[mlb0603]

in reply to: Average mCi dose #1174796

I received my dose last Wed., it was 30 mCi. My Dr. said they base it on the size of the thyroid itself.

[mlb0603]

in reply to: 2nd Dose RAI #1174803

I took the RAI pill last Wed, 10/24, when I went for the scan from the RAI uptake. The Dr told me that they base the dose they give you on the size of the thyroid gland (mine was 30). He said that I should be aware it may not kill all of the cells and there could come a time that I may have to do a 2nd dose. He said it would be no less that 6 months before we would know. The radiation takes 6 months to completely leave your body, so until this time they aren’t for certain that the 1st dose even worked. They will monitor the thyroid levels through blood work, but they will fluctuate because some of the cells are dieing off. So based on what my Dr says, a 2nd dose shouldn’t be done until exactly 6 months.

On another note, I have noticed people saying their pill was a pretty blue. Mine was in a clear capsule that looked like it was full of metal shavings.

[mlb0603]

in reply to: Graves? #1174727

My advise—-find another Endo.

I have had years of going from Dr to Dr to always hear, “we can’t find anything, you are fine, change your diet and exercise.” I have had my thyroid levels checked every 6 months for the last 12 years and they ALWAYS come back normal. I went for the RAI uptake scan last Wed., 10/24, I have Graves. The only way they found this was because I kept pushing and pushing until more was done. Don’t take no for an answer.

[mlb0603]

in reply to: Graves? #1174718

Hello all. I am new to this post and figured I would start here. I have been experiencing all of these symptoms for about 16 years now (always suspected for Lupus). My GYN doctor was the first to bring the thyroid to my attention in 2001. On a routine annual he said it felt extremely large. He sent me down for thyroid blood work, which of course, came back normal. A year later when I found out I was pregnant, same thing. Blood work still normal. He sent me to a Endo Dr, which couldn’t do anything beyond blood work because I was pregnant. I never followed back up with the Endo after my daughter was born because he and my PC doc always said my blood work was in normal ranges and I was just one of those people with a large thyroid. All the dr’s (which have been A LOT) I have seen since 2000 for the symptoms I have been experiencing have always thought it was Lupus. My Ana’s have always been off but the other blood work they do along with this didn’t show anything to be given a diagnosis. In ’01 a rhematologist said it was Fibromyalgia. Anyway to make a long story short, I was finally diagnosed with discoid lupus after a biopsy of the rash I get on my arms. Then last July I had multiple blood test done and was confirmed to have Systematic Lupus. In these blood test they also did thyroid panels. Still normal!! My PC doc I have now finally sent me down for an ultra sound of my thyroid. When I went to see my Cardio Dr (for heart palpitations) a month later, he reviewed the ultra sound and told me I needed to get in to see an Endo asap. (I see all my Dr’s at one hospital) He got me an appointment 2 days later. The Endo came in, listened to all my symptoms, reviewed all my medical records from 2000, looked at the ultra sound and my last thyroid panel and said “you have graves disease.” I was floored!! I didn’t know what to say, what questions to ask, or anything. He said he was going to set up the RAI uptake test to confirm because only one of my thyroid panels is off a little. Anyway to get to the point of commenting on this post is, he said that you can have graves disease but it may not show up with just blood work alone. He said that if you are not in an active state when the blood is drawn then the panels can be in normal range. Just like others have said on here, “I thought I was going crazy.” I go next week for 2 days for the uptake test. My Endo wants me to do the RAI treatment to kill the thyroid cells. He said it will stop the Hyper state, but not cure the graves disease. I have to say I am really scared and have mixed reviews on what to do. I have read a lot on this the last few weeks and still don’t know what to do. I have 3 autoimmune disorders and don’t want to be medicated the rest of my life. I am only 36. My mother had systematic lupus and died of stomach cancer at the age of 51. Well I could go on, but I’ll stop rambling for now. I wish you the best of luck at getting a proper diagnoses. Don’t stop until you find a Dr you can trust.

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