Scared, radio iodine

[FionaFiat]

I have been on carbimazole for 5 years now due to having an overactive thyroid, I feel great in myself but my doctor is referring me to hospital to discuss the option of having radio iodine as I am still on thyroid medication 5 years on, I am so worried what is going to happen to me, what tests will I need before having radio iodine, will I need scans and if I do go ahead and have radio iodine will I have to stay in hospital? Thanks

[Barb135]

FionaFiat... Radioactive iodine in sufficient amounts, basically, "kills" the thyroid, so it no longer produces hormones.  

I've had the thyroid uptake scan and it's nothing to worry about.  It's a much smaller amount of radioactive iodine and doesn't damage the thyroid (so they say)... All they do for the scan is give you the iodine pill, wait a few hours, do a scan to see how much of the iodine was taken up by the thyroid, then wait longer to see how much more of the iodine was taken up...
This is called a nuclear medicine scan.  If they're going to give you radioactive iodine to destroy your thyroid, I can't see why they'd do the nuclear medicine scan, but if they do it, there's nothing to worry about - i.e. no pain, etc...

The radioactive iodine that destroys the thyroid will leave you with hypothyroidism and thus, dependent on replacement thyroid hormones for the rest of your life.  That's the equivalent to those of us, including myself, whose thyroid has been destroyed by the autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's... It's a matter of taking a daily pill and making sure that Free T4 and Free T3 (the actual thyroid hormones) are kept within a range that's good for your body, not just a range determined by a lab or the NHS...

[FionaFiat]

My doctor said I will need an injection before I’m given the radioactive iodine, why is this? Thanks so much for your help

[Barb135]

I'm not sure... Sometimes if you have a nuclear medicine scan you'll be given an injection of the tracer material rather given it in pill form.  I was given it in pill form; perhaps your doctor plans to do it in injection form.  That's a question for the doctor...

[Sandra341]

Radio iodine is nothing to worry about. You often only need a blood test first. You should be advised to stop Carbimazol 7 days before treatment, and resume it 7 days after treatment. They give you lots of advice about being radioactive for a few days. Limiting your contact with children example. I have had it twice, as it did not work for me. (Rare for it not to work!) Nothing to worry about at all, just taking a tablet under control conditions.

[FionaFiat]

You have no idea how much this has put my mind to rest, I have been reading online that I may need a thyroid uptake, or radio iodine uptake test/scan, did you have this? Thanks again so much

[Sandra341]

No Fiona I didn’t have them. I had a partial thyroid removed 30 years ago. But now the darn things grown back and gone overactive. I have Graves’ disease, but we only just found that out! Carbimazole can give you problems in the long term, I was told by the consultant it’s ‘not a very nice drug’. And I know it’s better to replace low or non existent Thyroxine with drugs, than take something to suppress the thyroid, like Carbimazol. To be honest, I don’t think the uptake tests are bad either, just a bit of a faff! Don’t get too worried by what you read on the net. Some of its rubbish, or applies to countries that treat things differently. See what they offer you, ask questions, and try not to worry. Although you know anxiety is a symptom!! I’m in England by the way, treated by the NHS.

[FionaFiat]

Hi Sandra,
Really appreciate your help, I am from the U.K. also and treated by the nhs, I don’t know how long it will be before I get my consultation at my hospital, hopefully won’t be too long, thanks again Sandra! Best of luck with your Graves’ disease.

[Sandra341]

Hope all goes well for you too. X