Radioactive Iodine

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I know several people who are successfully reducing their nodules and

hyperthryoidism using anti-thyroid drugs. The College of American

Pathologists also recommends using a low iodine diet as a first line of

therapy.

Destroying your thyroid with radioidine is used for many types of

hyperthyroidism but the resulting hypothryoidism and side effects of RAI are

often far worse than the hyperthryoidism. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Honestly, every Endo I've been to says, " I think you should do RAI " . I had one

tell me that if I'd have it done, then I could come in every month as opposed

to every two months? I'm still trying to figure that one out. This same Dr

also inherited me right after I'd been put on the meds in Nov or Dec of 2001. I

first saw him in February or March (took about 2 months to get an appt with him)

for a first visit after our insurance changed. I think they are all in tune to

tell you that if you'll just get rid of the thyroid, and you become HypoT, then

things get better. From what I've read and seen, that ain't necessarily the

case. BTW, I have Graves Disease, but I take my anti-thyroid meds which have

NEVER been adjusted after a year and 5 mths. I now find I've been overmedicated,

but back with my original Endo. After coming here, I'm not so sure that the

anti-thyroid meds are all that great either. Lots of things to learn about this

on here though.

I take Atenolol 10 mgs, once a day, and a 20 mgs of Methimazole once a day as

opposed to 30 mgs of Methimazole for the past 17 months.

Sandy

Radioactive iodine

New to this board and looking for some info. I have been

hyperthyroid for some time. It has been determined that the cause of

my hyperthyroidism is a multinodular goiter. Based on my

endocrinologists recommendations, I have decided to have the

Radioactie Iodine treatment next week. Has anyone else had this

treatment for a multinodular goiter? Did it help? Any info is

greatly appreciated!!

[Guest guest]

Think very carefully before taking RAI. I took RAI 3+ years ago and have

been sicker than ever, ever since. My thyroid meds have been changed so many

times - one doctor took me down to .065mg per day in dosage changes of .0125

each 6 weeks. Another has put me up to .125mg. This is such an inexact

science. Each time your meds are changed you go through a lot of tough

times. Hormones are being changed. Your body objects. On top of that I was

fortunate enough (haha) to develop Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, heart

problems, depression and anxiety. If I had it to do over again I would

have tried to go for remission. My second choice if that were not possible

would be surgery (partial). RAI is too absolute. Living with no thyroid is

not a lot of fun. Your thyroid affects so many parts of your whole body.

I know this sounds sort of like a rant but I mean it sincerely. Think

carefully and don't let yourself be rushed into any permanent solution.

Kate

mlopem wrote:

> New to this board and looking for some info. I have been

> hyperthyroid for some time. It has been determined that the cause of

> my hyperthyroidism is a multinodular goiter. Based on my

> endocrinologists recommendations, I have decided to have the

> Radioactie Iodine treatment next week. Has anyone else had this

> treatment for a multinodular goiter? Did it help? Any info is

> greatly appreciated!!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have a goiter my Endo says we all have a goiter if we have Graves

Disease.

Listen to Elaine, Check out your options. Please don't schedule

the RAI so fast they luv to do that get your right in and get you

right out but you could have far worse problems after or maybe not

but give yourself time to think of what is best for you.

Alegra

[Guest guest]

Seriously reconsider having RAI. Please read Elaine's emails regarding RAI

and other emails from folks that have had the treatment. Mona

Radioactive iodine

> New to this board and looking for some info. I have been

> hyperthyroid for some time. It has been determined that the cause of

> my hyperthyroidism is a multinodular goiter. Based on my

> endocrinologists recommendations, I have decided to have the

> Radioactie Iodine treatment next week. Has anyone else had this

> treatment for a multinodular goiter? Did it help? Any info is

> greatly appreciated!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Pam,

You say you had RAI in November and are feeling quite well. This group was

set up by to investigate alternative approaches to thyroid

disease, which is why most of us started out against RAI. I had Graves and

refused to even consider RAI, which my endo tried to sell me on. After a few

months of ATDs and beta blockers, along with nutritional and other

alternative means, I weaned myself off meds, and and been fine for about 5

years.

