Something new. (Medically)

Posted Friday, April 17, 2009 at 4:21 AM

I just wanted to keep you all up to date on my condition. I shared this on several thyroid cancer sites to see if anyone has experience with what’s happening to me.

On April 6th, around 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon, I suddenly felt exhausted—not sleepy, just weak—and couldn’t concentrate. The next morning I felt better, but that afternoon it happened again. Since then the weakness has started earlier each day. Now I wake up feeling weak and get weaker as the day goes on.

I’m experiencing weakness, tingling in my hands and feet, headaches with exertion, dizziness, and trouble concentrating. I can’t do many of my normal activities—journaling, evening meditation, reading, or climbing stairs. My endocrinologist checked my TSH level; it’s 0.25, so I’m not hypothyroid. My GP believes this may be Paraneoplastic Syndrome, possibly Myasthenia Gravis.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome occurs when cancer causes the immune system to attack the nervous system instead of the tumor itself. In 2006 I was diagnosed with papillary/follicular thyroid cancer and had a total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine treatment. In 2008 it recurred, leading to a modified neck dissection (right side) and another round of RAI. The body scan afterward showed uptake across the throat and into the chest. I’m currently waiting until June for another total body scan—and now these symptoms have started.

Has anyone experienced Paraneoplastic Syndrome with thyroid cancer?

—Odell

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