Ipi/Yervoy advice regarding blood test results

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  • Post
    • April 19, 2017 at 9:50 pm
    MovingOn
    Participant

      After three Ipi/Yervoy infusions (10mg/kg) I have a slight headache and these are my test results for determining pituitary function.

      T4 Free: 0.62. (Previous two test results: 0.82, 0.77)

      TSH: 1.05 (Previous two test results: 3.78, 2.14)

      These tests point toward me being Hypothyroidism (my TSH is dropping but still within a normal range, whereas my T4 Free is below the expected range) but I feel like I'm almost Hyperthyroid (overactive, solid energy).

      I am now taking Thyroxine to lift these levels but my question is: Will that help my pituitary if it is being impacted by Ipi?

      What would help my pituitary?

      I am under the care of a great Melanoma specialist but also wanted to ask these questions here.

       

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    • Replies
        • April 19, 2017 at 10:45 pm
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          To really check if it is your pituitary causing it, you'd need an MRI to see if it is inflammed.

            • April 19, 2017 at 10:49 pm
            MovingOn
            Participant

              Thank you. Will my next set of scans due around my next infusion, I'll suggest having an MRI as part of the same imaging plan (and moving all my scans up to now). 

              • April 19, 2017 at 11:01 pm
              jennunicorn
              Participant

                Also, the pituitary does not produce T4 (thyroxine), that comes from the thyroid gland, so if T4 is below normal then that is more likely related to your thyroid gland being affected and not pituitary. Typically pituitary inflammation will cause a bad/unusual headache that doesn't go away. TSH does come from the pituitary, it can fluctuate throughout treatment, it has for me, but if it's in normal range then that's usually not an indication the pituitary is being affected. If you do have the headache symptoms, I would request an MRI asap, the sooner you diagnose something, the more likely you catch it early without permanent damage.

              • April 23, 2017 at 5:48 pm
              MovingOn
              Participant

                Had a brain CT scan (no contrast used). Result was normal.

                Is an MRI better for diagnosing this than a CT?

                  • April 23, 2017 at 10:12 pm
                  jennunicorn
                  Participant

                    Yes you should always have a brain MRI when looking at the brain. A CT is ok for a whole body scan and if they see something in the brain they will do a brain MRI, but you should get at least an annual brain MRI, that's fairly typical.

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