[Anonymous January 29, 1997 at 5:29 am Post count: 93172]

#1057131

I am being treated for graves with tapazole, atenolol and lithium
and yesterday my doc said we need to decide on surgery or RAI at
my next appointment because due to the high dosage of meds I am on,
need to do the other options.I have Eye disease, but cant remember
how to spell it. Would like any info on this stuff. I am frustrated
in what this disease has done to my every day way of life and would
like to hear from others with the same as me, any helpful advice>
I am very tired and want to live a somewhat normal lifestyle again.
The family doesnt seem to understand what this does to me. E mail with
any advice, ideas, and how you cope with it. My husband is in the Navy
and is gone for 6 months, and I really feel alone with this lately.
Thank you in advance.
Mariannemt@aol.com

[Anonymous January 29, 1997 at 8:39 am Post count: 93172]

#1165286

Is anybody out there?

[Anonymous June 1, 1999 at 5:09 pm Post count: 93172]

#1165287

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in March. I have been taking Tapazole. My thyroid levels have gone down but have not reached normal levels. My doctor has recommened radioactive iodine therapy. I am hesitant to pursue this treatment. I am 26 years old and do not want to do anything that will decrease my chances of getting pregnant. I am also very concerned with gaining weight.

I would like to hear any feedback you have on radioactive iodine therapy and any other treatments that you feel are successful.

Thanks,
Tara

[Anonymous June 1, 1999 at 5:27 pm Post count: 93172]

#1165288

I don’t think that radioactive iodine would impact your chances of getting pregnant — once they kill your thyroid, they put you on thyroid hormone replacement, and assuming your levels are then in the normal range, I don’t think there’s any issue about getting pregnant (check with your doctor on that.) I think doctors recommend waiting to get pregnant after RAI, but I don’t know how long.

On the other hand, it’s not a good idea to get pregnant while taking anti-thyroid drugs, especially the one you’re taking, because the drug can cross the placenta and affect the baby. Of course, there is a chance (about 30%) that the drugs will put you into remission after about 2 years, in which case, your thyroid will function normally for some time period without any drugs.

I’ve read a few posts in the past couple of months from women who decided to have surgery because they wanted to get pregnant quickly. Personally, surgery scares me, because it’s pretty invasive. Being as young as you are, I wouldn’t think that there’s a big enough time urgency in getting pregnant to justify doing the surgery, but I don’t know your specific concerns.

Weight gain is an issue for a lot of people with Grave’s. I gained about 20 pounds after starting the drug you’re on, and a year and a half later, I haven’t lost it. The drugs (or something else that’s going on with me) really wipe me out, and I haven’t had the energy to diet. I’ve stuck with the drugs, because I’d like to see if I go into remission. However, it doesn’t seem very likely, and right now I’m looking forward to going off the drugs, even if it means RAI.

I don’t know what will happen to my weight if I have to have RAI. It scares me too. I only hope that I have more energy, and can get back to a normally active life, and it will be easier to deal with the weight problem.

You didn’t mention whether you have eye problems also. If you do, you might want to check with an ophthomologist to see what treatment/what timing they recommend, to minimize eye problems.

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