[Kimberly]

#1064145

Hello – I would definitely call your doctor about the blackouts. We often talk about "brain fog" in association with Graves’, but this usually manifests itself as a difficulty in concentrating…or an inability to remember names or things on our "to-do" lists.

You mention that your preference would be to have surgery…why not schedule a consultation with a surgeon just to get his/her opinion on your case? Obviously, the preference is to not have *any* surgery while we are hypER. But if that’s the treatment option that you would prefer, it wouldn’t hurt to hear straight from the source if that is really not an option for you.

I have never heard of Xanax being prescribed for patients undergoing RAI, although perhaps others who have been through RAI might chime in here. On the other hand, I do know of beta-blockers (propranolol, etc.) being used in order to slow a rapid heart rate.

Best of luck…please keep us posted!

[Mish5572]

#1018344

Hi everyone! It has been a while since I posted anything. Life has been pretty crazy. I am finally scheduled for RAI on October 7! I would rather have had surgery, but my endo said a surgeon wouldn’t take my case because my levels are too high. So, to make a long story short, RAI is my only option. Tapazole/Methimazole has sent my liver enzymes through the roof. My endo mentioned that since my T3 levels are so high going in to RAI, when my throid starts releasing the stored up hormones I would feel much worse and that he might have to put me on Xanax to get me through it. Has anyone had an experience like this? What can I expect after RAI? This has made me rather nervous.

Another problem that has arisen is my memory. I know that with GD we do suffer memory loss, but has anyone experienced any type of blackout type of memory loss? Several times recently I have lost entire blocks of time. This always happens at night, especially if I am very tired. Last night I was apparently sitting in my living room with the family and started getting very sleepy. My family tells me that we had normal conversations, I walked down the stairs and let my dog out, got myself something to drink, went to bed, I even had some intimate time with my husband…But I remember nothing! I lost appoximately 3 hours worth of memory! Has this ever happened to anyone else? Could this be GD related or am I just losing my mind?

[Ski]

#1064146

I haven’t heard of Xanax being suggested by the doctor ahead of RAI, but I have heard of patients who have taken Xanax in order to feel better ~ the "dumping" that your doctor referred to (when the RAI destroys thyroid cells, they "dump" the thyroid hormone they’ve been storing, so we can feel more hyper for a short period of time) is typically short-lived, a couple of days’ time, a week at most. In any event, you can alleviate the symptoms with beta blockers, but some people (asthmatics in particular) are unable to take those, so Xanax would appear to be a good second choice to avoid that brief period’s discomfort. It seems to be (as in all things Graves’) very individual ~ for example, I never felt it, and I had RAI twice. You may want to have a prescription available to you (in hand, even), but not use it unless you feel you need it. T3 levels fluctuate widely, so it’s not necessarily a given that elevated levels found during your lab tests are "constant."

ALL of that said, I’d still recommend a visit with a surgeon, if you truly feel that’s your preferred path to health. Your doctor may well know for a certain fact that it’s a dangerous option for you, but hearing it for yourself from a surgeon would probably help you head into RAI feeling better.

[snelsen]

#1064147

Hi, I agree with Kimberly and Bobbi. Without exploring the surgical option, WITH A SURGEON, you do not have a balanced view of the two options. I am not very comfortable with your doc saying that your levels are too high for surgery. It follows that they are also "too high" for RAI, and that seems to be fine. Your endo is not really qualified to make that statement. He is not a surgeon. I am not inferring that they are too high for anything. I am thinking of you, and your preference, and having enough information to be calm and happy with your future treatment because it is your choice. I choose surgery. I wanted surgery. I got surgery. But neither option was pushed one way or the other. Radiology and nuclear medicine are very lucrative fields. That’s fine. But I feel uncomfortable that he made the statement pushing RAI. Maybe the rad/onc docs are his friends, and like his referral base.
Just a thought.

Re Xanax. I know that some folks on this site have taken this drug. From my own experience talking with others, and from my knowledge of the drug, this is an anti-anxiety drug that is really very hard to stop taking for many people. They become very fond of how it makes them feel. It has its’ place, but I suggest you talk with a pharmacist you know will take the time with you to discuss that drug, compared to other anti-anxiety drugs. When I was toxic, I was a nightmare, anxious, irritable, etc etc. but it is one of the ramifications of being hyper. My thinking is that managing the thyroid issues which cause the anxiety is preferable to beginning to take an anti-anxiety drug. Having said this, in some situations, it could be ok for a short period of time.

Re memory. Try to have yourself and your family keep track of these episodes. NOt that you need another issue to deal with, but a consult with a neurologist would be an excellent idea if they persist. That is a lot period of time to lose all memory of events. Best wishes in all things, Shirley You will see a happy end to this whacky disease.

[Author]

Posts