I hhave to stop taking my Synthroid...

[Disfan1]

...for 6 weeks because I have to have a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Scan Any ideas on how to keep my sanity for the next six weeks?

 

[Blueeyes101817]

dont know about the scan, but hope everything goes okay..i know i get a bit crazy when my synthroid levels go crazy or when i have to stop taking it ...

 

[golfgal]

It takes a while for your levels to drop usually, hopefully you will have enough left in your system to hold you for a few weeks. Drink lots of water, get lots of sleep and wear a sign that says "hormones out of whack, WATCH OUT"!

 

[zippeedee]

Just keep reminding yourself that it is the lack of medication making you crazy, it's not permanent!
Are you doing the low iodine diet too?
If you haven't already found it, there is a ton of great information on "going hypo, RAI, LID, etc at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/.

I hope that's ok to post!

 

[Blondy876]

My grandmother has to do this every so often. It's always really tough on her. Good luck!

 

[bcvprincesses]

They wanted me to stop taking my synthroid after finding a nodule on ultrasound. I talked to my doctor and he agreed that doing a fine needle aspiration biopsy would be better and with that I did not have to stop taking my meds. I don't know if this is an option for you but it might be worth it to check to see if there is anything else you can do. I did not want to deal with not taking my thyroid medications, I think I might have gone crazy.

 

[Christine]

disfan1, do you have thyroid cancer? I had mine out 10 years ago because of cancer. I had to do the "hypo" stuff 4 times.

Will you doctor give you Cytomel (short acting thyroid hormone) for 4 of the 6 weeks? That usually helps.

Otherwise, being severely hypo is just not a picnic.

 

[Disfan1]

I have to have the scan because they found two nodules during an ultrasound. I have had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for about 10 years but last year my throid function really took a tumble. I spoke to the Dr. today and he wants me to try to tough it out without Cytomel because he wants to "see how I'll do." I have to have my TSH measured tomorrow so he can see what my level is now vs. what my level will be just before the scan. I am going to have my Synthroid in the car when I go to have my scan done so I can gulp some down right away after they are done! Thanks for the advice and support, everyone!

 

[zippeedee]

Synthroid takes a long time to get to a level in your system where you feel better. Can you ask your doctor for a weeks' worth of Cytomel? It really helped me the first week after my scan when my levoxyl hadn't kicked in yet.

 

[malibuconlee]

My friend's DH had to do this recently for another scan, but not for nearly so long. He only had to be off it for 2 or 3 weeks.

Warn your family. Not to worry you, but he was an absolute bear. My friend said he was not himself and if she didn't think it was him being off his meds she'd have left him. He would yell at her, and he was very clumsy. Not like him at all.

He said he felt like he was in a fog. He did say he thought it would only take him a dose or two to get to feeling normal again.

I need to call and check on him.

He did have thyroid cancer and at his 6 month scan they found a spot the size of a pin point left on the one lymph node they couldn't remove at the time because of the scar tissue from the original surgery where theyfound the cancer.

Good luck.

"hormones out of whack, WATCH OUT"! - I like this idea as well.

 

[claudia]

why doesn't your oncologist let you have the thyrogen shots? I am about to have my annual thyroid RAI body scan.....I never go off my meds, get the 2 shots for 2 days in a row and my TSH levels are up to 60+......how do you make out on the low-iodine diet??? I dread that the most!

 

[Christine]

why doesn't your oncologist let you have the thyrogen shots? I am about to have my annual thyroid RAI body scan.....I never go off my meds, get the 2 shots for 2 days in a row and my TSH levels are up to 60+......how do you make out on the low-iodine diet??? I dread that the most!

Claudia,
I know some doctors are doing Thyrogen right away, but that still is not in the thyroid cancer protocol for new patients. The *desired* method is still the old fashioned hypo scan for the first one or two times, then Thyrogen.

 

[claudia]

Hi Christine,
I guess it depends on your doctors then, as mine considers the thyrogen shots typical protocol for any patient that presents with out mets, including new patients. Many of the friends that I have made through support groups, including THYCA, have had there annuals done with thyrogen as well right from the beginning. The only exception are the ones with the mets. I think many doctors are aware of the extreme suffering a person goes through when they are off meds for that period of time, and I believe that course of treatment in not the *desired* method any longer.
Disfan, I think it is still something to discuss with your doctor.

 

[Christine]

Hi Christine,
I guess it depends on your doctors then, as mine considers the thyrogen shots typical protocol for any patient that presents with out mets, including new patients. Many of the friends that I have made through support groups, including THYCA, have had there annuals done with thyrogen as well right from the beginning. The only exception are the ones with the mets. I think many doctors are aware of the extreme suffering a person goes through when they are off meds for that period of time, and I believe that course of treatment in not the *desired* method any longer.

Yeah, I knew a few people were doing that but I still thought it was kind of "frowned" upon. But I guess they are confident enough in Thyrogen's accuracy to do it. And I agree that the suffering the old way is very bad. I have had to go through 4 periods of Synthroid withdrawal and I feel that, especially during the last one, I suffered some permanent effects.

 

[3princesses4us]

I just had my iodine scan today but I have never been put on thyroid medication because I keep "barely passing" my T3 and TSH tests. I have been dealing with this for almost a year where I have been diagnosed with everything from postpartem depression (she's 1 and a half) to mono. Now after much prodding, I find I have a goiter but still no meds for all my thyroid symptoms. Is this normal?

 

[Christine]

I just had my iodine scan today but I have never been put on thyroid medication because I keep "barely passing" my T3 and TSH tests. I have been dealing with this for almost a year where I have been diagnosed with everything from postpartem depression (she's 1 and a half) to mono. Now after much prodding, I find I have a goiter but still no meds for all my thyroid symptoms. Is this normal?

I don't know much about goiters and what their affects are, but I have heard that you can feel really bad when you have them as the thyroid gland does not "produce" equally every day with them.

What are your TSH values when you have a test? What does your doctor consider "barely passing?"