[ReneeE]

#1017949

Hello all – some of you may remember me when I was trying to decide which treatment path to follow. I chose to go ahead with the RAI treatment and on 4/22 I had 16 millicuries of I-131.

I was only diagnosed with GD the last week of January and put on methimazole and metoprolol then. I responded well to the medication. My levels dropped quick and I gained 15# in less than 8 weeks as my thyroid slowed way down. (And my head, tummy and mouth wanted to continue eating like a horse the way I had been for the past 8 months!) I was sure that I had gone hyPO but my test results on 3/31 said that I wasn’t hyPO but that my t3/t4 were ‘normal’, of course TSH was still undetectable. I didn’t realize how quickly things were going to slow down until it was too late! I have been off the metoprolol since mid-March and off the methimazole since 4/17 in prep for the RAI.

After the 3/31 blood work, I made sure that I was not eating too many calories and my weight has stabilized at 10# above normal. So, QUESTION #1 is should I try to start losing weight yet?

Here’s the rest of the details…I had been feeling fine since the RAI – no issues, no strange feelings, etc. The nuclear rad doc told me that the majority of my thyroid should die within the first two weeks but the rest of it will take up to six months…So, feeling fine up until last week, 5/12 or so when I realized my heart was racing. Of course when I realized this and called the dr office, it was after hours and they patched me through to the head doctor whom I have never seen before. I see one of the younger docs in his office. Told him the deal, and he said I needed to go back on the metoprolol right away and to call him back on his cell if I wasn’t feeling better in 24 hours or so. I started feeling better.

Originally my RAI was scheduled a few weeks earlier but we decided to wait until after our vacation to proceed with the treatment. But I have kept my follow up appt, which was about 8 weeks post-RAI for the original date, so it’s next week. And I have a lab slip to get blood work done right before my appt. I know some people’s doctors seem to monitor them more closely post-RAI and based upon how quickly my body seems to be responding to things, I am wondering if I should go ahead and keep this appt and get the lab work or should I reschedule for truly 8 weeks post-RAI? Or something in between? I know what my doctor has said (8 wks), but should I request to have blood work done sooner? Like 6 wks? Do you think it matters at all? Looking for personal stories here. I know I should call my doctor and ask her and I will, but I am just curious about other people’s experiences. This is what this board is about, right? Ideas, experiences…

So, Question #1 – should I even try to start losing weight even though I am not yet euthyroid/hyPOthyroid and on thyroid meds? Would it even be worth it? I know, hard to say what my body will do, but I’m interested in other peoples’ stories, if you’ve got them. And know too that I will use Weight Watchers to lose the weight, so I WILL be losing weight. (I lost 20+ pounds about 5 years ago and the program works for me, so I know I will do it again) It’s just a matter of whether I should bother now…or wait. Do you think it would be too much for my body to deal with? I only have like two pairs of pants that fit me right now….grrrr.

Question #2 – should I go ahead and keep my appt for 5 weeks post-RAI and get the blood work or wait until 8 weeks?

Thanks for your insights.
Renee

[Kimberly]

#1061800

Hi Renee – Hopefully you will get some responses from others who have been through RAI, but my 2 cents would be to go ahead and keep the current appointment. Also, I’m not a nutritionist, but if you are still hypER, my thought is that your first priority would be to ensure that you are fueling your body properly to try and avoid loss of any additional muscle mass. This would be worth running past your doctor, though.

[susan]

#1061801

Hi Renee, I was very happy to read your post because I had the same questions. I have been on Weight Watchers (my whole life) and recently since I have been hyper I lost 17 lbs. effortlessly , ate whatever and lost weight just by breathing!! LOL… Now in the last two weeks I have gained 4 lbs just as effortlessly! I know I can take it off when the endo lets me go back tothe gym but I am so bummed out. Also I have found lately I get soooo mad soo quickly and it is not at all like me. I have zero tolerance and patience where does this come from? Could GD have kicked it into gear? Has anyone heard of that? I hate being like that.
Thanks,
Susan

[Kimberly]

#1061802

Hello – Yes, Graves’ and emotional issues can absolutely occur together! There is a great bulletin on the web site on this issue. To access the article, go to the home page at http://www.ngdf.org and click “Publications”, then click on “Psychosocial & Emotional Effects”, then click on the article “What’s Wrong With Me?” This is a very well-written and informative article!

[Author]

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