diagnosed with graves disease
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| Mon, 11-01-2004 - 1:58pm |
It's my first time on this board and I have a few questions that I hope you can help with. I am 23 and I was recently diagnosed with Grave's Disease. I was referred to a specialist and he gave me a couple of options for treatment. Firstly he said I could get an operation to take my thyroid out or instead I could get the radioactive iodine pill, which he thought would be the better option.
I was just wondering if anyone had been through these treatments and which one you think may be the best. I have talked to a few friends who know people who have gone the radioacive way and all of them have had problems and ended up having to have the operation anyway.
I was also wondering what it will be like taking thyroxine for the rest of my life, has anyone had any problems or is it quite straight forward, because aparantly the treatments will leave me with no thyroid at all so i'll need replacement hormones.
If anyone can shed some light on these things, then that would be great. It's just a lot to take in and I'm a bit confused.
Thanks louise x x

If all else fails and your thyroid is removed, taking thyroxine is not a problem. It's the standard medication for hypothyroidism and the only tricky part is getting the dose regulated. I have to run now but I'll check back tomorrow!! Cathy :)
Hello!
I was diagnosed with Graves disease in my mid-twenties, I'm now 38.
You can also check out the ivillage links at the top of our board. I'm glad some of our members were able to post here for you. Don't be afraid to talk with your doctor about all of your options. I think that's your best bet at this point. If you don't have a doctor you feel comfortable with, you might consider switching before you go any further. You need a doctor you can trust and feel confortable with. Let us nkow what you decide to do.
If it were me, and with the advice of my doctor, I would probably try treatment with medication first. Why jump to surgery if it isn't absolutely necessary? Cathy :)
So I'm quite happy with that for the moment but the tyroxine still scares me a little. How long does it usually take to stabalise the dose and what problems will i have in the mean time?
thanx again louise x x
You are going for RAi, if I understood right!