[indigo]

#1075403

Do you feel like you are not doing the right thing? I don’t know anything about kids and Graves but my son (he is 3, too) has congenital hypothyroidism and it is hard to make decisions like that knowing that is could affect them later on down the road. I trust his ped endo (they are so hard to come by) but in the beginning I went to our local children’s hospital to get a 2nd opinion and felt way better about our endo’s course of treatment. Just a thought.
Being the parent is difficult. I hope you get some peace about your decision, trust your gut as a mom. Usually it steers you in the right direction. You will get past this and move forward no matter what you chose.

[Bobbi]

#1075404

Let me explain a bit about RAI. The only place in the body that uses iodine is the thyroid. Any RAI that does not get taken into the thyroid, is almost immediately eliminated from the body, primarily via the urine, but also via saliva and sweat during the first 36 hours after the treatment. The RAI (I-131) that remains in the thyroid is essentially there for a bit over one month. The half-life of I-131 is 8.1 days, which means that after 8.1 days half of it has decayed away (evaporated, essentially). Scientists believe that any radioactive substance is essentially "gone" after five half-lives, so 5 times 8.1 is 40.5 days.

Long-term studies of RAI have demonstrated that it is fairly safe, with few side effects and no statistically significant increases in later-in-life cancers. It has also been demonstrated that patients who have done RAI have later gone on to have healthy children.

That said, if it were my child, I, too, would be concerned about it. I was concerned about it when it was me getting the treatment, and I was 52 at the time! Getting a second opinion might help. I know that many children are placed on antithyroid meds, but there may be some very good medical reason why your child’s doctor has suggested the RAI instead. You need to be sure you understand why the recommendation has been given. And getting a second opinion might be helpful, as well — although sometimes second opinions require a third to break the tie. ” title=”Smile” />

Absolutely the most important thing is to get your child treated. Hyperthyroidism is horrid on the body, and there can be some severe consequences of under-treatment or non-treatment.

I wish you good luck with your decision, and hope your child is feeling much better soon.
Bobbi — Online Facilitator

[sjharner2001]

#1019977

I read the info Nancy sent me on "Students with Graves". Now I am more scared than ever. We (husband, myself, and ped. endo) chose the RAI route to treat our 3y.o. daughter. The treatment will be next Tues/Wed. I’m very frightened–especially since the literature I read recommends starting with the oral medication.
I keep asking myself if this is the right thing to do? I’m worried about her eyes (her eyes are protroduing and barely shut when she sleeps), worried about the aftermath of treatment. I know she needs to get treated, but this is very worrisome to me.
For those that have had RAI can you please offer some reassurance?
Janet

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