Re: Should I use Radioactive Treatment for my Hyperthyrodism

[Guest guest]

Hi,

60 mg of methimazole is a very high starting dose. The usual starting dose

is 30 mg daily; with this dose your levels should come down in 6-8 weeks and

then the dose should be reduced. Used properly, ATDs have an excellent chance of

allowing you to achieve remission. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Welcome. Well you've come to a site that has had a lot of discussion on

that subject.. Most of us here have either had RAI and regret it (me

for one), or are trying to do their best to avoid it and live well. I

hope that some of the others get busy and send you some thoughts. In

the meantime, you could gather information at ithyroid.com. It is very

important for you to become well informed no matter which route you

take. Not many doctors are particularly well informed about treating

thyroid disease. They want to rush us into a 'final' cureall that

destroys our thyroid. But there are many side effects and problems.

Read as much as you can.

Kate

afaleti wrote:

> Could the patients on this forum advice on if i should get

> radioactive uptake to get rid of my over reactive thyroid gland ?

>

> A close friend of mine has been begging me not to have my thyroid

> removed because she had surgery and has not been the same ever

> since ?

>

> I am currently on Methimazole 60MG a day.

>

> Ade

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ade,

I apologize that I don't have a lot of time to write, but I would like to

encourage you to do ALL the research you can before making a permanent

treatment decision such as RAI or surgery. The problem is not with your

thyroid, but with the immune system, and you still can have significant

problems after RAI; the chance of developing or worsening thyroid eye

disease, and the difficulty in stabilizing on meds for hypothyroidism (and

a significant minority find thyroid hormone replacement therapy to be

insufficient). Please go to mediboard and start with the Thyroid Awareness

101 thread at:

http://www.mediboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004549

Also, go to the files section at Graves' Support

graves_support/files/, and read the

" open letter to the newly diagnosed " by Pam B (2nd to last file on the

page). You can stay on antithyroid medication such as PTU, Tapazole or

Methimazole indefinitely if necessary (taking them in 3 evenly divided

doses a day is best), and lifestyle changes (as described in Pam B's

letter) should help a lot.

>afaleti wrote:

>

> > Could the patients on this forum advice on if i should get

> > radioactive uptake to get rid of my over reactive thyroid gland ?

> >

> > A close friend of mine has been begging me not to have my thyroid

> > removed because she had surgery and has not been the same ever

> > since ?

> >

> > I am currently on Methimazole 60MG a day.

> >

> > Ade

[Guest guest]

Hi Ade,

You are on 60mg a day , so it sounds like you have only started to be

treated? So just stick with the tablets as long as you can, and see

how you go. Personally I would have to be two tim tams (Aussie choc

biscuit) short of a packet to even consider having RAI!. What made my

mind up besides the possible side effects, was the fact that nearly

everyone that had RAI done, regretted it and are suffering big time.

I'm only young and don't want my quality of life to be diminshed even

slightly, and that is more than likely if I were to choose RAI. Read

everything you can (look back in the archives of this club) and be

informed. Don't just rely on the doctor. Good Luck!

>

> Could the patients on this forum advice on if i should get

> radioactive uptake to get rid of my over reactive thyroid gland ?

>

> A close friend of mine has been begging me not to have my thyroid

> removed because she had surgery and has not been the same ever

> since ?

>

> I am currently on Methimazole 60MG a day.

>

> Ade