[jasmin24]

#1058869

All I find online is about people who have cancer and are having HUGE amounts of RAI. I am planning on having RAI but the endo said its 1/10 of what a cancer patient has. (not sure exact dosage). I have Graves and Hoshimotos and basically my body is playing tug of war and i just cant take it any longer.
So here are my questions–
1) RAI- I have to be isolated for 3 days. I have 2 kiddos and I’m a teacher. I’m having it done a few days before spring break so I’ll be good, but while my kids are at school, can I put down plastic,towel, sheet and sit in my living room if no one is home???
2) I read its transmitted through sweat/bodily etc. If I touch something accidentally or something in the room I’m isolated in, how do I clean the items???

Thanks

[snelsen]

#1170504

Hi, plenty of people on this site have had RAI who have kids and jobs. I don’t have a lot of time right now,but maybe Kimberly will see you post tonight. And, have you asked for, and gotten written instructions for after your RAI? I find it very helpful to ask for post procedure and post op instructions BEFORE the fact. Then you can generate questions based on your specific circumstance.

So, I am sure you figured out for yourself that looking at thyroid cancer sites are not appropriate. Different subjects, different disease, different treatment.

So, these are not really answers, but pretty much what I remember from prior posts.
1. Sure, you can sit anywhere and you don’t need to use a plastic sheet/towel, etc.
2. Just wash your hands or take a shower. Things you usually do, but with more awareness. Basically, most is excreted in the urine, I think, and the close contact is primarily a longer exposure when you have a kid at your neck for a period of time.

I think you will hear from others who have had your experience.
***Don’t be reluctant to call the department, or find out how to do that if you don’t know, to ask for the instructions of precautions post RAI.
I think that is your best bet.
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1170505

Hello – Your best source of information is the nuclear medicine department at the facility where you will be treated, as guidelines can vary from state to state. As Shirley said, it’s definitely important to be clear on the guidelines ahead of time!

Here are some *general* guidelines from the American Thyroid Association. Be sure to look at the tables labelled “hyperthyroidism” versus the tables labelled “carcinoma”, as the dosages are very different, as you mentioned.

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://thyroidguidelines.net/sites/thyroidguidelines.net/files/file/thy.2010.0403.pdf

You might also use the “search posts” feature in the top right-hand corner of the screen to read experiences from other patients.

Take care!

[PolishTym]

#1170506

My endo highly recommended the RAI. Because I had access to some medical journals online, I downloaded a variety of studies. It seemed that foreign researchers were more concerned about RAI use, isolation, and long-term effects than American researchers. It was enough to convince me to go with surgery. Whatever works for you is best, but consider being as conservative as possible with interactions.

[Author]

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