Medications??

[punkin1515]

What medications will the doctor be putting me on after removal of the Thyroid? Do I have any choices of medications? How long does it take for the medications to work?? Thank you all so very much!!! I am scared to death to have my Thyroid removed!! :(((    Cara

[Minicooper723]

I had a TT in August of 09 and didn't even take a pain pill afterwards, I was sore and had a very bad sore throat but other than that it was a piece of cake.  I've had trouble getting my synthroid dosage right because I'm really sensitive to the medication.  

[Smilerdeb]

Sorry...forgot to mention.
You will be on a T4 med like Synthroid or Thyroxin (here in Australia) after a TT but not until your TSH has reached at least 5.0.
In the case of RAI, I went hypo after the 5th week and my Doctor made sure my TSH didnt go higher than 6.0 by weekly blood tests as most Doctors prefer the TSH to hit 10.0 before prescribing a T4 med.
Just make sure that you have the T4 meds after a TT when you leave the Hospital.

[Smilerdeb]

Anyone with Graves and Hyperthyroidism will 'bide for time' in order to research their condition better.
I did the same too.......only to find I had 3 episodes of thyroid storm (atrial fibbrillation) in 2 weeks where paddles were eventually put on my chest to get the heart rythm back to a safe state.
Should you decide to bide time and take anti-thyroid meds,,,please, please do not put your life at risk.
Research all you can and if the symptoms and levels are too hard to control...at least get on a beta blocker.

I originally wanted Surgery but due to fibrillation, this was too dangerous in the end (12 mths after diagnosis) and my RAI was scheduled for Friday 13th June.
Me being the silly superstitious person I was , I cancelled the RAI for 2 weeks as I thought I may die on the Friday 13th lol.
3 days prior to RAI, it was found I had Thyca of the whole thyroid ......I traced my Graves back to as early as 1985.
RAI was scheduled and done on June 27th 2008 and a TT done through the armpit in the September 2008 with Epidurals.
I have since got my levels stable, I have never looked back since permanant treatment was done.
I am not railroading you into permanant treatment, I am just asking that you watch your symptoms and levels very carefully as if they go too high,,,can be very dangerous.
Read my journals after RAI...I hope they are some comfort to you.
I was scared too....I even wrote a letter to my kids telling them how much I loved them, thinking I would have a massive heart attack after RAI.
I didnt.

But dont believe all you hear about RAI or Thyroidectomy.
When it all boils down to the absolute truth....there are risks on both sides.

If Cancer is found in any part of the thyroid with a thyroidectomy ...RAI is usually done anyway, a few weeks later.
Research all you can.......make a desision and then stick to that desision.

The hardest part of RAI and Thyroidectomy is making that final desision......making the choice you feel comfortable with.
When it all comes down to basic facts.....no-one feels comfortable with either treatment BUT sometimes it has to be done.

I wish you the best in your research and if there is anything you need to know or questions to ask, there are plenty here who will answer your questions...honestly and truthfully.

Every one of us here who has been to he// and back is here to support others who are scared and who are on their journey to wellness.

I wish you well in your 'journey'.
Hugs

[punkin1515]

  Hi Mc. Yes I am trying to do the same "waiting", thinking maybe a new cure will come around. However, I am running out of time now. My Endo. has not mentioned foods, but I did take the MMI, and had a terrible reaction three four weeks into in. My WBC crashed severley. Shame too, because my numbers were almost perfect at that point!! But I keep tryng to hold out for as long as possible, before I make any  moves.
My Endo. said the same, that the MMI is not a cure just a temporary fix. Hey, I will take a temporary fix over surgery anytime to at least postpone it for a while. Anything to avoid the surgery or RAI for now. I wish I could just decide what method I wish to use at this point!!!
  I just had my labs today and post them as soon as I get them back. I know they are already bad because, the MD ran some labs and they were much worse than before. I think I had Graves for at least ten years without knowing. I hope you do well as I did on the MMI and I sure you will! It was like a miracle drug for me. How much do you take daily? I was on five pills daily, and I do think it was too much for me. The PTU did not work as well and it gave me very bad side affects. I may try it again as a last chance effort.
  I wish you much luck in your battle!! It is a terrible disease. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and Prayers.
                                                                     Best,
                                                                     Cara
  

[McMillanNelson]

Hi Cara, I am putting off surgery or RAI myself while I continue to research all the options. in the meantime I am on Methimazole. I had to talk my endo into just letting me change my diet drastically and go on the  Methimazole while I research all my options.

I feel for me, this has been a good choice. It took a few months of adjusting the medication until finally now lately I am feeling better. The Methimazole is considered "temporary" by the endo and is apparently not any sort of permanent solution.

I go back for Labs in Feb, and we'll see from there how things are looking. It appears that I have had this condition for at least 5 years and just could not get any answer to what it was until recently, so I figured a few more months or even a year with a "temporary" solution was certainly better than where I was a few months ago. Even though my nodules are toxic, nothing looks cancerous, so I did not feel like i needed to just snap to the Endo's plan since this is my body and my money!  

-McMillan

[punkin1515]

Thank you everyone!!! MCMillanNelson I was diagnosed on 4-22-09, though I was so sick for some time before that and just never knew. I will be having surgery or RAI by the end of January. I was scheduled for 5-09 and backed out but am getting much worse now. I guess I was hoping it would just go away.
Deb thanks again for all. Do you know the name of the meds. you go on after surgery? The Endo. said she will put meds. the day after surgery. Cara

[Smilerdeb]

Hi Cara.
It may take some time after surgery to regulate your levels and usually a T4 med is prescribed to start off with and slowly increased over a period of time with 4-6 weekly blood tests until you are on a level that you feel comfortable with.
In this time, be sure to write down symptoms and dosage day by day and then when your levels are within a good range and you feel comfortable, the Doc may 'tweak' your meds. This is called 'fine tuning' in my books and can be a slow process.
If you rush too hard , too fast with med incrreases then you may find you go 'drug induced' hyper so the best way is baby steps.
I am 18 months post RAI & TT and doing fine with my levels but it has taken a lot of hard work and research. learn all you can about the 'other side of the fence' so to speak and you will do well.

Go slow Cara and you will be fine :)

Hyperthyroidism was hell for me and somewhere I would never want to go through again. I have found my symptoms to be a lot less severe once the thyroid was ablated. That may be some comfort for you.

All the best
Debs

[McMillanNelson]

Hi Cara, When are you going to have your surgery ? How long have you have you had Graves ?

McMillan

[punkin1515]

Can you swing from Hyper. to Hypo. with Graves??? TY