RAI to shrink a goitre?

[sugarplumferry]

Hi everyone - I’ve been on a waiting list for a hemi thyroidectomy for some time and now I’ve got a pre-op assessment coming up. I’m 77 with a grapefruit size, retrosternal, non toxic multinodular goitre. I was offered RAI or surgery and opted for surgery. I’ve had a few surgical procedures over the years without any issues but this one is really frightening me when I consider the risks involved. I know it’s late in the day but I’m reconsidering RAI and wondered if anyone has had it just for shrinking a goitre and if it was successful? The thought of just swallowing a capsule and sitting back and waiting for the beast to shrink is quite appealing, compared to surgery. I have some swallowing issues and difficulty clearing my chest so leaving it alone isn’t really an option.

[sugarplumferry]

Many thanks for this. I’ve actually just discovered a post I made three years ago asking the same question 🙄 and PurpleNails excellent reply.

[pennyannie]

He there again -

Yes, you are right, RAI does read as a non-event - compared to surgery -

You are between a rock and a hard place - drink a toxic substance known to be taken up, to a lesser extent, by other organs and glands in your body - or have your throat slit open -

We now have some research I don't think I sent you last time-

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

I guess, at your age, maybe you are in a different head space to where I was when I had RAI thyroid ablation but I deeply regret this treatment -

I wasn't given an option and sadly knew no different back then and trusted the system -

and the BTF information leaflets given out at the hospital were very positive and offered very limited, if any, negative side effects - and hope at least now, patients are given at the very least - balanced and honest information.

[sugarplumferry in reply to pennyannie]

This is my problem pennyannie - I’ve not been given any information except an A4 sheet about RAI. I was told to talk it over with my family and I’ll see you again in two weeks. What on earth does he think my family know about it! I did eventually opt for surgery but then chickened out. However the beast is still growing and food & medication getting stuck is getting more frequent. I was prescribed some enormous horse pills for another condition I have that I wouldn’t dare attempt to take which has brought me to where I am now - a quivering wreck wondering if RAI would shrink it enough.

[Insomania]

NDT Armour has shrunk my goitre, not just me noticing, family and friends have too. (Not completely, it’s still there but it’s smaller/less noticeable.) Not what I was expecting at all but a very welcome outcome. The medication leaflet actually says it’s for goitre. Shame it’s not available on the NHS, I had to go private for treatment because my thyroid results were in range.

[sugarplumferry in reply to Insomania]

At present my thyroid function is OK so I would be reluctant to take anything like this at the moment, particularly as I have AF.

[Insomania in reply to sugarplumferry]

Do you have any hypo symptoms?

Your FT3 is similar to mine when I started treatment. My FT3 was 27% of range and it’s now 76%. Yours is 32%.

But I had a lot of hypo symptoms so if you haven’t got hypo symptoms , ignore this!

[sugarplumferry]

Yes, I’ve been doing a lot more research and come to that conclusion. I thought I sent my latest blood results, I’ll try again

.

[sugarplumferry]

no hypo symptoms - yet!