NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HYPER THYROID

[JUSTSTARTING]

I HAVE SEVERAL CONFUSING SYMPTOMS; WEIGHT GAIN,HEAT SENSITIVE, LOSS OF HAIR,MOOD SWINGS,AND MANY MORE. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
BORDERLINE HYPER LAST FRIDAY.I WAS GIVE TWO OPTIONS MEDS TO "HOPEFULLY" SHRINK THE THYROID AND THE FOUR NODULES ON IT OR
A RADIO ACTIVE PILL THAT WILL SHRINK THE THYROID AND "MAYBE THE MODULES ALSO". THEN HE (MY ENDO) SAT THERE WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. HOW CAN ANYONE ANSWERA QUESTION LIKE THAT, THAT QUICK. I NEEDED MORE TIME. IF ANYONE KNOWS WHERE ICAN GET INFO ON THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH TREATMENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW OR IF YOU THINK ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER LET ME KNOW PLEASE!!!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

If you have borderline hyperthyroidism, there is no rush to decide on treatment. Your symptoms are not all clearly due to thyroid and in cases of borderline hyperthyroid I am often reluctant to induce a potentially permanent change with radioactive iodine.  What I usually recommend is treatment with anti-thyroid drugs such as tapazole for a few months - if the thyroid tests normalize AND your symptoms improve, then it makes since to opt for a long-term treatment such as radioactive iodine.

[ArmourGal]

I'm a hypo person, but on another thyroid forum that I'm active in...I can tell you that every single woman that has had RAI (radioactive iodine) has regretted it.  That's just my observation.  Do you know for sure you have Graves disease or are you in a hyper mode of Hashimoto's?  If you don't know, I would ask about antibody testing to determine this.

I usually see the formerly hyper (now hypo from RAI) women mention the "atomic women" website as a place to get more info.  It's at http://www.geocities.com/ibayoa/
Also, Elaine Moore is known for her information on Graves Disease at
http://www.elaine-moore.com/gravesdisease/

Hope this information is of some help to you.

[ancientmariner]

Hi, I was diagnosed in 2002 with Graves' Disease, and my endo offered me only two options, RAI or surgery. I chose the RAI...what did I know? I was made extremely hypo, and have yet to find a physician who will fully treat the hypothyroidism. As soon as one blood test is in the "normal" range, they tell me that my problems aren't related to my thyroid any more. I started researching both hyper and hypothyroid, and discovered that it was very possible that instead of Graves' I really had Hashimoto's disease. My endo had never tested for antibodies of any kind. (I have since tested positive for TPO antibodies, which suggests Hashimoto's). At any rate, my thyroid is now non-functioning, if not totally, then at least enough for me to have major hypo symptoms. These include: a 50 lb weight gain in 3 months (Never in my life had I been anything other than too thin), total exhaustion, sleep disturbances, total loss of libido, dry skin, aching joints, loss of muscle tone despite exercise, heat and cold intolerance, and on and on.
I also found out that my grandmother, in her 40's (which I was) had had a temporary spell of hyper, for which she took medication "as needed" for several months. As she aged, she became hypothyroid and was given Synthroid. Sounds like Hashimoto's to me, and Hashi's is hereditary.

So, before you make such a final decision as RAI, please ask your doctor to check antibodies. Also, check back in your family history. Is your mother on Synthroid? Maybe your father, or a grandparent? And check the links posted by Armourgirl...I wish I had insisted on other options before I allowed my endo to irradiate me....

[Ussie]

I was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2002 also(think I had it a long time before then).

My endo immediately put me on an antithyroid drug and a beta blocker, and I was feeling terrific in a couple of weeks.

For some reason in 2004, decided to take RAI. Well, it caused increase in thyroid hormones. Just like having Graves symptoms all over again. Made my eyes blurry, red and dry, had heart palpitations and had to take beta blockers for that. Also, was taking a high dose of antithyroid drugs after RAI.

When first diagnosed, my endo said that RAI was NOT an option for me because of existing proptosis of my eyes. She said the RAI would definitely make my eyes worse.

If I had my choice again, it would be to stay on an antithyroid drug, to hopefully reach remission.

[missmuffin]

I too have just been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder - of all places, when I was having a facial she said thyroid appeared to be enlarged.  I went to my GP back in June for bloodwork, in August for Ultrasound and Nuclear test, and then had a biopsy also.  I'm benign and all my thyroid levels are normal.  I'm going on synthyroid to try and reduce the goiters, but the endo doesn't believe it is going to work (only works in 60%), endo is hoping for it to remain the same and if not then I'll have to have surgery.  I have concerns regarding the synthyroid as to the side effects - shaking, weight loss etc.  Can anyone tell me what they have experienced or what to expect?

[ArmourGal]

do you have Hashimoto's?  
cindi