Tired after thyrogen injection

[Patty315]

Hi everyone, I had two injections of thyrogen this week for my annual check up for thyroid cancer. I had one injection on Monday and the other tuesday.
This year I did not have to take the RAI pill nor did I have to come off my Thy. meds therefore I thought I was going to breeze through this process, however I was wrong. Dont get me wrong I feel much bettter then prior years where I had to do the whole nine yards but I did end up getting the side effects of the thyrogen I'm weak, nauseous,and  the headach started today. I go for my blood test Friday. Does anyone know how long I will feel this way?

[gimel]

Please post your thyroid related test resutls and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, what is your thyroid med and daily dosage?  If tested for Vitamin D, B12, ferritin and cortisol, please post those as well.

[Brownsugarbair]

I am one year out TT and went through med W/D the first time and vowed to never go through it again because it was horrible just had first thyrogen injection on 11/7 second on 11/8 scan on 11/11 and let me tell you by 11/10 i felt like I got ran over by a truck. Same symptoms as med w/d brain fog, fatigue, headache, nauseous, confused, disoriented. I've been taking my meds the whole time. I just want to know when will I feel better because this is horrible!. I'm sure med withdrawal is worse but damn can I get a break? I see my endo on 11/17 for results so I will ask if I can increase my cytomel dose till my TSH comes down.  

[Brownsugarbair]

I am one year out TT and went through med W/D the first time and vowed to never go through it again because it was horrible just had first Thyrogen injection on 11/7 second on 11/8 scan on 11/11 and let me tell you by 11/10 i felt like I got ran over by a truck. Same symptoms as med w/d brain fog, fatigue, headache, nauseous, confused, disoriented. I've been taking my meds the whole time. I just want to know when will I feel better because this is horrible!. I'm sure med withdrawal is worse but damn can I get a break? I see my endo on 11/17 for results so I will ask if I can increase my cytomel dose till my TSH comes down.  

[Kimber494]

I just have the two Thyrogen shots Mon/Tues...Wed blood draw and 5mcl for RAIU, Fri whole body scan and today (Sat) was 2nd whole body scan.  This is my first time after having thyroid removed May 11 due to papillary thyroid cancer that made it to 2 lymphnodes.  The shots by midday were a little rough.  Nauseous, out of it, body hurt but by end if night it was better and Thurs got a wicked headache.Today I am  still not feeling right but each day better.  I am waiting to hear about the i131...anyone care to share their experience?  Did you have to get more Thyrogen shots??

[nanny1963]

Thanks for the comments, I just had my second thyrogen shot today and started feeling like I was getting the flu. This is my second go round since having total thyroidectomy and neck dissection due to thyroid cancer that spread to my neck and lymph nodes. Didn't have any problems with the thyrogen last time but this time has been a challenge. At least I know its normal.

[Wandanell]

Hi, I have had thyrogene shots and have had the RAI without the shots.  The shots made it so much easier.  I had no side effects after the shots.  Not taking your meds is the pits.  This yr I am having trouble with the insurance paying for the shots.  I have the same insurance and it has always paid 100 per cent.  I am wondering others are having trouble getting insurance to pay.

Thanks,  Wanda

[Dawnep83]

I had RAI 2 weeks ago and had 2 thyrogen shots a few days prior. Three days after taking the RAI my throat was sore and horse and my lymph nodes were sore. Since that day the horsness is gone but my lymph nodes still are sore and I am extreemly tired. I took my synthroid during the entire process and also did the Low iodine diet. I feel worse now then after my surgery to remove my thyroid this past July. I have also thought I was getting a bladder infection but read that frequent urge to urinate is another symptom (no one bothered to tell me). I guess i didn't expect to feel this bad two weeks later when my levels after surgery have been fine up to this point. I go to the lab friday, it will be interesting to see the results.

[mw1943]

i got this big old goiter that just suddenly appeared in 12/06 size of a walnut and painfull to the touch. went to my pc the next day and he sent me down to get blood labs, got a Ct scan 1/19/07 then ultrasound, then a  us guided biopsy, the endo called me the next day 5/08/07 and told me the bad news..I had the surgery a week later.Before all this I was having normal blood labs on my thyroid.But I was feeling the choking and like a lump in my throat when swallowing, plus coughing. And had been so so very tired and alot of other symptoms too.
I will google about the injections, thanks.

