[maria423]

My younger sister (29 years old) has been ttc for over a year with no success. The doc checked her thyroid levels finally and it's been determined that she has hyperthyroidism. Doc thinks that's why she hasn't conceived yet.<br><br>
Doc gave her three options: meds (not safe to take while pg), surgery (to remove thyroid, I think), or radioactive iodine to kill thyroid.<br><br>
My sis is very depressed with these choices, thinking none of them is a good choice.<br><br>
Anyone know of any other therapies or ways to contol the thyroid?

 

[Dodo]

No. Meds, radiation and surgery are the options, but that's not the whole story.<br><br>
Radiation and surgery should not be considered as the first line of treatment. Your sister should start a beta-blocker and an anti-thyroid drug. These should stabilize her levels, and definitely improve her ability to assess the situation.<br><br>
Also, some medications are acceptable for pregnancy (PTU, MMI). And, don't quote me on this one, but I think that some women are more likely to be eurothyroid when pregnant than when not. Not that this is a good time for her to get pregnant. It's not. She needs to stabilize her levels, first.<br><br>
There is a sticky thread for expectant mommies with Grave's (a common cause of hyperthyroidism) at <a href="http://www.mediboard.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=1;hardset=0;start_point=0;DaysPrune=0" target="_blank">the mediboard</a> That would be a good place for your sister to start. Have her check out the Thyroid 101 thread. It's invaluable.<br><br>
Hope that this helps. My own experience with hyperthyroidism has been after pregnancy, not before, but I do remember freaking out when at one of my first appts., the dr. was like, so, do you want to have any more children? I now think that was alarmist.

 

[maria423]

Thank you so much for the link and the info. I have passed it all along to her, and I hope she finds something helpful, as well as something to lift her spirits and her hope. She is a beautiful person and I hate to see her so sad. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">