[Ski]

#1062199

I’m not sure how common this is (I haven’t seen too many people complain of it, but definitely some), but I know I had a severe abdominal episode in about the same timeframe after my RAI ~ it was awful, I felt terrible, had to go on a liquid diet for a few days, had a mountain of tests that proved NOTHING, and within a week I was on the mend. I can’t say for a certainty that it was related to the RAI, but my GUESS has always been that the rapid change in thyroid hormone had something to do with it.

Since you’ve already been run through the full panel of tests and your doctors are aware of what’s going on, I would pay attention to anything they’ve said when it comes to "if xx happens, please do come back and see us," and leave it at that.

Sorry you’re feeling so awful!! I do hope it resolves quickly.

[gatorgirly]

#1018010

I am now two months post RAI, last week’s bloodwork showed my levels in normal range one week after stopping the PTU. This is GREAT news for me, because even on 300mg/day PTU, levels were still in the very hyper range.

Unfortunately, I woke up over the weekend with a horrible feeling that I had food stuck in my throat, accompanied by a burning sensation in my upper chest and a stabbing pain between my shoulder blades. All three feelings were constant, so I went to my endo first thing Monday morning, and he sent me directly to the ER. The ER took me immediately, moved me right away to the cardiac ER, and I was soon admitted to the cardiac progressive care unit (a step down from the ICU). After a battery of tests, it was determined the chest pain was not related to anything cardiac. At my endo’s recommendation, I underwent a thyroid ultrasound while admitted. They found a small nodule (7.5mm x 3mm) on my left lobe, but the good news is that my thyroid is significantly smaller than it was during my last ultrasound in Feb. 2010 (when I was diagnosed), so the RAI is clearly working – thyroid shrinking and I’m at normal levels without any meds. Because the nodule is so small, my endo wants to leave it alone and do another ultrasound in 6 months. It’s too small to biopsy and he says it may die along with my thyroid…? For now, I’m not worrying about it. He says it can’t possibly be what is causing this choking feeling in my throat – it’s far too small to affect my esophagus.

I’m still in a lot of pain. I have very little appetite, whereas a week ago I was hungry all the time. I burp a lot, even though I’m not eating much, and with the burps comes "spit up." It feels like vomit but it’s a small enough amount that I can swallow it back down. It does not feel acidic and it doesn’t burn. The chest and upper back pain are less severe, but still present.

Met with a GI this morning. I have a swallow test (drink barium then swallow a marshmallow while the tech watches this all on X-ray) on Tuesday morning, and an upper endoscopy scheduled for May 17. GI says if those prove nothing, it could be anxiety. I don’t have anxiety – I don’t feel anxious or any more or less stressed than I always have. I’m aware I’m a high strung, Type A personality that internalizes a lot, and I’m in a high stress job with loads of student loans, but isn’t that a majority of 20 somethings these days?

For the meantime, I’m on a 6-day methylpredinosolone tapered dose pack (to bring down any internal swelling), 40mg omeprazole/day (in case it’s acid reflux), and still on 30mg/day propranolol for the heart rate. All other labs and tests say I’m fit as a fiddle, but I feel awful.

How common are GI problems after RAI or with Graves? Should I also ask the GI to test me for celiac/gluten intolerance?

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