[Patty315]

Endo doctors always say little or no side effects funny huh. Too long to explain what Thyrogen job is but if you google Thyrogen injection you will get the answer. Some get side effects and some dont. Are you saying you have never had the scan?

[mw1943]

well I got my first thyrogen shot monday, then tuesday the second one...I go fri, for blood draw also. I have had some nauseous sore arms (site of  my injection), chills and hot flashes and today was very tired... like mild flu symptoms. This is my first year after the RAI in 7/18/07  TT in 5/07 pap. cancer. I had to go off my cytromile (sp) and do the LID for three weeks. That was worse.Much worse... My endo said no side effects...somehow I knew better...I read everything I could find about it and still don't understand how the shots work as a tool for testing..do you?
I asked if I would get a scan..he said no that the blood would be sent to CA. it would take a while, because they don't do this test at this army hospital here in Augusta, Ga.

[Patty315]

Liz94 Thyrogen is'nt bad at all, no need to be afraid.
I did have an experience this time where the thyrogen gave me some side effects but nothing compared to the coming off the meds for a week. This what happened to me if it helps you. I recieved my first injection Monday & I felt fine all day a just a little tired. woke up Tuesday went for my injection I drove to work and about 2 hours later I felt tired again and a little naseaus but not enough to go home sick. I crashed when I went home but it wasnt till Wendesday morning that the symptoms started and this morning with a headache. Good news I have to say I'm feeling much better this evening so to answer my own question I would say really I only felt blah for 24 hours. This is my 4th year so I can tell you that unfortunately you just dont know when something is going to make you feel bad but we have to go thru these processes to keep us safe. Good luck, Oh yeah the shot is in your butt and dosent hurt at least it didnt me.

[nissah46]

Just curious, why did you go without thyrogen this time, having used it before?

[nissah46]

I just had thyrogen for the third time in 18 months, and never had any side effects.I was one of the lucky ones I guess.

[emmymm]

Hi all,
I am finally back on synthroid after a month w/ no meds to do RAI.  I'd take the Thyrogen ANY day over what I've gone thru.  I have prepared for scans  AND ablation both ways.  I was lucky to have no side effect using Thyrogen.  I have used Thyrogent 2 consecutive years. So don't rule it out.  Not everyone has side effects.  It's odd...just like the RAI the first time I had it I had no side effect.  This time at just a bit higher dosage, I had every one in the book! Go figure.
Emmy

[shannon828]

Like redhed said- it's either a month of feeling like **** or a few days...I'll take a few days.  I have heard that the side effects can be "flu-like".  Good times.  Stupid Thyroid.  I get my 1st Thyrogen shot next Wednesday...boo for Thyrogen side effects and I hope you feel better soon!!!

In lighter news- GO SOX!  How 'bout those last two games???  Wow.  Are you in Boston and where are you having your stuff done?  I'm in Salem, MA and my team is at Beth Israel...

[pep88]

Happy to hear that.  I'm sorry for Patty315, but happy that not all of us have bad side effects.  Thanks for posting your experience.

[amela321]

Just want to chime in that I'm one of the lucky people who didn't have a single side effect from Thyrogen.  Isn't it strange how some people do and some people don't?  For those who do, I am sorry and hope you feel better soon!

[redhed87]

I have felt like that for 4 weeks now- I wish I could have done thyrogen.  Hang in there.

[pep88]

Yikes!  I'm so sad to hear all of this.  I haven't given lots of thought to the 1 year scan yet, but I had some thoughts about insisting on Thyrogen for any further travels to "hypo-he//"!.  Now I'm thinking exactly the same thing as Liz94...  Patty315, I wish you luck.  Let us, (who don't want to, but will "have" to) know how it goes.  I wish you a speedy scan, a rapid ascent back to "normal", and positive scan outcome!

[Liz94]

Okay, this does not make me happy.  I see my doc on monday to discuss my 6 month visit which is supposed to include the thyrogen shots two days in a row followed by a small dose of RAI and a scan. I'm not too thrilled about any of it. Actually, to be totally honest....I'm scared to death.  I had such a miserable experience with the first round of RAI that I just cannot fathom even putting a teensy bit in my body. I was planning on just saying NO to the whole process. But then I think of my kids and I just can't be so selfish.  Where do they give you these thyrogen shots, in the arm? Butt? I need to know!  And now that I hear there are side effects to that, well, it just makes me want to choke somebody! Just when I start to feel normal they want to kick me down again!  I'm sorry you feel yucky and I hope it doesn't last long. I'm praying for you!