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Please help! My thyroid is not the norm
Back in August I was diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism. I have not had an uptake scan yet but the dr believes I have Graves (I have no eye disease symptoms though). I was told I would never be on a low dose of methimazole (my chances of remission were low due to the size of my thyroid) and I should consider RAI. I refused RAI and opted for the meds. Two and a half months later I'm down to only 5mg of methimazole and it's making me hypothyroid!!! There isn't a lower dose I can take is there? And why is my progress so quick? The dr's are stumped and I'm a little concerned it's not Graves. I'm not complaining that I have made so much progress but I need to know, is there anyone else out there that is responding at a rapid rate to the methimazole??? I have made progress in two months in comparision to some that would make the same progress in a year! Please someone help!!!! Does it sound like I'm about to go into remission?
What a beautiful age:)
In some cases the radioactive iodine causes flaring of hyperthyroidism (if patient has Grave’s disease or Hot nodule), however Technetium-99 scan seems not to have such bad effect, particularly for the toxic nodules. It almost follows the distribution pattern of the Iodine, and is short acting (so the results could be received much faster in few hours). It also easier on kidneys then Iodine;in addition the ultrasound for thyroiditis at later stage may show a "gainy" or "coarse" image of the thyroid tissue.
In some cases the radioactive iodine causes flaring of hyperthyroidism (if patient has Grave’s disease or Hot nodule), however Technetium-99 scan seems not to have such bad effect, particularly for the toxic nodules. It almost follows the distribution pattern of the Iodine, and is short acting (so the results could be received much faster in few hours). It also easier on kidneys then Iodine;in addition the ultrasound for thyroiditis at later stage may show a "gainy" or "coarse" image of the thyroid tissue.
Thank you! I'm not sure if they have tested me for the TSI antibodies yet but I do remember the dr mentioning it in tests that need to be run. I have been so out of it lately, I forgot to ask about it the last time I was at their office. Also, is there a reason they haven't done the uptake test yet? They keep telling me they want me to stabilize and go through a cool down stage before they do it. But I haven't read about a "cool down stage" on any forum or website. I'm just so impatient and want to know the cause of all this mess so I can get it under control! By the way, I'm 28 years old.
The doctor should order a blood test for the TSI antibodies; if they are present (unless you are over 60) you most probaly have a Grave's. Also, the less reliable sign of the Grave's disease is a very intense blood flow in the entire thyroid detected by Doppler flow ultrasound.
The nuclear test and the antibody tests are the sttundard tests for Grave's disease.
Good luck!
The nuclear test and the antibody tests are the sttundard tests for Grave's disease.
Good luck!
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