[amyl]

#1019702

I was wondering if anybody knows if my son should still be taking Methimazole now that he’s had RAI? The RAI was on Tuesday (2/17) and he had to stop the Methimazole 4 days prior to RAI. I never thought to ask if he should restart it. I just assumed he shouldn’t but I really don’t know. Since this is a Saturday, I can’t really call his Endo. Of course I wouldn’t restart it without the Dr’s approval but I wondered if anybody that’s had RAI can tell me if they restarted their ATD meds.

Thanks for your help!
Amy

[Ski]

#1073526

Typically not ~ it shouldn’t be necessary after RAI. If he was on beta blockers, those would likely continue for a little while. As a matter of fact, there is a phenomenon referred to as "dumping" about a week after RAI, when the destroyed thyroid cells release the thyroid hormone they’ve been storing. Sometimes people feel a little extra hyper for a few days, and sometimes the doctor allows for more beta blockers to be taken during that time. It’s typically driven by symptoms (when you feel it, take it) within limits.

[amyl]

#1073527

Thanks Ski!
My son is on Nadolol because his blood pressure has been high for quite awhile. Even when he went Hypo, his blood pressure was high so he may stay on the Nadolol for awhile. If "dumping" does occur, will he feel more hypo after the dumping is done or will it still take awhile for that to happen? We’ve been figuring it will be 4 – 6 weeks, at least, before he starts feeling better….sigh…I wish it were more immediate ” title=”Smile” />

Thanks,
Amy ” title=”Smile” />

[Ski]

#1073528

If the dumping occurs for him, it shouldn’t make him more hypo at the other end, but it’s hard to say. We are all so completely different ~ you’re right though, the guess would be at least 4-6 weeks until you could start to even test him for being hypo. If it happens at that point, it’d be relatively early for it, but the process should be ongoing from the very start after RAI, so things should be easing daily. Remember, as levels drop, he will go through a period where he actually would measure at normal levels, and then the hypo symptoms would start. Keep a list handy of classic hypo symptoms, and when you can add up four or five that he’s feeling regularly, it’s probably a good idea to test. I ended up having two RAIs (which will NOT happen to him, I am confident), but after the first one, I was rushing to the lab constantly, absolutely sure I’d dropped into hypo, and it actually never happened until I had had the second RAI, so perception is one thing, but lab results are golden. As he goes through the process, after the six-week mark, you may want to keep a symptom diary (if you don’t have one already), and keep the lab results as one factor in the symptom diary. You may find it easier to hone in on HIS normal "point" if you have a full set of data to work with.

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