Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

[Guest guest]

Sandy--

> I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why must

> the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> is necessary.

_Most_ people take 6-8 weeks to deplete the thyroid hormone in their system

& become hypo-thyroid enough for RAI scan or treatment. A TSH of 30 is

usually considered the minimum for this, but somewhat higher is probably

better. Personally, I think anything over 100 is unnecessarily heroic, but

there isn't a lot of hard data on that (as far as I know--would love to hear

our docs' opinion on that!).

Since hospitals have to schedule RAI (ordering the dose, reserving a room &

staff, etc.) they plan for the usual situation--6--8 weeks after tt/off

meds. Some people DO seem to take less time. If you can get your TSH

tested at, say, 4 weeks--great. Maybe the RAI can be changed for you.

Note that I find every hypo time to be different. Others seem to time it

like clockwork, but my TSH at 6 weeks has been very different for ablation &

then the 2 scans I've had. (I got hypo quickly for the ablation, about

average for the 1st scan, & slower than that for the 2nd scan.) So, don't

assume that you will get hypo as quickly for this scan as you did for the

ablation. Possibly, you were slightly hypo-thyroid even prior to tt? Even

if not, I think most of us taking suppressive doses of T4 meds _after_ tt

will have a significantly lower " starting " TSH, that may take longer to

climb for a scan.

Nina

geiger@...

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply. Maybe my rate to hypo will be different with

withdrawal than it was post TT, though I wasn't hypo at that time. I have

to tell you, cutting this time in HALF is definitely worth a TSH test at 3

weeks if my Doctor agrees.

Sandy

Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

> Sandy--

>

> > I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why must

> > the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> > with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> > is necessary.

>

> _Most_ people take 6-8 weeks to deplete the thyroid hormone in their

system

> & become hypo-thyroid enough for RAI scan or treatment. A TSH of 30 is

> usually considered the minimum for this, but somewhat higher is probably

> better. Personally, I think anything over 100 is unnecessarily heroic,

but

> there isn't a lot of hard data on that (as far as I know--would love to

hear

> our docs' opinion on that!).

>

> Since hospitals have to schedule RAI (ordering the dose, reserving a room

&

> staff, etc.) they plan for the usual situation--6--8 weeks after tt/off

> meds. Some people DO seem to take less time. If you can get your TSH

> tested at, say, 4 weeks--great. Maybe the RAI can be changed for you.

>

> Note that I find every hypo time to be different. Others seem to time it

> like clockwork, but my TSH at 6 weeks has been very different for ablation

&

> then the 2 scans I've had. (I got hypo quickly for the ablation, about

> average for the 1st scan, & slower than that for the 2nd scan.) So, don't

> assume that you will get hypo as quickly for this scan as you did for the

> ablation. Possibly, you were slightly hypo-thyroid even prior to tt?

Even

> if not, I think most of us taking suppressive doses of T4 meds _after_ tt

> will have a significantly lower " starting " TSH, that may take longer to

> climb for a scan.

>

> Nina

> geiger@...

>

>

>

>

> For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If you

do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank

email to thyca-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I actually read about this today, briefly, as I was going through a

nuclear medicine textbook at our hospital library. Of course, I am

assuming that as with regular doc's, the book's statements are an

opinion of a doctor or group of doctors.

It stated that while many people have a TSH adequate for RAI at 2 weeks

post TT, one should really wait 6 weeks post TT for RAI for maximum

uptake of RAI. If you want the actual words and reference I can get

that for you.

sandycg1@... wrote:

> Help me understand this -

>

> I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why must

> the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> is necessary.

>

> I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

>

> Thanks,

>

> Sandy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks . Would you mind elaborating on why one " should really wait 6

weeks " , according to the reference book? I appreciate the info!

Sandy

Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

> Sandy,

>

> I actually read about this today, briefly, as I was going through a

> nuclear medicine textbook at our hospital library. Of course, I am

> assuming that as with regular doc's, the book's statements are an

> opinion of a doctor or group of doctors.

>

> It stated that while many people have a TSH adequate for RAI at 2 weeks

> post TT, one should really wait 6 weeks post TT for RAI for maximum

> uptake of RAI. If you want the actual words and reference I can get

> that for you.

>

>

>

> sandycg1@... wrote:

>

> > Help me understand this -

> >

> > I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why must

> > the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> > with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> > is necessary.

> >

> > I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Sandy

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

Unfortuneatly, the book did not expound on that idea. I was looking for

hard evidence on when and why a certain waiting period for pregnancy

after RAI and it only said, wait 6 months. No explanation. Then again,

I was mostly browsing. So I'll look again on both issues and see if

there is anything further. Maybe, its just based on case histories or

theoretical scientific information. I'll look again next week.

Sandy Glenn wrote:

> Thanks . Would you mind elaborating on why one " should really

> wait 6

> weeks " , according to the reference book? I appreciate the info!

>

> Sandy

> Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

>

>

> > Sandy,

> >

> > I actually read about this today, briefly, as I was going through a

> > nuclear medicine textbook at our hospital library. Of course, I am

> > assuming that as with regular doc's, the book's statements are an

> > opinion of a doctor or group of doctors.

> >

> > It stated that while many people have a TSH adequate for RAI at 2

> weeks

> > post TT, one should really wait 6 weeks post TT for RAI for maximum

> > uptake of RAI. If you want the actual words and reference I can

> get

> > that for you.

> >

> >

> >

> > sandycg1@... wrote:

> >

> > > Help me understand this -

> > >

> > > I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why

> must

> > > the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

>

> > > with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why

> this

> > > is necessary.

> > >

> > > I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Sandy

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

> Unfortuneatly, the book did not expound on that idea.

