Hypothyroidism

MJG1,

For what it is worth, here is my progression from 6 months to 21 months  post.

I am on meds and seem to be  less tired.

Good  luck.

Matt

I went on meds about ~6 months post treatment, starting from the lowest dose (25 mcg) to currently on 75 mcg thyroxnie. I am about 2 years out, and full replacement for me is about ~125, so indeed, my thyroid is pretty damaged. 

I never had chemo or Radiation. My surgery [I was going into surgery as T4; N2c; M0; and this was the only opinion I had. My lungs are very bad.]  removed my Larynx and did a neck dissection on both sides 2~5.  I have been on thyroid 81% of my life. I started at 12 and now 66. During my surgery, they found I was born with only about half a thyroid and 3 of the 4 Parathyroid. You may be tired, but that doesn't always mean your thyroid is low. Radiation often will damage the Thyroid gland. You do not want to take thyroid if you don't need to. That can cause a lot of problems you don't want. I had to have my dose increased due to a sinus pill I took many years ago. I was tested every year back then, and now I have it checked 3 times a year. So I stopped the sinus pill and they never readjusted my thyroid. By law back then it had to be checked once every two years. I got over medicated. Now it can affect others different, but this what you can expect.  Your hands sweat often; your stomach and digestion can get all screwed up. Some foods will upset you so bad, you have to take antiacids Before I ate. Taking them after was too late and I had to Run to the bathroom. Food went right through me. Almost nothing was in my system 36 hours which would be normal. If I ate corn, I could pass the corn in 20 minutes. You can be irritable easy.  I moved and had a New doctor who was Much better. Now I was taking Armor real thyroid for 20 years. He switched me to Synthroid [Man made] which is the same for every pill. Armor can vary from pill to pill, so you had some ups and downs. All the generic stay consistent, which is much better.

Thyroid is a med that builds up in your system, and do not take calcium meds until an hour after the Thyroid. If yours stops working to full capacity and you do end up taking them, it will take a few months to get it dialed in. You will take it for about 3 to 6 weeks and adjusted. Then same thing again. They will get it dialed in, IF you need it.  I have never gone to an Endocrinologist ever. My PCP has always done it for me. Some end up needing it just to kick start theirs to working fully again. If you do end up with needing thyroid, They will tell you it should be taken by its self 30 minutes before all other meds and 8 oz. glass of water, also to take it the same time every day.  As with all meds and the New Rx have the Pharmisests go over it with you, and read all the "possible" side effects.  I read all the information for a New med to see what to look for if anything feels different. Now that is what I recommend.  However, I take all my meds [14 ] when I wake up and it can be as much as a 3 hour difference. Then I have been doing that for over 40 years that way. Now I don't take any Calcium within an hour of the Thyroid. I have been the same dose for the last 25 years. It can take awhile for the Radiation to affect your thyroid. Best to you and hope you won't need it, but if you do it is inexpensive and very small.

WMC  Oct 2013

I was put on synthroid as soon as treatment ended currently on 88mcg

Dave