Projet of pregnancy and partial thyroidectomy (iode)
Edit: Sorry for the incorrect title. I meant radioactive iodine treatment for the thyroid. I’m a native French speaker and I’m still learning to get by in English, using the good terms. I've edited my question in hope it's more exact in english of what I'm trying to explain and ask.
I have Graves' disease. It's been four years. My first endocrinologist never told me that I had Graves.
In fact, he only told me that my hyperthyroidism would disappear in nine months. After nine months, my partner and I accidentally conceived our first child during a trip together and around the same time, my hyperthyroidism disappeared.
I had no symptoms throughout my entire pregnancy. I only developed preeclampsia at 40 weeks of pregnancy and gave birth. My hyperthyroidism returned a year later. He (endocrinologist) then suggested having part of my thyroid burned with radioactive iodine. A few months later, my thyroid returned to normal. And it was normal without medication, for almost 7 months.
In the meantime, my endocrinologist left, and another one took over my case.
Three months ago, my hyperthyroidism returned. This new doctor told me I have Graves' disease and suggested that I do a radioactive treatment.
So during my last visit in her office she explain to me that with the radioactive iodine treatment, they’ll give me enough to burn the required amount of thyroid tissue *partial destruction* Not the total thyroid.
She also said there’s a 50% chance I’ll end up hypothyroid afterward or 50% chance I'll live a happy normal life after without any need for medication).
I have never had radioactive iodine treatment before.
So it's new to me to process.
However, my partner and I were considering having another child months before this new, because we felt the desire to expand our family. I am 38 years old.
The treatment requires waiting between six months or almost a year before trying to conceive. Suddenly, I see our chances of conceiving diminishing, and given that the women in my family went through menopause very early (40-45 years old), I'm wondering if I might have to give up on the baby project. I was wondering if you had any experiences to share with this procedure or if you had two pregnancy alright with hyperthyroidism.
My endocrinologist is open to the projet of pregnancy; she's leaving the choice up to me.
I'm just afraid of not having the same luck twice (a pregnancy without hyperthyroidism), or of experiencing preeclampsia again, or having bad experience postpartum etc.
Also: My partner is also 'pressing' me to get a full medical check-up and a second opinion because, according to him, I'm going to damage my health and end up with hypothyroid problems for the rest of my life, leading to a difficult old age. He feels concerned, if I express myself correctl.
I feel a bit lost in the process of the decision.
Thank you for your advices and opinions.