Hi Mags,
I've been hypothyroid (=fatigue)for years. It's genetic in my maternal
lineage.  I started taking synthroid 12-15 years ago and it helped right
away.  No big deal for me in the big picture.

When I got very sick (with everthing)for a year before the hep diagnosis,
one of the tests they ran was for thyroid antibodies, which show if your
immune system is eating your own thyroid (autoimmune).  The numbers were
astronomical so apparently I developed Hashimoto's thyroiditis somewhere
along the line.  I believe the HCV triggered it.  It happens.  So my
thyroid was whacked but medically stabilized when I started
tx.  

Tx drugs affect thyroid function.  Juanita and Russ know all about this
too.  After a few weeks on tx I went HYPERthyroid (=wired & anxious)and
sidestepped my doc's recommendation to stop tx by dragging an
endocrinologist into the mix.  She saved me.  Told my doc not to stop tx
and she's watching my numbers pretty closely.

The hyperthyroid thing was damn uncomfortable, though. It caused a very
wired, electric, heart-flutter sensation that cranked the ribarage out of
contol.  Yuck. that's when I took the beta blockers for my heart. They
were good.  Once the hyperthyroid settled down, those issues stopped.  I
do take CNS depressants though (for pain and sleep), which also settle
down the wired feeling.

So the punchline is that if your thyroid is misbehaving because of tx,
it's no big deal, just make sure your people watch the numbers.  

People who have wacky thyroids shouldn't be denied tx.  A major emphasis
from my endo is that I must take BRAND NAME synthroid because generics are
too variable.

kj

There are at least a couple of folks on board here that are quite experienced
with thyroid issues. Hopefully one will be with you shortly.

My own tx-related thyroid experience was for my TSH to go from my normal 2.7
to 0.3 within 6 weeks, right at the lowest edge of the "normal" range. It
slowly eased back up to just over 1.0 and stayed in that neighborhood for the
rest of therapy. A touch of hyperthyroidism to go with the panoply of sides...

You're closing in on the end of therapy, yes?

Cheers

/greyhackles

Mags They should have been checking your thyroid function all along with
everything else.  It is a common dilemma in some for it to go hay wire.
I went hyper first in just 8 weeks of tx and then hypo 8 weeks later and
ever sense. I have recently been put on synthroid 6 weeks ago. I was
going hypo on Armour which is made from pigs gland. I am getting better
at last. Tx blew my thyroid away and the dr.s would not treat me that
were involved in the tx.. Kept telling me I was ok with a tsh over 4.00.
Any Tsh over 3.00 can be a sign of being hypo and make you ever so worn
out. I have been through 4 Endos and landed a good one in december only
took almost a year. Do push for thyroid labs and hope you get feeling
better.         I did everything the day before shot day as far as
shopping. I drank lots of coke as it helped much along with valium and
advill.
Juanita  

Chillnil@rogers.com (mags)
Hey family of heppers. Well I believe I am now only 80 yrs old instead
of 106. Have taken 3 shots of Procrit and my rbc count went from 101 to
120 (normal for me 142). They now want to check my thyroid. Any advice
on thyroid problems. This body breakdown just never ends. On a positive
note, my kidney infection is clearing up nicely and I haven't had a
fever since I started the antibiotics. I believe I was sick for a long
time with an infection and the tx masked it.
Another thing is how do I build up my strength so I can at least go to
the grocery store and back to work if I can.
Mags

Thyroid problems are relatively common on tx - I was taken off treatment
because of it going hyper. But it did resolve itself within a few months
after tx. Russ had the same problem and continued treatment. It did take
quite a bit longer for him, but his thyroid went back to normal as well,
AFAIK. If you really run into problems, don't give up too easily.
Synthroid can help in many cases, beta blockers in others. And if you
still have problems after tx, insist on the doc trying to slowly wean
you off the stuff. Many Endo's don't have a clue about interferon, and
think that once your thyroid is shot, it's gone forever. It most likely
isn't, but if you continue taking the pills, they'll never notice.

Thomas