iodine drink

[mjack]

i have an overactive thyroid an think i anm going to be offered hte iodine drink on my next appointment, as anybody had it, and if so what happened

[Hidden]

Hi I had the iodine drink about 30 years ago, I was ill and very young at the time so it was very scary for me, I had to have it at the children's hospital in nottingham, The iodine arrived in a lead box escorted in a car from one part of the hospital to the other, The people that gave it me to drink were dressed in white overalls with masks on, they looked like astronauts from outer space and it frightened me even more, I was asked if i had any dentures which i hadn't, i was sat in an empty room whilst they stood behind a screen and watched me drink it, I was told afterwards as id come with my mum and uncle, that on the way back home i had to swop seats in the back of the car every half an hour so i didn't spent too much time near any one person, and when I got home i wasn't to go near anyone pregnant for 48 hours,

I was also told after having the radioactive iodine if i ever got pregnant the babies would be born disabled so a few years later i got sterilised

lots of things have changed since then thankfully and having radio active iodine doesn't mean you can never have normal babies after the treatment thankfully things have moved on

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

That must have been a terrifying thing, Smooze. It brings tears to my eyes to think about it. How old were you?

Hugs, Grey

[Hidden]

I was 19 when i had the iodine drink im 54 this year , It was a last ressort as id previously had a partial then a total thyroid removal and parathyroid removal..and it still grew back I was never the maternal sort as i couldnt look after myself anyway so babies were never on my agenda,

this as been cathartic for me to write it down, i often want to write but worry i dont have anything worth while to say thank you for being so kind xx

[mjack]

Smooze that sounds terrifying, im dreading it and what ive read i dont think i will be going for it, hope your ok xxxx

[Hidden]

@mjack this was a long time ago and im sure now things will have got better When you are ill and youngish hospitals are scarey places to be dont go on my experience i bet there are lots of better accounts these days

It was just like drinking a glass of thick water through a straw no pain or burning or anything

xxxx

[Hypo32]

My brother had it about 15 years ago. He became underactive afterwards and now takes thyroxine and feels OK. He has 2 perectly healthy boys (I am not sure if it is different for females or not). He did have to keep away from children and pregnant women for a while and generally not spend time close to anyone for a few days.

[samgold]

Goodness me, what a traumatic story. I had it 41/2 years ago and since had a healthy son.

I am on thyroxine and feel ok too. I was told to stay away from my then 1 yr old for 5 weeks after taking the RAI. That was the worst part of it. It didn't kill off enough of my thyroid so I had to have it removed the following year.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

Sam

[Heloise]

mjack, I hope you have tried all else first. Unless you are in an extreme hyperthyroid condition, I would try methimazole or one of those, along with a beta blocker. Selenium is often deficient in hyperthyroids. Are you young? Under thirty? Sometimes you can ride this out and retain your thyroid. I am looking up some articles.

[mjack]

Hi Heloise, im 44 and wouldnt say im under thirsty, sometimes forget to drink decided to try the iodine drink as consultant was very worried about my thyroid being so high, i know ill go under active after it but hope medication then will sort it out, thank you x