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.

[Kerry124]

I would opt for surgery because RAI can cause problems in some people. Have a look at Elaine Moore’s site she had RAI and now has stomach cancer which she thinks was caused by RAI. I am not saying this is always the case I have a multinodular goitre which hasn’t grown thank goodness but if it did I would have surgery. This is just my opinion and others might disagree with it.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[sugarplumferry in reply to Kerry124]

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

[Kerry124 in reply to sugarplumferry]

Yes I just read it

[Kerry124]

I just read your previous posts. Have you got any thyroid function blood tests to share with us? Sometimes a goitre can grow if you have thyroid disease

[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.

[Kerry124 in reply to sugarplumferry]

I honestly don’t think RAI will shrink it. I have been researching what to do about mine for 15 years now. Have you got some blood results to share with us? You are entitled to see any blood results your doctor has because it is the law freedom of information act. We need the TSH, T4 and T3. Have you had a full thyroid function test in the past? This might be really helpful for you if you knew these results in my honest opinion

[sugarplumferry in reply to Kerry124]

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

.

[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]

no hypo symptoms - yet!