Hyperthyroidism Support Group
Hyperthyroidism (or "overactive thyroid gland") is the clinical syndrome featuring weight loss (often accompanied by a ravenous appetite), fatigue, weakness, hyperactivity, irritability, apathy, depression, polyuria, and sweating. Additional symptoms may include palpitations and arrhythmias (notably atrial fibrillation), dyspnea, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and...
Hi
I've just added another support group to the list (getting longer by the minute)! I have a large hot nodule on my right thyroid and about a zillion small nodules all over the rest of it. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid today and was given the choice of surgery or radioactive iodine. rai was recommended as a more conservative approach and I decided to go that route mostly because if I have sugery, I would have to stop taking my rheumatoid arthritis meds and the thought of that terrifies me. Can anyone give me a heads up on what side affects I can expect to have after the treatment? My endodoc says I may become more hyperthyroid before my thyroid shuts down (heart palpatations, jittery, etc.). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I've just added another support group to the list (getting longer by the minute)! I have a large hot nodule on my right thyroid and about a zillion small nodules all over the rest of it. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid today and was given the choice of surgery or radioactive iodine. rai was recommended as a more conservative approach and I decided to go that route mostly because if I have sugery, I would have to stop taking my rheumatoid arthritis meds and the thought of that terrifies me. Can anyone give me a heads up on what side affects I can expect to have after the treatment? My endodoc says I may become more hyperthyroid before my thyroid shuts down (heart palpatations, jittery, etc.). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Your doctor is correct that you can get more hypER after the RAI before your thyroid shuts down. Did you get the larger nodule checked out by doing a Fine Needle Aspiration to see if any cancer? If any cancer involved, surgery would be a better choice to remove thyroid as well as having to do an RAI.
Come over to the Graves' Disease board and read all old threads/posts on RAI. Some people do well and some do not. Be proactive and make the 'right' choice and research well. You will still have thyroid disease for life, regardless of what is done with it.
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