[Waiting4Answers]

#1067053

Hey, Susan! I’m scheduled for RAI on the 8th also. A little nervous (more so since I stopped taking tapazole on Friday), but I am definitely ready to move toward controlling my Graves instead if having it control me.

Kelly

[susandemarco]

#1067054

Hi Kelly,
We will have to keep each other inofrmed as to our progress. I am so nervous about this, but I guess I do not have a choice.

I was diagnosed twenty-one years ago and was on an off PTU. As i wrote in earlier posts, my remission time kept getting shorter and shorter, and
that is why I made my decision.

Did you have any eye involvment? I have not, and I am a little worried that after the RAI that I will, although my endo said she did not think so.

What, if any, precautions did your doctor give you after the RAI. Mine just said not to be around pregnant women or small children for about five
days, and not to hug or cuddle anyone for about 72 hours. I am waiting for my doctor to call me today to answer some more of the restriction
questions.

Kelly, I am sure we both will be fine, it is just the anticipation of this whole thing.

I will keep you informed of everything. I have to go on Wednesday to take a small dose pill and then go back twenty-four hours later to have a
scan taken to determine the dose of RAI that they will give me on FRiday.

Best of Luck,
Susan

[snelsen]

#1067055

Hi enough, you sure got a lot of responses, and a lot of new friends. Are you learning anything from having a thyroid panel every two weeks? When you are prescribed a thyroid replacement dose, decisions about whether to change the dose should be made around two months after the dose change, also incorporating how you are feeling/doing.
I would be a bit concerned if thyroid replacement doses are being determined by a lab in two weeks. IT takes a lot longer than that for the body to adjust to the new dose. At any rate, it is a good thing for you to discuss with your endocrinologist. Of course I don’t know all the details of your specific situation, and what I have said may not be applicable at all for you. I can certainly appreciate that you don’t want to be real hypo, it is disturbing to be always cold and always tired. I am sure you will get to just the right place for you. IT is quite a roller coaster.

[snelsen]

#1067056

To elf…how long did it take for all the swelling to go away after your ocular decompression? I am scheduled for one 2/2/10, quite apprehensive about it. Any advice/comments you have are sure welcome.
snelsen

[Waiting4Answers]

#1067057

Susan, when I think back, I’ve probably been dealing with Graves for many years, but during the first part of October many of the symptoms hit me like a train – itching, sweating, heart racing, tremors… thought I was going crazy for awhile. My PCP was quick to start testing my thyroid function and I was officially diagnosed by the 23rd. Saw the endo for the first time mid-November and he started me on 20 mg tapazole. I was feeling almost normal prior to Christmas but knew I wanted a long-term fix and am really wanting to get off the beta blocker as soon as possible – so here I am scheduled for RAI. I haven’t had any major eye problems yet, but that is an underlying concern. I go in tomorrow to discuss things with the nuclear med folks and then back Friday a.m. for the treatment. My endo said I didn’t have to be isolated for any length of time – just to limit time with pregnant women and children and to keep everyone at least arm’s distance away for several days. I’m a little anxious but looking forward to feeling much, much better than I have for the last couple of months. Keep me posted on how you’re doing and I’ll be thinking of you on Friday.

Kelly

[hyperteacher27]

#1067058

Hey Kelly,

That is exactly what happened to me! Itching, sweating, rapid pulse and hand tremors all came out of NO WHERE and they came fast and furious making me feel horrible mentally and even more so physically.

I too had long dealt with what doctors would say was IBS and fibromyalgia, so I’ve always had chronis things that bother me but also that become like second nature to me.

I opted for the RAI right off the bat. Within weeks of being diagnosed with Graves’ by an Endocrinologist, I was scheduled for RAI.

It has now been just a bit over 5 weeks since I had it and I have NEVER felt this good in my life. I posted under an old thread of mine, but I just feel amazing: everything from my skin to my stomach to my hair to my heart. I am the most calm I have ever been too, typically I have been a very anxious/worried person.

Definitely do not be afraid of RAI. I have high hopes for you! Take care ” title=”Smile” />

[susandemarco]

#1067059

Hi Kelly,
I went this morning for my thyroid scan and the tech and the radiologist were great. They both set my mind at ease. He told me that the
only people to be careful around for about seven days were my grandchildren and pregnant women. He also said if there was anything
that we had to get it would be this, because it is so easy to treat.

