Overactive thyroid - newbie here, pls he

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
Overactive thyroid - newbie here, pls he
15
Tue, 08-15-2006 - 1:16pm

I'm 27 yrs old and I was just diagnozed with overactive thyroid just 2 weeks ago. What are my options? What should I expect?

My doctor wanted to send for some kind of 'radiation' - or something like that. Is that what you call RAI? I told him "no". He said I would drink some liquid...

He prescribed me just pills. I have to take one pill a day and he said to come back in 2 month.
I will also have some tests done at the beginning of September.

I don't know how serious it is - I have just some of the symptoms: hair loss, energetic, eating a lot and never gaining (I haven't gain any weight since 3-4 yrs ago).

I also get swollen ankle (it hurts too sometimes) every couple weeks or so. I had it checked in the past and they couldn't find anything (here in Canada) - they did tell me that there is something wrong with my lymphs circulation or something like that, when I lived in Europe. Does it have anything to do with my overactive thyroid?

I would like to get more information on what my healing options are and also would like to know if there is a way of healing it naturally? I'm thinking to see a holistic doctor one of these days.

Any food/drinks I should avoid? Any lifestyle changes I should do?

Thank you guys so much!!!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 9:51am

I'm back from my vacation. :)

Calley7 and April, I have a question for you. They scheduled me an ultrasound test (which is fine) and they also scheduled thyroid scan. My doctor left me message to stop taking the pills 3 weeks prior to the thyroid scan.

I'm just concerned about the scan. How dangerous is the radiation? I'm planning to have a baby in a year or 2 and I don't want to put anything bad in my body. They told me I would eat some pill and come back next day for the scan.

I'm going to my doctor tomorrow and I will ask him how the antibodies test finished and also, I will ask him to test my T3. He tested only T4 before, which came up normal. Only the TSH was low.

Any advice will be very appreciated as what to do next, what to ask my doctor, etc.

Also, here is a question. In case my T3 is fine and my antibodies are fine...basically, only if TSH is out of range...what would that mean? Would I still be hyper? or not?

Thanks!
eva

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 09-30-2006 - 11:39pm

Hi Eva,


The pill you take for the scan has a very small amount of radioactive material so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2005
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 10:21pm

Hi.. i am going to do the RAI to minimize the cells... Do I have to take meds for the rest of my life after this test?

 

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 02-03-2007 - 8:07pm

Hi Lisa,


If by RAI you mean the treatment that "destroys" the thyroid gland, then you will have to be on thyroid hormone replacement meds (Synthroid or Levoxyl or Armour) for the rest of your life.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2005
Sat, 02-03-2007 - 9:18pm

I'm new to this whole thing. What I understood from my DR. is the radioactive therapy will be one pill and yes,

 

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