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radioactive iodine treatment
I have been on thyroid suppressants for 3 years..... everything levels off and then everything blows up. I have decided to have the radioactive iodine treatment. Please someone out there tell me what to expect... I am racing all the time. losing weight, anxious.... will i still feel like this afterwards? Will I feel normal... will I have to go on antidepressants? can i just tak synthyroid and be fine. Please give me some positive feedback..... I can't go on with this emotional roll a coster. thank you 11/16/08 Jeannette
I had RAI due to hot nodule.
No diet beforehand no nothing. I learned of the side effects from this website. Some of the side effects were given from the endo dr, but not in full detail as this site did. I was in isolation for a week at home.
Before you get the treatment. Go to the store and purchase:
1) Lots of water. You will need lots of water to flush the radiation out.
2) purchase some magazines or book/puzzles that you won't mind throwing out when finished.
3) Buy some plastic to cover your mattress.
4) put your remote(s) in plastic zip lock bags ( cover before treatment)
5) buy some lemon drops to help with the salivary glands
6) buy paper plates, forks, spoons and cups (do not use household utensils)
7) wash your clothes separate from everyone else.
8) buy some liquid soap for your bathroom and only you to use. throw it away after insolation period.
9) when in isolation, please flush the toilet 2-3 times after each use
10) stay away from babies and pregnant women.
11) bring a couple of trash bags in your room
After you collect your items. bring everything in the room in which you will be isolated before the treatment. This way you will not have to come into contact with anyone.
I don’t know how many millicurie of RAI you will get and how long they will want you in isolation, but I received 18 millicurie and the put me on 7 days isolation and an extra 3 days away from pregnant women and babies
I hope this helps.
Take care
Terri
Hot Nodules
RAI 12/07
BTW I had 18 mci's to ablate and I am still trying to get my medicine right.
No diet beforehand no nothing. I learned of the side effects from this website. Some of the side effects were given from the endo dr, but not in full detail as this site did. I was in isolation for a week at home.
Before you get the treatment. Go to the store and purchase:
1) Lots of water. You will need lots of water to flush the radiation out.
2) purchase some magazines or book/puzzles that you won't mind throwing out when finished.
3) Buy some plastic to cover your mattress.
4) put your remote(s) in plastic zip lock bags ( cover before treatment)
5) buy some lemon drops to help with the salivary glands
6) buy paper plates, forks, spoons and cups (do not use household utensils)
7) wash your clothes separate from everyone else.
8) buy some liquid soap for your bathroom and only you to use. throw it away after insolation period.
9) when in isolation, please flush the toilet 2-3 times after each use
10) stay away from babies and pregnant women.
11) bring a couple of trash bags in your room
After you collect your items. bring everything in the room in which you will be isolated before the treatment. This way you will not have to come into contact with anyone.
I don’t know how many millicurie of RAI you will get and how long they will want you in isolation, but I received 18 millicurie and the put me on 7 days isolation and an extra 3 days away from pregnant women and babies
I hope this helps.
Take care
Terri
Hot Nodules
RAI 12/07
BTW I had 18 mci's to ablate and I am still trying to get my medicine right.
I like how Dogdancing and AR put things
I didn't really make the decision to ablate - my endo did.
That was 6 yrs ago and Dogdancing hit me right on the head.
Along with no taste - I hav no smell - at least very minimal. I had burning tongue for over a year and was in hypohell for a very long time. Block salivary ducts brought on the burning tongue I believe.
I really believe it was the doctors who were assiting - or what I thought was assisting me- that kept me so ill for so long.
I don't think RAI is bad at all - I think it saves many people from the hyperness you are explaining.
I think since you found this site - you will be able to get very positive information on getting you well quicker than when I did it and had no one.
Good Luck and post your information or questions as much as you feel the need to
I didn't really make the decision to ablate - my endo did.
That was 6 yrs ago and Dogdancing hit me right on the head.
Along with no taste - I hav no smell - at least very minimal. I had burning tongue for over a year and was in hypohell for a very long time. Block salivary ducts brought on the burning tongue I believe.
I really believe it was the doctors who were assiting - or what I thought was assisting me- that kept me so ill for so long.
I don't think RAI is bad at all - I think it saves many people from the hyperness you are explaining.
I think since you found this site - you will be able to get very positive information on getting you well quicker than when I did it and had no one.
Good Luck and post your information or questions as much as you feel the need to
I agree with all the advice given by Dogdancing.
I had the advantage of being quite hypo when I had my RAI, so the dose was small and the result was a complete ablation.
I didn't have any lasting side effects, and any short term effects went unnoticed as I was sick as a dog anyway.
It has taken ten months to get my med dose right, and I'm not quite sure I'm there yet, but this is much better than living with a thyroid on a rampage.
I had the advantage of being quite hypo when I had my RAI, so the dose was small and the result was a complete ablation.
I didn't have any lasting side effects, and any short term effects went unnoticed as I was sick as a dog anyway.
It has taken ten months to get my med dose right, and I'm not quite sure I'm there yet, but this is much better than living with a thyroid on a rampage.
I did the RAI June 5, 2008.
Side effects and their intensity are different for most people, a lot depends on dose given.
Some suggestions:
Prep your isolation stuff AHEAD of time.
If you have a hx of depression / anxiety get a script for that ahead of time, cause hypo-hell will make you feel crazy as heck.
Read as much as you can on the subject.
For myself the mental fall out has been the worse. That plus the radiation fried my taste buds and I still cant taste anything. (taste can take up to a year to return)
You will experence what is termed "hypo-hell" as your levels fall. Know this one thing.......It will not last forever, it just seems like it. Above all else hang in there.
Rest when you can , the fatugue will not go away if you push through it and ignore the fact you are undergoing a life altering procedure.
Many RAI peeps not gastic distress and a LID (low iodine diet) will help. If your body can no longer metabalize certain foods, drop them from your diet. (ie sea food high in iodine made em sick as a dog, so did chinese had to avoid them for a while.)
make sure you do your follow up labs and dr appts.
Dont doubt your desison. That is not helpful, trust that you have made the right choice for you. I hit hyponess the end of Sept and once on the replacement I have felt so much better. The cardiac stuff is gone, I have energy again, I have my life back.
Peace be the journey
Paja, Graves, two hyperthyroid pregnancys, PTU and finally RAI 6-5-08
Side effects and their intensity are different for most people, a lot depends on dose given.
Some suggestions:
Prep your isolation stuff AHEAD of time.
If you have a hx of depression / anxiety get a script for that ahead of time, cause hypo-hell will make you feel crazy as heck.
Read as much as you can on the subject.
For myself the mental fall out has been the worse. That plus the radiation fried my taste buds and I still cant taste anything. (taste can take up to a year to return)
You will experence what is termed "hypo-hell" as your levels fall. Know this one thing.......It will not last forever, it just seems like it. Above all else hang in there.
Rest when you can , the fatugue will not go away if you push through it and ignore the fact you are undergoing a life altering procedure.
Many RAI peeps not gastic distress and a LID (low iodine diet) will help. If your body can no longer metabalize certain foods, drop them from your diet. (ie sea food high in iodine made em sick as a dog, so did chinese had to avoid them for a while.)
make sure you do your follow up labs and dr appts.
Dont doubt your desison. That is not helpful, trust that you have made the right choice for you. I hit hyponess the end of Sept and once on the replacement I have felt so much better. The cardiac stuff is gone, I have energy again, I have my life back.
Peace be the journey
Paja, Graves, two hyperthyroid pregnancys, PTU and finally RAI 6-5-08
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