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Thyroid Problems 1 year post interferon
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Thyroid Problems 1 year post interferon

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Thyroid Problems 1 year post interferon

  • Post
    • March 7, 2011 at 11:23 am
    akls
    Participant

      Hi all.

      Hi all.

      I haven't posted much about me lately because it's been pretty boring 🙂  I went for my yearly ob/gyn exam and all was good except my thyroid levels both free T4 (low) and TSH (high) which puts my hypothyroid.  Not really uncommon after inteferon from what I hear.  After finding out my levels were off, of course I start feeling where my thyroid is.  One side is noticably larger, my Dr. said he could see it and feel it, but just one side.  So…instead of just putting my on synthroid, he is scanning my thyroid on Thurs. just to make sure there are no nodules or whatever he is looking for.  Now my mind is freaking that it's back.  Any comments would be appreciated.  I am probably just being me and worrying over nothing.  BTW I had a clear PET in July 2010.

      I read the board daily and comment when I think I have worthwhile advice.  I am in awe of all the warriors on this site. 

       

      Amy S. in Michigan

    Viewing 9 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 7, 2011 at 12:19 pm
        Fen
        Participant

          It happened to me too, Amy, and it was nothing.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis after interferon and I think that's what cause the inflammation.  Absolutely have it checked out, but until you find out remember that it could be other things.

          Post when you get the results.

          Fen

          • March 7, 2011 at 12:19 pm
          Fen
          Participant

            It happened to me too, Amy, and it was nothing.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis after interferon and I think that's what cause the inflammation.  Absolutely have it checked out, but until you find out remember that it could be other things.

            Post when you get the results.

            Fen

            • March 7, 2011 at 3:04 pm
            Jerry from Cape Cod
            Participant

              Amy,

              Happened to me to after 3rd IPI treatment.  It's a common auto-immune reaction.  The thyroid is one of the areas that the overactive immune system will attack.

              I've been on synthroid for 2 years and levels are normal.  Unless your doctor is psychic it will take a number of tests and adjustments to get the dosage correct and the adjustments are tiny.  Once near normal you will find your energy level increasing

              Jerry from Cape Cod

                • March 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm
                Vermont_Donna
                Participant

                  Dear Amy,

                  Hoping this is not more melanoma, and something not serious in other regards as well. We cant help but think the worst when we get symptoms, but thats human nature and for me, I have to wallow in the dark side, imagine the worst, then work with my thoughts that whatever it is we will deal with it, and then I get hopeful and optimistic that things will be ok. Good luck!

                  Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                  stable after 4 infusions of Ipi

                  • March 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm
                  Vermont_Donna
                  Participant

                    Dear Amy,

                    Hoping this is not more melanoma, and something not serious in other regards as well. We cant help but think the worst when we get symptoms, but thats human nature and for me, I have to wallow in the dark side, imagine the worst, then work with my thoughts that whatever it is we will deal with it, and then I get hopeful and optimistic that things will be ok. Good luck!

                    Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                    stable after 4 infusions of Ipi

                  • March 7, 2011 at 3:04 pm
                  Jerry from Cape Cod
                  Participant

                    Amy,

                    Happened to me to after 3rd IPI treatment.  It's a common auto-immune reaction.  The thyroid is one of the areas that the overactive immune system will attack.

                    I've been on synthroid for 2 years and levels are normal.  Unless your doctor is psychic it will take a number of tests and adjustments to get the dosage correct and the adjustments are tiny.  Once near normal you will find your energy level increasing

                    Jerry from Cape Cod

                    • March 7, 2011 at 11:56 pm
                    LynnLuc
                    Participant
                      My thuroid continues to be messed up…first I had no TSH and a very high level of T4…now I have like 27.300 TSH and a low level of T4…I have read it is a common thing with immunotherapy…especially with IL-2. Also that it actually showed that with thyroid reactions patients tened to have better outcomes…hope it is true also in my case…I am on a low dose synthroid and the hope is the farter out I get from the trial the better it will become. I was told it takes 6 weeks for the body to register the TSH/T-4 levels correctly…don’t know about all that though…I know I am very very tired and gaining a bit…don’t know if it’s allergies or hypothyroid but my eyes are not acting normal…
                        • March 8, 2011 at 12:00 am
                        LynnLuc
                        Participant
                          PS they loaded me with the radioactive stuff and used a couple odd machines and then scanned me over the course of two days…it looked fine…just temporarly kaput!
                          • March 8, 2011 at 12:00 am
                          LynnLuc
                          Participant
                            PS they loaded me with the radioactive stuff and used a couple odd machines and then scanned me over the course of two days…it looked fine…just temporarly kaput!
                          • March 7, 2011 at 11:56 pm
                          LynnLuc
                          Participant
                            My thuroid continues to be messed up…first I had no TSH and a very high level of T4…now I have like 27.300 TSH and a low level of T4…I have read it is a common thing with immunotherapy…especially with IL-2. Also that it actually showed that with thyroid reactions patients tened to have better outcomes…hope it is true also in my case…I am on a low dose synthroid and the hope is the farter out I get from the trial the better it will become. I was told it takes 6 weeks for the body to register the TSH/T-4 levels correctly…don’t know about all that though…I know I am very very tired and gaining a bit…don’t know if it’s allergies or hypothyroid but my eyes are not acting normal…
                            • March 8, 2011 at 12:41 am
                            Charlie S
                            Participant

                              Yep, intron is known to blow out the thyroid.  Given your history, the chances are greater that it is intron based and not disease based.

                              • March 8, 2011 at 12:41 am
                              Charlie S
                              Participant

                                Yep, intron is known to blow out the thyroid.  Given your history, the chances are greater that it is intron based and not disease based.

                                • March 8, 2011 at 11:15 am
                                akls
                                Participant

                                  Thanks for all the responses.  I did bloodwork to see if I have the antibodies for Hashimoto's.  I have my thyroid scan on Thurs.  If you were diagnosed with Hashimoto's after treatment how did they make the diagnosis?  I have a feeling that's what is going on, but it seems like it's a difficult diagnosis.

                                   

                                  Thanks again.

                                  Amy S. in Michigan

                                  • March 8, 2011 at 11:15 am
                                  akls
                                  Participant

                                    Thanks for all the responses.  I did bloodwork to see if I have the antibodies for Hashimoto's.  I have my thyroid scan on Thurs.  If you were diagnosed with Hashimoto's after treatment how did they make the diagnosis?  I have a feeling that's what is going on, but it seems like it's a difficult diagnosis.

                                     

                                    Thanks again.

                                    Amy S. in Michigan

                                Viewing 9 reply threads
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