Surgery or RAI

[fitz77]

I have hyperthyroid with multinodular goiter. Have been on tapazole for several years.  My endo says can't stay on it forever.  Choice radioactive iodine or surgery.  Afraid of both.  I do have trouble with choking on food because of enlarged goiter.  If I opt for surgery, my surgeon say he will leave a little of my thyroid.  Has anyone had surgery and not had to take synthroid after.  Will I feel okay if  I have not thyroid and take synthroid? Read a lot of negative feedbacks.  Any postive outcomes?  

Radioactive iodine is supposed to be safe, but so many percautions have to be taken with family.  Thanks.

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and the previous posters are no longer participating in the forum, so it's unlikely, you will get a response.  

[badluck19]

are youhypo now because of rai?

[mags59]

I had surgery (partial thyroidectomy) to remove large toxic nodule.  The surgery was relatively easy and recovery was too as far as my throat was concerned.  I can now swallow better, breath better, etc.  The only problem I had was with the anesthesia; it turns out I had an allergic reaction to it and had a seizure, among other problems.  Otherwise, the surgery was a piece of cake.  Since I only had the left side of my thyroid removed (the nodule pretty much took up the entire side), they left my right side intact, so that has taken over.  Unfortunately, it seems I'm going hyper again, so something is probably going to have to be done to that side as well.  Good luck in whatever you choose!

[skeeterknitwit]

I had RAI for hyper from a huge toxic nodule on 12/18.  I was not offered surgery because it was too dangerous because of size and symptoms.
I found that the whole RAI experience was like Y2K.  You are so afraid of what could happen and nothing happened.  The dosage for TNG is 1/5 of what is used for cancer.
I spent 2 days downstairs.  No big deal.  I'm usually there anyway.  Slept downstairs for 5 days.
The only part that was difficult was withdrawl from the anti-thyroid meds.  You need to go off for at least a week (maybe more).  You can start them again 48 hrs. after RAI.
Oh, another word of caution.  A serum preg test is mandatory.  Don't have a nervous breakdown if you get a false positive.  It happened to me.  I guess it was just because all of my hormones were a mess.  No one has an explanation.  The tests were just WRONG.
I'm still in the early stages post RAI.  I'm feeling better every day.

[tm514]

I had TT about 2 1/2 years ago for Graves/hyperthyroid.  I take synthroid and feel better than I did for years before my TT.  I took tapazole for a little over a year - it did what it was supposed to, but I didn't like being on it.  

I only needed one small synthroid adjustment about 3 months after sugery, and have been rock-solid ever since.

I think you hear more bad than good because those who feel good and are back to their lives don't spend lots of time looking for answers.  It doesn't mean there aren't good outcomes from both surgery and RAI.

Hope you make the decision that is right for you.

[bluestarmom187]

I found this great resource through google. It might help.

http://www.endocrineweb.com/hyper4.html

Other members may jump in and offer some of their experiences. I do not have any experience with this as of yet.