Having someone forthe first treatment might be advisable but after that, if you are not fatigued then driving your self should be OK. Just stop and have some coffee if youuget tired. Good Luck!!!!! I took my radiation while working so I would say yes you could.
Full Answer
What should I consider before having radioactive iodine treatment (RAI)?
Ten things to consider before having radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) 1 It’s permanent; once you take the iodine capsule there is no changing your mind. 2 Since the science is inexact there are two ways of approaching the treatment. 3 Treatment can cause thyroid storm as the dying gland "dumps"... 4 For up to 4-8 weeks after dosage,...
Should I read up on post-Rai guidelines before having Rai treatment?
Before you or any family members have RAI treatment, it is strongly recommended that you read up on post-RAI guidelines and speak with your healthcare providers about how they should be applied to you. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!
Can I Drive Myself to my first radiation treatment?
Having someone forthe first treatment might be advisable but after that, if you are not fatigued then driving your self should be OK. Just stop and have some coffee if youuget tired. Good Luck!!!!! I took my radiation while working so I would say yes you could.
What causes rheumatoid arthritis (Rai)?
The most common reason for RAI is the autoimmune condition known as Graves' disease (6). The problem is that once you destroy your thyroid gland you are no longer considered to be hyperthyroid. Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you don't produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). This distinction is actually quite important.
Can I drive home after radioactive iodine treatment?
Radioactive iodine gives off radiation. This means that after your treatment, you won't be able to go home using public transportation such as buses, the subway, trains, or a plane. You can drive yourself home, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car home.
Can you be around people with radioactive iodine?
General recommendations. For a period of time, you will need to keep your distance from other people, especially young children and pregnant women. Avoid close contact, kissing, and sexual activity. You may need to sleep in a separate bed from your partner.
Do you have to isolate after radioactive iodine treatment?
You are also required to self isolate for 7 days after your radioiodine treatment in order to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 whilst there is still a large amount of radioactivity in your body. A small proportion of people with COVID-19 may become very unwell and require admission to hospital.
How long should my husband sleep alone after radioiodine treatment?
Sleep alone for the first few (3 - 4) days. Avoid kissing or sexual intercourse for three to four days after treatment. Do not sleep together for an entire night until a week after treatment. Avoid prolonged physical contact, particularly with children and pregnant women; limit to 15 minutes.
How long are you isolation after Rai?
Depending on state regulations, patients may have to stay isolated in the hospital for about 24 hours to avoid exposing other people to radiation, especially if there are young children living in the same home.
How long is isolation after radioactive iodine?
Sleep alone for 7 days unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. Avoid kissing and physical contact with others, and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from women who are pregnant and children under 18 years old.
How will I feel after radioactive iodine?
Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. Some people also feel flushed. Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck.
Can I touch things after radioactive iodine?
You should try to keep all family and friends during this period at least one meter (three feet) away and do not have direct physical contact, especially intimate contact, like kissing or hand holding where radioiodine could be passed onto others.
Does radiation treatment affect family members?
Any radiation therapy that is transient, including external beam radiation or brachytherapy that is removed, poses no risk to family members. For these types of therapy, patients are exposed to radiation only during active treatment, and radiation is not carried on the patient's body.
What can I eat after radioactive iodine treatment?
You can eat the following foods because they contain very low levels of iodine:fruits and vegetables including potatoes.cooked green vegetables.meat.ordinary table salt and sea salt.fresh bread.rice and dries pasta.non dairy spreads such as Vitalite, Pure and non dairy Flora.olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils.More items...
Can you drink alcohol after radioactive iodine?
Continue the low iodine diet for 3 days. Avoid alcoholic beverages for 3 days.
How long does RAI treatment take?
This may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. If your thyroid hormone level does not go down after 6 months, you may need another dose of radioactive iodine.
Why can't you get pregnant after radiotherapy?
Patients are advised not to become pregnant for 6 months following radio-iodine treatment. This is because the radiation that is used could potentially affect the DNA in human cells.
Can you stay in hospital overnight for thyroid disease?
Patients having treatment for overactive thyroid will not normally be asked to stay in hospital overnight. All patients should be monitored with a radiation monitor (Geiger counter or scintillation monitor) before being allowed to go home, to ensure that the radiation dose to the public is negligible.
How to avoid radiation?
Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: 1 Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. 2 Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity. 3 Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, infants and children should ideally stay outside the home for the recommended period. 1 4 To protect family pets, do not sleep with them for up to 21 days.
How to minimize radiation risks?
Keep Your Distance. Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, ...
Can you hospitalize after a RAI?
It is not common in the United States to hospitalize patients after RAI, but if you are receiving a particularly high dosage of iodine 131 and have no way to protect children or babies, it may be an option. A Low-Iodine Diet Can Make Radioactive Iodine Treatment More Effective.
How to avoid weight gain after RAI?
Your best bet to AVOID weight gain after RAI is to go into your procedure with a normal weight and to maintain a healthy lifestyle both before and after. Just realize that you will always be in a 'sensitive' category and you will be more likely to gain weight compared to people with their thyroid intact. #3.
How long does it take for a RAI to fade?
The good news is that this radioactivity does fade over a short period of time (usually 5 to 7 days) but the bad news is that you need to stay under certain precautions during this time.
Can you survive after RAI?
You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldn't do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. And to key to getting there is to understand what happens to your body after this procedure and how it influences your thyroid function.
Can you take a thyroid pill every day?
There's no way for doctors to give you a pill once a day and for that pill to perform the exact same function that your thyroid gland does every minute of every day. Because of this, people may experience symptoms which may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can.
Does RAI cause weight gain?
Many clinical studies have also confirmed that weight gain after RAI is a real risk. The good news is that not every single person who gets RAI will necessarily gain weight. But it does increase your risk of weight gain if you have the procedure by about 2 to 3 times.
Can you gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?
You may gain weight. This is probably not what you want to hear, especially if this is a procedure that is necessary for your health, but it's still important to know about it. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment.
How long can you avoid having a child after rai?
Following RAI, men are advised to avoid fathering a child for at least four months, and women advised to avoid conceiving for at least six months. [1]
What is the treatment for Graves' thyroid?
For those with a form of overactive thyroid disease, such as Graves’, hyperthyroidism and Hashitoxicosis, they may be offered RAI (Radioactive Iodine Treatment) or a Thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid gland) as treatment options.
Is RAI a cancer drug?
Some people will question putting this chemical in to their bodies and have natural concerns surrounding side effects and other risk factors. There is a small risk of developing cancer from treatment of RAI, but for most people the benefit of treating with RAI outweighs the low cancer risk. [1]
Can you take rai on a second attempt?
Needing to stay in hospital and away from family (particularly young children) may affect your decision about whether to opt for RAI. RAI usually works on first attempt, but it has been known to take a second or third attempt on some individuals.
Can you have a thyroidectomy after RAI?
However, with a thyroidectomy, thyroid function is swiftly removed and you may be started on treatment for hypothyroidism fairly soon after (compared to RAI). When it comes to thyroid cancer, a total thyroidectomy may provide the most peace of mind, though this is often followed up with RAI treatment too.