The longer I've been sans thyroid hormones, the more I've been having these irritating (and slightly scary) episodes of chest pains and palpitations and dizziness. I've been chalking it up to the whole low blood pressure/low heart rate aspect of being hypo and have basically been brushing it aside, assuming I was just attempting too much physical activity. Today, however, I was on the phone and got a bit agitated about the conversation. Instant chest pain. It was so persistent and unexpected that it actually made me a smidge frightened. I rested for a few minutes to see if it would subside (It did.) and then realized that maybe this might be worth mentioning to my doctor.
Fortunately, my Endocrinologist answers his own after-hours phone line, even on a Sunday. After discussing my symptoms as well as reviewing the effects of the anaphalaxis in the hospital (I had strained my heart muscle which dumped enzymes in my bloodstream indicative of depleting my heart of oxygen), my Endo felt that, perhaps, my ticker was not dealing with this hypothyroidism as well as he'd like. He called in a precription for Synthroid to get the hormones back in my body and told me I'd need to visit a Cardiologist. However, now that I'm on Synthroid, another method has to found in order to raise my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) level enough to still be able to complete the RAI treatment. (This hormone, as mentioned before, is the one that needs to be high in order to make the cells "hungry" for the radioactive iodine.)
As an alternative to the natural deprivation of simply going without the thyroid hormone for three weeks, an injectible form of TSH is available. Delivered by two shots on the two days preceding pre-scan uptake, Thyrogen takes the place of the body's own TSH and effectively makes the cells just as ravenous for the iodine. It's superhard to get approved by insurance however, and otherwise costs $2000...so, here's hoping! The Endo says he'll work on that part, in hopeful anticipation of keeping me on target for the full RAI dose on 7/26.
Suffice it to say, I'm feeling a tad defeated right now. Praying for these last two weeks to fly by on schedule with no further complications.
How soon do you have to pick a cardiologist & did your doctor have any recommendations? I would suggest you do it before the treatment on 7/26. <3
ReplyDeleteMy Endo wanted me seen before the RAI, so I wound up calling four different offices because, apparently, it's Cardiologist vacation month and everyone is booked up until August. Luckily, one had a last minute cancellation for Thursday morning. :)
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