Can Somebody Describe

[carendam]

Hi everyone,

Can somebody tell me what they felt like right after RAI.  What did your body do if anything, how did you feel, any new symptoms.  I need to know.  Thanks for all your help!

Maybe knowing will ease my mind.

[GravesLady]

Usually RAI is a non-event, meaning that one feels nothing unusual. I personal didn't have any of the side effect.
However, for some there might be short-term side effects which may include nausea and vomiting soon after treatment, which usually only lasts for a day or two.
In addition, the salivary glands around the jaws and under the tongue might become painfully swollen and enlargement of these glands. This is treated by drinking plenty of fluids, sucking on lemon drops (in order to stimulate the flow of saliva) and occasionally pain medicine like aspirin.

Because it may take a few weeks after the treatment dose of radioactive iodine before there is a decrease in the blood level of thyroid hormone, you are at risk for a worsening of hyperthyroidism during this period. This is called "dumping" of excess thyroid hormones where the RAI  goes to the thyroid and starts destroying thyroid cells. As the thyroid cells die they "dump" all the hormone they've been storing and for a short period around 1 or 2 weeks after the RAI (usually measured in less than a few days) it is possible  to feel even more.  In many people, this increased period of hyperthyroidism may not be a problem for them, however, for patients with heart disease, such as in the elderly patient, this period of overactive thyroid hormone may put them at risk for a heart attack because the excess thyroid hormone may overstimulate the heart. For this reason, many practitioners prescribe antithyroid drugs for their patients who are about to undergo radioactive iodine treatment in order to prevent this "thyroid storm".

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!