[ladytaz]

Originally Posted by jen_slc

Doh, I can't edit my last post.... I wanted to explain better....

My doc first checked my thyroid levels through blood tests. Those indicated hyperthyroidism. Then he sent me for the radioactive uptake test - to see if my thyroid really and truly was hyperactive - I swallowed the pill, waited some amount of time, went back and they "read" how much radiation had been taken up into my thyroid. Whatever it showed, it indicated hyperthyroidism. Then my doc gave me 2 options for treatment: take the bigger radiation pill to kill my thyroid and become hypo forever... or start taking anti-thyroid meds and hope for remission. He said I had ~60% chance of the anti-thyroid meds kicking my thyroid back into normal functioning. Of course, I opted for the anti-thyroid meds and it worked! And so far, still got a normally functioning thyroid. I think that my thyroid likely wasn't enlarged enough or that my numbers weren't out of whack enough to warrant total destruction right off the bat. But even if someone was a "bad" case of hyperthyroidism, why wouldn't they be offered the anti-thyroid meds and the chance for remission? I guess at some point that therapy could be pointless/useless...

I think all my Mom and Sis were offered was irradiation or surgical removal. It's all I remember them mentioning anyway. My Mom's was over 10 years ago now, and my baby sis's was 2003.