Hey people, just wandering if anyone can advise me whether having my thyroid removed or radioactive iodinewill be the best option.
i was first diagnosed with an overactive thyroid 4 years ago, when was 16. after 2 years on carbimazole my thyroid was functioning normally and stopped taking medication. Recently i noticed the symtons i first had (weight loss, intolerance to heat) and my gp has just diagnosed my overactive thyroid again, and i'm back on carbmazole.
i was thinking alternative treatment would be better because i can't stand the symptons and it will keep coming back?
any advice will be appreciated, thanks, sam
Hi , I have only had it 6 months and it is driving my family mad, my small three kids hate me , I hate them , it goes like this every day. operation or RI, nobody seems to give us a real answer. Sorry cannot help you as in the same boat.[/b]
hi, sorry to hear that you are hyperthyroid again. wether you choose surgery or rai you will be under active. but, this is apparantly easier to control. i was over but, at the moment have gone under due to high meds & i must say its catch 22 both make you feel awful. hope you get sorted soon. elaine.
If I were you, I would stick with the carbimazole for a couple more years, before considering radio active iodine or surgery. Sometimes people's thyroid problems can disappear after a few years on carbimazloe once they are at a stabaliszd level.
Unfortunately this has not been the case for me - I have had an overactive thyroid for 17 years, since I was 10 years old. I am still taking 20mg of carbimazole a day.
With regards to the operation, personally I would never consider this, as there are quite a few risks with this surgery and you are left with a large scar across the base of your neck.
I am also not considering radio active iodine at this stage and would not consider it until after I have children, as I have not heard enough about long term side effects of this yet.
Once your thyroid levels are under control/stable, through the right dosage of carbimazole, you should not have as many problems with thyroid symptoms.
I hope this helps!
Hi
I had Graves disease and took Carbimazole for a couple of years which worked well and I was able to come off it. Then while pregnant developed hypothyroid, the severity of the symptoms with this often varied a great deal but once it settled and my thyroxine dose was stable it wasn't too bad. Ive since changed back to being hyper and developed thyroid eye disease. A nurse recommended the radioactive iodine treatment to me, having had it herself, and although at first I felt dreadfully tired, lethargic and put on a lot of weight a year later I feel much better and am glad I had the treatment. Im now waiting for eye surgery and hoping it's going to be just as successful!