Graves Disease Treatment

[DKW]

MODS I'VE POSTED THIS IN GENERAL HEALTH BUT DIDNT GET ANY RESPONSES SO THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE THIS A GO

Hi guys

November last year I was diagnosed with graves disease (also known as hyperactive thyroid) and have been on carbimazole since diagnosed however my specialist keeps pushing radioactive iodine but with this treatment comes MAJOR restrictions my main problem with the restrictions is only being allowed 30mins contact within 2 mts of DD for 19 days and not being able to TTC for a min of 6 months (we were hoping to either be pg or have another bub by now ) I also cant sleep in the same bed as DH for 9 days and dont stay in hosp have to figure out arrangements for DD (really dont have anyone to look after her for the 19 days as our family either work or are sick DH cant take time off work as he wont get paid and its not fair on DD or anyone looking after her during this time)

I spoke to the nuclear specialist earlier this wk and he suggested either finding someone to look after DD and do it straight away OR wait 2 yrs until shes 4 and in kindy stay on the tablets that im on (not recommended to TTC on these either) and then it is easier for all and she will be more understanding. Therefore making at least a 5 yr age gap

He did also talk about having surgery to remove part of the thyroid which i am leaning towards alot at the moment as its pretty much my only option at the moment but i need to talk to a surgeon and there is a risk of damaging my vocal cord.

The really annoying thing about what these specialists have been saying is you're only 23 you have plenty of time to have kids but DH is 27 and is not liking the fact that it is all being kept on hold but he is very understanding. Our plan when we got married well pretty much when we met have kids young i take around 7 yrs off work then go back when kids were at school this way we are still young with our kids and kind of growing up with them in a way.

ANYWAY i guess the point of my post is to vent and ask what you would do in my situation as we are sooooooo confused and dont want to put things off much longer!

Thanks so much for listening to my ranting

[Lateralus]

Hi DKW - sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I don't have any personal experience with Graves Disease although my best friend's mum has suffered with it for years. She underwent the radioactive treatment and I know she wishes she hadn't. She said that the side effects of having no thyroid function & having to be on the thyroxin has been worse than the hyperthyroidism itself.... But she is just one case.

Maybe try linking in to a support group if you can and see what sort of treatment options other people have pursued and see what pros and cons they have experienced...

Good luck with your decision & treatment

[amazonbaby]

Hi, I have graves disease and was on a medication called PTU up until recently (it has a really long name that is shortened to PTU). I am now off medication for the moment as the PTU brought my levels down to normal and they have stayed that way for a few months now.

I was on carbimazole when first diagnosed, but I mentioned to my endocrinologist that I was planning to TTC, and he switched me to PTU which is safer to use while pregnant.

Maybe the PTU will work for you? It wouldn't hurt to ask your dr.

Hope I helped!

[DKW]

Thanks AB my endo did suggest PTU but decided to then put me on carbimazole as she decided it was the best idea to get it all under control before i ttc again. She said even if tablets do get me back to normal i have a fairly high chance of relapsing which is the reason for further treatment as my thyroid is quite enlarged (all of what i thought was just fat) ive just bought a book called the thyroid solution and im hoping to get some good reading in so i can get some info behind me

[guerin]

Is it possible for the 19 days to get your DD into some sort of childcare which your husband can drop her off at and at night for you to stay in a motel.

I know this would be costly but it may just work and the motel at night would be to stop you from being near your daughter but unable to pick her up which I think she would find very upsetting. I'm sure if I refused to pick my DD up for 19 days she would be upset but less upset if I wasn't there. Taking away the initail missing of mommy.

Perhaps a Nanny.

[Opinionated]

I would look into a childcare option. You may be able to ask at a long day care centre for full time care for 3 weeks as a special case.

Yes, it won't be cheap, but your dh can arrange to work around the open and close times and you could stay with a friend.

Yes, it will be very hard on you all to be apart, but radioactive iodine treatment is very effective and you can then get on with your life instead of putting things on hold. Your dd is old enough to talk to you on a web cam and will be able to listen to you on the phone. It sounds to me that waiting for years to have more children will be harder and have longer lasting effects than the 19 days.

[DKW]

Childcare isnt really an option my husbands hours are all over the place and if he doesnt work he doesnt get paid as he is casual so putting DD in childcare would be more costly than him working. i know it would be hard for her seeing me and not being able to be cuddled etc but i think it will be harder for her not seeing me at all in the 3 wks she has a hard enough time over 1 night! It really wouldnt be fair on DH either as he works long days and quite often comes home exhausted and has a short fuse with DD sometimes.

Im going to speak to my GP see what she thinks and see if i should get a 2nd opinion. Its all just soooooo hard!