Re: Had RAI about9 weeks ago but........

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky....

I've got a bunch of questions for you as we zero in on what is going on....

What is your diagnosis? Why did they give you the RAI to kill your gland?

Have you had labs done since your RAI, can you post them, with the lab's ranges, for us to see?

Have they determined how much of your gland has been destroyed?

Have they started you on replacement hormone yet?

I had RAI fifteen years ago.... so I have some experience with what you're feeling.... I was in thyroid storm, dealing with a genetic defect in my TSH receptors...

The hoarseness can be from a few different things... My first thinking is that it's from irritation for either the radiation or that you're dealing with antibodies that are having a field day.... we'll have a better idea as we learn more about what is going on...

Topper () *15 years post RAI, zero remaining thyroid function, totally dependant on hormone replacement, self treating with natural thyroid since July '02 and doing MUCH better than I did during the 10 years that I was being treated with by doctors using synthetics*

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:16:37 -0000 "Vicky" writes:

Hi,I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless, irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could hardly swallow anything. Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became more upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I mean one like I hadn't been in for a very long time. As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to sleep this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed up so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I still can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For the longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no catching up. UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was wonderin if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after they had initially began to feel better and moods were better, ect? I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my thyroid. Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I ever get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk much?I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without sleep even though I take something to calm me down, that I have literally made myself sick. ThanksVicky

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky....

I've got a bunch of questions for you as we zero in on what is going on....

What is your diagnosis? Why did they give you the RAI to kill your gland?

Have you had labs done since your RAI, can you post them, with the lab's ranges, for us to see?

Have they determined how much of your gland has been destroyed?

Have they started you on replacement hormone yet?

I had RAI fifteen years ago.... so I have some experience with what you're feeling.... I was in thyroid storm, dealing with a genetic defect in my TSH receptors...

The hoarseness can be from a few different things... My first thinking is that it's from irritation for either the radiation or that you're dealing with antibodies that are having a field day.... we'll have a better idea as we learn more about what is going on...

Topper () *15 years post RAI, zero remaining thyroid function, totally dependant on hormone replacement, self treating with natural thyroid since July '02 and doing MUCH better than I did during the 10 years that I was being treated with by doctors using synthetics*

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:16:37 -0000 "Vicky" writes:

Hi,I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless, irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could hardly swallow anything. Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became more upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I mean one like I hadn't been in for a very long time. As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to sleep this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed up so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I still can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For the longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no catching up. UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was wonderin if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after they had initially began to feel better and moods were better, ect? I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my thyroid. Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I ever get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk much?I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without sleep even though I take something to calm me down, that I have literally made myself sick. ThanksVicky

[Guest guest]

Do you still have your thyroid and it was zapped via RAI? Webmd

says sometimes that will bring on hyperthyroid symptoms. It seems

you are describing hyperthyroid symptoms. Not being able to sleep -

it's better than speed/crack/meth. Not that I've done any of

those.

The other factor is if you are on thyroid meds and with or without

having a thyroid, it sounds like you are overmedicated too much to

the hyper side.

Even though we are on a holiday weekend, I hope you contact the on

call doc and get some guidance from him. It is not something you

should be going through nor have to live with.

The voice. Mine changed after the operation to take out the

thyroid. Then I went hypothyroid for RAI. Hypothyroid bulks up the

voice cords and changes the voice. It is to go away after meds get

to optimal voice. After RAI, I noticed the RAI changed my voice

even more, it would crack like an adolescent boys. I figured

inflammation going on down there was doing stuff to it.

Call your doc. Even over this holiday weekend. You should not have

to live with this.

If you go without sleep long enough you do make yourself clinically

insane. Get some sleep, you improve. Something like 5 days without

sleep can make you psychotic.

You can even get meds help to sleep if doc thinks you need to be at

the med dose you're at. Ask for things to help the symptoms to make

your life tolerable.

jane

>

>

>

> Hi,

>

> I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless,

> irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would

> tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could

> hardly swallow anything.

>

> Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became

more

> upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I

> mean one like I hadn't been in for a very long time.

>

> As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to

sleep

> this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed

up

> so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I

still

> can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For

the

> longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the

> morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no

catching

> up.

> UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was

> wonderin if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after

> they had initially began to feel better and moods were better,

ect?

>

> I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my

> thyroid.

>

> Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I

> ever get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk

> much?

