Thyrogen Shots

I had thyroid cancer and had a total thyroidectomy in February of 2006...became hypo from med withdrawal in April of 2006 and had RAI and full body scan which came back clear.  Being off meds was hell as anyone with this condition can attest.  So, I am scheduled for another body scan in a couple of weeks using the thyrogen shots instead of going hypo from medicine withdrawal.  I am really nervous about using the thyrogen shots...I tend to be an anxious person as it is and so of course after reading all the possible side effects I have myself freaked out...seems like the people that had horrible reactions to the shots had other serious health problems...can anyone help ease my fears??  My worst fear is that I"ll have a terrible reaction and my throat will swell shut or something...I knwo it sounds ridiculous, but I'm really worried about this!  thanks!!!  :)

Oh my goodness...calm down and breath.  In my opinion, Thyrogen is a thyroid cancer miracle.  The side effects you're reading about are the most severe possible.  Key word...possible.  Some people do have a few mild side effects; headaches, nausea.  But they describe it like flu symptoms.  I, as well as the majority of thyrogen users, have little to no side effects.  I was most nervous about a shot in the rear end!  And guess what!  I didn't even feel the needle. Maybe I've just gained weight back there since my last butt shot in my youth! LOL

I have other health issues, diabetes, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, menopause etc. etc. and I still had no side effects.

You will be fine and you will be soooo glad you used thyrogen.  It is truly a miracle for all of us who have to go through this type of cancer.  I only wish they could invent something like it for all of the poor people who have to go through chemo!

I too will be doing the shots in a couple of weeks. I am a little nervous too, but would choose that anyday over hypo hell.  From what I have read on several different chat boards the worst that had occured is mild headachs, and a little upset tummy.  I think we will both be just fine.  I have plenty of junk in the trunk, so I don't think I will even feel the shot.  I believe they make you wait 30 minutes or so afterwards just to make sure you have no adverse effects to the shot.  I think if for some very very VERY strange readon your neck swells (which it wont) they would know it by then.  Take a deap breath and remember how aweful being hypo was.  Good luck, my week starts the first week in Aug. How about you?  We can get through it together:.)  Skylog

I know, I know...I'm really probably blowing this out of proportion.  My mom had thyroid cancer as well and had the thyrogen shots and she had no side effects whatsoever.  I have no health problems besides the thyroid issue and I'm not allergic to anything so I guess I just need to let it go and not worry.  Easier said than done, but I'll try! :)  I get my first shot on August 11th and then I go from there.  I think that the shots will definitely be worth it in the long run...I was totally miserable when I was off my meds for my first scan and I know I was awful to live with for those weeks, my poor husband!!  ha ha!  I just try to remember that if the shots were not perfectly safe (a) they would not be used and (b) they would not be administered on an outpatient basis. 

That is right they would never give you a shot of something that they were not sure of.  Well it looks like I am one week ahead of you, so I will make sure to let you know how it goes.  Wish me luck, and I will do the same for you.  Were you told to do the iodine diet?  I was told that I didn't need to for the tracer dose.  However, if they find anything then I will have to do it for the treatment dose.

Yes, my endo told me to do the low iodine diet for at least a week before having all the crap done.  I would have been doing all of my stuff the same week as you, but I had to postpone it for a week b/c I am having last minute out of town guests and I can't be on that dang low iodine diet when I have company, that is for sure!  I definitely wish you the best of luck with the shots and scan, you will have to keep me posted!

Just had the thyrogen shots last week.  They have to be given instramuscularly so that means in the buttock.  The second nurse who administered the second shot said to lean to the opposite side when given the shot to release the otherwise tightened muscle and you will hardly feel it and she was right.  Other than a pinch I developed a headache after the first shot.  Take Tylenol or other med at first signs.  Did not experience any nausea although told this was a possibility and if it happened to take some ginger ale.  Don't be concerned, considering what you have already been through this is a walk in the park.

Please don't worry so much! I just received my Thyrogen injections this week on Monday and Tuesday. Took my tracer dose of 131 today and have the whole body scan on Friday. All who responded were right - the Thyrogen is a walk in the park compared to going off meds. I continued to take my Synthroid while getting the injections. I am on the LID. I went to work Monday and Tuesday mornings, left to go get shots and went back to work for the whole day. I was a tiny bit queasy for the first few hours after receiving the injections but I don't know if that was really because of the injections or because of the LID (ha ha). I came home both nights from work and took care of our horses which means cleaning stalls and it has been in the 90's here in the Midwest. I truly did not really even notice anything, other than the poke in the butt.....

I took the next 3 days off from work mostly because I did not know how I would react to the shots, but I have been fine. I am not in quarantine at all and really don't have any restrictions. I could probably go to work but just choose to take this time for me. Be good to yourself and try not to worry!

I am glad to hear that no one has had a bad time with the shots, that's great!  Each of your messages is helping me think that this probably won't be so bad at all!!  I'm guess all the side effects that I read about are just things they HAVE to report b/c just a few people had them.  I'm guessing that if you tolerate Synthroid fine that the shots aren't really going to bother you either.  As I mentioned before I am having the 1st shot on Monday August 11th, the second on the 12th, blood work and the RAI dose on the 13th and a scan on the 14th.  I am not planning on taking off any work...I worked all thru being hypo last time...it was hell,but I made it!  Anyway...I took off Friday the 15th b/c my best friend will be in town and we are going to go out and celebrate our 30th birthdays together!  At least at the end of my treatment week I have something to look forward to so that should help the time pass!

Hi!  Like everyone above, "ditto" for me!  No reaction to shots, tracer scan, or WBS.  Did my appt. in the AM and went straight back to work for the day.  Worst part.....LID and heavy traffic in the mornings around the med center where I go!  And for the record.....hypo hell for me was just that and I'd walk through fire before I did that again!   :O)     SUE