thyroid hormone levels have to be very low.  

You need to talk to your doctor and get the ball rolling.  You can't continue to be without thyroid hormones.

[Totie]

I could had, but if I did I don't remember it (20yrs ago). I returned back to work 4 weeks after surgery, but only because the thyroid storms affected my organs in so many ways...

I wasn't tired, I don't think, because my son was 1yr old and I chased after him at the time....My husband worked so I kept him...

I recovered pretty quick after surgery and went right back to work fulltime, weather I felt like it or not..Didn't have a choice...

I guess I ignored how I felt because I had a little one running around...