I am one of the first to join this group, and in these almost 5 years have

not heard of anyone who did well after RAI after 2 years or so. Others have

opted for this method, and I asked them to keep in touch, but I don't think

anyone did. SO, it would be great if you could keep in touch for a while and

let us know how you're doing. If someone had RAI and, after 2 years is still

doing well, it would be good for us to know.

Thanks and good luck,

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I rarely look at my mail, but I diddo what you have said. I had RAI in 96'.

I have had blood pressure problems, heart problems, permanent TED episodes,

chronic dry eye, weight gain, anxiety, depression, osteoporosis.

In 96' my pharmacist told me I could settle for remission and stay on PTU

indefinitely, but my PCP said I would develop severe liver problems because

one cannot sustain PTU indefinitely so I caved in. I was given 15

millicuries of radiation to nuke my thyroid and my life changed for the

worse. Hidnsight is 20/20 isn't it? Oh well.

My advice is choose as wisely as you can. Take your time and research as

much as you can. If I was not so very ill from my hyperthyroidism at the

time I would not have been so vulnerable to the meager knowledge and advice I

was given by my doc.

Best wishes to all out there.

Joyce

[Guest guest]

Unwanted Side Effects

A letter to the editor published in a recent issue of the Journal of the

American Medical Association is discomfiting and reassuring in roughly equal

measure. Two doctors from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York

City, write of a thirty-four-year-old man with Graves' disease, a thyroid

disorder, whom they treated with radioactive iodine. Three weeks later the

patient returned to the clinic, complaining that police officers had twice

apprehended him in a Manhattan subway station, where he was strip-searched and

questioned. The doctors' conclusion: " This patient's experience indicates that

radiation detection devices are being installed in public places in New York

City and perhaps elsewhere. Patients who have been treated with radioactive

iodine or other isotopes may be identified and interrogated by the police

because of the radiation they emit. " The doctors called the Terrorism Task Force

of the New York City Police Department, which suggested that any physician

treating a patient with isotopes provide a letter (listing a telephone number at

which the physician can be reached around the clock) for the patient to carry at

all times. Even so equipped, the doctors advise, such patients " may choose not

to use public transportation to avoid this inconvenience. "

— " Police Detainment of a Patient Following Treatment with Radioactive Iodine "

[Note that The JAMA site requires paid membership and does not permit third

parties such as The Atlantic to link directly to journal articles.]

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/04/primarysources.htm

[Guest guest]

Got this from wikipedia by googling iodine isotopes:There are 37 known isotopes of iodine (I) and only one, 127I, is stable. Iodine is thus a monoisotopic element.

Its longest-lived radioactive isotope, 129I, has a half-life of 15.7 million years...All other iodine radioisotopes have half-lives less than 60 days, and four of these are used as tracers and therapeutic agents in medicine. These are 123I, 124I, 125I, and 131I. In addition to commercial production, 131I (half life 8 days) is the most common radioactive fission-product of nuclear fission, and is thus produced inadvertently in very large amounts inside nuclear reactors.And allopathic docs inject 131I into people to detect cancer??? Remarkable....>> There isn't much to it. You ingest a small amount of I-123 (sometimes I-131) and then 24 hrs later they bring you in and scan your neck looking for "uptake" into the thyroid. The test depends on the person being iodine deficient because if you were fully saturated with non-radioactive form of iodine as you should be (thyroid holds 50 mgs of inorganic non-radioactive iodine) the test wouldn't show any uptake at all. The radioactive iodine enters the cells of the thyroid and they are able to tell if nodules are hot (high in blood flow - potentially cancerous) or cold (low in blood flow or no blood flow - benign). > > I had this test done when my son was 4 mos old. I wasn't given many instructions other than I had to pump and dump breast milk for 36 hours as the I-123 has a 1/2 life of 36 hrs. I was not told I couldn't be by my child and he slept on my shoulder that day after being given the pill. He is hypothyroid (age 12 and on 2 1/4 gr Nature-throid). There isn't a day I don't wonder if I damaged his thyroid by exposing him to 4 scans and 3 RAI ablations. My daughter is also hypothyroid (9 yrs and on 2 grs) and my husband has hashimotos. Most doctors tell you there is no risk with a scanning dose. I disagree.> > Buist, ND HC> > > radioactive iodine> > > > Would someone please explain to me about the procedure for investigating lumps in the thyroid that involves putting radiactive iodine in to the body? > > > > I know it's not a good thing to get done but wanted some more information, plus alternative options, to pass on to someone who is getting it done. She has a lump 4cm by 3cm in her thyroid which sounds huge so I'm wondering if it's more likely to be mm, or does the cm measurement sound right?> > > Also, they cannot be around children or pregnant women for 24 hours after the procedure??? Do you emit radiation from your body for a period of time afterwards?> > > Thank-you,> > > >

