Thyroid

I have been told that I have Graves Disease. I have had the radioactive material taken and was told that it would slow down. It has been over a month and have been taking beta blockers which is not doing any good. My doctor says that they want me to se a specialist Endorinologist. I do not know what they will do because I do not know what questons to ask. Can someone help me in understanding what is going on and what to expect. Should I be thinking on having sugery to have my thyroid removed?      


This discussion is related to Hyperactive thyroid treatments.

[AR-10]

Were you given Radioactive Iodine to kill your thyroid, or to "slow it down"?  

Some doctors will give you a very small dose to "wound" the thyroid, or impair it's function, with the hope that your thyroid hormones will level out and you won't need to take replacement hormones.

That is a bit of a gamble, because getting the thyroid to absorb just the right amount to make you Euthroid (balanced) is hit or miss.

Were you given an uptake scan first, to see how much iodine your thyroid would absorb?

Another issue is how long the treatment takes to work. It doesn't happen overnight. It may take two months to impair the function of the gland.

When I had RAI to kill my thyroid (in January), the Endo couldn't tell me how long it would take to work. She wouldn't even estimate two or three months. She could have at least said we would know in six months, but she didn't.

Someone the other day posted aproximately six weeks, but I don't know. I suppose it depends on various factors. Mine is shrinking, but it is not gone yet.

Have you had a thyroid ultrasound?

Did the doctor tell you it might not work the first time?
It doesn't always work the first time.

It's hard to help you with questions to ask the next doctor without a little more information on what tests you have had run so far.