Thyroid Cancer Forum - Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Fatigue
Medical questions     Health forums     Help     log in    

Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Fatigue

New Topic  Reply  Ask A Doctor - Offline
Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Thyroid Cancer -> Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Fatigue
Medical Questions
Author Message
Tasman Bay Butterfly

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Fatigue
Posted: 04-19-08 22:05pm

I haven't been the same since RAI a year and a half ago. I often have a sore throat and reoccuring infections. I have fatigue so bad that my GP still keeps me out of work. I couldn't drive until my GP switched me over to Armour Thyroid. I was just wondering how many others were affected like this and what was the outcome? I'm desperate to get on with my life. I really need to get back to work. I'm slightly better in the last 2 months, but not enough to function properly as a person. I'm hypoparathyroid, too. Mine's a long story. Your comments would be appreciated!
|
MandMs

Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 1857
Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 20
Thanked:10

Posted: 04-22-08 04:37am

The appearance of hypothyroidism after radioiodine is a very common complication of the treatment as it is a natural consequence of the disease which is accelerated by the treatment. This may occur as early as two months after treatment or as late as twenty or thirty years.
This fatigue, can be a sign that your hypothyroidism is undertreated. Laboratory references for normal thyroid hormones level doesn't mean that you gonna feel fine.
Every person has his own range of hormones that is normal for him/her (this need to be achieved with consulting your endocrinologist).
Are you getting enough sleep?
|
Tasman Bay Butterfly

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

Posted: 04-22-08 15:48pm

Thank you for your post. I'm taking as high of a dose of Armour Thyroid as I can tolerate without palpitations at alternating 3 to 4 grains every other day. I'm not getting enough sleep because I have difficulty falling asleep. I recently began taking 20mg of Melatonin and that is beginning to help a little bit. My new GP (I moved from the UK to the USA) won't prescribe me a sleeping aid and non-prescription sleep aids do not work for me.

I forgot to mention before I'm a metastatic mixed papillary/follicular thyroid cancer patient that had a total thyroidectomy in 2 surgeries. I was told that I was given double the dose of Radioiodine due to metastasis. I haven't been the same since RAI treatment. I still test positive for cancer, but it isn't high enough for another RAI treatment at this time. I've been pursuing alternative cancer treatments. My immune system is depressed, but I'm working on it. The fatigue is what is really holding me back.
|
MandMs

Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 1857
Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 20
Thanked:10

Posted: 05-05-08 05:22am

When the thyroid gland is under-active (hypothyroidism), metabolism might slow down so that the body does not burn food fast enough to provide adequate energy. So, you may feel fatigue, a daily lack of energy, an unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness not relieved by sleep or rest.

One of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment is cancer-related fatigue. It is not predictable by tumor type, treatment, or stage of illness, it comes on suddenly, does not result from activity or exertion, often described as "paralyzing" and it might continue even after treatment is complete.
Radio therapy can cause fatigue that increases over time. Usually lasts from three to four weeks after treatment stops but can continue for up to two to three months.
|
Related Topics
This Forum This Category All Forums
Jump to:  
New Topic   Reply
Medical Questions -> Health Forums -> Thyroid Cancer -> Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Fatigue



We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.