Recent physical showed Graves Disease

[Butterfly54]

My Dr. recomends Radioactive treatment before trying meds first. If my blood tests didn't show a problem I never would have know. Help!

[DLA]

I also had Graves Disease and had RAI treatment after several months of Tapizole(?).  Think that was the name of it but too many years and too much brain fog to remember.  The anti thyroid meds are not good for your body which GL explains on the other thread.  It also does not stop all of the symptoms.  On it my eyes started bulging out and had to be put on presnisone for several months.  This is also not good.  

I finally made the difficult decision to have RAI done.  In my case I had a 3 yo and we had not been apart for as long as a night.  They told me I would not be able to go near him for 2 weeks, which I didn't.  Don't think you would probably have this problem since you are 54, but that is just a guess.

I don't think GL had as big of a dose of RAI as I did and am not sure if they killed her thyroid or just part of it.  Know that she has to go have her med levels changed all the time.  I don't.  My new endo got my levels down to .93 where she wanted them and I am doing great with them, so said she will not check them for 6 more months and then it will be a year unless something else happens to me.

It is no big deal to endos so they just jump right in there without explaining anything about it.  But anything that goes on with our bodies is a big deal!  

If you want to read my whole story on it I posted it on a thread to JellyZ.   Thread: Proper introduction.....  

Any questions you have we will be happy to answer for you.  Welcome aboard.

Dac

[AR-10]

Their is a really good thread down toward the bottom of page one.

"Graves" is the title.

Read it.

I have Hashimoto's, not Graves, so I am not really the person to talk to.

GravesLady know her stuff.

[Butterfly54]

Help!  Tomorrow is my second appt with an Endocrinologist.  At my first appt. he mentioned  RAI as a treatment for Graves. I didn't even know I was sick, only the blood tests said I was. I thought I was having hot flashes.  I'm 54 years old and autoimmune disorders run in my family.  Once they told me what I had, now I seem to have every symptom on the list--What are the benefits and drawbacks of RAI? Should I ask for meds first.  I have never taken any meds or really had any type of medical treatment other than childbirth.  I am tired all the time and I was once full of energy....Help me , PLEASE   Thanks, Butterfly54

[AR-10]

Your doctor should be sending you to an Endocrinologist for your diagnosis and treatment.

GravesLady can tell you a lot more than I can about Grave's disease and the recommended treatments. several people on here have delt with it, but she springs to mind first so I mention her.

My Endo tried treating me for Hyperthyroidism with thyroid suppressing drugs, but it did not go so well. I do not have Grave's disease specifically, though, so my experience does not mean much.

Thyroid suppressing drugs are hard on the Liver and are not considered a long term treatment option. Taking them for a year may put you in remission for an undetermined length of time, or they may not. That is probably why your doctor is leaning toward RAI (RadioActive Iodine), but unless he/she is an Endo, his/her opinion doesn't carry much weight.

RAI has it's own set of benefits and drawbacks. Read up on Grave's disease and RAI therapy. Hopefully someone who has been through treatment for Grave's will chime in and give you better, more detailed advice.