[HELP] I 131 treatment and pregnant

[qinjie1001]

Dear all,

My wife had hyperthyroid for nearly three years. She took Thiamazole Tablets (Thyrozol) for almost two years and the lab testing results were in normal range. However, hyperthyroid came to her again after eight months she stop taking the pills. Now we're planning to make a baby and are afraid of getting the disease again if she continue to use Thiamazole Tablets. Therefore, we're consider to take I 131 treatment.

My question is: 1) if I 131 treatment has any bad impact on pregnant in the future, even she plan to start pregnant six months after I 131 treatment? 2) If she get hypothyroid after the treatment, what's the posibility of the endemiccretinism? This is the most important point we concern. Can we say 100% it can be avoided if she take Levothyroxin Sodium Tablets?

Many thanks!!

Jack

[Kristina538]

Check with the surgeons whether meds are easier to adjust after a sub or total thyroidectomy.   If you're planning to become pregnant, you want the thyroid stable.   After RAI, my thyroid levels became normal (6 weeks after RAI) and stayed normal for another 8 months before starting to go hypo.   Now I think it'll take the best part of 12 months to get stabilisation - while the thyroid is dying the medication has to be increased.   Because it's accumulative, it can be a bit of a roller coaster.  

I had booked for surgery but changed my mind at the last minute because of other complications.   Also, for surgery they will want her 'euthyroid'  so will probably get her to take the anti-thyroid meds again if she isn't already.  Good luck... it's not an easy decision.

[qinjie1001]

Thank you so much Kristina. Today we went to hospital for doctor's advice of i-131 treatment. She suggested us to take surgery instead of i-131 because the dose of i-131 is conservative here and might not cure hyper completely and result in i-131 for second time. So surgery is the fast and secure way to cure the disease and ensure it won't happen again. We will visit the surgeon tomorrow to get advice. It's good for you that i-131 works. We worried that i-131 can not cure her at one time...

Besides, levothyroxine will be alright during the whole pregnancy process but thiamazole can not be use during that period as it can impact the baby, causing short of thyroxine.

[Kristina538]

Before any RAI treatment you will be given instructions of when you can plan a pregnancy afterwards.  

I know that levothyroxine can be taken during a pregnancy but am not aware of impacts to the baby if the does is not sufficient.   It can take some time after RAI to become hypoactive and need the replacement hormone (I was 'normal' for a year, but most become hypo within a matter of months);  and it can sometimes take another year to keep adjusting the meds to get a stable normal reading.

Is there a reason for her hyperactivity (Graves, toxic nodule?), and have you asked the doctors whether she can continue taking thiamazole during a pregnancy?   I do know the anti-thyroid drugs are more toxic to the liver than the replacement drugs..   If your Doctor is not answering these questions, I would find another one (and of course, continue your own research).. Hopefully someone else may give more information.