[Anonymous]

#1129143

Hi Christine-

As far as I know, all 3 treatments (ATDs, RAI, and surgery) are still considered generally acceptable for the elderly (both the advantages and disadvantages of each must be considered). Many doctors prefer RAI for the elderly. There is a wide disparity of views out there and I was stating my physician’s preference and his reasons for feeling that way. It seems to me that what treatment you end up having depends upon which physician you get.

If I would have had the endocrinologist I have now 12 years ago, he wouldn’t have had me undergo RAI so soon. He would’ve waited at least 18 months after diagnosis. The one I had then, had me undergo RAI 6 months after diagnosis.

Take care,

Julie

[Anonymous]

#1129144

Thank you, Julie – There sure ARE a lot of different views on this disease. I guess the roughest part is finding a decent doctor who shows compassion and respect for our difficult predicament. I hear you there!

I appreciate all the help and info.

Best Wishes,
Christine

[Anonymous]

#1129145

Thanks for the reply. I will discuss this with the doc but I am relieved to hear that the hyperthyroid increase is not the same as a storm. Still, I’m not looking forward to this increase. I was so surprised how bad being hyperthyroid made me feel. The thought of having an even higher level leaves me considerably underwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

#1040112

Hi Julie –

Could you please explain the differences in acceptable treatments
for the elderly and for the younger set? I ain’t gettin’ any younger, and hadn’t realized I might be looking at different options on down the road.

I was hoping that since so many of the organs begin to slow down as we age, perhaps the thyroid might slow down, too.

Thanks – I’m learning so much since finding this board.

[Anonymous]

#1129146

Hey Jude,

I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but I felt better immediately after my RIA. I know everyone says you go more hyper the week after but to tell you the truth, I was never told that by my doctor, and I never felt any worse, only better! I will say this, my throat only hurt a little when I coughed or sneezed. Weirder, 6th-7th day after, it was like I was on a weird “high”. Time seemed to move slower and I felt almost doped up (as I would imagine, I’ve never done drugs).

I have wondered if this was the hyper period for me in hindsight. See, I felt GREAT my whole time I was hyper. A couple of the best years of my life were the 2 before I was dignosed, and not for any particular reason, except that I had a lot of thyroid hormone in my body! I know this sounds weird, but every body is different, and my body liked the hormone. However, when my heart beat was up to about 120 bpm and I started having palpitations, I went to the doc and was diagnosed. But other than that, I was fine. In fact, it has been SINCE my RAI that I have battled with depression and sorry to say have NEVER felt as good as I did before the RAI. I used to be able to take pleasure in the smallest things, but since RAI 4 1/2 years ago, just the opposite is true. Nothing really makes me “happy”. It may be that I was living on that “high” for so long that it is hard to live life without it. I don;t know.

Jen

[Anonymous]

#1129147

I’m puzzled by why a doctor would expect a patient to experience a thyroid storm shortly after RAI, but I’m also hoping the experts will clarify this. My brother-in-law is a cardiologist and has been great with providing me lots of information about my Grave’s Disease. His explanation to me of what a thyroid storm was was really scary–he described it as a very serious situation requiring immediately medical attention and hospitalization. He said it was not really all that common, but being a specialist, he saw it occasionally.

[Anonymous]

#1129148

While we are hyperthyroid we are all at risk of having thyroid storm. Basically, this is an extreme medical emergency situation where the thyroid gland suddenly becomes EXTREMELY overactive. We all know how awful we feel when it is just constantly overactive. But with thyroid storm, there is a huge burst of overactivity. And it is life threatening. It is general triggered by infection, trauma, surgery, fear, pregnancy/labor, or other stresses — car accidents, falls, whatever. As the treatments for hyperthyroidism have gotten better, the occurance of thyroid storm has gone down. Generally speaking, someone who is getting adequate treatment for our Graves’ caused hyperthyroidism will not need to worry too much about thyroid storm. It is thought that in general, thyroid storm is a result of untreated or inadequately treated hyperthyroidism. But as long as we continue to be hyperthyroid, there is a risk.

As to why a doctor might worry about thyroid storm, with regard to RAI, then, my guess (and that is what it is — a GUESS) is that it has to do with the fact that we cannot be on antithyroid drugs in the days prior to the RAI treatment. The ATDs block the uptake of iodine into the thyroid. But for RAI to work, the thyroid has to be able to absorb the iodine in the RAI. So we become more hyperthyroid as we approach the day for our RAI treatment. BEING hyperthyroid increases the risks (although they are small) of thyroid storm. A doctor would factor this risk into the medical decision-making processes. For some patients, based on their own, individual situation, a doctor might not be comfortable with that additional risk. For other patients, a doctor might not consider it a real concern.

Bobbi–Asst. Online Facilitator, NGDF

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