Hi all
After about 18 months of my Thyroid acting normal it is again overactive & my Endo has said this is not going to go away. I think you should have Radioactive Iodine Treatment. I'm reluctant to try this is case I feel worse as I've heard lots of stories. Is there anyone out there who has had a success with this treatment please?
Hi Lisa, I have no personal experience with hyperthyroidism, I have Hashi's. But my instincts say hold back on the radioactive treatment until you have exhausted all other possibilities. Once it is done, you can't undo it.
As you have experienced 18 months of 'normal' thyroid action, is there anything you can think of that has changed recently to make it overactive. The first thing I would do if I were in your situation would be to get my adrenals checked out. Here is a link which explains the connection between thyroid and adrenals:-
naturalendocrinesolutions.c...
Hi Cassie
Thank you for your swift reply. So...in the 18 months of my Thyroid being normal I had Breast Cancer which resulted in me having a Mastectomy. I declined Chemo as I was borderline & appeared to be in good health until a routine blood test showed my Thyroid was over again albeit only slightly - 26 TSH. I'm loathe to try the Iodine senario in case I feel ill again as I have heard a lot of people do. The Endo has taken bloods today to test for antibodies. Thank you for the link
You might also want to get your B12, folate and ferritin levels checked, common deficiencies in both hypo and hyper. Also, if you received nitrous oxide when you had your surgery, this can deplete B12.
Oh interesting Cassie - thank you. The article on the adrenals was informative too
"a routine blood test showed my Thyroid was over again albeit only slightly - 26 TSH."
Am I missing something here? Your TSH was 26? That's underactive. Overactive is when TSH is below range and FT4/FT3 over range.
Have you got full thyroid test results, with reference ranges, current and previous?
lol what is it that should be around the 20 mark?
Depending on range, if it's 12-22, then FT4 around 20 is good.
ok so my FT4 was 26
It probably was over range, but you need the full picture, TSH, FT4 and FT3 along with their reference ranges.
I used to get a print out from my last surgery maybe I should ask for this & I might have some idea what I'm rabbiting on about ha!
Yes, ask at reception for a print out then post the results.
Post old results as well if you still have them.
Thank you 
TSH 26 is very UNDERactive, not slightly over, are you sure those results were for TSH? It might be better to post all your results, with ranges. Did you get antibodies tested? If there is any change that you might have thyroid eye disease, radio iodine is not a good idea.
It was my FT4 that was 26. Antibodies are being checked today & I do have a funny eye. The more I think about this the more I'm deciding not to have RAI
So if you do have Graves’ (the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the UK), you are at risk of Thyroid Eye Disease (which can be serious, although nothing to panic about at this stage). btf-thyroid.org/information...
If you’re worried about this, you could go to a good optician and ask for an eye test, explaining your concern so they know to look for any changes. If you have signs of TED, your endo should monitor the condition, and possibly arrange tests anyway, but ‘high street’ eye tests in the U.K. are relatively inexpensive, and should give you some idea of what is going on.
If you do have TED, RAI may not be your best option. This is one article, but if you search on thyroid eye disease and RAI, you will find others.
Lisa, have you ever actually had any antibodies tested? TPO, Tg, TRAB or TSI? Before you make that final decision, I think you should have them all tested, to find out exactly what is causing the problem with your thyroid.
Hi Greygoose The Endo today has taken bloods to test the antibodies. This is the first time I have had this done, but I have a different consultant now. I just don't want to end up feeling ill when at the moment it is only slightly over and I dont feel too bad
Of course, you're perfectly right. And, in my opinion, endos are far too quite to rip out the thyroid, because it makes life easier for them! But, the problem for the patient is that once the thyroid is removed, the endo doesn't know how to treat the resultant hypothyroidism correctly! It wouldn't be a problem if they did, but they don't.
Do you know which antibodies he's testing for?
Oooh I didn't realise the test was for different antibodies - she just said we will do a test, but they took lots of vials. Mmmnn I'm stubborn anyhow & if something doesn't feel right I wont conform. I agree - remove the Thyroid & they think the problem will be solved which is not always the case
There are four different antibodies that could possibly be tested : TPO and Tg for Hashi's, and TRAB or TSI for Grave's. Each one needs a separate test. I sometimes wonder if doctors understand all that. Sigh.
Ha ha! She did say she thought I had Graves
Well, they always do say that when they see a low TSH. They ignore the fact that with Hashi's, too, you can sometimes have a very low TSH. All they have to do to verify is test the antibodies, but they very often don't!
So...if it comes back positive for Graves would that be the cause?
Yes. Grave's antibodies cause the thyroid to over-produce thyroid hormone. You can go into remission, but it can come back again. But, if carbimazole works for you, there's no reason why you shouldn't carry on taking it. You don't have to have a TT or RAI to destroy your thyroid. As I said, endos push that because it's easier for them!
Thank you I'll see what the results show, but it's going take a lot more persuading before I consider RAI. I'm only going on 5 mg Carbimazole so nothing drastic. As you say it's easier for them and statistics will look good if they get rid of the Thyroid
Ria. My endo wanted me to do that to. I refused because theres no guarantee that it wont affect other organs.
Thank you that's more or less made my mind up, think I will stick with the Carbimazole. Thank you so much everyone. There's not one positive comment on RAI...so that says it all !!
U r welcome. May god bless u and keep u safe. Hope u feel better.
Aw thank you xx
I had RAI in 2013 & have not had any problems. I'm now underactive & take Levothyroxine. There are quite a few on here who have had it.
Iam just saying my endo here in us said he could not say if it would affect other organs. Everyone is different and i was near death. Six weeks away fro massive heart attack.
Sorry to hear that Espisnowwoman, I hope you are ok now. I had to stop Carbimazole within about a week as it was affecting my liver.
Nothing in the world is a guarantee.yes iam ok. Still have medical issues.
Do you feel well Dusty? And if you do was the result instant or gradual?
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's and Graves
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.
Plus TRab or TSI antibodies for Graves
Essential to test thyroid antibodies plus vitamins
Private tests are available
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done in morning
Lisa, I had a partial thyroidectomy in 1985 (7/8ths removed). My endo said she wouldn't consider RAI as I was in my early thirties and it affects the ovaries. I wanted to stay on carbimazole; I felt very well on it and only wish I had insisted instead of reluctantly agreeing to the operation under pressure from my endo. I feel that the loss of most of my thyroid and the resultant ups and downs and uncertainty over levo dosage has cast a huge shadow over my life.
Hello Lisa, well I have digestive issues which i am sure are due to the loss of my thyroid. I was left for years after the operation with no mention of testing my levels. I eventually was given levo which was increased over the years to 200mcg. This was dropped to 150 and then 125mcg due to doctors at my company medicals telling me my T4 was high and TSH too low. A new GP five years ago reduced my dosage to 100 and then 75mcg. The last reduction exacerbated my GI issues and caused urticaria. My current levels on 100mcg are FT4 25.7 (12-22), FT3 4.5 (3.10-6.80), TSH 0.02 (0.27-4.20). From what I have read on this excellent forum I would think I am not converting well enough and I would like to have my FT4 lower and FT3 higher. GPs seem to know so little on this complex subject. Good luck with your decision.
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