My wifes been battling this for a few years. Now the docs say they have to kill the Thyroid with radiation and medicate her for life. Besides the obvious prayer request, it would sure help if someone here thats been through this would chime in. Maybe its not so bad, but we just don't know what to expect. Thanks!
Prayers are lifted. As for experience. My wife has been on medication for quite a while with thyroid problems, and my mother in law has had her para-thyroid removed. Both have been feeling much better with the medication, and it is amazing what all the thyroid has and effect on. Moods, eating, energy to name a few. It seems to be fairly common, and the medications work well. I wish you and your wife the best with this.
Dan, prayers and good thoughts on the way from Chicago I have a thyroid that is inactive and I take synthroid everyday Its fairly common, I know a few friends that have to take it everyday as well. good Luck, give her our best wishes D.
Floydsbuick Not a problem! Sorry about Other topic here to anyone. My thyroid has been obliviated over fifteen years now. I take a Levothryroxin/ Synthroid pill everyday. (For the rest of my life) The only problem I had was after I swallowed the radio-active Iodine-131 about (10 Millcuries) and be sure to ask the nuke doc, how many millicuries she's gonna take? I had bad muscle contractions for about a week and a half. Meaning I remember trying to crawl underneath the car aching so bad, it was hard to wrench the drain plug. LOL Lasts about a week and a half. Also, she will be radioactive for a week and a half as that is the half life of Iodine 131. It really is no big deal. She will feel much better down the road. Believe me. Was she diagnosed as I was w/ an overactive (Hyperactive) or (Hypo) underactive? The Thyroid is like the thermostat in your car and regulates temperature and metabolism. In my case I was giving the car full bore on the gas peddle (Hyper, sweating, heart pulsing, Etc) Her endocrineologist and Metabolic Doctor can explain more. Don't be afraid to ask! Tell her not to worry about it, just flush the toilet a few times more as she will be secreting radioactive waste and not to hold babies too close for being radioactive. Listen she has other choices which I believe are worse, like cutting into her throat to remove the thyroid, and standing a chance to rip her vocal chords (No doctor does this today!) or attempting to regualte it w/ Meds which is damn hard to do over a year time frame and they end up destroying the Thyroid anyway w/ radiation. Also important is she be on time to take the stuff! The half life is only a week and a half and does not remain radioactive for long, so time is important that she be there to swallow it. PS: Have they done a tracer on her, to image the butterfly lookin' thyroid gland in her neck yet? I saw mine. It was 2 1/2 times enlarged! What the Iodine does: The Thyroid takes up Iodine in the body. Ever see salt packets w/ Iodine on the package? So, they kinda spike Iodine with Radioactive material. Hence the Thyroid says,"Hmmmm, I love Iodine so much I'm going to take it up". Catch-22 Iodine goes directly to the Thyroid w/ radiaoactivity and obliviates (Destroys) the gland. Good cells come back...but leaves the thyroid all bushed (Behind) No more. They still don't know what causes Hypo (Cold hands, Etc) and Hyperthyroidism (Sweating, not sleeping, *Heart throbing the whole body). I have to run, but tell her it really is nothing to worry about, I'm still here, and never felt better the past fifteen years. "The Japanese bomb on Hiroshima had more radiation than what she'll be getting". Best regards, Scott <img src="http://images.scottfisher.multiply.com/image/49/photos/3/1200x1200/3/Gran-Sport-21.jpg?et=aUFIvlmC3b0wr8IEzewi5g&nmid=128721847" width="700" align="center">
Dan, Prayers for you and Meredith and the girls. I hope all goes well with this, and God bless you all!
Totally feel for you. My wife was diagnosed early this year w/Graves (hyperactive). She took the radio active pill on Friday, Doc's say not to be with in 9 feet of her tell she is cleared (I havent, held, touched, kissed or hugged my wife in almost a week). THAT IS THE DOWN SIDE! She had a sore throat for a few days (painfull) and nothing would touch it, she just stayed quiet and watched movies. We have a guest bedroom and bathroom I've been using (that is where the real danger to your self is). We are both in our early 30's and so Child bearing age is an issue. Also she was only given enough radioactive iodine to kill off the over active part. She will still need medication but as stated above a lot easier to maintain on a small little pill. Hopefully she gets released today to go back to work!
Thanks Guys & Gals! It helps when you see someone dealing with the same thing, especially someone like Scott who's done it for 15 years!! We feel compelled to go for a second opinion at this point, but we don't want to delay much.
Dear Dan, There really is no problem w/ this procedure once diagnosed, Believe me. Assure her that. She'll be fine. She'll feel better. Possibly not as moody as much. It's not life threatning! Just the inconvenience of taking a pill every day, that's all. It's just the first week or two of the muscle spassums' (Not spelled right). As I said they still don't know what causes it. Possible minerals washed out of the local water supply? No one knows. I think it is a good idea to get a second opinion. Have them perform a TSH (I think that is what it is) blood test. Just think of the thyroid gland as your bodys' "thermostat" in your wildcat as explained above. Regards, Scott <img src="http://images.scottfisher.multiply.com/image/39/photos/3/600x600/7/Scotts-1971-Buick-Gran-Sport.jpg?et=aLIxvS5UvIpGpwdZUhoaSQ&nmid=128721847" width="700" align="center">