>

> I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without

sleep

> even though I take something to calm me down, that I have

literally

> made myself sick.

>

> Thanks

>

>

> Vicky

[Guest guest]

Do you still have your thyroid and it was zapped via RAI? Webmd

says sometimes that will bring on hyperthyroid symptoms. It seems

you are describing hyperthyroid symptoms. Not being able to sleep -

it's better than speed/crack/meth. Not that I've done any of

those.

The other factor is if you are on thyroid meds and with or without

having a thyroid, it sounds like you are overmedicated too much to

the hyper side.

Even though we are on a holiday weekend, I hope you contact the on

call doc and get some guidance from him. It is not something you

should be going through nor have to live with.

The voice. Mine changed after the operation to take out the

thyroid. Then I went hypothyroid for RAI. Hypothyroid bulks up the

voice cords and changes the voice. It is to go away after meds get

to optimal voice. After RAI, I noticed the RAI changed my voice

even more, it would crack like an adolescent boys. I figured

inflammation going on down there was doing stuff to it.

Call your doc. Even over this holiday weekend. You should not have

to live with this.

If you go without sleep long enough you do make yourself clinically

insane. Get some sleep, you improve. Something like 5 days without

sleep can make you psychotic.

You can even get meds help to sleep if doc thinks you need to be at

the med dose you're at. Ask for things to help the symptoms to make

your life tolerable.

jane

>

>

>

> Hi,

>

> I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless,

> irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would

> tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could

> hardly swallow anything.

>

> Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became

more

> upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I

> mean one like I hadn't been in for a very long time.

>

> As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to

sleep

> this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed

up

> so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I

still

> can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For

the

> longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the

> morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no

catching

> up.

> UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was

> wonderin if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after

> they had initially began to feel better and moods were better,

ect?

>

> I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my

> thyroid.

>

> Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I

> ever get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk

> much?

>

> I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without

sleep

> even though I take something to calm me down, that I have

literally

> made myself sick.

>

> Thanks

>

>

> Vicky

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

Thanks for the reply, My diagnosis is hyperthyroidism. I had the thyroid scan

that showed a lot of activity going on, also I had a thyroid ultasound that

shows 18 noules/ multinodular, and I have only had one test for the ft4 since I

had the RAI 9 weeks ago, but I am scheduled to see him on January 12th, so I

don't know what the labs would read now but 5 weeks after the RIA I had the ft4

and it had improved but not as much as I thought it would in that length of

time.

My labs: Their labs ranges I'll post beside each.

TSH 0.021 ( 0.500-5.700)

T3 free 5.6 ( 2.3-4.2)

T4 free 1.98 ( 0.80- 1.90)

Tpo Ab 967 ( 0 - 34 )

Antithyroidgloblin Ab 523 ( 0 - 40 )

He is only checking and has only checked the T4 as an indicator, so one test for

that and the result were 1.66, so it has come down but I thought it would have

come down more by then, I won't know what it actually is until I go back again

in 10 days.

He said I didn't have thyroiditis that is was definately a multitoxic goiter (

even though my neck doesn't look swollen).

That is why I had the RAI, he said that since the antibodies are high and I

could take medications, have it removed or have the RAI, that it was better to

have the RAI as the tissue around the thyroid after they removed it would still

be affected by the autoimmunity and also he thought it was the best choice

anyway.

The idea is to render it totally non funcional.

I have not started on replacement hormone yet. He said when it gets to where it

isn't functioning he would put me on it.

He did say that in a lot of cases it gets worse before it gets better while it

is killing off thoese nodules as they secrete more hormone into the bloodstream

while being killed off for lack of a better term.

As far as my voice, I always had a strong voice and was a singer in church, did

solo's and played the piano and other musical instruments but now even if I talk

too much, my voice goes and it aches. Ever since the RAI, thats when it started

as a matter of fact for the first 3 days I could talk hardly at all I almost

completely lost my voice altogether.

Thanks

Vicky

>

> Hi Vicky....

>

> I've got a bunch of questions for you as we zero in on what is going

> on....

>

> What is your diagnosis? Why did they give you the RAI to kill your gland?

>

> Have you had labs done since your RAI, can you post them, with the lab's

> ranges, for us to see?

>

> Have they determined how much of your gland has been destroyed?

>

> Have they started you on replacement hormone yet?

>

> I had RAI fifteen years ago.... so I have some experience with what

> you're feeling.... I was in thyroid storm, dealing with a genetic defect

> in my TSH receptors...

