My mother has been prescribed radioactive iodine for her hyperthyroidism.

[darkstar3]

Should I tell her she will save money by standing in the California rain?

[LAGC]

1. C'mon now.

Don't you know this is just the very beginning of the nuclear apocalypse and that we're all going to die from toxic acid rain?

The end is near... VERY near...

[Electric Monk]

2. That's for diagnostic purposes, not treatment, afaik

From wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthyroidism

[darkstar3]

3. Actually it's to kill parts of her thyroid that are growing too quickly,

at least according to the phone call I received. Of course, that's pretty far from the point of the OP...

[pa28]

4. It's for treatment. I had radioactive iodine for my own hyperthyroidism and it worked.

Unfortunately I felt like death warmed over for about a month and now I find myself wondering about the long term consequences.

[murielm99]

6. I had it done six years ago.

What type of thyroid replacement are you taking? That might make the difference. Synthroid sucked for me. I take armour thyroid now.

Long term consequences: weight gain that is VERY difficult to get rid of. I can't seem to lose this weight no matter what I do. I do have trouble with my memory sometimes, too. I try to read, do crossword puzzles, and keep my mind active in other ways so that this is less of a problem.

[pa28]

7. I had it done about eight years ago.

My thyroid level was sky high but my doctor and the medical staff calculated the dose really well. Right now I'm in the normal range but I'll have to go on replacement at some point in the future.

BTW thanks for the tip I'll remember that when the time comes. :)

[Omaha Steve]

5. They overdoesed my mom

She has had to take synthroid for 20 maybe 25 years because of it.