[Anonymous]

#1125056

Thanks, Diane!

My doctor has told me that the RAI completely shut down my thyroid function (and I can believe that, since I went from a size 4, to a 6, to an 8, then 10, and was looking at 12–all within 4 weeks of the RAI). He seems really confused–not so much at the fluctuations, but at the big swings with little changes. So, I continue, and wonder.

Thanks for your response. I, too, will print it out for future reference.

Callie

[Anonymous]

#1038279

Having surgery to remove part of the thyroid certainly can eliminate some of the problems people have stabilizing thyroid replacement following RAI, and it also normally controls hyperthyroidism faster. The reasons it isn’t recommended more often are that it’s more expensive, and that even in the hands of experienced surgeons, there is a 1-2% chance of damage to vocal cords or parathyroid glands, either of which has life-long consequences. Still, knowing what I do now, I would consider it seriously as an option if antithyroid drugs didn’t contol my hyperthyroidism, especially if I planned to become pregnant in the future.

Dianne W

[Anonymous]

#1125057

Hi Callie–

Has your doctor tried making changes in increments of .12 instead of .25? For instance, once my dose was raised from .125 to .137, and to .150 the next time.

Another option for fine-tuning is to give different doses on alternating days, such as .137 one day and .150 the next. This can allow you to raise your dose without the major fluctuations.

I’m curious what dose you have been taking?
Dianne W

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