>

> The hoarseness can be from a few different things... My first thinking is

> that it's from irritation for either the radiation or that you're dealing

> with antibodies that are having a field day.... we'll have a better idea

> as we learn more about what is going on...

>

> Topper () *15 years post RAI, zero remaining thyroid function,

> totally dependant on hormone replacement, self treating with natural

> thyroid since July '02 and doing MUCH better than I did during the 10

> years that I was being treated with by doctors using synthetics*

>

> On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:16:37 -0000 " Vicky " SOUNDS4HEAVEN@W...

> writes:

>

>

> Hi,

>

> I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless,

> irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would

> tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could hardly

> swallow anything.

>

> Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became more

> upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I mean

> one like I hadn't been in for a very long time.

>

> As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to sleep

> this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed up

> so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I still

> can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For the

> longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the

> morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no catching up.

> UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was wonderin

> if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after they had

> initially began to feel better and moods were better, ect?

>

> I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my

> thyroid.

>

> Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I ever

> get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk much?

>

> I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without sleep

> even though I take something to calm me down, that I have literally

> made myself sick.

>

> Thanks

>

>

> Vicky

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,I still have my thyroid and don't take any replacement hormone as my thyroid is still functioning enough as far as I know, so I wait until it's non functioning.Here I am still awake but did sleep a couple of hours. It's like time has changed and become faster so time passes quickly and I don't even feel like its late. I have noticed I have lost my mental shapness and mental egde, I can't concentrate and keep misplacing things,even accidently throwing things away, I hardly ever did that before. It's like "mind fog"I was already on something to calm my anxiety and he doubled it. Even though it's enough to put an elephant to sleep. ithelps me stay somewhat less tremorous inside but I can;t believe that I am taking 2mg of klonopin twice a day and almost nothing.Yes, I am seeing a psychiatrist now as he is concerned about my mind. The though has occured to me that I'm loosing it.I'll have to contact him again or go to the ER because I can't hard stand this any lomger.zThanks and HappyNew YearVicky> >> > > > > > Hi,> > > > I had RAI about 9 weeks ago. Before having it I was restless, > > irritable, very very anxious, couldn't sleep and my throat would > > tighten up so much from all the feelings of anxiety that I could > > hardly swallow anything. > > > > Well, my moods changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago whereas I became > more > > upbeat and the irritability was gone. I was in such a good mood, I > > mean one like I hadn't been in for a very long time. > > > > As of the past few days though, I feel more anxious, I got to > sleep > > this yesterday morning at 7:45 a.m. and woke up at 11:15, I stayed > up > > so I could sleep tonight, well I thought but as it turns out I > still > > can' sleep and haven't slept but a few hours in 2 whole days. For > the > > longest time though, I didn't get to sleep until 2, 3, or 4 in the > > morning but when I did, I would catch up on it but now, no > catching > > up. > > UP is all I am, all of the time. I just feel strange and I was > > wonderin if anyone who has had the radiotherapy had problems after > > they had initially began to feel better and moods were better, > ect? > > > > I can't understand it and I feel it has something to do with my > > thyroid. > > > > Also, ever since I had it done, my voice has been affected. Will I > > ever get my normal voice back and will it ever aching when I talk > > much?