Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. 

This is Thyrogen. It is the same as a natural hormone in the body which tells the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones. This medicine has several uses. 

Doctors can use this medicine to help watch for a return of thyroid tissue in patients who have had their thyroid removed because of cancer. After Thyrogen is given, blood tests will be done to check for thyroid hormones. If they appear, this could mean that unwanted thyroid tissue is present. Sometimes, this is done as part of a radiology test. 

Doctors may also use Thyrogen to get rid of remnants of thyroid tissue that were not removed during surgery to remove thyroid cancer. This is called 'thyroid ablation' and it is a radiology procedure. The Thyrogen works in the body to 'carry' radioactive iodine into the thyroid tissue, where the iodine can destroy it. 

Thyrogen is given as an injection into the buttock. It is common to receive another dose 24 hours later. It is important to be on time for your planned injections, and for any planned procedures afterwards. It is important to stay hydrated before your doses, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids. 

The most common side effects of Thyrogen are nausea and headache. These are normal if they are mild, and should go away. If they are severe, you should get medical help right away. 

As with any medicine, more serious side effects can occur. With Thyrogen, these include having too much thyroid hormone, stroke, or sudden pain in any tissue that may have thyroid cancer. 

For best results with Thyrogen, work closely with your doctor to understand why you are getting this medicine, and what side effects to watch for.