fatigue, hypothyroidism, low hemogl. & rbc...

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NatureGrrl
NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness

If there's a better place to post this, please direct me!  Nothing seemed a good fit.  And I am working on getting back into shape! But these things are impacting me somewhat and I have some questions I thought y'all might be able to help with:

I'm about 3 months out from the end of 9 months of treatment so I expect some fatigue for awhile, but to be thorough, as part of a lot of blood work last week, several extra things were tested.  I was in the oncologist's office yesterday to see my therapist and asked for the results of my blood work, since I hadn't heard from anyone about it (which I always take to be good news).  It is pretty good news, there are only some slight problems:  my hemoglobin is still a little low, and my rbc is barely low (4.03; 4.20-5.4 is normal).  Makes sense as those kind of go together, and those things would contribute to fatigue.  My T4 is in the normal range but my TSH was elevated (high) (6.07), which according to this website means I have mild hypothyroidism.  That would also contribute to fatigue.  I'd like to blame it for my fat thighs, too, but that's probably not fair Tongue out

I won't see my oncologist until the end of May although the nurse put a note in my chart so that he could look at my test results and call me if he thinks it's important enough to see me sooner.  Given that all these results weren't horribly off-kilter, I'm thinking there's no rush, BUT...

What can I do to help myself in the meantime?  All I can find about RBC is to eat plenty of protein and to take a multivitamin, which I admit I haven't been doing (in spite of my rather long list of meds!).  I'll add that today.  Interesting to note that low RBC may at least partly explain my elevated heart rate, in spite of being on two heart meds (my resting pulse can run between 85-95).   

Can I do anything about the TSH level?  Is this a result of chemo (I'm guessing yes!) and will it reverse itself?  I really really really don't want any more prescriptions!  I feel like I'm taking so many drugs already and I want to give my body a chance to heal before I assault it with more drugs.

Your thoughts, suggestions, etc?  Anything would be helpful!  Thanks so much...

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited April 2010

    I have hypothyroidism now for six years or so. I'd say that TSH of 6 is high enough to want to get you started on treatment pronto. Definitely may be the test reflecting the true hypothyroidism which is known to cause fatigue (also dry skin, slower heart rate, constipation, mental sluggishness).

    I'm hoping your oncologist will call you sooner than May and review this with you. Synthroid or its generic can help out a lot. Many women find the lower they get their TSH the better they feel, but I'm a little skittish on over doing it, so I try to keep mine around 3 rather than 1.

    You're right that the bone marrow takes time to recover with respect to red and white cells. That said, I try to stay up on normal studies like stool blood loss (hemacult, 5 year colonoscopy) etc. via my internist.  Figure one disease is enough.

    Tender

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    Thanks for the reply.  I don't have any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism except the fatigue, and my heart rate is high, so that's a whole 'nuther problem.  I need to see a PC physician -- I haven't had one since I moved here but now that I have energy I think it's time to get one to help oversee the many things I have going on at this point.  If I don't hear from my doc soon about the TSH I'll call them again.  Thanks for the input!

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    Thanks for the urging.  I do have a copy of my blood work up -- that's how I know my TSH levels are 6.07 and my T4 is normal.  I'm going to call my onc. again and see if they're going to do anything, and if not, I'm trying to find a PCP (I don't have one here; I wasn't living in the area but moved here to take care of my mom).  Again, thank you!

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited April 2010

    Sunflowers, maybe I should push to get mine down to at least 2.5!Smile I still have daily fatigue-like I"m pulling two trucks on my back which I attribute to femara. Thank you for your information and encouragement.

    Tender

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    sunflowers, thanks again for writing.  You didn't sound harsh, just concerned, and I appreciate that. (and your comment about chemo brain made me laugh) :)

    I  just picked up my bloodwork Wed. and was giving my onc. time to check the paperwork (the nurse flagged my bloodwork for him to look at) and get back to me, but if I don't hear from him Monday I'll call my potential PCP and see how quickly I can get in to see him. 

    I also did some of my own research.  Interesting that hypothyroidism can contribute to high cholesterol -- my HDL is very high, which is good, but my LDL is borderline high, which pushes my total up to borderline... I'm wondering if getting my TSH down will help with that as well. I see my cardiologist in mid- May and I don't want him pushing cholesteral meds at me!  It's only borderline and I feel confident I can get my LDL down without meds, and since my HDL is so high (75), I'm really not worried about it anyway.

    It's really helpful to hear from someone who's gone through/going through the same treatments.  I know everyone reacts differently but still, it helps.  I'm also taking Arimidex and although I don't seem to have significant SE's.  I don't sleep well many nights and that's my biggest complaint, and I don't know what to attribute that to... but it adds to the fatigue!

    I'm just getting regular exercise underway so the jury is out on how that will help me, but I know it will.

    OK, I babble :)  It's a rainy Saturday morning and I'm just enjoying the late sleep-in and having a day off!  Have a good weekend...

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  • BrandonMom
    BrandonMom Member Posts: 412
    edited April 2010

    A "me too" here.  My t4 was normal, but my TSH was 14.something - by no one's standard was that borderline :) I've been on Synthroid for a couple months.  Of course I had a lot of fatigue, which was attributed to being post chemo.  My heartbeat also started being irregular, so that's why they did the TSH test.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    BradonMom, so are you feeling better?  Did that help with your heart?

    I'm going to have to do some more reading. I didn't realize how many areas the thyroid problem could impact!

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    I've used valerian root, too, but not for several years...  I feel like I'm on so many drugs right now (although several of them are OTC) that every time I add anything, no matter how innocous it seems, I wait and ask my oncologist (or the NP) first.  I swear if I could get normal night's sleep I wouldn't be so tired but maybe that's not true.  I know on weekends, when I can sleep in even if I don't get to sleep at a decent hour, I feel a lot better.  Anyway, I've been through sleepless stuff like this before, and I'll get through it again!

    So does Arimidex contribute to high cholesterol?  I can't believe all the parts and pieces I've learned about all the various drugs, etc... I have on one or two occassions actually surprised my drs. with some new information.  Geez.  It never ends.

    Do you get acupuncture in your "lymphedema" arm? (or maybe you didn't have lymph nodes removed).  Oddly enough, I've thought acupuncture would help ease the pain in that shoulder, but I haven't had any lymphedema swelling at all and am trying to keep it that way, so I'm afraid to try the acupuncture.  I wonder if I can find someone who does acupressure?....

    Well, I babble.  It's a rainy Saturday and I've worked my rear off moving boxes and keep popping back here for a break :)

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    I envy the resources you have in cities... I don't know if I'll ever move back to one because I'm a country girl at heart and would love to live out in nature more but I do miss the many things about a city that make it alive!

    My oncologist called yesterday and put me on Synthoid.  Took the first one today.  Wish me luck!

    (Which Emily Dickinson poem, if you don't mind sharing... I'm a bit of a fan myself)...

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2010

    Ah, lovely one. She paints such beautiful pictures with so few words.  I love "To make a prairie..." maybe because of where I grew up... and oh, the NYBG exhibit!  Are you going?

    I may have to live near a city after all :)

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