Rapid weight gain post-treatment

Paintslinger
Paintslinger Member Posts: 70
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey guys,
I just got back from seeing my chemo-therapist. Looks like we got it all. I'm almost a year post-treatment and I'm picking up weight FAST. Sounds good until you consider the fact that I'm not eating enough to put on THIS much weight (this rapidly, anyway). The doc says the treatments may have affected my thyroid glands; he's going to check my thyroid function after the holidays. Anyone else experience this?

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Slinger ~ Yes, No, Maybe...
    Yes, I have gained weight...over three years out...

    No, it's because I eat at the wrong times, and...well, umm at this point, food tastes so damn good.

    Maybe, you have thyroid problems..., it's very common if you had rads. Many here have had to go on Synthroid or similar synthetic drugs, but it's usually easily treated and maintained.

    Actually, your MD's should have been aware and ordered TSH and Free T4 blood labs when you have your routine blood draws post Tx.

    My TSH levels were high for nearly three years, the last nine months or so, they have fallen back in to normal ranges.

    Anyways, if it's thyroid related, they should be able to see it and come up with a plan fairly fast.

    Best,
    John
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #3
    Agreed
    I agree with John get your thyroid checked, I had an under active thyroid prior to any treatments, one of the things they kept an eye during treatments.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    my thyroid failed
    before I was even done with rads. It is true most gain weight when this happens. I lost weight. Go figure.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    longtermsurvivor said:

    my thyroid failed
    before I was even done with rads. It is true most gain weight when this happens. I lost weight. Go figure.

    Abi-Normal
    We are just bass ackwards people Pat....

    JG
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    I was told to expect my thryroid to get out of whack....
    so they'll be checking mine every few months. For sure get yours checked...a non-working thyroid is another gift from rads :).

    p
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #7
    low thyroid, watch your step
    Hi Denis,

    I got a call today from my GP office today and they said my thyroid was low and that they wanted to recheck it in two weeks. Thyroid low, here I thought it was around my neck (it must have slipped down)?

    Steady at 174 LBS

    Best,

    Matt
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #8
    Been There, Done That
    Once I started gaining weight after treatment, it came back with a vengeance. Doc checked the thyroid levels,and let me know I needed to start medication. It's common - you'll see many folks here with thyroid issues post-treatment.
  • Paintslinger
    Paintslinger Member Posts: 70
    #9
    CivilMatt said:

    low thyroid, watch your step
    Hi Denis,

    I got a call today from my GP office today and they said my thyroid was low and that they wanted to recheck it in two weeks. Thyroid low, here I thought it was around my neck (it must have slipped down)?

    Steady at 174 LBS

    Best,

    Matt

    :)!
    See what I mean? And you call Skiffin the comedian! Maybe I'll wear a choker to keep them from slipping! :)!
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
    Pam M said:

    Been There, Done That
    Once I started gaining weight after treatment, it came back with a vengeance. Doc checked the thyroid levels,and let me know I needed to start medication. It's common - you'll see many folks here with thyroid issues post-treatment.

    ONC
    I asked my ONC about thyroid testing and she said she doesn't do it for a year following tx. Can't recall her reasoning.
  • Paintslinger
    Paintslinger Member Posts: 70
    #11
    hwt said:

    ONC
    I asked my ONC about thyroid testing and she said she doesn't do it for a year following tx. Can't recall her reasoning.

    Thanks
    Thanks for all of the feedback, guys. Extremely helpful as usual!
  • Paintslinger
    Paintslinger Member Posts: 70
    #12
    Skiffin16 said:

    Abi-Normal
    We are just bass ackwards people Pat....

    JG

    :)!
    Ya think?! :)!I've known that I was wired up all wrong (especially north of the neck) for years!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    hwt said:

    ONC
    I asked my ONC about thyroid testing and she said she doesn't do it for a year following tx. Can't recall her reasoning.

    Testing...
    It takes awhile and progressively goes out, usually not recvoering once damaged. Very easy to have the test added....

    Actually if you have any of your complete blood profile (as I have kept every one of mine, near 25 or so)... It might even have the test results on there.

    TSH
    Free T-4

    JG
  • Paintslinger
    Paintslinger Member Posts: 70
    #14
    Skiffin16 said:

    Testing...
    It takes awhile and progressively goes out, usually not recvoering once damaged. Very easy to have the test added....

    Actually if you have any of your complete blood profile (as I have kept every one of mine, near 25 or so)... It might even have the test results on there.

    TSH
    Free T-4

    JG

    ?!
    What?!
  • Debi16043
    Debi16043 Member Posts: 53
    #15
    Paintslinger said:

    ?!
    What?!

    Thyroid numbers
    I gained 8 pounds in 2weeks and was so tired couldnt drag myself out of bed. My tsh was 7.5 and doctor put me on medicine. What was some out theres tsh number? Just wondering how high some of you had.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #16
    Debi16043 said:

    Thyroid numbers
    I gained 8 pounds in 2weeks and was so tired couldnt drag myself out of bed. My tsh was 7.5 and doctor put me on medicine. What was some out theres tsh number? Just wondering how high some of you had.

    Also 7+
    I think mine at the highest was nearly 7.4, but in reality, that's not extreme I think I remember a few people well over 10 on here. Which still may not be that high, relatively speaking, not sure.

    It also depends on your Free T4 and how you are feeling.

    In your case you were having some issues. For me it was just a little fatigue early evening.

    I did try the synthroid, but I felt it was causing a few issues and they took me off.

    As of the last few exams, the TSH has been right at 5..., and my Free T4 was always in range.

    My MD's say that hormones are still relatively not down to a science and there is still a lot of unknowns. Numbers that may cause one person problems, doesn't in others.

    JG
  • francma
    francma Member Posts: 69 Member
    #17
    Debi16043 said:

    Thyroid numbers
    I gained 8 pounds in 2weeks and was so tired couldnt drag myself out of bed. My tsh was 7.5 and doctor put me on medicine. What was some out theres tsh number? Just wondering how high some of you had.

    TSH number
    Mine was 11.84
    the range should be:
    0.34 - 5.60

    So diagnosis is hypothyroidism and taking levothyroid 75mcg. My rad onc. says (I think) 20% of patients get thyroid destroyed from radiation. So have to take meds rest of my life. These test results came up 5 months post treatment
  • dales2loud
    dales2loud Member Posts: 45
    #18
    I'm gaining too.
    I lost weight for 5 months after treatment then it slowly started coming back. I've gained 25 pounds in 8 months and it needs to stop but I can taste food again and its sooo hard to stop eating.
    I hope they find whats going on with your gain.

    Dale

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