Hypothyroidism

denistd
denistd Member Posts: 597
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Have been have digestive problems lately, mostly constipation and a little nausea. Saw the Gastro doctor yesterday at Penn State Hershey. She did the usual stuff, pressing around the tummy, listening to bowel sounds etc. She said I have a hiatial hernia but that is not the reason for the digestive problems. Had blood drawn. Today she called me and told me my thyroid was pretty much shot that I have hypothyroidism and need to get on medicine asap. She also explained that is why I have been putting on weight over the past two months. The thyroid test done in March showed a normal range so it's just happened and she blames the radiation 4 years ago for it. I will call my PCP on Monday and get some meds and follow up stuff. Does anyone else have any experience with it? Thanks, Denis

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    My thyroid started going downhill

    about 90 days after rads were done.  They checked on it in Sept, and the read were getting wonky...then when they checked on it again in January, it was time for meds.  I've been going to my GP for that...have a blood test every 60 days to see how it's doing.  They've told me they know I need more, but because of my weight they "don't want to rev me up too much"....I wish they let me take care of the "rev", and just get me what I need....I'm way too tired for my activity level (which is about 60% of what it was before dx).

    p

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    Pretty common stuff

    Denis, mine failed before rads were even completed.  I wound up on replacement, and it took a few months to get my levels up enough to feel better.  Through the years I have had a number of upward adjustments of the dose, as thyroid output dropped and dropped.  My replacement dose is a whopping amount, enough that physicians not associated with my care kind of do a double take when they see the amount.  But the lab doesn't lie.  And honestly, I feel just fine on replacement.  I've been on for almost fifteen years.

     

    Pat

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    TSH

    Mine has pretty much been above normal levels since the first year out... (in the fourth now). Getting closer to going on meds myself, but displaying no symptoms at ths point and Free T4 is still hanging in normal ranges...

    TSH has been up to 12+, but usually in the 7 - 8 range.

    JG

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #5
    Skiffin16 said:

    TSH

    Mine has pretty much been above normal levels since the first year out... (in the fourth now). Getting closer to going on meds myself, but displaying no symptoms at ths point and Free T4 is still hanging in normal ranges...

    TSH has been up to 12+, but usually in the 7 - 8 range.

    JG

    Me too
    My story is virtually identical to Phrannie's. Because of my weight we are being slow about upping the dose to where it should be. Still pretty tired and just want it regulated already. Just had an appt yesterday for blood draw, should hear on Monday about any changes in dose.
    Good luck and honestly, it's not that big of an issue...just take your daily pill and you're good to go.
    Billie
  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #6
    Denis

    The rads fried my Thyroid but it didn't take four years. Within a few months of completing radiation they put me on Synthroid or however ya spell it. Matter of fact the doc just told me 2 weeks ago after blood work that he needed to up the dosage.

    Remember that song in the seventies by Aerosmith? I am the lord of your thyroid. No maybe that was thighs.......it must be that age thing. I will go pull out my old records.

    Enjoy the day.................it's practice for tomorrow.

          Jeff

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #7
    Hi Denis !

    I've been on replacement meds for a long time.  It takes a bit to adjust but the tests will get you to a level where you'll start feeling a bit better.  Mine of coarse was not from rads....but because I had an isoptope to kill off my gland as I had graves disease.  Nice to hear from you, and I hope all goes well !   Katie 

  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    #8
    katenorwood said:

    Hi Denis !

    I've been on replacement meds for a long time.  It takes a bit to adjust but the tests will get you to a level where you'll start feeling a bit better.  Mine of coarse was not from rads....but because I had an isoptope to kill off my gland as I had graves disease.  Nice to hear from you, and I hope all goes well !   Katie 

    Denis

    I think just about everybody who has undergone treatment and posts has hypothyroid.  If they don't have it now, they most likely will.  Radiation is so nice.  It just keeps giving and giving and giving.

    I'm sitting here in a walking cast because I had to have an operation yesterday to cut some ligaments to stop two toes from curling under.  The orthopedic doc attributes it to when they took out my fibula for the failed mandible graft.  Three guesses what caused the reason I had to have half my jaw removed.  My old friend, radiation back in 2004.

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #9
    George_Baltimore said:

    Denis

    I think just about everybody who has undergone treatment and posts has hypothyroid.  If they don't have it now, they most likely will.  Radiation is so nice.  It just keeps giving and giving and giving.

