After the removal of a cancerous thyroid, patients take an artifical thyroid hormone. You take a higher dose than your body would normally produce to lower the TSH in your body. The pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. You don’t want the thyroid cells stimulated if they’re cancerous. You want them to chill out and go away. My TSH has been artifically low for six years.
Since I need to take a small dose of radioactivite iodine on Wednesday, now I need those cancerous cells stimulated. They need to suck up all the RAI so they look like lightening bugs on the body scan.
Normally, patients have had to go off their thyroid medication for weeks to make the TSH levels go up. Today, we can use two Thyrogen injections and stay on our medication. I’m so thankful for medical advances!
After three weeks of no thyroid hormone, you can become seriously hypothyroid.
Fatigue
Sluggishness
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Pale, dry skin
A puffy face
Hoarse voice
An elevated blood cholesterol level
Unexplained weight gain
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
Muscle weakness
Heavier than normal menstrual periods
Brittle fingernails and hair
Depression
You always put humor into every blog somehow. I love it. I am glad that it went well and quick. I still want to know how Clint Eastwood feels about being on the cover of AARP….
I missed this post somehow. Praying so hard for you! You know one of the things I love about you?You are going through all these things, yet you take the timeout to encourage me, and others, I'm sure. I treasure each comment you make!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today… you are so encouraging. I love the mending basket idea, that you shared about…I'll have to keep that in mind. I also appreciated your encouraging eye to my sewing and decorating. I don't know… I was having one of those days (you know, as you speak of here in your post)…and needless to say, I have so much to be thankful for. I'm glad I read this post of yours at the end of my day. I needed to "hear it". I don't have cancer (that I know of) but I sure can easily let the "cancer of discouragement" get me down. I liked how you said "suffering is needful…" – that really struck a cord with me.Thanks again, Mindy. May God bless the rest of your week and treatments. I'll be thinking of you.
God brought you to mind first thing this morning. Praying for you!~Erin
I had my Thyrogen shots Sunday and Monday. As I go through each step, I am praying for you knowing you are right there too.
:pve your honest and brave relaying of this event which is no doubt so very difficult for you. May the Lord continue to uphold and encourage you through the whole process.Yes, I have lots of those symptoms you listed!