Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Jemima, The one (and only) thing that's certain with RAI is that your husband will have to be on medication for the rest of his life. Without thyroid hormone, the body simply ceases to function, you fall into a coma, you die. No metabolism, essentially. Properly medicated with ATD's he has a good chance of remission, and certainly a much greater chance of living life without that nagging thing the doc's call " reduced quality of life " from not ever having the supplemental thyroid hormone quite mimic that which your body produces naturally. See U's recent post about that, she's had that problem for over 15 years now post-RAI. For me, quality of life trumps all else. I am happy on my Tapazole, seeing my endo every 3 months, getting labs at least that often but more if I need them. I have NO reduced " quality of life " . The key to success with ATD's is educating yourself (and himself). You have to, as said in a post I just read, participate in your own treatment. The biggest chance of failure is from someone who doesn't do that, and wants the doctor to just do it " to " him/her and " take care of " him/her. Read, learn and practice self-awareness. Develop a relationship with the doctor that includes dialog, make sure the doctor can answer questions logically, make sure the doctor is supportive rather than dictatorial. Make sure the right tests are run, and that the doctor doesn't want to pull the rug out from under your husband by suddenly dropping his meds inappropriately low, or relying on TSH to determine dose. Terry dx '94, Tapazole, 2.5 mg. a day in split dose. Latest labs FT4 1.9 (high norm 2.0), FT3 4.1 (high norm 4.5), TSH <.01 and feeling GREAT at these levels > > Reply-To: graves_support > Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2003 08:14:01 -0000 > To: graves_support > Subject: Answers please!!! > > My husbands doctor is very vauge about RAI treatment and simply gave > us a leaflet to read. I have read about the effects of this and some > horror stories on the internet from various people. I understand > this kills the thyroid which doesn't really deal with the actual > problem so why do the medical profession feel it is an option? I > would like to know what to expect if he does go down this route and > how this will affect him (physically and emtionally) At the moment he > is taking 400mg propylthioracil a day plus beta blockers to calm him > down. He doesn't want to be on medication for the rest of his life > but I think he will be if he goes down the RAI route anyway? Personal > experiences from anybody would be useful in order to make an informed > decision. > > Thanks > > Jemima > > > > ------------------------------------- > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not > intended to replace expert medical care. > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments. > ---------------------------------------- > DISCLAIMER > > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 Jemima, I had RAI 4-01. It took until 2-03 to feeling like I use to. I think it would of taken that long on ATD's. At this point in my life I do not have a reduced quality of like. I take med's twice a day, am very careful what I eat, and work out regularly. I can only hope I never have a problem with my eyes. Throughout this ordeal, I have fired two endocrinologist who made me feel like a stupid lady that wouldn't stop whining. The third endo is great and through him found that I didn't convert T4 into T3 and so I also take cytomel. It's no big deal to take med's for the rest of my life. However two years post RAI is not a long enough time to recommend that someone else try this route, I may run into other side effects, and since I never tried ATD's, I don't have that option anymore. I don't feel I educated myself properly before RAI, I may have chosen differently, but maybe not. Jen M Answers please!!! > > > > My husbands doctor is very vauge about RAI treatment and simply gave > > us a leaflet to read. I have read about the effects of this and some > > horror stories on the internet from various people. I understand > > this kills the thyroid which doesn't really deal with the actual > > problem so why do the medical profession feel it is an option? I > > would like to know what to expect if he does go down this route and > > how this will affect him (physically and emtionally) At the moment he > > is taking 400mg propylthioracil a day plus beta blockers to calm him > > down. He doesn't want to be on medication for the rest of his life > > but I think he will be if he goes down the RAI route anyway? Personal > > experiences from anybody would be useful in order to make an informed > > decision. > > > > Thanks > > > > Jemima > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------- > > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not > > intended to replace expert medical care. > > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments. > > ---------------------------------------- > > DISCLAIMER > > > > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of > > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails. > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > > -------- > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.