What treatments are available for hyperthyroidism? The treatment options for hyperthyroidism are internal medication, surgery and iodine-131 therapy. Each of the three has its own advantages and disadvantages. What are the advantages of Iodine-131 treatment? The advantages of iodine-131 treatment are that it is easy to take and effective. When can the efficacy of Iodine-131 treatment be observed? Most patients take 2 to 3 months after iodine-131 treatment to show significant efficacy, while a few patients can produce significant efficacy more than 1 month after treatment. Is it possible to avoid hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment? It is difficult to ensure normal thyroid function after iodine-131 treatment. If hypothyroidism is deliberately avoided it will lead to a decrease in the cure rate and an increased chance of a second treatment. Even if thyroid function is normal after treatment, hypothyroidism can occur in many people several years later. What is the likelihood of hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment? It is currently reported to reach 30-40% in China, and 70% of patients abroad report hypothyroidism after 25 years. Hypothyroidism also occurs later in 30% of patients treated with internal medicine. The results of surgical treatment and the occurrence of hypothyroidism are similar to those of iodine-131 treatment. Can hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment be cured? Hypothyroidism after Iodine-131 treatment is divided into temporary hypothyroidism and permanent hypothyroidism. Temporary hypothyroidism returns to normal within one year after iodine-131 treatment for hyperthyroidism. Most hypothyroidism after Iodine-131 treatment is permanent and requires lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Which is better, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism? Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can have serious adverse effects on a person and both require treatment. The difference is that hypothyroidism is easier to manage than hyperthyroidism and the medications used to treat it are less expensive. The medications used to treat hyperthyroidism may have more toxic side effects on the patient (such as severe liver function damage, drop in blood cells, etc.), which may necessitate termination of treatment. Taking medication for hyperthyroidism requires frequent checking of blood cells and liver function and other indicators. Medications for hypothyroidism are safer because they do not cause toxic side effects. Taking medication for hypothyroidism only requires blood tests for thyroid hormone levels, and blood can be drawn up to once a year, so it is more convenient. I want to get pregnant, what kind of treatment should I take? If you want to get pregnant in the near future, you should not choose Iodine-131 treatment, but surgery or internal medication. If you are pregnant after 6 months, you can choose Iodine-131 treatment. Internal drug treatment should be propylthiouracil for the first 3 months and then change to tabazol after 3 months. If there is a decrease in white blood cells, or if there is liver function impairment, endo drug therapy should not be chosen. There is also a risk because internal medicine can enter the fetus through the placenta and the baby through breast milk. Is it okay to try to get pregnant after hypothyroidism? What do I need to pay attention to? Patients with hypothyroidism should take medication to correct the hypothyroidism before getting pregnant, and their thyroid hormone levels should be in the upper third of the normal range; after pregnancy, blood tests for thyroid function should be taken regularly and the doctor should be consulted. Otherwise, it may cause intellectual problems in the child, miscarriage, stillbirth, etc. What are the adverse effects of Iodine-131 treatment? How long will it last? Hyperthyroidism may worsen after Iodine-131 treatment, and as a result, symptoms such as fear of heat, panic attacks, easy hunger, and weight loss may occur. These symptoms may gradually resolve after two weeks to a month. Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and itching, which are usually mild and do not require special treatment and last about two weeks. Some patients may experience a transient drop in blood white blood cells, which will recover on its own. What is thyroid crisis? Thyroid crisis is an extreme clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism, caused by the release of large amounts of thyroxine into the body in a short period of time. Thyroid crisis can break out when a patient with hyperthyroidism is overworked, mentally stimulated, undergoes various surgical procedures, trauma, or bacterial infections. If left untreated, the risk of death is high. When thyroid crisis is suspected, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delaying the best time for resuscitation. Thyroid crisis rarely occurs after iodine-131 treatment. In fact, there are also risks associated with medical medication and surgery. For example, subacute hepatic necrosis and blood leukocyte reduction after medical medication may be fatal, and surgical treatment may involve anesthetic accidents, damage to nerves or parathyroid glands. Therefore, this problem should be viewed correctly. Do I have any effect on my family after taking Iodine-131? Iodine-131 emits two types of rays: beta rays and gamma rays. Beta rays have a short range and are used to kill thyroid tissue for therapeutic purposes. Beta radiation has no effect on people around you. Gamma rays have a long range and are administered to patients who have been exposed to iodine-131. However, the effect of gamma radiation on tissue cells is small, and the effect on the patient itself is minimal, thus the effect on the surrounding people is even smaller and can be ignored. However, close contact with pregnant women and infants should still be avoided for a week after taking the drug.