I'm not a mystery anymore LOL (updated 27/11/08)

[{sarah}]

Aaaah ok, that makes sense.

I'll definitely update if I ever manage to get this appointment done. Worst thing is it's so far out from the antibodies BT that she's likely to want to do another one

[Sequoia]

Worst thing is it's so far out from the antibodies BT that she's likely to want to do another one

Sorry, what does this mean?

Have you had an iodine scan yet? I had one on Tuesday and couldn't BF for 24 hours.

SG

[Junglemum]

Hi Sarah, just wanted to give you a little info.....

The RAI uptake test is generally done if they are planning on treating you with RAI. The uptake test involves ingesting a tiny amount of RAI to see where it is distributed within the thyroid and in the case of Thyroid ca, the rest of the body too. Although it is a tiny amount for this test, it is generally not recommended to BF mothers, as your endocrinologist suggested.

To look at the general physiology of the thyroid, the most common radioactive agent used is technetium, it behaves like iodine in the thyroid, but unlike iodine it has a short half and does not emit any beta rays. Beta rays are what iodine emits to destroy tissue. So, it is excreted rapidly from the body without causing any tissue damage. For this test it is generally recommended that you either express prior to the test and use that for the next 24 hrs, or use formula.

From the sounds of it, your friend had radioactive iodine for treatment. Treatment follows the uptake test if indicated. The dose of iodine used for treatment in much higher and that is when all the special precautions come in. Separate cutlery, separate beds, limiting close contact with children and pregnant women, etc.

I hope i am making it clearer for you and not more confusing! Please pm me if i can answer any questions about the RAI at all.

[{sarah}]

Thanks Falguni, that has helped My friend had thyroid cancer a few years ago & had her thyroid removed, the test she had was to check there was no tissue left or someting like that & she had the separate beds etc for about 10 days after. My endocrinologist has said that she won't do any iodine treatment while I'm breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary.

The antibodies test is to see if there if my body is attacking the thyroid & why.

[Junglemum]

Makes total sense. When you have thyroid Ca they want to get rid of ALL the thyroid tissue. So after her surgery, they would have given her a large-ish dose of RAI to kill off any remaining cells as the thyroid can quite readily grow back. If you have RAI to treat hyperthyroidism, the dose is generally not as high as that. Precautions are still taken of course but not as extreme.

Can i also add........... ticker pic of your little girl is very cute.

[{sarah}]

Okay well we finally have a diagnosis.....

Hashimoto's Disease

My T4 is something like 49 at the moment which is really really bad. I've gone from mildly underactive, to normal when medicated, to highly overactive to now extremely underactive..... So we've now come to the conclusion that I have Hashimotos, plus added to that I had Post-Partum Thyroiditis. How crazy to have a condition cause hypo & hyper thyroidism at the same time!!!

I'm now back on Oroxine, double the original dose i was on last year. I'll have another BT in six weeks then an appointment with the endocrinologist after that. Essentially we're going to have to keep testing every 4-6 weeks until everything stabilises, but she's not sure how long that will take considering in two months I have swung so wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other. But at least we're on the right track now......

[MantaRay]

That's great that you have an answer Sarah. I hope it behaves for you now.