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Newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer and have 2 main concerns
Thyroid Cancer | Last Active: Oct 24, 2023 | Replies (140)Comment receiving replies
@koh - so my endocrinologist had called for a TSH 1 week after the lobectomy and my TSH number was just over 5. (it was usually between 2 and 3 prior to surgery) She asked me to start taking Levothyroxine 50mcg which I took for a couple days without any side effects, and then stopped because the surgeon who I met the following week said I need to wait for my my 6 week bloodwork (to start on Levo), because the body was still adjusting. So come 6th week, I have my TSH levels tested and they are now at 11.5! So my endocrinologist asks me to start on 75mcg. Up until then, I have been feeling pretty normal. But 2 days into taking 75mcg Levothyroxine, I am feeling so sleepy in the mornings.
Is this just the body adjusting, or is this too much (or too less) Levothyroxine? I did not feel like this with 50mcg. And frankly, I was just fine without any thyroid hormone replacement.
Replies to "@koh - so my endocrinologist had called for a TSH 1 week after the lobectomy and..."
Hey @cocha
Long time no chat. I'm circling back to see how you've been faring on Levo since July. My lobectomy was on April 25th. For about 4 months, my TSH was in the normal range, albeit high. My new NP in Vermont ran my labs recently and my TSH had hit 6.81. She contacted my previous Endo in Maine who said I should start on 50 mcg of Levo. I've been dreading starting Levo because of all I've read and heard about the side effects. So I'm wondering if things have improved at all for you. Like you, I've had no symptoms, so it's especially hard to start a new drug when I feel okay.
Thanks for any info you're willing to share.
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@cocha - I think it’s hard to know if it’s your thyroid or the medicine, but if you were fleeing better in 50mcg maybe you can ask your endocrinologist if you can take that dose and see if your TSH number comes down.
In my opinion, the doctors goal seems to be to keep TSH as low as possible to prevent cancer but sometimes they prescribe too aggressively. I read that some people are put on levothyrocine immediately after surgery while the body adapts and then they consider removing it. I have an issue with sudden fatigue now and I am trying to figure out the cause too.
Good luck!