Guest guest Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Hi Yes you need to follow up on your diagnosis. Whether or not you need a scan has been discussed a lot. The general consensus seems to be that a scan isn't necessary - an ultrasound combined with appropriate blood tests will confirm your diagnosis. You can help yourself by becoming more knowledgible while waiting for your appointment. Make a list of questions for your doctor. I had the scan and after it, I continued on down my path and took the Radioactive Iodine as pushed by my endo. In retrospect, I don't think I would do the same thing again. There are several treatment options - read about them. Ask questions. Kate thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Hey , I just went through this scan last week (recently diagnosed with blood tests etc.). Oh my goodness, I read enough to make my head spin and freak me right out...cancelled and rebooked the test. Talked to my doctor, the endocrinologist, and the technician that gives the test. The test was NO BIG DEAL - but I got myself so worked up about it. They have been doing this test for thyroid for 50 + years....they would know if there were adverse side affects by now. (Mind you, if you work at a nuclear plant or something you may want to limit your exposure). Two things put this in better perspective for me: 1. It is about as much radiation as an x-ray (said my endocrinologist and the technician). 2. Stress is a major factor in thyroid...and can seriously augment symptoms. My doctor said the amount of cortisone pumping through my body because of my stress over could do more potential damage than any RAI uptake test. All three experts said that nothing is ever without risk, so you have to temper that with what you know. Breathe deep, and make a decision you feel peace about, then move forward without questioning. All that being said...my endocrinologist did say that we could move forward with treatment without the test, but that his preference was not to. So, do what you feel you can handle. Talk to your doctor as much as you need to, and get an endocrinologist. The best thing that I've been doing (and it sounds like I'm only about a week ahead of you in the process), is to get good sleep, eat healthy, and eliminate stress factors. Hope this helps, . musky2012002 <musky201@...> wrote: hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 hey thanks,,yep i'm definetlylooing into stuff,,some things scare you on the web,,,lol..geez i was shitting bricks,,i'm leaning towards medication other then iodine,,whats the bad part or iodine if u dont mind me asking?these kind of docters are a bitch to get a hold of too,,thanks john thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Hey , well, from what I've read, high iodine can trigger thyroid stimulating hormone....which is bad news for us! I got a great book which is a synthesis of the info on hyperthyroid called " living well with Graves' Disease and hyperthyroidism " by J. shomon. $19.95 at Chapters. It's been really helpful. Right now I'm synthesizing all the diet/supplement info I've found into a chart, and I'm going to take it to a naturopathic doctor to see what they think. Naturopaths are usually open to combining conventional medicine with natural alternatives, but medical docs will usually only tell you the conventional medicine ways. If you want, I can send this research to you...just remember though it is not medical opinion, and I'd be really honest with your family doc about what you are thinking of doing - let me know if you want this stuff. I've made some dietary changes and have noticed a decrease in symptoms..could be coincidence. Where are you located? You can find Endocrinologists on the web, and then give thier names to your family doc. john lackner <musky201@...> wrote: hey thanks,,yep i'm definetlylooing into stuff,,some things scare you on the web,,,lol..geez i was shitting bricks,,i'm leaning towards medication other then iodine,,whats the bad part or iodine if u dont mind me asking?these kind of docters are a bitch to get a hold of too,,thanks john thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 One of the bad parts of Graves is the patient's tendency to grasp the first possible 'cure' and rush into it full speed ahead. I chose RAI and hated having to wait for it. I didn't do much research - I was too scared. For me the bad part of the RAI is twofold. First of all, it left me permanently hypo with no chance of remission. Being hypo is not a particularly pleasant state. Yes I take replacement hormone but no, I don't feel as well as before all this. As well as this the other problem I see with radiation is that although the iodine goes to your thyroid, you are still exposing yourself to radiation. In other words, if I had it to do over again, knowing what I know now, first I'd try the anti-thyroid drugs and hope for remission. If I was unable to take either medication, then I would opt for surgery. Yes it has it's own risks, but I would feel safer with it. Only as a last resort would I opt for RAI. RAI is known to exacerbate thyroid eye disease, so if you have any eye symptoms, avoid it. Being hypo, I seem to gain weight just looking at food. I'm always on a diet and always hungry. Somewhere I read that we hypo people could plan on gaining 5 lbs each year. Doesn't sound like much but in just four years that is 20 pounds. As well, I suffer from depression. I'm almost always tired. Finally, even though I took the treatment my heart did not slow down so I am permanently on medication to slow down my heart. If the picture is ugly to you, think carefully about what you choose to do. It is your choice to make. Being hyper, do get your bone density level checked. A hyperactive thyroid tends to drain the calcium from your bones, leaving you prone to osteoporosis. There are no symptoms and you don't need another lifelong disease. If you can't get a bone density scan, at least do yourself a favour and start taking calcium - two 600mg pills daily, taken separately. thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 In a message dated 1/31/2006 8:44:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, Fraserk@... writes: Doesn't sound like much but in just four years that is 20 pounds. As well, I suffer from depression. That