Re: Re: a very useful link to another support group- Re: al...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Although it's been mentioned here that the majority of people do fine with

RAI, and 5 years ago I may have even said this, there are no studies that back

this statement when it comes to long-term patients. The few studies pertaining

to the wellbeing, general health, and mortality rates of patients treated for

hyperthyroidism do not support this view.

I think the majority of patients treated with RAI may feel fine for the first

year or so, but studies show that hypothyroidism becomes more severe about 6

years after RAI and for most people, thyroid antibodies persist for at least

10 years. The risk of developing GO, acropachy and pretibial myxedema remains

for at least 30 years after RAI. And the elevation in thyroid antibody titers

causes the fluctuating symptoms that we complain about. Often, patients do not

realize that symptoms such as depression, hearing loss or joint pain are

related to these fluctuating levels until they begin researching their condition

or

other problems related to autoimmunity emerge.

As for the comment someone made that this discussion board wasn't scientific,

I don't think it was ever intended to be. The board does offer educational

support and it offers concrete information about the interpretation of

laboratory results. But when scientists worldwide can't even agree on the

optimal

treatment for GD or the nature of autoimmunity, a scientific discussion board

would

still be riddled with differing opinions. Best to all, Elaine