I am 15 months post TX and doing generally pretty good. I lost quite a bit of weight during treatment, about 40 pounds. I was very fit before and I lost alot of muscel mass. I am 59 and wonder if I can build back the muscel mass. I am almost as active as I was before cancer but my strength is maybe 70% of what is was. Has anyone out there talked to their Docs about HGH or is it just a crazy idea?
Thanks
Steve

Steve

Have you done a comparison between your TSH levels before TX and now? Like yourself, I was disappointed that I was not as awesomely strong as before TX, and it turns out that my TSH levels were the problem. I just won the "Plank" competition at my health club, even beating the muscle bound instructors, by holding a perfect plank for 13 minutes and 4 seconds. Although my prize was only a T shirt, it proved to me that my endocrinologist was right in saying I needed Levoxyl. Basically your TSH level now needs to be what it was before TX. Period, lab ranges are meaningless to you as an individual.
I did ask my endocrinologist about HGH and she laughed at me saying she did not need money that badly. But there are plenty of doctors who apparently do and the internet is full of purported "miracles" with HGH. So count me as skeptic.
Charm

Hi Charm, what is TSH. Should I just have my regular Doc take a look.
Congrads on doing the plank! I do like it when os old farts can beat the young guys! We certainaly have the drive!
Steve

I lost 70 lbs and worked out faithfully everyday. I also drank muscle milk which helped. My son was in the worlds strongest man comps. until the last 6 months. He helped me. NOw after more surgery I have lost another 10 lbs. Went from 220 to 140 now. It can be done but it is tough. LOL Just be a hard head and do what thewy say can't be done.

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

Steve

Your regular doctor can order the blood test for TSH, it's not exotic. The problem you may have is how to know what your pre TX level was, so you would have to ask your doctors plus review your copies of your blood work tests. Still can't hurt to have the blood test done. Turns out however there is controversy over what is the right TSH level with labs having a 5.5, a 4.5 even though endocrinologists who went to Medical school the 21st Century conbsider 3.0 as the highest acceptable level. Before TX, I had a TSH of 1.6 and after TX it shot up to 4.3. Now that I am "on the pill", I am finally warm again. Plus my energy is back My TSH level went down to 3 on 25 mcg ,2.1 on 50 mcg and then 1.7 on 75 mcg. It's now at 1.48 since I switched to taking it a night. Of course there could also be nothing wrong at all with your thryoid . But it worked for me. Good luck
Charm

Eric and Charm, you 2 fracks. I think you both deserve Honorary MD Degrees. I have the 2 of you on my list of people to be highly respected among your peers in OCF along with a few others. Keep up the good work and I love your posts.

I lost 70 lbs and they said it was all muscle. I am only 8 months out of surgery and 5 months out of treatment. I am starting with a personal trainer because before treatment i was able to bench 200 lbs, and now, barely 100 lbs. trainer is going to have me try a thing called trx to help me rebuild using my own weight, so i cant really over do it. Its just 2 straps you hang from a sturdy bar or support system that can support your weight. I have been trying to rebuild on my own, and it just wasn't working, but then again, not that far out yet either.
Wish you luck!!