Hyothetical disaster thyroid question

[danie17075rm]

I was just thinking about the iodine pills they give to those that are exposed to radiation.  What would happen if you had no thyroid, were hyperthyroid or hypothyroid?  Would we all be out of luck?

[danie17075rm]

It's so horrible. I makes you put everything in to perspective really.  My mind must always think of the worst case scenario though lol.  I was thinking that if they had to pass out the iodine in my area, I'd probably be in bad shape.  I do see your point though.  Maybe you could be better off not having a thyroid, I guess it would depend on where it collects.  Either way it would be bad.  I wonder if you have graves disease or severe hashimoto's.. you thyroid doesn't take up iodine correctly (I'm not sure if it takes in too much or not enough), but I wonder what that would do or if that would place you in a greater risk of cancer.  I should probably stop thinking haha.  Thanks for the replies.

[goolarra]

You can always stockpile...your thyroid meds...don't leave home without them!  The images coming out of Japan are incredible.  I'm assuming meds for chronic illnesses will be some of the first things to be brought in.  It makes obsessing over missing a dose seem kind or irrelevant, doesn't it?  The only country to ever get nuked...now for the third time maybe...very sad.

[FTB4]

I think when they say that radiation leaks increase cases of thyroid cancer is because the thyroid is more sensitive to it, that it is the first part of your body to become damaged, where it might take higher doses to affect other parts of the body, the thyroid has the least resistance to it. Now if you do not have a thyroid, that would pose the question, are you better off exposed to radiation without one or would you be at higher risk?  I do not know about that, I would think if you are exposed to any you would be at risk of some sort of damage.  Regards FTB4