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Done Total Thyroidectomy. High TSH Now, Weight Gain. Concerned About Return Of Papillary Cancer?
I had total thyroidectomy in 1992. My labs have been great since. About 1/1/2 years ago my dr reduced
my medication because I'm in my 60's now. He said it can be hard on the heart as we age. My latest tsh was
2.0 which is much higher than before and I have gained about 15 lbs in the last year. Should I be concerned about return of papillary cancer? thank you
my medication because I'm in my 60's now. He said it can be hard on the heart as we age. My latest tsh was
2.0 which is much higher than before and I have gained about 15 lbs in the last year. Should I be concerned about return of papillary cancer? thank you
Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Hello;
After total thyroidectomy patient can be placed under TSH supression or thyroid replacement therapy.
TSH supression therapy involves giving higher dose of thyroxin medication so that TSH level is very low(less than 0.5mU/L).When amount of TSH in your body is low , your thyroid gland stops growing as well as tumor.
However TSH supression has unwanted effects especially on heart and bone and risk increases as your age increase. Moreove people having low risk disease do not benifit mush from TSH supression therapy.
So your doctor have shifted from supression to replacement.In this you take lower amount of thyroxin medication,as a replacement of natural thyroid hormone so that your TSH is in normal range. You need to take thyroxin because your thyroid gland was removed.
You should visit your doctor periodically and there is no need to worry about TSH level.
Regards
After total thyroidectomy patient can be placed under TSH supression or thyroid replacement therapy.
TSH supression therapy involves giving higher dose of thyroxin medication so that TSH level is very low(less than 0.5mU/L).When amount of TSH in your body is low , your thyroid gland stops growing as well as tumor.
However TSH supression has unwanted effects especially on heart and bone and risk increases as your age increase. Moreove people having low risk disease do not benifit mush from TSH supression therapy.
So your doctor have shifted from supression to replacement.In this you take lower amount of thyroxin medication,as a replacement of natural thyroid hormone so that your TSH is in normal range. You need to take thyroxin because your thyroid gland was removed.
You should visit your doctor periodically and there is no need to worry about TSH level.
Regards
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