Is this forum active and if so how bad am I right now?

[tooweaktocare]

I'm too tired to move.  I stare at walls and cannot even sleep.  My TSH levels are at 59.7.  I had thyroid cancer diagnosed in 2009.  The doctor removed each side of my thyroid separately and it came back that all five of the nodules were indeed melanoma.  Fast forward to about 2 months ago and my hair is falling out.  I feel like the walking dead.  I went to my regular doctor and mentioned that I hadn't had an ultrasound done since my surgery.  She ordered an ultrasound, they found new tissue mass and I got to do the radioactive iodine.  I felt great!....for about a month.  In one week, I gained 15 pounds.  I don't have energy to do anything.  She ordered an immediate lab draw which is where I got my TSH levels of almost 60.  How long will it take before I start feeling better using the medication she prescribed?

[flyingfool]

Why did the Dr take you  off Armour?  

Armour has been used effectively for over 100 years. So what in God's green earth if you were liking it and possibly doing OK with it would cause the Dr to take it away from you and now you feel terrible.

Does that make any sense to anyone????

When dealing with Thyroid it usually is not a good idea to throw the baby out with the bath water and completely 180 degree change protocol unless there is no other choice.  Also as Barb stated a starting dose over about 50 mcg often times results in people not being able to tolerate it.  You have to work your way up in steps.

Finally you do sound Hypo to me. But you can't jump onto a train bizzing by at 100 mph.  Even if you all agree that it the train you need to be on.  You need to ramp yourself up to speed and then jump on.

[Barb135]

Has your doctor tested anything besides TSH?  If so, please post whatever other thyroid labs you have, and be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

What dosage of Armour had you been on and why wouldn't your doctor let you stay on it?   How long have you been on the Synthroid?

It seems that 125 mcg might have been too high a starting dose.

Depression is a very prominent hypothyroid symptom.  Typically, once thyroid hormone levels are adequate, depression begins to lift and while it may take some time, it does, usually go completely away, if thyroid is the sole cause.

[Barb135]

It's against MedHelp Terms of Use to post web links for competing sites.  That's why you link was x'd out when you posted it.  MedHelp has an active Thyroid Cancer forum, as well, which can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Thyroid-Cancer/show/1199

[tutak]

looks like the link got censored. https://www(dot)inspire(dot)com/groups/thyca-thyroid-cancer-survivors-association/

[tutak]

Are you taking any medication for the depression and fatigue? Although these symptoms are normal when dealing with Thyroid cancer (even medication causes them) your doctor needs to know about them so he can deal with them.

I would highly recommend you go to the following site, it has a great community of Thyroid cancer survivors. Since I found it 3 years ago, it has given me more information than all of the oncologists we have met.
https://www.***********/groups/thyca-thyroid-cancer-survivors-association/


Good luck and be positive :)

[tooweaktocare]

Sorry, melanoma wasn't the right word because it wasn't skin cancer.  It just stayed in my thyroid.  The doctor prescribed me Synthroid at .125 mcg.  I haven't had a great track record with Synthroid in the past but she didn't want to keep me on Armor Thyroid any longer.  I'm tired and discouraged.  Very discouraged.  There is a lot of negative things going on in my life that are making it worse for me and I know that isn't helping me heal.  The depression is bad.  I guess that's why I came here.  People keep telling me how strong I am but they don't see the side of me that spends hours crying.  Thank you for your responses.  I've been very good at taking this new medication.  I can't say that I have seen an improvement yet which is depressing but I guess there is always hope for the future.  

[Barb135]

What medication did your doctor prescribe and what dosage?  How long have you been on it?  It's true that it takes 4-6 weeks for the med to reach full potential in the blood.  You should retest in 6 weeks to make sure your TSH is coming down and your FT3 and FT4 (thyroid hormones) are going up.

[Guppy70]

Sorry to hear you're feeling bad. So, did you have melanoma (skin cancer) in your thyroid? Did you have skin cancer that metastesized to your thyroid?
But I do understand that with that TSH level you're feeling aweful. My understanding is that thyroid meds works slowly so it could be weeks before you're noticing a difference. And you still might have to adjust your meds according to repeat thyroid panels.
I hope it won't be too long though.