Low Body Temp - Hypothyroidism after GBM?

Hi friends,

Anybody or their patient ever have a constant lowered body temp since radiation and/or chemo?  My hubby's avg. temp is running 94.5 - 97, and he can never get warm.  Could this be a shot thyroid after treatments?  He's already receiving testosterone after his pituitary was fried.

Thanks guys and God bless,

janni (wife of Steve - gmb iv dx 11/07)

Janni;

My daughter has a pituitary tumor so I have some experience with the hormone thing.  Yes, it could be the thyroid which is controlled by the pituitary.  Is he taking testasterone because of the fried pituitary?  I would ask the Dr. to test the thyroid levels which is a blood test, maybe an ultrasound too.  Now that you bring it up I have read this can happen after treatment.  My husband is also always very cold with low temp. I will do the same.  Thanks for reminding me.

Donna, Rob's wife, dx 12/08

Hi Janni,

My son was tested for thyroid a month or two after his radiation was finished because they were indeed zapping his pituitary gland along with everything else for a while there, and he was always shivering. But it turned out his levels were normal. Anyway it's something to check.

Sarah

My husband Gary, is just now being checked out for all his hormone levels, because I asked them to check his testosterone level and it was low, so we had a referral made to an endocrinologist.  She said it was not uncommon for the pituitary to be damaged with radiation, and in fact, it could show up years later, due to the ongoing effects of the treatment.  We are 2 1/2 years post radiation, and overdue for someone to address this.  He is always cold, sleeps with the covers over  his head, always wants the heat turned up, but the other issue I was hoping would get resolved was his weakness.  I can't help feeling that the reason he is not able to get off the last tiny dose of steroid is that he has no stores of energy, no basic strength to draw on at the end of steroid reduction, and it might be of some benefit to get all his hormones leveled out before taking away that last .25 mg.  They drew 9 vials of blood yesterday, so I think everything was on the list!  Our fingers are crossed.

Donna L

Hi Donna!

Steve was completely lethargic and getting weaker by the day until they realized his testosterone level had bottomed out.  They put him on a replacement gel that he applies each morning, and after about 2 - 3 months, his energy and muscle mass began to return.  He was so much better that it shocked me when he started to get cold and tired again.  If the fix for thyroid is as effective for testosterone, life should improve greatly.

Let me know how Gary makes out and if you find out anything new.

Take care and all love,

janni

My husband is always cold now.  I didn't know about the testosterone or pituitary issues but will definitely keep those in mind.  I am constantly wondering why I keep reading these boards and now I know why -- they are full of needed information.

What really stinks is that I am running warm all of the time -- bad timing for us!

Jennifer

I'm glad to see this mentioned, about 4 months after my last rad treatment for SCC I started to freeze all the time. Before I was hot all the time I thought from being over weight and having lost 40 pounds after, I thought it might be from loss of weight, NOW seeing these posts I know to ask my doc for extra tests when I go back.

Nana