Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
He seems really good, he didn't push RAI, just explained all of my options, and the pro's and con's to each. He went over TED with me and said that there was a little bit of a Greater risk of developing TED after RAI. I really appreciated that, because that's what I've learned from here too. He says he's 99% I have Grave's and not PP thyroiditis but doesn't want to commit until I do an uptake. I can't do the uptake until I'm done nursing. so until then he ordered labs including F T3's. BTW has anyone had any major complications from ATD's i.e. lowered immune system, or liver problems? I was hoping he'd change my ATD to PTU, but he says with PTU there is a risk of permenant liver damage.
{{{hugs}}}
Pam wrote:
It occurred to me one possible pit fall in challenging your diagnosis. Doctors not up to date, still distrust antibody tests. This was valid about 15 years ago. :(
Some still order the old fashioned uptake scan. It is NOT a great idea. The patient swallows a dose of high iodine and either I-123 or the less expensive I-131. I'm of the mind that adding any radiation to the body just can't help a thyroid patient heal.. even if the I-123 has a shorter half life. It still affects the whole body.
The high iodine ingested is a risk for becoming more hyper and either setting off TED or worsening it. It happens. Before we had antibody tests, this was the standard of care. As was RAI, becasue they used to believe we had a diseased thyroid. Once the autoimmune nature of the disease was discovered, the old uptake scan persisted.
Unfortunately it has a fairly high error rate too. There's a study I've lost on PubMed, where they wondered how accurate the uptake was in the American population, since we have such high iodine diets. They selected small groups of people, matched in the usual ways.. and had each group consume a different brand of popular bread. This was in Boston so I was sad they are not brands I happen to know.
They then had widely varying results of the uptake scans. Wish I hadn't lost the link to that. It was obscure enough I'm sure most haven't seen it.
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Nathalie
Maglady,
If I may make a suggestion, call this doctor "the endo I saw".
NOT "my endo".
You have lots of time to learn, and explore. There's no hurry. I love your OB.. she has been excellent so far.
We can work through all of this later. I'm sorry you were the victim or old, run of the mill fear tactics. Many have traveled this road before you. Your young, healthy, and on a small dose, and it's working well. This is not a situation we worry over.
***Your young, healthy, and on a small dose, and it's working well. This is not a situation we worry over***
If you were not healthy, you would not have gotten pregnant, not gone full term, or not had a successful delivery. You would not have that perfectly healthy little boy.If you doubt your health.. look at him.
Postpartum all women have crazy hormones.. and sometimes the estrogen and thyroid hormones fighting over the same receptors, a great grandmother that gave you your genes ( the good and the not so good) added to the stress we all face in these times..adds up to your immune system going over board .. then those antibodies encouraged each other.
You have a great OB that caught all of this very early. She did great ordering the right labs, and set you up with a safe dose of the MMI.
This is not a situation we WORRY about...like the new gals that show up very, very ill, with high thyroid levels, high liver enzymes, low WBC...all caused by the high thyroid levels and before any medication. Then they are given a massive over dose of their ATD, no insurance, a husband that is being abusive... See the difference. Those gals we do worry about.
Everything about your story so far, points to absolute success with the meds. Trust me.. I know stuff. :)
I hope this helps if I did offend you. We do care, and we do understand.