Iodine or surgery?

[Jac123]

Hi

I was diagnosed some years ago. Treated with block and replace and went in to remission. Happened again, block and replace - remission. It’s back and I have been advised to have iodine or surgery. I asked if I could go on block and replace again and they have said no.

Any advice on which people recommend? I have heard that the drink can make you put on weight?

Thank you in advance.

[PurpleNails]

Welcome to forum.

The main thyroid forum has many more member than Graves forum (which we call the “sad sister” forum).  So posting on there may help. 

Was you Graves confirmed by antibody testing? (TSI or Trab confirm Graves) TPO & TG antibodies indicates autoimmune (not graves specific)

Block & replace masks what your natural levels are doing, you may have ceased treatment too soon.  

Many recommence antithyroid medicating again? You will need levels under control before either surgery or RAI.

Why have they refused treating (or do you mean “titration” regimen - not block & replace) ? 

Are you currently on Carbimazole/PTU ? If so what dose?

 Staying on antithyroid longer - unless causing health issues - is an option.  Many remain on for decades if necessary. 

What are your results, it might be your TSH is low rather than your thyroid level high.  What are the FT4 & FT3 levels.  & lab range . You are entitled to result always obtain copies, online access useful or printed copies.

TSH is unreliable especially after being hyper.  Mine had stayed undetectable and my FT4 & FT3 have been in range many years. 

 Either treatment will very likely cause you to be hypothyroid.  Many do fine after either treatment but a significant minority find they are not adequate replaced after treatment.    

This may be do with GPs treating by TSH and nutrients being compromised during either treatment.  

So I don’t believe the radioactive drink / pill directly causes weight gain it is more that it induces hypothyroidism which is not adequately treated.

Your doctors should not be compelling you to undergo a permanent & irreversible treatment & refusing antithyroid treatment without reasonable reason.  

Doctors are expected to follow set protocol which is designed to offer everyone same treatment path with most effective outcome.  

Antithyroid medication has same risk throughout it does not increase. 

The cost of specialist monitoring is expensive medics view treating hypothyroidism by GP “easy” in comparison.  

[pennyannie]

Hello Jac and welcome to the forum :

I'm presuming you have been diagnosed with Graves Disease ?

Well, the most recent research is suggesting the longer the patient stays on the Anti Thyroid drug, either Carbimazole or Propylthiouracil ( PTU ) the better the outcome for the patient.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

and the most current research we have on Iodine treatment is below :-

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/306...

As someone with Graves and post RAI thyroid ablation 2005 - I would suggest you copy the research papers and try and speak to the Head of Endocrinology, talk of your reservations and stay on the AT drug.

I have no knowledge of your medical history and if with Graves we are looking at an auto immune disease for which there is no cure .

All that the surgery or RAI achieves is flipping your from potentially going ' over and hyper ' again and needing hospital management into hypothyroidism where the treatment is in primary care through your unsuspecting doctor where treatment is limited and why this forum and it's growing number of 130K members exists.

The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation and includes your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

Once triggered, your immune system is prone to further episodes but simply removing the target of the attack, your thyroid, does not solve your underlying health issue of this auto immune disease.

The thyroid is the victim in all this and not the cause as the cause is one of your immune system having been triggered to turn and attack your body rather than defend it.

Why is this happening again - is anybody's guess but you are the one who knows yourself best and it could be useful to read around Graves and of alternative and more holistic, alternative, complimentary suggestions on calming down your own immune system response.

Graves does seem to be stress and anxiety driven though there is generally also a generic predisposition to this poorly understood and badly treated AI disease.

elaine-moore.com