Radioactive iodine

[giraffe49]

Should I stay in a motel room for 3 days ?  I have a small apartment with a husband and 2 cats.

[nissah46]

If you stay in a motel you must inform the management about your RAI, because they will probably need to do special cleaning to protect the next occupants.  You didn't mention your dose, so it may not be necessary for you to be isolated. I was isolated in hospital for 2 days, and at home for a week. Perhaps it would be easier for your husband and pets to go to the motel.  

[Smilerdeb]

I was at home after RAI treatment and I am in Australia.
I did ask for the smallest dose though.
I refused the larger dose they wanted me to have.
Read my journals......no two people are alike.

[Roxanne862]

Hello, my name is Roxanne and in Oct of 08 I took 131 RAI. I have regretted doing it ever since. However, if you follow through and take it be aware if you have small animals. I stayed in a Hotel for almost a week, and when i came home I stayed at one end of the house for two more weeks.  Around Thanksgiving my eyes began to bother me and by Christmas i did not look the same.  I looked like something from a freak side show.  No one prepared me for this. In the begining they were all so nice, suck lemmon drops, and drink plenty fluids.  Take the RAI pill and the run with you to toss you out the door. Leaving you to pick up what ever nightmare might happen.  Not only did it ruin my eyes a bout 6 months afterwards i notice my Pom pup sitting looling at the floor, like he was in a trance.  I had stayed away from him, yet I would tease my husband and Mother, he has Hypothyroidism.  Well tunrs out HE DID!!!!! The RAI ate his little thyroid up.  Now he takes meds everyday, twice a day.  In Europe once you take RAI you are kept in the hospital in Isolation for 3 to 5 days. Here ?  Toss us to the street as fast as ya can. makes no sense to me.  No one warned me about the many other high risk factors later on in life, after RAI.  I am not trying to come across mean or nasty. I wish  someone would have told me the HARD COLD FACTS Before I swollowed that RAI pill.  Whats the Rush?  

[MANmom]

PS, If you stay don't prepare any food for your husband, you run the risk of contaminating food if you taste it or accidentally sneeze near it...

[MANmom]

Depends on how much you are given...I would for at least one night, check with your doctor.  Mine said that the first 24 hours are the worst for radiation...the things to watch out for are your urine, tears, sweat, etc.  If you stay in the apartment, you should be very careful in regards to the bathroom...flush the toilet at least 3 times after you use it, wipe down any splash, wipe down the sink after you brush your teeth.  Remember to drink a lot of water, and suck on sour candy to keep your saliva glands flushing out.  I think my tongue peeled, which was weird!  You will probably lose your sense of taste for a few weeks, don't worry, it does come back.