Nuclear Scan and RAI

[Guest guest]

Hello One and All;

My name is Adrieanne, and I am a 40 year old woman with GD.

This is my first time to post to this particular web sight. I have

had GD for eight months now, that has been diagnosised for me and

treated. I found out that I have GD after a major auto accident in

Sept. of 2002. I was in the hospital for a total of 27 days. During

which, I had four heart attacks. Don't worry, because I didn't feel

anything. I had been induced into a coma. Everything that the

doctors have done from the date of the accident, has greatly improved

my life!!! Folks, let me repeat that for all of you, " EVERYTHING THE

DOCTORS HAVE DONE,SAVED MY LIFE!!!!

When the doctors felt that I was well enough from my injuries, they

let me wake up. That's when I was given the news. Can you tell us

what diseases run in your family. Both my mother and I started

giving them a list. The last person to have this disease was my

great grandmother. And yes I know that it's an autoimmune disease.

There are other types of autoimmune diseases that run in my family,

but this is the one that I have. In my particular case it was

triggered by the auto accident.

I can say that alot of what I read on these different web sights, I

don't suffer from. I don't get depressed. I wake up each day

thankful that I am still able to walk on earth! I don't care how

bad the wheather is outside, I am happy to be alive. So, the next

few thing that I say will shock alot of you, but it is the treatment

that I and my family choose for me. When I say my family,I mean my

husband, my grown children, and both of my divorced parents.

I grew a goiter! It was huge, it became so big, it was becoming hard

for me to eat food. Plus, it was starting to cut off my breathing.

In a matter of 3 weeks after getting out of the hospital, my head

stayed tilted back, because of the growth. I was Methimazole 10mg,

and it was making me ill. Every time I took it I would end up

throwing up for hours. Then I was put on Metoprolol 50mg. I could

not take that either. That also, made me ill. In the mean time my

weight was dropping. I went from 108 pounds at the time of my

accident, to 143 pounds while in the hosital from all the IV's. Then

when I got out of the hospital, I dropped to 83 pounds in 10 days.

So, I went in for my check up with the trama doctor, and within 24

hour I was seeing the endocrinlogist. I didn't even remember seeing

him in the hospital.

Within another 10 days I was at the hospital having the Nuclear Scan.

Which was less than 3% radioactive!!!! You get more radiation out of

an X-Ray for a broken bone, than you get out of the scan. So, don't

be afraide of the scan. The next day I had the RAI done. I would do

the RAI again, after being the way that I was. Once again I will say

that it SAVED MY LIFE!!!

Now after eight months, I went in to see my endo. today, and it DID

NOT KILL MY THYROID. Yes, I do realize that I am one of the few

women, that it didn't kill the thyriod. I am up to 150 pounds. I am

now waiting for my blood test, to see if am Hypo or Hyper. The last

time I weighted this much I was pregnet. RAI did not give me the

Poper Eyes. I did not have or get the thyroid storm, like most

poeple. In fact I wasn't sick at all. In all I can say it has been

good for me. I will also say that the amount of RAI that is given to

you, is based off you weight, and you body structure. Right now the

docotr is not even considering have me do a second RAI. We think

this time , will be able to take some form of medication.

The only reason that I am sounding off, is because in some of your

cases, I feel that yal have not been given enough information. T o

make the porper decsions for your particular case. Just because meds

work for one person, does not mean it will work for all. I will say

that I am a very LUCKY lady, because, I live where the biggest

Medical Center is in the world. I have access to the best doctors in

the world. I live in Houston, Texas. I am very Thankful to live

here. I will say that everyone need to make the decision as what

step to take for their particular situition. To get more information

you can contact these Orgranzations.

1. American Foundation of Thyroid Patients at

P.O. Box 820195

Houston, Texas 77282-0195

ph.# or 1-

2. The Thyroid Society for Education and Research at

7515 South Main Street Suite 545

Houston, Texas 77030

ph.# or 1-800-THYROID

WWW.the thyroid-society.org

This happens to be where I got most of my information. I hope that

this information will help some of you make the right choices for

yourselves, and not based on someone elses belifes. Make informed

decisions. After all we are talking about you health. You have but

one life to live. So, live it well and educated.

Eight months after my accident and after finding out I have GD, I can

start doing activities. I can start walking for excerise, and

hpofully lose some of this weight.

Good Luck to One and All

Sincerely,

Adrieanne