Forum Discussion

KatieT's avatar
KatieT
Member
9 years ago

Chemotherapy and Hashimoto's Disease - Autoimmune Thyroiditis

When I started chemo my weight was stable and I felt good.  Three months in my weight was still stable,  then on the fifth round of chemo my weight started rising by a kg a month and never stopped.  It's now 18 months since I finished chemotherapy.  The rate of gain has been consistently 1kg per month.  I've been on a calorie controlled restricted diet of 1200 per day throughout most of that time.  It's been frustrating and puzzling me.  Also my hair didn't grow back properly and I have aches and pains in my legs, ongoing chronic fatigue, dry skin, brittle nails, slightly high cholesterol especially as the weight continues to go on, brain fog, tinging in hands and feet, poor circulation etc.  I kept asking my oncologist why I'm gaining weight and why my hair isn't growing.  He had no answers and suggested I go to a hair clinic.

This week last fortnight I went to the GP with depression and concerns about symptoms and because she isn't in the 'thinking about cancer & chemo' rut, she listened to all my symptoms and said she thought I had a thyroid problem.  So then began a series of bloodtests that came back confirming that.  

I don't know if I've had it for a while or whether the stress of cancer treatment triggered an existing tendency or what, but I am very happy to discover that there may be solutions for my problems.  Perhaps the assault on my immune system has worsened an existing autoimmune problem.  I am now on Thyroxin and the doctor thinks my metabolism will start returning to normal in 4-6 weeks and my other symptoms will slowly subside.  I am so stiff and sore and I thought there was nothing to be done about it.  This is the best health news I've had in a very long time. I'm wondering why oncologists don't check thyroid levels because it would be very easy for chemotherapy to mask problems.

Anyway, I'm happy and have prospects now for improvements in my physical state.  I was desperate and hopeless before. 

  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    9 years ago
    Katie, that is wonderful news!! You must feel quite excited :) bet the countdown is on for the four to six weeks. Hoping you feel sensational very very soon. Xx
  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    9 years ago
    Goodness knows if it was there prior but it was detected during treatment. Fatigue was dominating so the GP ordered a full set of bloods. In the return visit he said well that is a surprise your thyroid reading is way too high. My weight has only altered down by 4kg but the other medications side effects are weight gain so I am up against it. Diet is good and my other readings reflect that
     It is what it is! 
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    I had Graves disease for 6 years and thought I was in remission, it resurfaced prior to chemo though. Hashimotos is quite a common problem with lots of women even with no bc diagnosis.
  • KatieT's avatar
    KatieT
    Member
    9 years ago
    Really?  I wonder how common this disorder is.  Most of the ladies in my bc group and also a few in the oncology waiting rooms I've been in complain about the problems of weight gain.  I wonder how many of them should get tested.

    Do you go on any special diet to help manage it?

    I've been strictly on 1200 cals and that hasn't worked, so I'm now restricting myself very severely as I refuse to gain one more gram.  I basically haven't eaten anything other than steamed broccoli, cabbage or other leafy vegetables or carrots in over a fortnight.  I am dreading getting on the scales to discover I've gained weight again.  It throws me into such a terrible depression.
  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi Katie - ditto - they are my symptoms and Thyroid was only diagnosed during treatment!  I'm glad that it has been found and like you on thyroxine for the rest of my life and the weight gain is a difficulty as the body struggles with all the hidden extras of bc treatments!
    Take care from Christine
  • KatieT's avatar
    KatieT
    Member
    9 years ago
    Wow!  I wish I'd been diagnosed as early as you.  Good luck in your recovery.  At least you'll have a fair go at recovering from the chemo without a mysterious extra confusing the issue.  I feel a little bit cross that I now have 15 kg to lose that were probably never necessary and I've had so much grief over the hair and I'm trying to return to work with my whole body aching and stiff.  It's so hard.  But onwards and upwards at this point.  I've got answers!
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    I have Graves disease which is also autoimmune but my thyroid was sky high at time of surgery, and even though they did thyroid bloods nobody even mentioned it. It contributed to me feeling very emotional with poor sleep and it also makes my appetite soar . ..which means I gain weight even though high. It was brought under control by my endocrinologist whilst doing chemo and certainly helped with the emotional side of coping with cancer. Mine is stable presently on thyroid  suppressents. Except for hair loss I pretty much have all your symptoms post chemo (it is only 4 months though) and I put a lot down to femera. I truly hope you will feel better soon and at least  start to get back your zest for life.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    9 years ago
    That's excellent news and a timely reminder to think outside the cancer box. Unfortunately cancer treatment doesn't mean that other problems all vanish. Hooray for your persistence and your doctor's smart thinking. Here's hoping you feel really well again very soon.