Graves disease and rai
Common Questions and Answers about Graves disease and rai
graves-disease
I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in Oct. 2009. I have been on varying
amounts of Methimazole with my T3 and T4 levels in the normal range, but my TSH is .005 and hasn't changed in many months. My doctor wants to do RAI. I have been resisting. Why did you do both RAI and
thyroidectomy?
I really thought I was losing my mind, I have had this for about 4 yrs and just now was diagnosed with Graves disease. My Dr put me on Methimazole and after 3 weeks had a severe reaction and was covered head to toe with a horrible insanely itchy rash. Mr Endo told me I have a couple options radio active iodine or somthing else which he did not tell me what. My question is how has the radio active iodine worked for others?
Have been combing the sites to find where I fit in. Have Graves Disease. Had RAI nearly 6 wks. ago. It has been complicated by several gallbladder attacks. Can't get gallbladder removed until thyriod levels come down. Endo put me on PTU. He doubles my dose from 300mg to 600mg after two weeks. With each blood test my levels kept rising. One test showed my WBC to be very low. So Edno takes me off PTU completely.
I am a 25 y/o female diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at 16 and later with Graves Disease and Goiter. I have been on Tapazol along with Atenelol (for the Tachacardia) off and on for the past 9 years with no results. Every doc I see wants to discuss nothing but RAI or surgery. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a few years with no success. I finally found out that I was pregnant the beginning of last year and made it to 4 months and suffered a miscarriage for no apparent reason.
my son was a newly diagnosed "graves disease" pt. he was given tatazole tablet 5mg. to be taken after breakfast for one month, what are the side effect of tatazole, the things he have to avoid and if you can give me more/additional information about the disease. thanks!
I have Graves Disease and had RAI in June 2008 and it was BEFORE RAI that my TSH was suppressed.Prior to RAI, I could never get my TSH past the 0.10 mark.
My antibodies were over 4000.
Since RAI my antibodies have been under the reference range meaning I am in remission at present and have been for some time..
Since RAI I started on a T4 med when my TSH rose to just over 6.0.
I was actually surprised to see my TSH go over 0.10 as it had been that for many years.
It hasnt gone under the 2.
I could be mistaken - but I have looked the evidence over and talked with people here and the theory of RAI and cancer you talk about is reversed. I as an RAI patients back in 2003 was recently informed by an ENT that people that do have RAI - that develop nodules are at a higher risk on the nodule being carcimona. That is not very enlightening for me b/c they found I do have a solid nodule now.
I am on Armour - no there is no blood. //// yuckie.....
Graves speeds up your body.
I too have Graves Disease and sufferred with thyroiditis for minimum 2 years until I had RAI done, then a thyroidectomy.
Anyone can get thyroiditis...either Hashimoto or Graves Disease sufferes.
Its as Stella said....your antibodies are attacking the thyroid and if after 4 years you have been unable to control the Hyperthyroidism, then a TT would most probably be the best thing..... BUT.....
Before they go removing your thyroid...how was Graves diagnosed?
Bloods?Ultrasound? Uptake Scan?
Usually, surgery is the preferable option if someone has Graves thyroid disease (because RAI can sometimes make eye disease worse if already present). Graves Eye Disease is caused by different antibodies than the thyroid disease. They are related, but having one doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the other.
I have not seen anything written about a fixed percentage of eye complications from RAI, but have read on the doctor forum that is connected. And, my own endo advised against RAI for me (I also have Graves Eye Disease) because he was concerned it would make an already bad situation worse.
It is likely that the Tapazole was controlling your thyroid levels which was helping with your eyes. It probably wasn't the Tapazole itself that was helping your eye condition.
I had RAI done but not until I knew I had Graves for definate.
Have you been tested for Graves Disease with the TSI antibody test yet?
Buy yourself some time and ask for anti-thyroid meds and beta blockers.
Read my journals on RAI if you like.
I have Graves, had RAI (June 2008) then a keyhole Thyroidectomy (sept 2008) and am doing great.
I ended up with two thyroid storms from graves/hyper, NOT fun at all. I did the RAI, but the graves/hyper was to far advanced for it to help me. I ended up having to have surgery anyway after the RAI.
My heart rate was 140 sitting down, my eyes bulged out, I was down to 88lbs despite eating non-stop. Trust me get it treated before it gets worse. Thyroid storms are not any fun...
But you can always get a second opinion from an endo if it puts your mind at ease.
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