> > > > I can't hardly eat anything now and I have gone so long without > sleep > > even though I take something to calm me down, that I have > literally > > made myself sick. > > > > Thanks> > > > > > Vicky>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I was wondering and confused about the diagnosis as it said on the diagnosis hyperthyroid BUT like you brought out what is the cause? Well he said I did not have hashimoto thyroiditis and he never once mentioned Grave's diseae, I think it is genetic. Autoimmune problems run in my family. I had asked the question'How can you have a problem being hyperthyroid involving immunity and it not be Grave's?No one could ever tell the difference and I am still confused. I will post my resluts after I get them. I, like I said see him on the 12th but it takes a few days to get the results. Thanks>> Hi, Vicky....> > Hyperthyroidism is not a diagnosis.... it's the condition resulting from> something else which is the cause, the diagnosis.....> > Are you hyper due to an autoimmune disorder like Hashi's (Hashimoto's> Thyroiditis, the most common of the thyroid disorders) or Grave's? Or is> it a genetic defect, like me?> > You're antibodies are high.. and unless the dose of RAI was sufficient to> destroy all the gland tissue you are still going to be dealing with the> antibodies attacking the gland. That is going to continue until the gland> has been destroyed. At this early stage we still don't know how much> gland function, if any, remains.... > > Within a few days of my RAI I came down with a case of strep... swelling> me up so bad that I was having difficulty breathing.. but I don't> remember much happening as far as my voice changing.... > > I'll definitely be waiting to see what the labs will be showing on the> 12th and what the doc does... I'll be honest, I'm not thrilled with his> choice to give you RAI.... there are far too many risks involved with it> considering that your numbers weren't showing that high. We'll just have> to wait and see.... > > Topper ()> > On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 09:28:31 -0000 "Vicky" SOUNDS4HEAVEN@W...> writes:> > > > Hi again,> > Thanks for the reply, My diagnosis is hyperthyroidism. I had the thyroid> scan that showed a lot of activity going on, also I had a thyroid> ultasound that shows 18 noules/ multinodular, and I have only had one> test for the ft4 since I had the RAI 9 weeks ago, but I am scheduled to> see him on January 12th, so I don't know what the labs would read now but> 5 weeks after the RIA I had the ft4 and it had improved but not as much> as I thought it would in that length of time. > > My labs: Their labs ranges I'll post beside each.> > TSH 0.021 ( 0.500-5.700)> > T3 free 5.6 ( 2.3-4.2)> > T4 free 1.98 ( 0.80- 1.90)> > Tpo Ab 967 ( 0 - 34 )> > Antithyroidgloblin Ab 523 ( 0 - 40 )> > He is only checking and has only checked the T4 as an indicator, so one> test for that and the result were 1.66, so it has come down but I thought> it would have come down more by then, I won't know what it actually is> until I go back again in 10 days.> > He said I didn't have thyroiditis that is was definately a multitoxic> goiter ( even though my neck doesn't look swollen). > > That is why I had the RAI, he said that since the antibodies are high and> I could take medications, have it removed or have the RAI, that it was> better to have the RAI as the tissue around the thyroid after they> removed it would still be affected by the autoimmunity and also he> thought it was the best choice anyway.> > The idea is to render it totally non funcional.> > I have not started on replacement hormone yet. He said when it gets to> where it isn't functioning he would put me on it. > > He did say that in a lot of cases it gets worse before it gets better> while it is killing off thoese nodules as they secrete more hormone into> the bloodstream while being killed off for lack of a better term. > > As far as my voice, I always had a strong voice and was a singer in> church, did solo's and played the piano and other musical instruments but> now even if I talk too much, my voice goes and it aches. Ever since the> RAI, thats when it started as a matter of fact for the first 3 days I> could talk hardly at all I almost completely lost my voice altogether. > > > > Thanks> > > > Vicky>

