Radioactive Isotope Uptake test - 2.5 yr old nursling - help!!!

[Heavenly]

I have a nodule on my thyroid and am having some pretty severe symptoms of thyroid problems so they want to do a radioactive isotope uptake test to determine if it is possibly cancerous. My 2.5 year old is still nursing quite a lot. I don't have a huge supply due to breast reduction but she is still nursing whenever she wants during the day and night. All of the websites I've found say that radiation can sometimes be okay but the radioactive isotope uptake test is NEVER okay with breastfeeding. Does anyone have any info on this? Weaning is just NOT an option, she has special needs and is not ready to wean. What am I going to do???

[RootSnort]

For the test they want to do, you will need to pump and dump for days - they can tell you exactly how long. So what you need to do, if you don't have a milk stash, is to line up a donor.

[bits of myself]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I have a nodule on my thyroid and am having some pretty severe symptoms of thyroid problems so they want to do a radioactive isotope uptake test to determine if it is possibly cancerous. My 2.5 year old is still nursing quite a lot. I don't have a huge supply due to breast reduction but she is still nursing whenever she wants during the day and night. All of the websites I've found say that radiation can sometimes be okay but the radioactive isotope uptake test is NEVER okay with breastfeeding. Does anyone have any info on this? Weaning is just NOT an option, she has special needs and is not ready to wean. What am I going to do???

Call the office and ask exactly what isotope they'll be using. This chart is really helpful: http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/radioisotopes.html

[MaryJaneLouise]

And on your upcoming tests, that sounds pretty scary.

[William's Mom]

Please let us know how everything goes.

[Moonglow Girl]

Ask your endocrinologist for statistics on how likely it is that that a nodule of any kind is cancerous. And for more specific stats on nodules like yours (size, locations, etc) if she/he can find it.

And then decide how long you can put the test off for.

Every one of my "thyroid friends" who has had the test has tested negative.

I'm waiting till weaning to have my uptake test. But it's something only you can decide.

Good luck and good health to you mama!

[gini1313]

Can you have a needle biopsy of it instead?