[luwa1]

#1170012

Hi JaneG. Just comparing notes. I had my RAI the day before you. My labs at 6 weeks out showed my TSH still undetectable and the free T4 in the normal range! My endo says the TSH will lag behind and the free T4 is what we want to watch. I was feeling great and went off my betablocker. I still feel good and for the 1st time in months have had the energy to exercise ( I walk one hour on my treadmill). However I’m expanding …. Normal wt is 137, went down to 132 at the most hyper and am now 140 however I’ve been eating a lot and did develop some bad habits while hyper. I have labs again in 5 days.

I was curious as to why you’re still waiting for replacement meds if your labs done 10 days ago show you to be hypo? I ask because I’m kindof hoping to start meds if my labs show my free T4 continuing to decrease. I don’t want to wait until I feel crappy – I’ve heard it can take a bit for the effects of the meds to be felt. But I haven’t discussed this with my endo yet so I’m not sure exactly what criteria she has for starting me on meds.

Best of luck with everything!

[JaneG]

#1170013

For luwa1: regarding 10 day labs etc…once blood is drawn at my general doc’s office, it takes about 1 week for results to return and then she faxes it to my endo who is 1 1/2 hrs away and the I coordinate over the phone PLUS it was over Christmas. I find I have to be very proactive with my endo ie: "suggesting" things like lab work. She didn’t have labs ordered until 2 1/2 months AFTER radiation! By that time I would have been so far into the couch with tiredness, I might never have been found! I began to feel hypo symptoms at 6 weeks and at 8 requested labs to find that TSH, T3 and T4 had all bottomed out. I’m to have labs again in 4 weeks but only have meds for 30 days. If it takes 10 days, I will be w/o meds for 10 days…..steps in the wrong direction. I have some investigating to do so this won’t happen.
Sorry about the weight gain….it seems to happen to most people. Weight Watchers has given me some good nutrition tools so I’m hoping to keep any gain to a minimum.

Good luck to you, too! This is quite the journey, isn’t it?

[luwa1]

#1170014

Hey JaneG just wanted to check in with you. DId you start on anything yet?

My labs from yesterday morning showed a big change. 4 wks ago my TSH was undetectable and my free T4 was normal at 1.4. Now my TSH shot up to 13 and my free T4 is undetectable. So I’m officially hypo and took my 1st dose of levothyroxine this morning – 100 mcg. I was suprised at the swing considering that I don’t feel I have many hypo symptoms. Just weight gain and feeling a bit more tired at night. And the weight gain has been so odd for me. I’m now 6 lbs over my normal weight by the scale but all my clothes still fit – maybe a tiny bit snugger. If I wasn’t stepping on the scale everyday I’d estimate I’ve gained maybe 2 lbs. And it was the same when I lost wt while hyper – my clothes weren’t as loose as I’d have thought they would be. The thyroid weight issues are just odd to me. I should probably just stop with the scale but can’t help myself. Anyway I’m really happy to be on the meds and have labs again in 4 wks. TAke care.

[JaneG]

#1170015

For Luwa1,
I’ve been on l-thyroxine 100 mcg for about 10 days now. I’m not quite as tired but if I have a busy day I’m wiped out the next day and become one with my couch! I’ll have my labs checked again soon. I haven’t noticed any weight gain but then I’m being as careful as I can. I’m wondering if my face is a bit rounder as it seems different when I put make-up on. ” title=”Sad” /> Onward…….

[luwa1]

#1170016

same dose same med …. 100 mcg must be a common starter dose. I have no idea as I’ve only actual spoken directly to my endo twice throughout all this. Not the most accessible but I do like her nurse. Anyway thanks for the reply – it’s just nice to touch base with someone at the same stage as myself. Later……

[JaneG]

#1170017

I am now 4 1/2 months post RAI and 2 months since the beginning of medication. The hardest symptom for me to deal with has been tremendous hair loss. My endo and I thought it might be the thyroxine and switched to synthriod (both 100mg) but no change. After I wash my hair,I literally have handfulls of hair and my brush is matted each time I run it though my hair. One can see my scalp and it looks llike the beginning of male pattern baldness. I am NOT a happy camper. My endo was less than helpful when she said it might be my shampoo as she didn’t think my thyriod had anything to do with the hair loss. I had a wonderful conversation with my primary doc. She felt that it is a result of the radiation and I am right in the middle of the timeline for the body to react to that particular assult/major medical event to my body. She felt that soon, the hair loss should slowly cease. Also, that it usually takes about 1 year for the body to adjust to not having a thyriod and finding the “sweet spot” of medication. Also, the vague symptoms I’m having of aches/pains, dry skin/hair, peeling nails, and zero libido (my poor hubby) is also part of the process.
I am now taking biotin, evening primrose oil and fish oil and keeping my fingers crossed that I won’t go bald! (primary doc said that won’t happen even though that is exactly how I’m feeling!) AND, I’m off to my hairdresser for a new “do” and a bit of pampering!

[Kimberly]

#1170018

Hi Jane – Keep in mind that hair loss can occur as thyroid hormone levels are swinging either *up* or *down*. Hopefully, you will see this issue settle down once your levels have been stable for a while.

Take care — and keep us posted!

[Bobbi]

#1170019

At one point, I was losing hair in clumps — like my collies! My dermatologist explained to me that the body considers hair to be “extraneous.” It is a perk, not a necessity. So when our bodies are under seige, the hair is denied nutrients which go to other, necessary parts. The abrupt swing from hyper to hypo was when my hair went wonky, so perhaps that is what is happening to you, too. One of the symptoms of hypo is hair loss. Once I got stabilized on hormone replacement my hair issues went back to normal. So perhaps that is what will happen with you as well.

[JaneG]

#1170020

Update: my primary doc ordered a ferritin test thinking low iron might contributing to the hair loss and low libido (the blood’s ability to store iron – different test from CBC) and low and behold, I am very low on all levels! It might also explain why my pulse is still somewhat high. So, I just began iron supplements. Boodwork will be done again in 4 weeks. I’m thankful my primary doc listens to me and doesn’t just look at lab numbers! Better than my endo. Keeping fingers crossed! What a journey!

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