is true, one of my clients had RAI several years ago. She is a young woman, about 30, being treated at my clinic for severe depression. Her eyes are bulgey, and she is always tired. Even though she takes replacement hormone, as well as anti-depressants, she continues to suffer from on-and-off depression, and fatigue. I have twice the energy she has, as well as being in much better shape, despite being much older. I thank God every day I didn't listen to my endo when I had Graves, and refused the RAI. I have been off meds since 1998, and am fine. I think almost any way of dealing with hypertT (meds, nutrition, acupuncture, surgery, etc.) is better than RAI. AntJoan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 i had the thyroid scan the results were consistent to graves disease,,what sort of treatment is advised?iodine?meds?i feel great actually,,symptoms or very minmal too..the antithyroid med couldbe a prob being i have high liver enzymes,,or somewhat high,,letme know people,, thanks john thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 Hi , I was also diagnosed with Graves, maybe a year ago. My endo pushed for the scan, and after reading everything here, I questioned him. He continued to state that it would help him in figuring out my treatment. I explained that I thought the blood test were the most accurate in diagnosing. He agreed but stated he needed the scan to make sure there weren't hot spots. So I did have the scan done and all it showed was what we knew before I had it. He is pushing the meds, I like you feel I do not have enough symptoms. My rapid heart beat has me on beta blocker. I am also nervous about taking the meds because they contain sulfa which I am allergic to. I am taking a vitamin supplement and my T3 and T4 have lowered, so it looks as thou I might be going into remission. The endo said that if I took the meds (pku or something like that) that there was a possibility of going into remission. So we agreed if my blood results showed same or worse I would try them. When they came back it was better, sooooooooo. for now I am just going with what I have been. The supplement I have been taking seems to work well. If my hands start aching I know that I haven't been taking it. I believe it was Kate who express some concern over what I was taking, so I will have to research it better I guess. I do trust the Chiro who is monitoring it. so good luck to you, I wish I could say listen to your doc. I have mostly heard that the endo push for the radioactive iodine, but I am not ready or feel the need for it at this point. good luck, Annette > > i had the thyroid scan the results were consistent to graves disease,,what sort of treatment is advised?iodine?meds?i feel great actually,,symptoms or very minmal too..the antithyroid med couldbe a prob being i have high liver enzymes,,or somewhat high,,letme know people,, > thanks john > thyroid scan > > > hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests > show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a > thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent > seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks > > > john > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 Hi It will take a while for your liver enzymes to settle down I'm guessing. When I had $AI I had high liver enzymes for about 8 months before it calmed down. If I had it to do over again I would for sure try the antithyroid meds. If you can't tolerate one, there is another you can try. K thyroid scan hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 hey there thanks,,i found out i was hyper after i went to the med emerge for a pulled muscle,,,lol.they took blood,,poof i was high or low depending what was looked at,,,tookanother blood test still the same,,,some high numbers but a little lower but that one number,,the less then .o1 number was the same,,so i got the ultra sound found a endocron,,after alot of tries those kind of docare a bitch to find,,anyway, took the thyroid scan,,shows something consistant to graves,,,but thats all i know now because my appointment with the doc is the 11th,,so i'm looking for some hyper advice,,,lol whats the supplement and where is it found?did the doc give that option or someone else?my only symptyms i noticed are sweating sometimes,little irritable but, that could because of the waiting around thing,for the appointment that is,i never slept well since for ever,always sweated more then others since for ever but when its really hot everyone sweats,lol.ii quit smoking and gained 8 pounds already in 3 weeks,so who knows,,thanks again john thyroid scan > > > hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests > show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a > thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent > seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks > > > john > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 In a message dated 2/27/2006 5:28:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, musky201@... writes: whats the supplement and where is it found? For information about supplements, nutrition and the like to treat Graves, please go to our sister site, iThyroid.com. AntJoan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Hi You quit smoking! Good for you. I did the same thing - quit smoking before seeing the doc. And I've managed to stay off for the past 6-1/2 years. It hasn't been easy and I've backslid a couple of times but I feel a lot better now. When I get a cold it only lasts for a week instead of a month... But I gained a lot of weight between quitting smoking and up until maybe 4 months after treatment with RAI. It is very very hard to take off if you become hypothyroid (if you take RAI or anti-thyroid meds this can happen) Anyway, good for you! There is a wealth of information about supplements at www.ithyroid.com . Kate thyroid scan > > > hey people, i was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid,,blood tests > show it and ultrascan showed abnormalities, now i'm scheduled for a > thyroid scan,,,anybody experience this? and should i bother,,i havent > seen a endocrinoligist yet,,that appointment is february 11..thanks > > > john > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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