Is there a doctor in the house? Help, help?!
Question: My sister had a thyroidectomy and was put on a low iodine diet and taken off her medicine, anticipating going into the hospital for radioactive thyroid. Long story short, the people in the doctor's office screwed up and her hospital date was changed to a week later because suddenly the doctor was on vacation. Guess they didn't know that January 3 when they scheduled her for the 15th.
So she's been feeling and looking dreadful and today woke up with double vision and she's totally hysterical. I think it is somehow associated with her condition, which hopefully will start to be rectified on Tuesday, but I can't find anyplace on the Internet that says that. She called a doctor and an urgent care center - the center told her they couldn't do anything and the doctor said it's not a symptom. Big help. COULD this be a symptom, and could she just put a patch over one eye and wait until Tuesday? Also, she he has autoimmune disease, which may figure into this.
Answers: My sister had a thyroidectomy and was put on a low iodine diet and taken off her medicine, anticipating going into the hospital for radioactive thyroid. Long story short, the people in the doctor's office screwed up and her hospital date was changed to a week later because suddenly the doctor was on vacation. Guess they didn't know that January 3 when they scheduled her for the 15th.
So she's been feeling and looking dreadful and today woke up with double vision and she's totally hysterical. I think it is somehow associated with her condition, which hopefully will start to be rectified on Tuesday, but I can't find anyplace on the Internet that says that. She called a doctor and an urgent care center - the center told her they couldn't do anything and the doctor said it's not a symptom. Big help. COULD this be a symptom, and could she just put a patch over one eye and wait until Tuesday? Also, she he has autoimmune disease, which may figure into this.
Unlikely, you describe her as s/p sub total thyroidectomy now needing a radiioactive thyroid ablation, her thyroid level is therfore probably still high.Thyroid problems can cause alot of visual symptoms but these are gradual in onset. Hyperthyroidism doesnt typicaly cause these symptoms you describe unless a person is in Thyroid Storm, a condition often provoked by another illness where the thyroid relaeases massive amounts of thyroid hormone. If this is the case, this is actually a medical emergency and she needs to go to the ED today. If her pulse is normal (under 100), then that condition is extremely unlikely.
The best advice is to have go to the ER. Thyroid problems can cause eye issues, usually a " gritty eye " sensation. This can also cause mood swings, irritability, to name a few symptoms. But, since she has had her Thyroid removed and has an Autoimmune Disease, there could be more than one thing occurring at the same time. Both health issues can cause a variety of symptoms, some are more common than others ( symptoms). Since, I do not know her medical history and exactly which autoimmune disease that she has ( not that it is any of my business), the best thing is to go to the ER. She needs peace of mind and/or treatment based on the hospital's findings . Urgent Care is usually affiliated with a Doc's office, not necessarily an ER., although they are equipped to deal with more intense care than a Doc's office. I hope that this helps.
Here's a web that will allow you to click on different areas of interest regarding Thyroidectomy:
http://www.righthealth.com/Health/Thyroi...
Hello. I am not a dr but i work with them everyday nearly and i just rang one as i was worried about your Sister and he said he woould get her to the hospital asap as you never know. He said it is not worth taking a risk. Hope this is some kind of help to you. Good luck to you and your Sister. Let me know how you go.
Double vision is also called diplopia. Did she have a total or subtotal thyroidectomy? There is a condition called thyroid-associated orbitopathy that's an autoimmune process related to thyroid dysfunction but there are other symptoms besides diplopia that go along with this. I'm not diagnosing your sister, contradicting the Urgent Care doctor or trying to put ideas into your head. Her surgery and/or present condition may have nothing whatsoever to do with this.
She can patch one eye at a time and switch it to the other eye every 4 hours until she's seen by her doctor. More importantly, try to keep her calm, talk to her slowly in a low, quiet voice and don't react when she becomes upset. Make her focus on you. Tell her this will be worked out. You can do much to help her remain steady and optimistic.
FYI: The decision to go to an ER is hers to make. And, I agree, that going may give her a modicum of peace of mind or it may not change anything. The choice is hers.