Cytomel And Synthroid After Tt And Rai

Hi,

I just a TT on may 8th, they found 2 papillary carcinomas mesuring less than a cm. I should be having RAI in a few weeks.

I'm taking 75mcg of cytomel until I'm told to stop ( i was not given the option of the thyrogen shot, I lerned about it online). I went to my endo last week and told him I still feel bad ( always tired, no energy at all,scatter brain etc.) and he cut cytomel to 12mcg and put me ( after RAI is done)on 125mcg of synthroid.

Does that sound right?

I'm really getting confused with all of my doctors, nobody seams to be on the same page. I can't seam to get any answers, it 's really getting frustrating.

Oncology also told me it was not dangerous to be around my children(14 and 15) 1 hour after RAI. I only have one bathroom and that is a very big concern of mine. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN ANY KIND OF RISK.

 

Any advice?

Thank you

My doctor told me today...3 days - do not get within 3 feet of anyone (adjust or kids).  I have small children....3 and 6....so it is more like 2 weeks for them...can be in same room..they will not be hugging me, etc...after the 3 days that is.

My doctor also told me...72 hours after I take the pill..take synthroid and Cytomel..but drop the cytomel after 2 weeks...as by then the synthroid will kick in.   

 

First off, you will find good support here. I believe most of us understand the miscommunication and subsequent stress of the so-called "coordination of care" for thyroid cancer. As for your situation, I am not all that familiar with cytomel since we are still battling it out with tweaking synthroid (I'm currently on 125mcg btw). From what I understand it is meant to "boost" synthroid but I could be wrong about that. What I can say is I moved out of my house for a week after RAI. I totally believe docs underestimate the risk but at least your kids are older (mine are 4 and 6)...and they might understand what's going on. Still if they can stay with friends or family I would recommend that. You are actually more radioactive an hour out (since it will have then started to metabolize)...I'd get another opinion!

forgot to mention...once you go on Synthroid...you will supposedly have to go off of it for five weeks before taking the RAI...but different doctors will tell you different things..this is from my doctor.  I was never on synthroid...and I had my TT on May 9th.  I did go on Cytomel..but got off of it once I found out I needed to be off of it for at least 2 weeks prior to doing the RAI...it has been 3 weeks as of today...and I am doing RAI on Wednesday...Saturday I can start cytomel and Synthroid...

 

On 6/16/2008 mac98 wrote:

Hi,

I just a TT on may 8th, they found 2 papillary carcinomas mesuring less than a cm. I should be having RAI in a few weeks.

I'm taking 75mcg of cytomel until I'm told to stop ( i was not given the option of the thyrogen shot, I lerned about it online). I went to my endo last week and told him I still feel bad ( always tired, no energy at all,scatter brain etc.) and he cut cytomel to 12mcg and put me ( after RAI is done)on 125mcg of synthroid.

Does that sound right?

I'm really getting confused with all of my doctors, nobody seams to be on the same page. I can't seam to get any answers, it 's really getting frustrating.

Oncology also told me it was not dangerous to be around my children(14 and 15) 1 hour after RAI. I only have one bathroom and that is a very big concern of mine. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN ANY KIND OF RISK.

 

Any advice?

Thank you

I'm no endocrinologist. I can only speak from limited new experience. I was on 50 (2x25) of cytomel after surgery. I am 6feet tall and weigh 200 lbs (male/53 years old). I felt fine. You were on a higher dose of cytomel, so the fact that your doc cut your cytomel if you are tired is a bit odd. Your symptoms sound hypothyroid, so usually cytomel or hormones are the cure, but then again RAI in a few weeks means that you should be getting toward hypo anyway. Perhaps he (?) has planned for you to get ready at this point for RAI and instead of completely cutting you off is weaning you off. I'd ask.

 I was put on 50 cytomel (2 x 25) and 150 synthroid 5 days after RAI. Worked well. Cytomel for only two weeks then only synthrois after (for life). I will say that I was lucky and handled hypo remarkably well; so I may be odd.

 Can-of-worms question on the RAI exposure. You only spread radiation if you spread your fluids to another person and the younger (kids/babies) or older (oldest seniors) are the most at risk. Slim chance if you have prolonged bodily contact, but a chance. Being about 10ft away and leaving no transmittable residue is okay. BUT, almost everyone usually is told more cautious rules than you were told. Sorry, but the bathroom is the greatest area to transmit fluids, so I'd be careful.

I have a list that was givent to me that I can transcribe if you are without rules.

 RedStar 

 

 

On 6/16/2008 mac98 wrote:

Hi,

I just a TT on may 8th, they found 2 papillary carcinomas mesuring less than a cm. I should be having RAI in a few weeks.

I'm taking 75mcg of cytomel until I'm told to stop ( i was not given the option of the thyrogen shot, I lerned about it online). I went to my endo last week and told him I still feel bad ( always tired, no energy at all,scatter brain etc.) and he cut cytomel to 12mcg and put me ( after RAI is done)on 125mcg of synthroid.

Does that sound right?

I'm really getting confused with all of my doctors, nobody seams to be on the same page. I can't seam to get any answers, it 's really getting frustrating.

Oncology also told me it was not dangerous to be around my children(14 and 15) 1 hour after RAI. I only have one bathroom and that is a very big concern of mine. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN ANY KIND OF RISK.

 

Any advice?

Thank you

 

It's ashame your doctor is not familiar with thyrogen.  You sound like a perfect candidate for it.  I used it and it was so easy.  But with that said..you are given cytomel when preparing for hypo because cytomel is easier to get off of and you slip into hypo state easier than if you're on synthroid.  So I am surprised he put you on synthroid if you're supposed to go hypo that soon.  That makes no sense to me.

As far as RAI and safety...it depends on the amount you receive.  If it's a tracer amount, then isolation is not necessary.  If it's 75mc+ then it is.  It's true that it is transmitted via body fluid but that includes sweat etc.  When I used anything I used latex gloves for the first three days because anything I touched would be considered"hot".  When I sat in a chair I covered it with a sheet because I would sweat on it.  Of course it is a safety percaution.  IF we were deadly to others, we'd be locked up in a tent in a hospital.  But, I'm not sure why your oncologist would give you such advice unless you are just getting a tracer dose.  You need to confirm what you will be receiving.  The nuclear medicine department will give you the proper instructions before you leave the hospital after RAI.

Hi

 It sounds like with everything going on, you may have misunderstood some of the instructions or plans. My husband did the same thing as he was still trying to recover from TT and was hypo. (interestingly enough, his hypo symptoms were like most who are hyper) I would call or go back to the doctor and insist on getting all of your instructions in writing. It's much easier than trying to process it all at once when you are in a hypo fog.

 My husband was on cytomel immediately after TT. Endo said it's short acting and doesn't take as long to withdraw from it, as the longer acting, long-term thyroid medication does. He stopped that 3 weeks prior to RAI, started LID 2 weeks prior to RAI. He started on Levothyroxine the day after he got the RAI. It takes 4 weeks from then to get back to a "normal" level. (according to the endo). He did not get the cytomel booster as some on here have gotten. He just had to wait it out until the long term meds kicked in.

 Definitely get things in writing or take along someone who can act as your second pair of ears to hear all of the instructions. It's a lot to take in. Good luck to you.

 Karen