[Guest guest]

I think I131 is not for diagnosis, but for ablation if it is needed.

Sue

see www.atomicwomen.org

> >

> > There isn't much to it. You ingest a small amount of I-123 (sometimes

> I-131) and then 24 hrs later they bring you in and scan your neck

> looking for " uptake " into the thyroid. The test depends on the person

> being iodine deficient because if you were fully saturated with

> non-radioactive form of iodine as you should be (thyroid holds 50 mgs of

> inorganic non-radioactive iodine) the test wouldn't show any uptake at

> all. The radioactive iodine enters the cells of the thyroid and they

> are able to tell if nodules are hot (high in blood flow - potentially

> cancerous) or cold (low in blood flow or no blood flow - benign).

> >

> > I had this test done when my son was 4 mos old. I wasn't given many

> instructions other than I had to pump and dump breast milk for 36 hours

> as the I-123 has a 1/2 life of 36 hrs. I was not told I couldn't be by

> my child and he slept on my shoulder that day after being given the

> pill. He is hypothyroid (age 12 and on 2 1/4 gr Nature-throid).

> There isn't a day I don't wonder if I damaged his thyroid by exposing

> him to 4 scans and 3 RAI ablations. My daughter is also hypothyroid (9

> yrs and on 2 grs) and my husband has hashimotos. Most doctors tell you

> there is no risk with a scanning dose. I disagree.

> >

> > Buist, ND HC

> >

> >

> > radioactive iodine

> >

> >

> >

> > Would someone please explain to me about the procedure for

> investigating lumps in the thyroid that involves putting radiactive

> iodine in to the body?

> >

> >

> >

> > I know it's not a good thing to get done but wanted some more

> information, plus alternative options, to pass on to someone who is

> getting it done. She has a lump 4cm by 3cm in her thyroid which sounds

> huge so I'm wondering if it's more likely to be mm, or does the cm

> measurement sound right?

> >

> >

> > Also, they cannot be around children or pregnant women for 24 hours

> after the procedure??? Do you emit radiation from your body for a

> period of time afterwards?

> >

> >

> > Thank-you,

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes "and it is perfectly safe and wonderful for thyroid cancer". *sigh*

Buist, ND HC

radioactive iodine> > > > Would someone please explain to me about the procedure for investigating lumps in the thyroid that involves putting radiactive iodine in to the body? > > > > I know it's not a good thing to get done but wanted some more information, plus alternative options, to pass on to someone who is getting it done. She has a lump 4cm by 3cm in her thyroid which sounds huge so I'm wondering if it's more likely to be mm, or does the cm measurement sound right?> > > Also, they cannot be around children or pregnant women for 24 hours after the procedure??? Do you emit radiation from your body for a period of time afterwards?> > > Thank-you,> > > >

[Guest guest]

I had I-131 for a scan one time. The other 2 were I-123. They avoid using I-131 for scanning because it can produce a stunning effect on the cells and then if ablation is followed up shortly after they may not take up the ablation dose.

Buist, ND HC

radioactive iodine> >> >> >> > Would someone please explain to me about the procedure for> investigating lumps in the thyroid that involves putting radiactive> iodine in to the body?> >> >> >> > I know it's not a good thing to get done but wanted some more> information, plus alternative options, to pass on to someone who is> getting it done. She has a lump 4cm by 3cm in her thyroid which sounds> huge so I'm wondering if it's more likely to be mm, or does the cm> measurement sound right?> >> >> > Also, they cannot be around children or pregnant women for 24 hours> after the procedure??? Do you emit radiation from your body for a> period of time afterwards?> >> >> > Thank-you,> >> >> > > >>