Another new medical issue - hypothyroidism

fighting4mykids

I just can't seem to catch a break.  I am still (not) healing from a stress fracture in my ankle and it's been almost 6 weeks.  I have developed carpal tunnel in my left wrist from doing more carrying of my twin girls and things to avoid carrying on the BC side to avoid more lymphedema issues and nerve pain.  Now it's been almost a month and progressively I have felt wrose and worse and finally went to see my oncologist.  She ordered my annual cancer bloodwork and then some other tests.  Come to find out my thyroid is now abnormal and I have hypothyroidism.  I guess the normal range for a TSH result is .5-5.0 and mine 123 so pretty much no thyroid to speek of. I have gained 8 pounds in 2 weeks and am swelled up like a balloon.  Very distorted looking and getting worse.  I started Synthroid yesterday but it could take months to get the dosing right.   One of my twin girls has to have surgery to have her adenoids out in the next month and I  just feel like crap. 

I am so frustrated. I take such good care of myself and always have and now I am fighting this thyroid issue that is causing so many issues that i can't control at this point.  Yuck.  doing research it says people who have newly entered menopause (me - OOPH@36 last year), radiation, auto immunie disease, recently been pregnant (me) are more likely candidates.  Anyone else have thyroid issues come out of nowhere?  I am also on Tamoxifen and having a whole host of side effects with that too which inclues weight gain.  They want me to start neurontin for the  nerve pain but that makes you dizzy/tired so they say to take it at  night but I don't want to start that until we figure out the thyroid medications. I feel like my body is failing me and I can't stop it.

My cancer screening results came back clean which is great!

Does anyone else have other medical issues possibly created from the cancer treatments?

AuroraL

It seems like it falls in buckets, doesn't it?  I am not stage III but I have hypothyroidism and other stuff--currently I am battling low ferritin (iron) levels.  For me, synthroid was very easy and stabilized my thyroid levels very quickly.  I've been taking synthroid daily for almost 20 years.  I just wanted to let you know that this hopefully will be one of the easier conditions for you to resolve.  I did have to play around just a bit with the dosage, but for me it was relatively easy.  Good luck!

kk69Z

I too have found out I have hypothyroidism. My breast cancer date was 04/28/08 and I was diagnosed with the thyroid problem last month. Mine was something like 5.25. I took a pill for a month and it dropped to 2.21. My question is: after getting thyroid back to normal can I lose weight? Or is this going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I weigh 167, but would like to lose 15lbs. and it just isn't going anywhere. My calorie intake is 1200-1300 a day. Can anyone help on this topic?

jan-m

I have had hypothyroidism for 18 years.. after I had my 3 baby I was going for long walks everyday and wasn't losing any baby fat, in fact I was gaining weight.  After I started on synthroid it was like a light went on.. everything got brighter and yes I started losing weight and you both will also and you should start feeling better soon, fightingformykids.

Congratulations on your screening coming back clean.. that is fantastic!

Moissy

Ditto on found out I had hypothyroid and have been on generic synthroid for about 6 months. No problem with the mediciation. Hope things turn around for you soon!

kk69Z

jan-m:

How soon after you started the medication did you start to lose weight?

Pure

I too have it-had it prior to BC. Within 3 days of starting the meds I felt like a NEW women. THe medicine worked wonders for me.  Hang in there-this too will pass. Hypothroidism can be casued by pregnancy. Since I started the meds I never had another issue. Also, you have to loose the weight just like you had gained it by eating but you don't have to worry about gaining more.  You will be ok:)

jenn3

I don't have any experience with hypothroidism, but wanted to say I'm sorry for all your going through and send (((hugs)))) your way. 

kimber3006

I have hypothyroid, too - ever since having my child 5 years ago.  It didn't take long at all to get my meds regulated - about 3-6 months, I think.  I had to have my dose adjusted down just a few times the first year or so as I finally lost the earlier crazy weight I gained from it.  My energy, ability to focus, everything came back fairly quickly.  As someone else said, this one is easy - just take a pill every morning and wait an hour to eat.  You're going to feel so much better very soon!

fighting4mykids

Thanks everyone for your replies! 

Anonymous

I posted on the Chemotherapy post so read that if you can. It is not the cancer that will kill me but the chemo (combo Tax Cytox) i am four months out of just one chemo treatment. Thjey are telling me I had a 'delayed allergic reaction to the chemo" then the ONC dropped me. I have gone four months with no help bec 9i oveheard a nurse saying that I am a walking lawsuit) and ono ONC wants me. I was never a candidate fo chemo despite the 'rah rah' i got from the first ONC. That one treatment fried my thyroid, adrenal glands, heart, and I am still bald. The list goes on for me. I wish I could be more loving about it but I went from being a healthy 57 year old woman with stage 2 BC to being theinvalid that I am now-peripheral neurpathy. had iknown the truth I never would have done chemo-period. ((((BLESSINGS)))) SV

jan-m

kk69Z - If I remember right it didn't take too long to start losing the weight after my thyroid got back to normal.. I was still breast feeding and going for lots of walks..  I stopped gaining weight first and then started to lose.. probably within the first 6 weeks.  I'm sure you will be able to lose your 15lbs no problem.. I wish you all the best with your goal!

joyner1963

Dear StillVerticle,

I am so sorry to hear what has happened to you after your only chemo treatment. I read in one of your posts that someone found your incredible story too hard to believe.  Honestly, how could all of what you have been through be "made up".  I  wish you the best in your ongoing battle to recover from the effects of chemo.  

Georgia

NMW

Hi,

I was diagnosed with stage IIIC reast cancer and had a bilateral mastecomy is Oct of 09. I had Eight rounds of Chemo ( four A/C and 4 T). I am now in radation. (round 25 of 33). I've been very fourtunate I have tolerated the treatment very well until lately. The last six to seven weeks my face swollen up and I'm just feeling weird. Well my oncologist sent me to a Nephrologist the other day and my thyroid stimulating hormone serum came back at 123.58. I am scheduled to see my GP tomorrow. Anyone have any input or experienced this before? I'm trying to find all the information I can and it seem somewhat confusing. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks, Third Gen BC