new and considering treatment options
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new and considering treatment options
| Fri, 08-04-2006 - 2:01pm |
Hello all. I am new here. I am 31, and hyperthryoid. I was diagnosed with Graves disease a few years ago, but put off treatment repeatedly. Until now. About a week and a half ago, I suffered a miscarriage. It was my first baby. That devestated me. And to know that my Graves disease could have been a major factor in my loss was even harder on me. I immediately made an appointment with the specialist to discuss my treatment options. He recommended either the Radioactive Iodine or the surgery. He said normal he would recommend radioactive iodine in all cases, however, due to my desire to conceive again as soon as possible (tommorrow would be too long for me if I had my way), surgery is definitely an option. I am meeting with the surgeon next week so I can get some more info, as I am leaning towards the surgery. I realize that it is carries more of a risk, but there are a few things that are making the radioactive iodine not a valid option for me. First, I have twice been going to do the radioactive iodine treatment. The first time I got the scan and was to schedule an appointment to have it done and never did. The second I was at the hospital for my scan (I had waited so long they had to do another scan) and they didn't have the bloodwork that was required. So, they sent me home. I never made another appointment. Truthfully, I am deathly afraid of it. Radiation makes me think of cancer, and that scares me to death. I don't like the idea of having it in my body. I don't like the idea of staying away from people for a few days. Also I heard about some low iodine diet, and I don't like that idea either. It just doesn't appeal to me. The other reason is, the fact that 6-12 month waiting before ttc is recommended. I am afraid that after this procedure when I become HYPOTHYROID, it is going to mess with my fertility and it may be a year and I still do not get pregnant. Then I might have to take fertility drugs and by the time I eventually deliver, I am over 35 and at higher risk. I just want to get things done and over with before I talk myself out of it, and get on to having a baby. Sometimes I feel like I am being selfish for that. But I really long to have a child. Anyone have any insight about either procedure.

Hi so_so,
Hi So_so_sad,
Welcome to our board.
I think April has given you a lot to think about.
I too was diag. with hyperthyroid but found out while I was pregnant. My daughter is a perfectly healthy 2 yr. old. I never went on meds while pregnant, just was a little high and monitored closely. I was on meds after I gave birth (Methimazole (spelling?) and it did cause me to go into remission and now am not on anything for almost a year. You can't take Methimazole while pregnant, but the other PTU is safe I've heard. Have you been on any meds yet? If so did they work? My doctor indicated that Methimazole can work with your immune system and can make people go into remission like myself. I don't know if your situation is the same as mine as my dr thinks that my pregnancy may have triggered my Graves to come out. My dr. said they usually put someone on Methimazole for a year and see if it causes you to go into remission. I am just a little older than you (34) and my doctors did not indicate surgery or the radioactive iodine as treatment options right away, they actually feel we are pretty young to go those routes.
I hope this helps in some way. It never hurts to get a second opinion if you aren't sure about what your dr is saying. I do know that my dr. indicated to me that they feel it is easier to treat people with hypo than hyper esp. while pregnant. I hope that is not why they are suggesting the surgery or radioactive treatments as they know you want to get pregnant.
Good Luck!
I have seen two specialists, both of which said that the meds would not work for me and that I needed a permanent treatment. Both had indicated that the dose needed for me would be too high for pregnancy, even with the safe during pregnancy drugs. They indicated that it would not be safe during pregnancy, because the amount of drugs that would be "safe" would be not enough to keep things under control. I tried the option of waiting to see if it got better, but did not unfortunately. Actually it seemed to get worse. I had my levels checked the last time I was going to get something done with my thyroid and they were high. Then they were checked during pregnancy, which hopefully should have controlled things, and they had increased by about 2 times.
My OB and my thyroid doctor said that due to my levels currently, there is a strong chance that I will not be able to maintain a pregnancy to term. That is why I am considering treatment now, or otherwise I would rather just see if things will fix on their own…
I had asked about being hypothyroid and would that make me infertile. Both the OB and thyroid Dr. said not with meds. They would need to monitor meds during my pregnancy, they say and I would have to see both doctors but both have said that once it is under control my pregnancy risks and fertility should be the same as any normal woman.
Good luck and keep me posted on how you are doing!