[Khadijah]

#1059485

I went to the endo and he just confirmed I have graves, which I knew. He gave me the name of a surgeon who only does thyroidectomies and who is at a better hospital than what is immediately local. He also put me on tapazole? He said if I get a reaction to call him. But don’t take it f I have RAI. So, next step is consult w surgeon and schedule.

He said it was my choice. but that surgery, and since I have bad eyes to start with, is not a bad option.

Oh, and the tapazle is 3 times a day. Ick.

[Bobbi]

#1175042

The Tapazole is one of the drugs we call ATDs — antithyroid drugs. What it does is create a chemical block to the production of thyroid hormone. Getting our hormone levels under control before surgery is important — it helps to make the surgery safer. The reason that you were told not to start it if you were going to opt for RAI is that we need to be OFF any ATDs a week or two prior to RAI to open up the thyroid cells to receive the treatment iodine. It isn’t that you cannot take it and then have RAI, but that taking it now would mean that you would have to stop it for a period of time before you could have RAI.

Most of us tolerate the ATDs well. But there is a small risk to them. Typically, we are warned of getting our blood levels checked (for white blood cells) if we get a severe sore throat. The drug can lower our WBC count. Sometimes, too, our liver enzymes elevate when we are on this type of drug, so your doctor will probably check those levels if you are on the drug for any length of time. Other, slightly more frequent (but still rare) side effects include muscle/joint aches or hives.

[Khadijah]

#1175043

Thanks, that explains things. Also the pharmacy gave me methmizole the generic I take it.

On a side note, I just found out I can’t get in to see the surgeon until dec 11 and probably won’t get scheduled for surgery until late January or February if I’m lucky. Now, I’m really bummed. I have to talk to the endo or see if my second opinion doctor has another good surgeon. What crappy luck.

[jaqeinquotation]

#1175044

Hi there,

Isn’t this forum great? Always someone there to provide some guidance and support through their own experiences.
I had my first consult with the surgeon on the 22nd of October…after seeing my Endo a year and I’m not so sure why it took him so long to suggest surgery but then again he seems to work better when I tell him what to do. Hard to believe but true. After meeting with the surgeon he sent me for an ultra sound then referred me to another surgeon (at one of the well known hospitals here in Canada..Mount Sinai) however that appointment is not until November 30th. Im pretty sure that the surgery won’t be until early next year.
Hang in there:)

[Bobbi]

#1175045

It is supremely important, Khadijah, to have a well-qualified and skilled surgeon do the thyroidectomy. Someone who does lots of thyroidectomies with few complications is the main thing you should be looking for — not how fast you can get in for the surgery. As long as you are taking the ATDs, your symptoms should start to fall under control, so even though you have to “wait” you will not necessarily be waiting “sick.”

[Khadijah]

#1175046

Thanks and yes this forum is great! I have only been on meds a few days but I definitely am felling better wi the ATDs. Not better as in clear headed etc. but I don’t wake-up everyday worse than the day before. I live in the Washington DC area so we have lots of good surgeons around in MD VA or DC. So, although the first dr (VA) does only thyroidectomies I know there are some other well known doctors at Johns Hopkins (MD) that only do thyroidectomies. I’m hoping to meet with a couple more surgeons in the meantime.

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