Well tomorrow morning we will both go and take the pill and we will both be fine. I will be thinking of you and praying for you. I will try to
keep you informed of my progress and I hope you do the same.

Good Luck,
Susan

[elf]

#1067060

"snelsen":9cfs3zn1 wrote:

To elf…how long did it take for all the swelling to go away after your ocular decompression? I am scheduled for one 2/2/10, quite apprehensive about it. Any advice/comments you have are sure welcome.
snelsen[/quote:9cfs3zn1]

Are you having an endoscopic OD, thorough your sinuses, with an ENT doctor? Then it’s different, no cuts of the skin/muscles, no visual signs. People are said to be waking up to (almost) their previous selves after the op, no bruising/swelling. Mine was done the traditional way, a small cut in the laugh line, the surgery was done through it. In my case, all bruising/swelling were gone after 10 days.

[sutan351]

#1067061

enough 3 – I went Hypo about 4 months after RAI in April of 09. I had a brief stint of Hyper so my Dr. kept me off any new meds. But by the time my blood was checked again my TSH was 84 (yes 84) but down to 12 at my next visit and now at 7 (target 2). I would check my blood every week or 2 if you have the means. I did gain weight – over 10 lbs during this time. My Dr. just increased my dosage this past visit – so I keep working out – eating clean and focused on good health. Best of Luck to You!

[beachkat]

#1067062

I just had RAI about 3 weeks ago, however my metabolism rate is still high, and I still need to be on 50 mg (25mg 2x a day) beta blocker. I am very athletic and want to get off these pills as soon as possible. does anyone have any idea how long this takes until I can get off these heart pills and get back to my normal exercise routines? I don’t have alot of patience and am still swimming, as the cardiol said i could (a little) but a little is still more to me than most people… I am starting to feel a little better, but not really until I can get off these fake pills…. I see the endo on the 19th, which will be a month out from the RAi. Will the blood test show any improvements in the right direction?????? I don’t care about hypo as I will always keep that in check with the dr, and will never gain weight ever, I"d rather starve and exercise my ass off and will get the meds to avoid it…. please my main concern is getting off these beta blockers!!!

[Ski]

#1067063

You shouldn’t have to stay on the beta blockers for long ~ your blood tests at one month may not reflect much change in your thyroid hormone levels, but rest assured, the RAI is doing it’s job. It can take up to six weeks just to flush out the excess thyroid hormone that was in your bloodstream prior to taking the RAI. Still, you don’t really need to wait until you’ve gone officially hypo to go off the beta blockers, but it’s something you should discuss with the doctor. Whenever you’re taking beta blockers, you need to wean off them (not just stop) or else the symptoms they’ve been masking can come back even worse than they were before. We take such tiny doses that the weaning period is typically about a week or two, but it does need to be managed carefully to make sure you’re comfortable.

[nipper]

#1067064

Hi All:
I was dx with Graves 10 years ago and had my ablation shortly after diagnosis. I first decided to go on the anti-thyroid medication, but wehn I went to the pharmacy to fill the script, the pharmacist said they didn’t even keep that medication on hand, as no one ever opted for that therapy. She then proceeded to tell me that she had a friend who went through the therapy for 2 years and ended up having an ablation anyway – that was far more guidance than the endocrinologist gave me – so I went in for the ablation.

For those of you who recently went through this, I had the same effects from it – but this too shall pass. My biggest frustration was the weight gain. I have been to three endocrinologists over the past 10 years and none of them took my "Honestly, I am not overeating and I AM exercising" statements seriously. I finally tried going to an NMD (Naturopathic Medical Doctor) and she told me that although my T3 tell in the "normal" range, it did not fall in the "otpimal" range and prescribed Cytomel along with my Levoxyl. I am happy to say that I have lost weight and do not struggle to keep it off to the degree I have over the past 10 years.

Just a suggestion to have this conversation with your doc if this is an issue.

[Ski]

#1067065

Cytomel can be very potent ~ recent studies find that patients see improvement immediately, but over time begin to suffer from hyperthyroid symptoms again, for the most part. Very rarely, someone’s body has trouble converting the T4 (Synthroid) to T3, but most of us are better off without T3 supplements.

[Author]

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