Emily

What are your actual TSH levels? It's very important to have the actual numbers from your blood work instead of just "normal range" or high or low. Otherwise you may be misdiagnosed by well meaning but out of date doctors. Look for any old medical records to see what your TSH level was before TX and radiation. That is the level you want.

I have only heard of radiation causing hypothroidism.
{to OCF posters:a test to measure the amount of TSH in your system will show lower than normal TSH when the thyroid is overactive. LOWER TSH = OVERACTIVE THYROID / HYPERTHYROIDISM. TSH that is higher than normal suggests a thyroid that is underactive and not doing its job of producing thyroid hormone. HIGHER TSH = UNDERACTIVE THYROID / HYPOTHYROIDISM.)

Remember that the so called normal reference range is approximately 0.5 to 5.0. So levels below 0.5 are considered possible evidence of hyperthyroidism, and levels above 5.0 would be considered possible evidence of hypothyroidism. BUT most endocrinologists believe that the range should be narrowed significantly, to 0.3 to 3.0.

Sorry to hear that you have this problem also
Charm

Last edited by Charm2017; 03-26-2012 06:54 AM. Reason: typos

65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13