For those whose tx messed with your thyroid...

[Diane12855]

I know lots of people's thyroid either went hyper or hypo during or after tx.

My T3 was low on my last labs a month ago, but my T4 was at the low end of normal. I'm supposed to go for my labs tomorrow and there isn't anything about thyroid testing on my lab sheet this time. I have gained almost 5 lbs this month and I'm not eating any more than normal. Do you think I should call my dr. and ask about having my thyroid checked again, or just wait to ask at my next appointment?

Does anybody remember any symptoms that they experienced when their thyroid started getting messed up?

Diane

[annieCinMD]

My T4 came out high about a month ago in some tests by my OB/Gyn. She referred me to my primary for further testing. Those tests came back normal. Go figure. I thought I was going to be able to blame the tx for messing up my thyroid. Still waiting to see a doctor about elevated RA factor...might still have something I can blame the tx for. Only kidding, I sincerely hope not, I think I would rather have an overactive thyroid than RA. A friend who is a nurse sent me an article that said a lot of people that have hcv also have elevated RA factor but do not have RA. Hoping this is the case.

[Anne1717]

I have been hypothyroid for 20+ years - not due to HCV.   I am on Synthroid and test normally at 2.6 which is fine.

[meakea]

I'm hypothyroid since TX (actually I started leaning that way just before TX) and the TSH number that my Endocrinologist strives for is 2.  So you are right on the money!!

[nygirl7]

Normal TSH level is about .5 to 5.0 so yours is perfectly fine - are not really hypothyroid at all. TSH is the number that most doctors go by.  Your TSH is perfect in fact - with all the synthetic hormones I am on mine is 2.0 which is absolutely brilliant so yours is too.

I apologize i kept saying T3 reading the thread but TSH is the general marker to which I was referring earlier (mine being 0.0).

[Diane12855]

It says TSH........2.910
             T4.........8.0
        T3 Uptake....23
Free Thyroxine Index....2.0

That's all there is on the report.        

[nygirl7]

Google:

T3 uptake is a measurement of T4 binding protein percentage that isn't carrying T4.   Therefore, a high value usually suggests that T4 is low.   This one has nothing to do with the amount of T3 in your blood stream, despite the name. (It confuses doctors, nurses and patients).   The ONLY use for this test is for calculating an estimate of free thyroid hormones in the blood stream.  

[nygirl7]

Since most of the T3 is bound to protein, the total T3 can be affected by protein levels and protein binding ability, but the free T3 is not.

You never said what your T3 is.  If it's a big number it is hypo if it is a very small fractional number like 0.0 or 0.1 it's hyper.

[nygirl7]

That is like eating constantly on treatment to most of us unfortunately.

[Diane12855]

didn't say I eat constantly because of the nausea. I said I can't let my stomach get empty"

Sorry I must be slow I did not realize that there was a difference.

It takes about 4 hours for protein to be digested, therefore if protein is consumed at every meal and a person eats about every 3 1/2 hours they are keeping their stomach from getting empty and yet they aren't eating constantly.

[nygirl7]

I didn't say I eat constantly because of the nausea. I said I can't let my stomach get empty"

Sorry I must be slow I did not realize that there was a difference.

When my T3 was 0.0 I lost 20 pounds in a matter of two months.  I did not have them to lose and tried everything to keep weight on but nothing worked.  When my T3 flipflopped and went to 6.2 the weight came back on magically.

My PCP said it was because I was eating too much.  By then I was used to it and didn't even notice that I was consuming fat filled items that earlier I could eat whenever I desired - half gallons of ice cream a day.  So while it can lead to weight gain often it's the food choices we are making and not that our thyroid is that seriously hypo.  That is an excuse most of America uses on a regular basis and something I hear all the time - how I must have a fast metabolism because I am thin.  Uh no I dont even have one with the help of Synthroid but now I only eat ice cream on occasion and it helped greatly.

[Diane12855]

I was wrong......... it says T3 Uptake is below normal.

What does that mean?

[Diane12855]

Right.

[Trinity4]

One of side effects of many antidepressants is weight gain.  Also, the more sedentary we become the less calories we burn.  If your calorie intake exceeds the burn rate you're going to gain weight.  Foods containing high fat content will pack the pounds on too.

Trinity

[Cory255]

Those symptoms also go along with tx..., except weight gain, right ?

[Cory255]

http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm

[Diane12855]

No... but "Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually go along with a slowdown in metabolism, and can include fatigue, weight gain, and depression, among others." is

[Diane12855]

I didn't say I eat constantly because of the nausea. I said I can't let my stomach get empty. That has also been the case since about week 4. Just wondering about what has changed this month to make the change so much more.

So low T3 means hyper? I couldn't find anything on that last month.

Diane

[Cory255]

I didn't know weight gain was a symptom of tx.  

[Diane12855]

Those symptoms also go along with tx..... been feeling them since week 2.

[Cory255]

Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually go along with a slowdown in metabolism, and can include fatigue, weight gain, and depression, among others.

[Cory255]

The thyroid is a small gland, shaped similar to a butterfly, which is located in the lower part of your neck.  The main function of a gland is to secrete hormoes.  The main hormones released by the thyroid are triiodothyronin, abbreviated as T3,, and thyroxine,, abbreviated as T4.  In general, these thyroid hormones deliver energy to cells of the body.  

Hyperthyroidism -- An overactive thyroid.  Hypothyroidism—An underactive thyroid.

[nygirl7]

OH PS You have mentioned several times that you have been eating constantly to try and get rid of the nauseau - probably that is why you gainned weight.

[nygirl7]

T3 being low would mean you were hyperthyroid not hypothyroid.  T3 being high would mean you were hypothyroid and that could cause you to gain weight.