mej@ptsfa.UUCP (Mary Johnson) (11/20/85)
I have been diagnosed as having low thyroid, and referred to an
endocrinologist who wants me to take a thyroid scan test. I understand
that this involved swallowing radioactive iodine, and am worried about
that - especially since it seems that radioactive iodine is used as
treatment for an over-active thyroid gland. I was wondering if anyone
on the net could tell me:
1. Is this test necessary for an accurate diagnosis of a low thyroid problem?
(I've had extensive blood tests.)
2. Would taking the iodine lessen what thyroid function I've got?
3. What are the effects of swallowing something radioactive?
4. Are there dietary precautions for a person with low thyroid?
Any supplements that would be helpful?
Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
Mary Eileen Johnson
{ucbvax,cbosgd,hplabs,decwrl,amd,sun,nsc}!dual!ptsfa!mej
or ihnp4!ptsfa!mej
or well!ptsfa!mejslb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (11/22/85)
>From: mej@ptsfa.UUCP (Mary Johnson) >I have been diagnosed as having low thyroid, and referred to an >endocrinologist who wants me to take a thyroid scan test. I've had this scan done, although my problem is high thyroid. I'll tell you what I know--but remember I'm not a doctor. You should take your concerns to yours. (Remember, you are paying him for his advice :-) >1. Is this test necessary for an accurate diagnosis of a low thyroid problem? > (I've had extensive blood tests.) The blood tests say you have low thyroid. They don't say WHY. That is what the scan is for. There are lots of causes--and treatment differs depending on the cause. What they are mainly looking for is a tumor. (Don't be scared by that. Thyroid tumors are among the most curable--and most are benign, too.) Treatment for that would be removal. But treatment for some other conditions would be to just give you thyroid. So you see, they really do need to know what's going on. Besides looking for abnormalities, they will look at how fast your thyroid laps up the iodine. That number can tell them things, too. (Details I don't know.) >2. Would taking the iodine lessen what thyroid function I've got? No. The doses given for high thyroid are *massive*. The dose for a scan is very slight. Don't quote me, but I think you'll get more radiation from your dentist when he X-rays you. (And its less localized than an iodine scan!) >3. What are the effects of swallowing something radioactive? Should be none in this case. As I said, it's not much radiation. My doctor will not give radioactive iodine for my high thyroid. He will probably have me have surgery instead. He feels the large doses to knock out the thyroid are possibly dangerous. But he did have a scan done, and he says it is harmless. So the two things are quite different. I had no effects from my scan. It is a little scary, since they use tongs and lead gloves and have it in a massive case. But that's because they are working with it all the time, and need to be protected. (Just as your dentist will leave the room while he X-rays you.) It's really quite interesting--lay back and enjoy it--the computer equipment used was fascinating. >4. Are there dietary precautions for a person with low thyroid? All I've ever heard is that you should probably be using iodized salt and eating some seafood. A lack of iodine can cause the problem (although it can have lots of other causes, as I said.) I think it has to be an extreme lack, though. Very uncommon these days, when most of us have access to seafood no matter where we live. My doctor, when I first was diagnosed as hyperthyroid, asked if I was on any megavitamins or ate lots of kelp (no to both). He said he's seen people ruin their thyroids that way. (Flames from megavitamin lovers should be sent to my doctor--I'm not the one who said that!) Other than that I don't think anyone has ever connected diet and thyroid problems. > Any supplements that would be helpful? Ask your doctor. Hope that helps. The scan is really nothing. You should worry more about X-rays. -- Sue Brezden ihnp4!drutx!slb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To search for perfection is all very well, But to look for heaven is to live here in hell. --Sting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~