[Guest guest]

, thank you for seeing something as far as and answer to what I have longed for. My doctor is the best endocrinologist in our area BUT even so, I have seriosly had thoughts about seeing an immunologist. I feel that MAYBE he/she could at least tell me what in the world is going with my immunity better as this endo dr even though he is supposed to be good and I have seen him for years, terrific person but like you said, he doesn't see the autoimmunity as being an issue. He did show me those results when he first decided to do the RAI and said your immune tests are very high but I don't think you have thyroidtis you are hyperthyroid, so the best thing I think would be to do RAI. I had lost to 81 pounds and I'm 5' 8". I suppose the fact that I had insisted that someone do something or I literaly thought I may die as I did end up in the hospital my weight became so low. I told him that I was upet that drs NEGLECT a patient until they end up like me, that word was all it took for him to jump to it and do what ever he though he could do. I was going down fast and my nervous system was almost at thyroid storm level, palpatiation, insomnia, anxiety levels so high off the scale high, ect. Anyway, thank you for your input. I don't know what to do at this point. I have an appt on the Jan 12th so I am going to ask him if I have Graves disease and what he thinks of my autoimmunity? And also if we can check that again. Do you think it would be a good idea to check that to see and keep a check on it or does it matter? He doesn't seem to think that anything matters but the ft4 level and waitng until it the gland dies before he gives the medication but what if it doesn't die? OH BOY. I couldn't help but to chuckle when you said it could be " THE GLAND THAT WOULDN'T DIE". I have thought of this before but am in the dark as I don't know what is going on immunity wise or the other levels only the t4 at this point. I also have autoimmune problems other than thyroid too so there are a lot of immune issues going on in other areas where I need to see other type drs but WHO? Thanks again. Vicky>> Vicky, I have read several of your posts on the doctor saying that this is> not Hashimoto's or Grave's Diseases, clear back to a couple of wks ago, I> believe? This is really bugging me because, from your antibody counts, it> is Hands Down, at least Hashimoto's, and is probably both Grave's and> Hashimoto's. This doctor does not know anything about the autoimmune> aspects of thyroid disease, which is almost always the main cause of thyroid> failure. With these kinds of antibody counts you have, there is absolutely> NO doubt that you have at least Hashimoto's Disease, if not both Grave's and> Hashi's, and I just can't get over this doctor saying this! You DO have at> least Hashi's, as you have high antibody counts to both major factors in> thyroid hormone production and storage. Mine are BOTH in the thousands for> both of these major antibodies. OMG, I can't believe he is saying this! In> your case, I truly believe that it would have been best to REMOVE the gland,> as it is multinodular and toxic, both. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! If you are/were> heading into thyroid storm, that might explain why he didn't remove it, but> if it is interfering/will be interfering with breathing or becomes "the> gland that wouldn't die" (good movie title), then it will eventually have to> be removed, with all that extra "landscaping" it has (nodules in high> counts). It's just amazing me that he doesn't even know autoimmune disease,> when it's staring him in the face, right off of the lab sheet!!> > > > Re: Had RAI about9 weeks ago> but........> > > >> >> >> > Hi again,> >> > Thanks for the reply, My diagnosis is hyperthyroidism. I had the thyroid> scan that showed a lot of activity going on, also I had a thyroid ultasound> that shows 18 noules/ multinodular, and I have only had one test for the ft4> since I had the RAI 9 weeks ago, but I am scheduled to see him on January> 12th, so I don't know what the labs would read now but 5 weeks after the RIA> I had the ft4 and it had improved but not as much as I thought it would in> that length of time.> >> > My labs: Their labs ranges I'll post beside each.> >> > TSH 0.021 ( 0.500-5.700)> >> > T3 free 5.6 ( 2.3-4.2)> >> > T4 free 1.98 ( 0.80- 1.90)> >> > Tpo Ab 967 ( 0 - 34 )> >> > Antithyroidgloblin Ab 523 ( 0 - 40 )> >> > He is only checking and has only checked the T4 as an indicator, so one> test for that and the result were 1.66, so it has come down but I thought it> would have come down more by then, I won't know what it actually is until I> go back again in 10 days.> >> > He said I didn't have thyroiditis that is was definately a multitoxic> goiter ( even though my neck doesn't look swollen).> >> > That is why I had the RAI, he said that since the antibodies are high and> I could take medications, have it removed or have the RAI, that it was> better to have the RAI as the tissue around the thyroid after they removed> it would still be affected by the autoimmunity and also he thought it was> the best choice anyway.> >> > The idea is to render it totally non funcional.> >> > I have not started on replacement hormone yet. He said when it gets to> where it isn't functioning he would put me on it.> >> > He did say that in a lot of cases it gets worse before it gets better> while it is killing off thoese nodules as they secrete more hormone into the> bloodstream while being killed off for lack of a better term.> >> > As far as my voice, I always had a strong voice and was a singer in> church, did solo's and played the piano and other musical instruments but> now even if I talk too much, my voice goes and it aches. Ever since the RAI,> thats when it started as a matter of fact for the first 3 days I could talk> hardly at all I almost completely lost my voice altogether.> >> >> >> > Thanks> >> >> >> > Vicky>

[Guest guest]

