Just diag. with hyperthyroidism - still getting tested. Questions?

September 20, 2005

I was just diaganosed with hyperthyroidism and was so glad to find this

group. My thyroid glad is slightly enlarged on one side. So far my

Dr. did initial blood tests and elevated levels of what he was looking

for confired his suspicion of hyperthyroidism. I had an ultra sound

done and there are some nodules inside my throut too. I am going for

an thyroid scan this week and will see the Dr. again next for results

of it and further blood tests. From what I have been reading the

radioactive iodine treatment that may cause me to go into hypo form

sounds scary. The antithyroid drugs sound like perhaps a better way to

go but some of their side effects sound scary too. What have others

done and would you do it again? Thank you.

Anne

September 20, 2005

Anne:

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a few years ago. I was pretty miserable by

the time I was diagnosed (heart problems, sleep problems, anxiety, short temper,

weight loss, etc.). First, here is what I have learned about the message

boards. The super majority of folks on the message boards have either had

negative experiences with the RAI treatment or have other problems that they

blame on the RAI but are due to other problems (diseases, conditions, poor diet,

lack of exercise, etc.). Most (95%+?) people with hyperthyroidism have

successful RAI treatments so they quit posting to the boards because their lives

go back to normal. In short, the RAI feedback on the message boards will be

slanted towards the negative and not balanced. I am not saying some are not

true though. Some people have had bad experiences with RAI but that us a VERY

small number.

Second, here is what I have experienced after RAI. The meds took about a year

to adjust to the right level. I have to tweak my dose a little here and there

but not very often. I feel WAY better after RAI. I feel like I am myself

again. I didn't realize how awful I felt until I started the levoxyl and got it

adjusted. Physically, I am alot stronger now than when I was 20 (I am 38). I

lift weights, jogg, walk, etc. I also used to have trouble sitting down long

enough to focus and read a book. After RAI and getting my dose correct, I have

read about 40 books so far this year. Do I feel 100% myself again? Not quite

but I am probably 98%. Once your thyroid goes out of whack, you will never be

100% again.

A note about the RAI. It is almost a certainty that you will go hypo after RAI.

There are a lucky few where RAI kills just enough of the thyroid where the

output is at a normal level. If the thyroid is totally dead, it is usually very

easy to control hypo through medication (levoxyl, synthroid, etc.). A very,

very small portion of the population can't adjust to those medications but there

are other medications. They are just the most popular.

If you do go through RAI, the first couple of days after RAI is kind of weird.

You need to kind of stay away from people (especially kids) because of the RAI

-- just as a precaution. Your thyroid will also react to the RAI and release a

bunch of thyroid into your body. So you may be really hyper for a couple of

days and then it goes away. I took a couple of days off of work, stayed away

from my kids, watched some movies, and played comuter games.

Sorry for the long note, but to end this, I have learned the following lessons:

I am now much more understanding of people who have health problems after going

through this and I have learned that diet and exercise are key. It is very,

very important that you eat well and exercise often.

If I had to do it all over again, definately I would. Feel free to contact me

if you have any questions.

Rob

anne22enna <atticollectible@...> wrote: