FH has been diagnosed w/ Graves Disease....

Hi Ladies...
I just got back from the doctor w/ FH, and he has been diagnosed with Graves Disease... aka Hyperthyroidism.... He has lost over 70 pounds with in the past year, and I was really worried about him and brought him to get checked out. Little did I know, last year when he went to the doctor for a physical, they suspected something was up, but FH never went for the blood workup, and now has caused damage to his thyroid....
M question to all of you is..... The doctor wants him to to take a radiation pill to help destroy the layers of his thyroid so eventually it goes back to a normal level. Has anyone been through this??? and does it really help???? I'm a little worried and I know I have to research it more, but I was wondering if anyone had any info on this?????
Thanks for all of your help....

Gina

I don't know anything on this...but my wishes are with you and your FH.

I'm sorry I can be of no help... Just know you and FH are in my prayers.

not too familiar with it (my mom had hyper...thyroid and had part of it surgically removed)

just wanted to give you

OMG Gina I am soooooooooooo sorry!

We were talking about this when you came over the other day but I didn't think it would be this bad!!!!

Sending huge hugs to you!!

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Posted by Soon2bMsZ

OMG Gina I am soooooooooooo sorry!

We were talking about this when you came over the other day but I didn't think it would be this bad!!!!

Sending huge hugs to you!!

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Thank You everyone!!!!! I'm so glad I can talk to you... I'm actually crying right now, just knowing I have all of you to turn to!!!!!!

So sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but thankfully, its one of those diagnosis where there are therapeutic alternatives....

The radiation pill you mentioned, is usually followed by irradiation, usually performed by a licensed M.D, specifically a Diagnostic radiologist, with expertise in Nuclear medicine...its relatively non-invasive. The main pro is that its a one-time procedure (usually). Major con is that if the entire gland gets irradiated, a person may become hypothyroid, then requiring medications such as Synthroid or Levothyroxine for life (thyroid hormone replacement)...

people who don't want to deal with this possibility can be treated with a medication called Tapazole a.k.a methimazole, but this medication is taken at least once to twice per day for up to One year!! They also need very close montitoring by an MD for dose adjustments. Eventually, most people normalize over an average of 12-16 months, more or less......

There are options...there's also PTU, etc.

I wish your FH the best, i hope i've been minimally helpful!!

Ore

My Thoghts and prayers are with you and FH

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Posted by orelwa

So sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but thankfully, its one of those diagnosis where there are therapeutic alternatives....

The radiation pill you mentioned, is usually followed by irradiation, usually performed by a licensed M.D, specifically a Diagnostic radiologist, with expertise in Nuclear medicine...its relatively non-invasive. The main pro is that its a one-time procedure (usually). Major con is that if the entire gland gets irradiated, a person may become hypothyroid, then requiring medications such as Synthroid or Levothyroxine for life (thyroid hormone replacement)...

people who don't want to deal with this possibility can be treated with a medication called Tapazole a.k.a methimazole, but this medication is taken at least once to twice per day for up to One year!! They also need very close montitoring by an MD for dose adjustments. Eventually, most people normalize over an average of 12-16 months, more or less......

There are options...there's also PTU, etc.

I wish your FH the best, i hope i've been minimally helpful!!

Ore

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OMG, You know so much!!! The doctor said, that b/c he neglected his body for so long, his level were out of control... For ex: one level was suppose to be between 0.8 - 1.8, and his level was 70.0!!!! They said that regular medication will only help for a little while, but then his levels will go back up, and we will be right where we started

Oh, Dave, my FH just saw the posts from everyone, and said Thank you for all of your and .... Thanks Girls!!!!

I wish I could do more

Hi Gina-I'm new on the boards but read this and wanted to give you a

I also had graves disease. If he decides to go with the radioactive iodine pill or surgery the chances are very high that his thyroid will become underactive and he will have to be on synthroid or something similar for the rest of his life.

The Tapazole is a short term option (a few years) to see if it will correct itself on its own. The down side is that it is rather unhealthy for you. I dont know about effects in men, but there are many side effects it causes in women. They warn you to stop taking it within 6 months of getting pregnant because it causes birth defects, so whatever it is cannot be very good for you.

My thoughts and prayers are with your FH during this time. May God bless him.

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Posted by Soon2bMsZ

I wish I could do more

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Just having all of you here, is the most I can ask for..

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Posted by Summer05

I also had graves disease. If he decides to go with the radioactive iodine pill or surgery the chances are very high that his thyroid will become underactive and he will have to be on synthroid or something similar for the rest of his life.

.

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my mother had hyper thyroidism..... after YEARS of medicine, and hair loss, weakened finger nails etc (not weight loss though, she wouldve wished lol) her and her dr. decided for her to drink some radioactive whatever to shrink and kill her thyroid. it was about 4 years ago or so, she stayed in her room for days with none of us being able to come in contact w/ her at all....my dad and her used walkie talkies lol. she will still take medicine for the rest of her life, but is MUCH happier. sorry i dont know all the details and good luck with your fh!