I remember being told at the time that the surgical site needed to heal

before RAI. Something about getting good blood flow restored to the

traumatized area, in order to carry the RAI to where it was needed, I think.

Don't know if that was what this referred to or not.

Nina

geiger@...

[Guest guest]

Nina,

What about for follow-up scans (after everything has healed)?

Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

> > Unfortuneatly, the book did not expound on that idea.

>

> I remember being told at the time that the surgical site needed to heal

> before RAI. Something about getting good blood flow restored to the

> traumatized area, in order to carry the RAI to where it was needed, I

think.

> Don't know if that was what this referred to or not.

>

> Nina

> geiger@...

>

>

>

> For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If you

do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank

email to thyca-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy--

> What about for follow-up scans (after everything has healed)?

I was looking at 's reference to the book--

>>>It stated that while many people have a TSH adequate for RAI at 2 weeks

post TT, one should really wait 6 weeks post TT for RAI for maximum

uptake of RAI.>>>

So, that was talking about post-tt. When I had my tt, I was told that the

surgical site needed to heal, to promote blood flow for best RAI

distribution. I have no idea if that's accurate; I don't recall reading it

anyplace authoritative.

As for later, when going hypo for scanning, most of us are starting w/ a

suppressed TSH, so getting hypo fast isn't as likely.

Nina

geiger@...

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I'm very new to this myself, but my understanding is that by

going " hypo " and causing our TSH to rise, brings the thyroid

cells " out of hinding " so to speak--wherever they have migrated to

inside of our body. The " 30 " TSH number is a minimum number to ensure

that enough thyroid cells are brought out of hiding. The HIGHER the

TSH number, the better off you are because then you know that you

have brough out the most thyroid cells as possible. Everyone

tolerates going " hypo " differently. For some people who feel so bad,

just getting to " 30 " is major task, so for them that's great! But, if

you can tolerate being " hypo " and can thus get your TSH number

higher, then go for it. There's nothing " magical " about 6 weeks, it's

just an estimated time. I think your better off the longer you can

tolerate being hypo, so you can get your TSH up as high as possible

so you the RAI can " blast " the most thyroid cells as possible.

--Chris

papillary w/ follicular variant dx. 4/7/01

-- In Thyca@y..., sandycg1@h... wrote:

> Help me understand this -

>

> I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why

must

> the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> is necessary.

>

> I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

>

> Thanks,

>

> Sandy

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply. Is there any medical data to back up the " higher the

TSH, the more effective " theory? There must be a reason that a TSH of over

30 is standard, so I just don't understand suffering at a level 5 times that

high for any longer than necessary.

I appreciate your response.

Sandy

Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

> Sandy,

> I'm very new to this myself, but my understanding is that by

> going " hypo " and causing our TSH to rise, brings the thyroid

> cells " out of hinding " so to speak--wherever they have migrated to

> inside of our body. The " 30 " TSH number is a minimum number to ensure

> that enough thyroid cells are brought out of hiding. The HIGHER the

> TSH number, the better off you are because then you know that you

> have brough out the most thyroid cells as possible. Everyone

> tolerates going " hypo " differently. For some people who feel so bad,

> just getting to " 30 " is major task, so for them that's great! But, if

> you can tolerate being " hypo " and can thus get your TSH number

> higher, then go for it. There's nothing " magical " about 6 weeks, it's

> just an estimated time. I think your better off the longer you can

> tolerate being hypo, so you can get your TSH up as high as possible

> so you the RAI can " blast " the most thyroid cells as possible.

>

>

> --Chris

> papillary w/ follicular variant dx. 4/7/01

>

>

>

>

> -- In Thyca@y..., sandycg1@h... wrote:

> > Help me understand this -

> >

> > I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why

> must

> > the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> > with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> > is necessary.

> >

> > I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Sandy

>

>

> For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If you

do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank

email to thyca-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply. Is there any medical data to back up the " higher the

TSH, the more effective " theory? There must be a reason that a TSH of over

30 is standard, so I just don't understand suffering at a level 5 times that

high for any longer than necessary.

I appreciate your response.

Sandy

Re: why 6 wks. hypo for RAI?

> Sandy,

> I'm very new to this myself, but my understanding is that by

> going " hypo " and causing our TSH to rise, brings the thyroid

> cells " out of hinding " so to speak--wherever they have migrated to

> inside of our body. The " 30 " TSH number is a minimum number to ensure

> that enough thyroid cells are brought out of hiding. The HIGHER the

> TSH number, the better off you are because then you know that you

> have brough out the most thyroid cells as possible. Everyone

> tolerates going " hypo " differently. For some people who feel so bad,

> just getting to " 30 " is major task, so for them that's great! But, if

> you can tolerate being " hypo " and can thus get your TSH number

> higher, then go for it. There's nothing " magical " about 6 weeks, it's

> just an estimated time. I think your better off the longer you can

> tolerate being hypo, so you can get your TSH up as high as possible

> so you the RAI can " blast " the most thyroid cells as possible.

>

>

> --Chris

> papillary w/ follicular variant dx. 4/7/01

>

>

>

>

> -- In Thyca@y..., sandycg1@h... wrote:

> > Help me understand this -

> >

> > I reached a TSH of over 35 and had RAI 3 weeks after my TT. Why

> must

> > the hypo/med withdrawal be for 6 weeks? I know of many who end up

> > with a TSH of well over 100 by that time and I'm wondering why this

> > is necessary.

> >

> > I'm asking this in anticipation of my yearly scan -

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Sandy

>

>

> For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If you

do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank

email to thyca-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

They want the TSH level to be at least 150 for Wally and

he always gets there.Going hypo didn,t bother him too much the

first few times but its getting harder and harder, he gets so weak

and wobbly, so he really likes the Thyrogen.Take care,

Diane.