treatment stopped thyroid function. Anyone managed to kick start it again?

[dawn2412]

My thyroid stopped working during treatment with interferon and ribavirin B, and after treatment, there was some mention of trying to come off thyroxine for 6 weeks to see if the thyroid would kick back into working again. I couldn't bare to feel so ill again and have my hair come out in handfuls, if it didn't work, then normalising on medication again, so never tried it. Has anyone managed to get their thyroid working again after treatment stopped it functioning??

[dragonslayer]

Thyroid glands often fail to provide adequate thyroid hormones especially as we get older.  Im sure many of us here as well as out there in the general population over the age of 60 are treating for hypothyroid condition totally separate from HCV treatment. 
When you say it stopped working, do you mean its producing NO thyroid hormone, or an inadequate amount?   Because if its the latter, I would ask you how you know your dysfunctioning thyroid was the direct result of treatment?

[Mike]

Interferon is a known thyroid antagonist and has whacked out many a thyroid (mine included). This has been documented, clinically for over two decades, and is why thyroid function is closely monitored when taking interferon. 

Best wishes, Mike

[dragonslayer]

Interferon is a known thyroid antagonist and has whacked out many a thyroid (mine included). This has been documented, clinical for over two decades, and is why thyroid function is closely monitored when taking interferon. 

Best wishes, Mike

Didnt know that..  So glad folks dont have to take it anymore.  My thyroid started underproducing a few yrs ago; Ive read that HCV can have this impact, but so can aging so its hard to know what the real culprit is.  We'll see what happens to the hormone levels now that the virus is gone.

[dawn2412]

I had no thyroid issues or symptoms before treatment, and was told at the hospital before treatment that there was a rare chance of it happening, as some people are affected. The treatment stopped my thyroid working effectively, and my TSH when first tested was 86, which is high, and my iron levels were also very poor, so I felt very weak and unable to do much. I was told you can try after 18 months to stop the thyroxine, to see if the thyroid will start working again, but there was no guarantee it would, so you risked feeling very poorly and unable to function while you wait to see if it would kick back into action.I didn't feel I could take the risk if it didn't.

[GLCII]

Dawn

How's you thyroid doing now? Mine whacked out after my second Tx. It went Hyper. Instead of the Endo treating it, he radiated it. twice to kill it. Looking back I wish I wouldn't have let him do that. I think I would have rather had it treated, if possible. If your thyroid is Hypo you might want to try getting more iodine in to your diet. Pink Himalayan salt is supposed to be good or some kind of iodine substitute to jump start it possibly.