re:thyroid awareness

Awesome news!!  Congrats on getting over that!

And well done on the tri.

Good reminder.  A similar thing happened to my dad last September and he had all of his thyroid removed.  It is very very treatable, especially if caught early.

Glad to hear you are ok and doing well.  Congratulations on your tri!

I'll add that my nephew was treated for his Thyroid and the doctor had him take Iodide supplements. Iodide is added to table salt, and with the cut back in salt that everyone has been trying to acheive, we may not be getting enough Iodide.

I have had graves disease (hyperthyroidism) for almost 4 years now. I consider myself a non medical expert on the thyroid. I am finally back to normal TSH levels and off medication. That tiny little organ can cause lots of problems.

One more piece of caution.  My doctor put me on iodine supplements due to the high volume of chlorine exposure (i.e. pool swimming).  He said the chlorine and bromine used in pools out competes the iodine binding sites in your body and can make a deficiency worse.  Take care of that Thyroid! 

the iodine issue is a biggy, and it is a lot to do with people cutting back on there sodium intake be sure you are getting the rite amount, good luck to all. For those who don't know the function of the thyroid look it up you will be surprised at what this small organ is responsible for.

Hypothyroidic here also. Still have problems and my TSH levels are still in the 12's and trying to get it figured out still.

Yep, hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) here as well.   Glad to hear your doctors are on top of it.  They'll get it back under control.  (My TSH never got that high but my T4 was in the tank and my antibodies sky high.)

Hypothyroid here too... Hashimoto's diagnosed about 10 years ago. Now on a stable dose of synthroid.

For those folks talking about iodine supplementation, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me that someone is monitoring your thyroid function with this. There are long-term health risks to untreated hypothyroidism, and the idea that iodine can somehow make your thyroid function normal is one of the biggest misconceptions out there. If whoever is prescribing the iodine hasn't checked your TSH and T4 and treated it appropriately with thyroid hormone supplementation, they're mismanaging your thyroid disease.

As for the cancer... Thyroid cancer is (statistically speaking) one of the most easily treated and survivable cancers out there. There are subtypes that aren't so friendly, though. Bottom line is that you don't need to be screened with an annual thyroid ultrasound or anything, but certainly if you feel a lump in the center of the neck just below the voicebox, don't write it off as nothing.

Edited by DrPete 2009-09-05 9:54 AM

I was diagnosed with Graves when I was 17. After two years with a endocrinologist adjusting my medication up and down it stabilized and has been stable since. But my doctor definitely keeps an eye on it. I did develop a nodule on my thyroid at some point, which has remain unchanged for years. It seems like everyone has something going on with their thyroid at one time or another. They do say if you are going to get cancer, thyroid is about the easiest to treat.

My doctor recommended that I not do anything until we made sure the medicine is the right dose. It is pretty much a guessing game at first.  Once we got it dialed in he told me I could do what ever i wanted. Glad you decided against the radiation. It may take some time but you will get better. If you have any questions let me know.