Different personality after RAI of thyroid

[frogluvr2]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I have been on the boards; I have gotten better with my own symptoms although I think I am now hypo...but that's not why I am here. My dad had the RAI of his thyroid almost 4 years ago and he was doing really well for awhile after that, but now he is like a completely different person than he was before all of his thyroid problems. All he wants to do is stay in his room and watch TV and really his only motivation to do ANYTHING is when it is a crisis situation. I will talk to him and sometimes he just looks at me like I am speaking a foreign language to him. He does go to work everyday, but he is self employed so he doesn't really have to do the work if he doesn't want to. I am 100% certain that his meds are not right!!! I am not sure how to handle the situation. He is one of those people who has to be on his death bed before he is going to go to the doctor. I know that his quality of life could be so much better if he would get his blood work more regular and have his levels checked more often. From what I've read on the boards, thyroid levels can change from day to day, and my dad hasn't been to the doctor enough to really see what levels of meds he should be on. His family doc I think has only ever checked his TSH levels, and nothing more. Can anyone give me some advice on how to handle gently talking to my dad about the situation...I don't want him to think that I am trying to boss him around, but I WANT MY DAD BACK!!! Thanks everyone for your help!!! =)

[SeriousSam]

My mom has the same problem when she runs out or forgets to renew her meds. (She takes levothyroxine and without it she becomes lethargic and surly with agry elements.

[frogluvr2]

Newlife, I am pretty sure he is taking the medicine every day. My mom tries to keep pretty good track of that. But I will have her check and make sure he is. Thanks for your input!

Gimel, Thank you for that website. I will print out that information and talk to my dad about it. Hopefully, it will make him want to do something about his thyroid condition.

Appreciate the help!

[newlife222]

Just a question cause I take meds everyday. But are you sure he is remembering to take them? I always forget. And some have to be taken with water and an empty stomach. May be check the bottle and see if he is taking them the right way...

[gimel]

As a start, you might read this link and give it to your dad and encourage him to read and discuss with you.  If he has never been tested for anything other than TSH, then he surely needs testing for free T3 and free T4, which are the biologically active thyroid hormones.  FT3 is most important because it is four times as active as FT4, plus FT3 correlates best with symptoms.  FT3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Many members report that symptom relief for them necessitated that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 to at least midpoint of its range.

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html