    I'm sitting here in a walking cast because I had to have an operation yesterday to cut some ligaments to stop two toes from curling under.  The orthopedic doc attributes it to when they took out my fibula for the failed mandible graft.  Three guesses what caused the reason I had to have half my jaw removed.  My old friend, radiation back in 2004.

    thyroid

    Thanks all, yeah I should have known it would eventually go but forgot all about it. Guess I will havce to go on the medicine. The hiatal hernia makes me a little nervous, have no idea how the doctors deal with that, a friend just had surgery for his hernia, it was pushing on his heart or something. Will see when I see my docs, hopefully next week. Has anyone noticed how difficult it is getting to make an appontment with a new doc, or even the old one. When I was at Hershey on Thursday and went to pay my co-pay and schedule my next visit to her they said the ealiest date was November unless there was an emergency, called an endocrinologist and was told August was the earliest, hopefully my PCP can refer me. Thanks Denis

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #10
    denistd said:

    thyroid

    Thanks all, yeah I should have known it would eventually go but forgot all about it. Guess I will havce to go on the medicine. The hiatal hernia makes me a little nervous, have no idea how the doctors deal with that, a friend just had surgery for his hernia, it was pushing on his heart or something. Will see when I see my docs, hopefully next week. Has anyone noticed how difficult it is getting to make an appontment with a new doc, or even the old one. When I was at Hershey on Thursday and went to pay my co-pay and schedule my next visit to her they said the ealiest date was November unless there was an emergency, called an endocrinologist and was told August was the earliest, hopefully my PCP can refer me. Thanks Denis

    PCP
    Denis, your PCP can treat your thyroid. You don't need to go to the endocrinologist. I was under that impression too but all of my docs said no, my PCP was fine.
    Good luck.
    Billie
  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #11
    Billie67 said:

    PCP
    Denis, your PCP can treat your thyroid. You don't need to go to the endocrinologist. I was under that impression too but all of my docs said no, my PCP was fine.
    Good luck.
    Billie

    Forgot to mention...
    My son had surgery for his hiatal hernia. It's called a Nissan Fundoplication. He's had 2 actually, first one was done improperly. Please make sure if you need it done you have a surgeon who does many of these procedures. Anyway, my other son also has a hiatal hernia but if he takes 40mg of a PPI twice a day his hernia doesn't bother him. It also keeps the hernia from getting worse. You can try prilosec but it didnt work for my son. He and I both take protonix now and it seems to work better. Oh and protonix or aciphex or something like that are usually covered by insurance where prilosec or nexxium is now available over the counter so many insurance companies won't cover it now. Good luck with that too, I know getting an appt with a GI is next to impossible. Good thing they don't actually do the surgery...you'd be waiting forever!! If you find out you do need surgery and have any questions I'd be happy to answer any that I can.
    Take care,
    Billie
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #12
    Yes, Jim had to go on thyroid

    Yes, Jim had to go on thyroid meds recently and a friend who had the same cancer had to within 6 months of treatment. Doc says common.

    Debbie

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    #13
    Agree

    Denis,

    My Radiation Oncologist told me after my treatments to make sure my family Doctor ordered blood work for TSH levels. He told me that it wasn't a matter of if the Thyroid would fail, but when it would give out. It took nearly 5 years before mine started to fail. As the others stated, it might take a few months and some blood tests to find your correct level, but once you do, you will feel better.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    #14
    MarineE5 said:

    Agree

    Denis,

    My Radiation Oncologist told me after my treatments to make sure my family Doctor ordered blood work for TSH levels. He told me that it wasn't a matter of if the Thyroid would fail, but when it would give out. It took nearly 5 years before mine started to fail. As the others stated, it might take a few months and some blood tests to find your correct level, but once you do, you will feel better.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

    My PCP

    also is the one that keeps track of my thyroid levels and prescribes the levothyroxine.  Forget the endocrinologist unless you have other problems to see him for.

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #15
    George_Baltimore said:

    My PCP

    also is the one that keeps track of my thyroid levels and prescribes the levothyroxine.  Forget the endocrinologist unless you have other problems to see him for.

    today

    Not a good day today, lots of nausea and belching. Hiatial Hernia playing up. Stomach is distended, need to see my PCP asap. Good news is that the, with the help of my new diet, prune juice and stool softeners the bowels are 75% working again. not a very cool post huh?

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #16
    denistd said:

    today

    Not a good day today, lots of nausea and belching. Hiatial Hernia playing up. Stomach is distended, need to see my PCP asap. Good news is that the, with the help of my new diet, prune juice and stool softeners the bowels are 75% working again. not a very cool post huh?

    TMI

    Denis

    No, this isn't too much information.  All of it is helpful to all of us.  Three years out, and my thyroid is hanging in there, but I do get blood levels checked at least every six months.

    Deb

Discussion Boards