, thank you for seeing something as far as and answer to what I have longed for. My doctor is the best endocrinologist in our area BUT even so, I have seriosly had thoughts about seeing an immunologist. I feel that MAYBE he/she could at least tell me what in the world is going with my immunity better as this endo dr even though he is supposed to be good and I have seen him for years, terrific person but like you said, he doesn't see the autoimmunity as being an issue. He did show me those results when he first decided to do the RAI and said your immune tests are very high but I don't think you have thyroidtis you are hyperthyroid, so the best thing I think would be to do RAI. I had lost to 81 pounds and I'm 5' 8". I suppose the fact that I had insisted that someone do something or I literaly thought I may die as I did end up in the hospital my weight became so low. I told him that I was upet that drs NEGLECT a patient until they end up like me, that word was all it took for him to jump to it and do what ever he though he could do. I was going down fast and my nervous system was almost at thyroid storm level, palpatiation, insomnia, anxiety levels so high off the scale high, ect. Anyway, thank you for your input. I don't know what to do at this point. I have an appt on the Jan 12th so I am going to ask him if I have Graves disease and what he thinks of my autoimmunity? And also if we can check that again. Do you think it would be a good idea to check that to see and keep a check on it or does it matter? He doesn't seem to think that anything matters but the ft4 level and waitng until it the gland dies before he gives the medication but what if it doesn't die? OH BOY. I couldn't help but to chuckle when you said it could be " THE GLAND THAT WOULDN'T DIE". I have thought of this before but am in the dark as I don't know what is going on immunity wise or the other levels only the t4 at this point. I also have autoimmune problems other than thyroid too so there are a lot of immune issues going on in other areas where I need to see other type drs but WHO? Thanks again. Vicky>> Vicky, I have read several of your posts on the doctor saying that this is> not Hashimoto's or Grave's Diseases, clear back to a couple of wks ago, I> believe? This is really bugging me because, from your antibody counts, it> is Hands Down, at least Hashimoto's, and is probably both Grave's and> Hashimoto's. This doctor does not know anything about the autoimmune> aspects of thyroid disease, which is almost always the main cause of thyroid> failure. With these kinds of antibody counts you have, there is absolutely> NO doubt that you have at least Hashimoto's Disease, if not both Grave's and> Hashi's, and I just can't get over this doctor saying this! You DO have at> least Hashi's, as you have high antibody counts to both major factors in> thyroid hormone production and storage. Mine are BOTH in the thousands for> both of these major antibodies. OMG, I can't believe he is saying this! In> your case, I truly believe that it would have been best to REMOVE the gland,> as it is multinodular and toxic, both. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! If you are/were> heading into thyroid storm, that might explain why he didn't remove it, but> if it is interfering/will be interfering with breathing or becomes "the> gland that wouldn't die" (good movie title), then it will eventually have to> be removed, with all that extra "landscaping" it has (nodules in high> counts). It's just amazing me that he doesn't even know autoimmune disease,> when it's staring him in the face, right off of the lab sheet!!> > > > Re: Had RAI about9 weeks ago> but........> > > >> >> >> > Hi again,> >> > Thanks for the reply, My diagnosis is hyperthyroidism. I had the thyroid> scan that showed a lot of activity going on, also I had a thyroid ultasound> that shows 18 noules/ multinodular, and I have only had one test for the ft4> since I had the RAI 9 weeks ago, but I am scheduled to see him on January> 12th, so I don't know what the labs would read now but 5 weeks after the RIA> I had the ft4 and it had improved but not as much as I thought it would in> that length of time.> >> > My labs: Their labs ranges I'll post beside each.> >> > TSH 0.021 ( 0.500-5.700)> >> > T3 free 5.6 ( 2.3-4.2)> >> > T4 free 1.98 ( 0.80- 1.90)> >> > Tpo Ab 967 ( 0 - 34 )> >> > Antithyroidgloblin Ab 523 ( 0 - 40 )> >> > He is only checking and has only checked the T4 as an indicator, so one> test for that and the result were 1.66, so it has come down but I thought it> would have come down more by then, I won't know what it actually is until I> go back again in 10 days.> >> > He said I didn't have thyroiditis that is was definately a multitoxic> goiter ( even though my neck doesn't look swollen).> >> > That is why I had the RAI, he said that since the antibodies are high and> I could take medications, have it removed or have the RAI, that it was> better to have the RAI as the tissue around the thyroid after they removed> it would still be affected by the autoimmunity and also he thought it was> the best choice anyway.> >> > The idea is to render it totally non funcional.> >> > I have not started on replacement hormone yet. He said when it gets to> where it isn't functioning he would put me on it.> >> > He did say that in a lot of cases it gets worse before it gets better> while it is killing off thoese nodules as they secrete more hormone into the> bloodstream while being killed off for lack of a better term.> >> > As far as my voice, I always had a strong voice and was a singer in> church, did solo's and played the piano and other musical instruments but> now even if I talk too much, my voice goes and it aches. Ever since the RAI,> thats when it started as a matter of fact for the first 3 days I could talk> hardly at all I almost completely lost my voice altogether.> >> >> >> > Thanks> >> >> >> > Vicky>