Why am I having rTSH injections?
The rTSH injections are given to raise the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in your body. This would occur naturally if you stopped taking your Thyroxine tablets. This can awaken any thyroid cells that may be still in your body and allows hidden persistent cells to be detected.
If you are having injections before a radioiodine ablation treatment elevated TSH will help any normal thyroid cells to absorb the iodine. This also permits the cancer to be seen on a body scan, which you will have after your radioiodine treatment.
The injections are given into the muscle in the buttock area. They will be given a few days before your treatment as follows;
Injections before radioiodine ablation treatment
- Day 1 injection
- Day 2 injection 24 hours later
- Day 3 radioiodine
Injections before a radioiodine scan
- Day 1 injection
- Day 2 injection 24 hours later
- Day 3 radioiodine
- Day 4 no treatment
- Day 5 Scan
Injections before a stimulated blood test
- Day 1 Thursday – injection
- Day 2 Friday – injection 24 hours later
- Monday – Blood test
Your thyroglobulin blood test must be done on the first Monday after the last injection on Friday.
Injections before a stimulated PET scan
- Day 1 injection
- Day 2 injection 24 hours later
- Day 3 Pet scan
Are there any side-effects?
Most people do not experience any side-effects from the injections.
You must not have the injections if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
If you feel you are experiencing side-effects from the injections please call your specialist nurse, GP or the ward/unit where you had the injection for advice.
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