TSH is "thyroid stimulating hormone" it regulates the endocrine function of the thyroid gland and is an important part of your metabolism, growth and development. Radiation tx can damage your thyroid and hinder it's function, one of the side effects that some of us go through.

Radiation to the head and neck can also damage your pituitary gland and your hypothalmus which can have different effects for everyone. The hypothalmus controls body temp, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep etc...while the pituitary is the master gland and is responsible for the growth hormone produced in your body.

Here's the fun tricky part though. Opiate pain medications can also have similar effects; lowers testosterone production, depress the central nervous system thus the cardiovascular system and blood pressure affecting body temperature, sleep etc...

What my doctors did was after determining that my TSH levels were "in range" they checked my testosterone. My testosterone was really low (normal for men is 250-800, mine was 70) so they put me on a really high dose of Androderm...which can have really nasty side effects as well. Of course I don't think my Dr's put together the opiate connection, as when I was having my issues I was still on fairly large doses of fentanyl and oxycodone. When testosterone is introduced into your body artificially, your body will stop or slow it's own production.

When I weened myself off of the pain meds and my body adjusted, I stopped having the body temperature issues (always cold) and I had more energy because my central nervous system was no longer being depressed by opiates. However due to the high dose of Androderm I was on I started having "roid rage" issues and some other side effects of steroids.

I stopped the Androderm and really suffered as my body took it's time to resume normal production of testosterone (I'm now over 250)...and now I feel amazing without assistance. What I found out with some research is that you can do several things to help naturally boost testosterone production in the body...these technigues can be found by Googling "ways to boost testosterone", I steered away from pills, herbs etc and stuck to exercise and other techniques.

Hormones are such a tricky thing and the side effects can be so rough both physically and emotionally that I will never mess with it again...so no hGH for me. If you are really wanting to try that avenue make sure to find a Dr that really understands hormones AND your body but that may be a fools errand with the way most Dr's are.

Good luck,

Eric