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Post RAI 100mci isolation (when is it exactly safe to act normal?)
Hi everyone! I'm new here, 30yo male from the Philippines.I have been diagnosed with "minimally invasive follicular CA of the thyroid (right) just last June of '09. It's quite a long story but I'll put it up on another post. To get to my point...it was 06-25-09 when my TT was done due to my "minimally invasive follicular CA. My endo was a bit "agressive" since she said that I was male and I was young so we can controll it asap." Based on what I've been reading here on this site and on others...after TT, you're usually left to recover for at least 3-6months before RAI. Not in my case. My endo immediately prepared me for RAI after my TT! I wasn't put on hormone replacement and a couple of weeks after the TT, was put on LID. I was so miserable, because of the remaining 'side effects of the TT (pain, swelling, difficulty swallowing leading to rapid weight loss and fatigue) which were all compunded by my Hypothyroidic state. I was so miserable because I was so weak, gets tired easily and have had episodes of anxiety. 4th week after my TT, 07-21-09, i was put on RAI 100mci dosage and put in isolation in the hospital for 5 days. during the first day, my rad count at 1meter distance was 14mrems/hr...2nd day was 7mrems/hr & 3rd day was 1.9mrems/hr. They didn't take any rad count after the 3rd day since they said it was already below the 2mrems/hr "safe zone". They also kept on insisting that I don't have to take any radiation precautions for my loved ones at that point since "it's safe". I'm now back at home, but I need to know exactly when is it very safe to start living normally again (sleep with my wife on the same bed, physically touching her and relatives, sharing things with them)?? If you can share any detailed experiences about this, it will be a great help in alleviating my anxiety and concern. Thank you in advance!
Sorry ...forgot to mention.
Its ok to be in the same bed as your wife now.
Just stay away from pregnant women and children for 2 weeks all up.
Its ok to be in the same bed as your wife now.
Just stay away from pregnant women and children for 2 weeks all up.
Lol Shiro......it is ok NOW to give that lovely wife of yours a hug.
Just no sexual intimacy yet....2 weeks all up.
I know that a hug was the first thing I wanted.
It meant more to me than all the money in the world.
Just no sexual intimacy yet....2 weeks all up.
I know that a hug was the first thing I wanted.
It meant more to me than all the money in the world.
I'm not surprised that it's you, stella and smilerdeb, again who posted. Thanks for all your insights. They REALLY helped a lot in avoiding second guessing everything. I guess the only thing hospitals care for now are their own finances and not the patients' needs and well being.
Well, I'm now at 7 days past from the day I took the RAI capsule. That's 5 days in the hospital and 2 days at home. All in isolation except for the last two days when my wife was already helping me do things (since I get fatigued easily as I'm still hypo)...she's wearing gloves and a mask of course.
So if I'm reading you, Smilerdeb, correctly...I still can't be with my wife in the same bed all through out the night until one more week from today? I had her sleep at least three hours last night in the same room but on a matress on the floor since I had an anxiety episode due to palpitations that woke me up at last night. I hope that's still safe for her.
Well, I'm now at 7 days past from the day I took the RAI capsule. That's 5 days in the hospital and 2 days at home. All in isolation except for the last two days when my wife was already helping me do things (since I get fatigued easily as I'm still hypo)...she's wearing gloves and a mask of course.
So if I'm reading you, Smilerdeb, correctly...I still can't be with my wife in the same bed all through out the night until one more week from today? I had her sleep at least three hours last night in the same room but on a matress on the floor since I had an anxiety episode due to palpitations that woke me up at last night. I hope that's still safe for her.
I was given an instruction sheet which told me no touching, kissing etc for 3 days with loved ones.
I slept on a blow up bed for 4 nights after RAI, had a separate bin outside for anything I ate off (i used disposable plates etc). I used surgical gloves for 4 days so I wouldnt contaminate anything I touched.
I urinated every hour on the hour for 4 days (washing the toilet down with bleach water in a bucket I kept in the toilet) and flushing the toilet twice after each use.
I drank water until I felt like a goldfish (lol) and sucked on lemon slices (Sour candies were no good as I still had the choking sensation).
I never went to a supermarket for over a week and basically kept away from everyone for a week.
I went back to my bed on the 5th night with my partner but no intimacy for well over 2 weeks.
I was told I could be in the same room but at arms length with my partner but only an hour at a time then 1/2 hours break.
In the week I spent away from everyone, I stayed in pyjamas and these were disposed of in my 'radiactive bin' , along with the blow up bed I used especially for the treatment.
This bin was then picked up by the Nuclear Dept. (hospital) on the 8th day after RAI.
Also I was told no contact with pregnant women and children for a week (I did it for 2 weeks to be on the safe side).
I was back at the Doctors a week after RAI but was still put in a separate room and not in the waiting room due to anyone being pregnant or children in the waiting room.
Stella ...things have changed a lot in the past 2 years regarding rules for RAI.
I read on one site earlier in the year that a woman had RAI on the Friday and was back at work on the Monday.
I was horrified!
As far as I'm concerned.....use your common sense, dont get too close to anyone for at least 2 weeks.
It takes roughly 8 weeks for the RAI to be TOTALLY out of your body(to my knowledge) but only 1 week for you to be classified as 'safe'.
Normally it is 4-6 weeks after RAI that you are Hypo depending on the success of it working.
I have known some people having to have it done twice.
Hope that helps
I slept on a blow up bed for 4 nights after RAI, had a separate bin outside for anything I ate off (i used disposable plates etc). I used surgical gloves for 4 days so I wouldnt contaminate anything I touched.
I urinated every hour on the hour for 4 days (washing the toilet down with bleach water in a bucket I kept in the toilet) and flushing the toilet twice after each use.
I drank water until I felt like a goldfish (lol) and sucked on lemon slices (Sour candies were no good as I still had the choking sensation).
I never went to a supermarket for over a week and basically kept away from everyone for a week.
I went back to my bed on the 5th night with my partner but no intimacy for well over 2 weeks.
I was told I could be in the same room but at arms length with my partner but only an hour at a time then 1/2 hours break.
In the week I spent away from everyone, I stayed in pyjamas and these were disposed of in my 'radiactive bin' , along with the blow up bed I used especially for the treatment.
This bin was then picked up by the Nuclear Dept. (hospital) on the 8th day after RAI.
Also I was told no contact with pregnant women and children for a week (I did it for 2 weeks to be on the safe side).
I was back at the Doctors a week after RAI but was still put in a separate room and not in the waiting room due to anyone being pregnant or children in the waiting room.
Stella ...things have changed a lot in the past 2 years regarding rules for RAI.
I read on one site earlier in the year that a woman had RAI on the Friday and was back at work on the Monday.
I was horrified!
As far as I'm concerned.....use your common sense, dont get too close to anyone for at least 2 weeks.
It takes roughly 8 weeks for the RAI to be TOTALLY out of your body(to my knowledge) but only 1 week for you to be classified as 'safe'.
Normally it is 4-6 weeks after RAI that you are Hypo depending on the success of it working.
I have known some people having to have it done twice.
Hope that helps
You should of recieved an instruction sheet from the clinic or ?? where you had RAI.
It's usually 10 days post RAI to be with people - I believe intamacy is longer though. 6 mths from what I remember?
You were prepared for immediate RAI because of the "type" of cancer found.
There is a alot of info on RAI in our Health Pages. Take a peek at that.
It's usually 10 days post RAI to be with people - I believe intamacy is longer though. 6 mths from what I remember?
You were prepared for immediate RAI because of the "type" of cancer found.
There is a alot of info on RAI in our Health Pages. Take a peek at that.
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