After Radioactive iodine treatment

[Coulby]

Hi lovely people🫶

On the 1st of October I had Radioactive iodine treatment for Multinodular Goitre and Hyperthyroidism..I had the 6 wk blood test at "4pm"on Monday 11th Novemer.

Just now I received a phone call from my Specialist saying that my bloods were really good and the RAI had done its job and i will not need Levothyroxine...Of course im extremely happy...My bloods will be redone in 6wks to recheck. My question is..Is this result normal,as I still feel ill.

I don't have the results yet but they will be put on my portal and I will post them when I recieve them...

Can anyone share any answers ?

Happy silly season🎄

[PurpleNails Administrator]

What was tested? Do you have results? You still need monitoring for some time.

The full affect can take months. So it isn't guaranteed yet you won't become hypothyroid in the weeks to come. If that's the impression your doctor gave.

If your levels have just altered symptoms take time to completely resolve.

First you need to ensure your levels are stable and optimal then symptoms improve. It doesn't happen straight away.

[Coulby in reply to PurpleNails]

T4 and 3 were tested...I specifically asked it I will be taking Levo and her reply was no you will not 🤷

[Jazzw in reply to Coulby]

Ideally you need to know what the blood test results actually were, together with their laboratory reference ranges.

As PurpleNails has said, it takes a while for the effects of RAI to fully show themselves, so if you continue to feel awful, it would be a good idea to ask for repeat blood tests.

[Coulby in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks for that...IL post them as soon as they arrive.arrive.She also said we will have you right by Christmas

[Jazzw in reply to Coulby]

Well, she may well be right, so it’s good to stay optimistic.

[Coulby in reply to Jazzw]

Yes indeed x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH and most consistent results.

were these tested BEFORE you had RAI ?

[Coulby in reply to SlowDragon]

No they were not..I requested and was scripted for D3 monthly and B12 injections and the blood test just don't was at 4pm ??

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Coulby]

Yes far too late in day ….get hold of actual results

See exactly what has been tested and what results are

Retest at 8-9am

Get vitamin levels tested at next test

[Coulby in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou...I will do exactly that 🌻

[Keys2theworld]

I had the RAI treatment and it worked for me. After the the first few weeks it all settled down. As my thyroid was effectively 'killed off' I take Levothyroxine daily at 80mg. This works for me.

[Coulby in reply to Keys2theworld]

thanks for that...The bit I don't understand is she said I don't have to have Levo. ??

[Hurtlocker in reply to Coulby]

I think what your doctor mean was that you dont need Levothyroxine...YET..you probably will function for a while but you will become increasingly hypothyroid and need Levo to be well again ...it will be trial and error to get right dose but your bloods will tell your doctor the whole story after a few weeks as RAI is a slow burn which takes weeks to stop thyroid function completely and when it does you will need Levo to be well..Good luck and health again soon..

[Coulby in reply to Hurtlocker]

ahhh...Now I understand,thankyou x

[Caradoc1a]

I had RAI in Jan this year for hyper active and it took 3 months for me to become significantly hypo. I thought I was doing fine and, then out walking one day, almost collapsed out of the blue. TSH was over 20. So take note of how you are feeling.

[Caradoc1a]

It can take over 12 months for the thyroid to die.

[humanbean]

Having a TSH test done at 4pm will be very close to your minimum. Free T3 follows the same pattern as TSH except it is about one and a half hours behind TSH, so when you get your results your TSH might be lower than it ought to have shown in testing and your Free T3 might be quite low too.

I wonder if your TSH being close to its minimum is why your doctors are so enthusiastic about your results, when really it might be too high at 4pm to indicate a good result. Because if it had been tested at 8am - 9am it would have shown a higher result.

See the graphs on this link to see what I'm talking about :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Coulby in reply to humanbean]

Thankyou for that...So interesting.Is this ok to show my doctor ? 🌻

[humanbean in reply to Coulby]

We tend not to discuss timing of tests with doctors, but I'm not really sure under what circumstances that is true. It would be worth asking others for an opinion.

RedApple

greygoose

helvella

[greygoose in reply to humanbean]

Well, I live in France and things are different. You have to go to a lab for a blood test - there are one or two in every high street. They open around 8 am (usually a queue!) and don't take blood after 10 am, so I've always had mine done around 8.30. It would be unheard of to have a test at 4 pm! So, the question doesn't arise for me.

Only thing is, I once told a doctor I didn't go for the test that morning because I forgot to forgo my T3 that morning. He said, doesn't matter, wouldn't make any differece to the result. So, there you have it: ignorance reigns.

[Coulby in reply to greygoose]

Wow..maybe I should move to France 😃

I so wish NZ was like that..Sounds like ignorance does rein 💫

[helvella in reply to Coulby]

Most of the answer to that question depends on your doctor and you. If you have a good relationship and your doctor is open to information and discussion, it could be a good move. If not, or less so, you will have to make the call!

These things are openly published so it is no secret!

There is a bit more here:

helvella - Scheduling Blood Draws

Factors to consider when choosing time for blood draws. Includes links to several documents/webpages and previous HealthUnlocked posts.

Last updated 12/08/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Digger0]

I had RI for Graves, and have to take Levo now for life as my thyroid was basically wiped out.