New member--Sheryl--post RAI--what to do now

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In a message dated 10/28/00 6:16:56 PM Pacific Standard Time, bu007@...

writes:

<< I am interested as I was diagnosed with Graves Disease back in May and as

of

right now, am seven weeks post RAI treatment. Am looking for ways to deal

with this disease!

Thanks,

Sheryl >>

Hi Sheryl,

I would suggest taking large amounts of iodine in the form of kelp to

help your body replace the radioactive iodine with non-radioactive iodine.

This could save your body from some unnecessary damage. Radiation creates a

large amount of free radicals which damage various organs in the body besides

the thyroid. Certain foods like pollen are supposed to be good protective

foods against radiation damage and also it's important to take a lot of

supplemental antioxidants.

Besides trying to limit the radiation damage, it's important to correct

the underlying deficiencies which caused the Graves' disease in the first

place. Right now you are at an increased risk of developing thyroid eye

disease. Besides taking kelp to help eliminate the radioactive iodine, it's

important to take the supplements in the Supplement List for hypers. I would

suspect that you are still deficient in copper and probably anemic. Not

correcting these problems can lead to diseases a lot more serious than

Graves'. RAI is a treatment that gets you out of the frying pan and into the

fire, so you have to take even more rigorous steps to restore your health.

With some work now, you may be able to retain a lot of thyroid function.

Don't worry about what has happened, but take steps toward the future.

Besides supplementation, I'd suggest getting a hair analysis asap so you can

address any special deficiencies.