Elaine, others - Raspy voice, irritated throat on ATD's?

April 30, 2003

Hi Barb,

You could have developed radiation thyroiditis, a rare side effect of the

I-123 scan. This can cause irritation and inflammation of the gland, and if

your gland is enlarged it can press against your vocal chords.

A sore throat can also be a sign of a low white blood cell count, making you

more susceptible to infection. Your doctor may want to do a CBC to make sure

that your ATDs aren't causing a problem. This is typically related to an ATD

dose that is too high.

If your ATD dose is too high, you can also develop an enlarged thyroid or

goiter. Sounds like it's a good time to have labs done. Remember that TSH can

stay suppressed for a long time, so you need an FT4 and FT3 for monitoring

thyroid function. The CBC (complete blood count) will include a measure of

your white blood cell count. Take care, Elaine

May 2, 2003

Hi Barb,

Radiation thyroiditis usually develops within the first day after RAI and can

persist for several weeks or longer.

Could it be allergies and sinus drainage? I've had a sore throat since the

pollen count started rising. GERD is also a likely possibility. Best, Elaine

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