how do i clean my house after radioactive iodine treatment

How to Clean After Radioactive Iodine Treatment

• Method 1 of 4: Practicing Good Bathroom Hygiene. Spit and dispose of used tissues in the toilet. ...
• Method 2 of 4: Cleaning the Rest of the House. Wash your linens and clothes separately from the rest of the household. ...
• Method 3 of 4: Keeping Others Safe. ...
• Method 4 of 4: Cleaning after the Precaution Time Is Up. ...

Full Answer

Can you clean radioactive iodine with bleach?

May 27, 2017 · RAI is water soluble, so you just need to clean well with water and probably some soap. There is a product called Scrubbing Bubbles, which has been recommended here by a radiation nurse, but you must be sure that it does not contain bleach. Buy the plain kind. Clean the tub/shower, including the walls and shower curtain. Rinse well.

How should I take care of my radioiodine?

Aug 26, 2019 · Don't prepare food for others during this period. Keep your toothbrush separate from the rest of the family's in the toothbrush rack. Rinse the sink, toilet, and shower down after use with standard cleansers or detergents. Do not use hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or agents that use them as a component (this may cause radioiodine to become airborne).

How to remove radioactive contamination from your home?

Apr 30, 2009 · Be sure to carefully wash your hands after using the bathroom. Do not share utensils or food with others. (For example, do not drink from the same glass or share a sandwich with someone.) Use towels and washcloths only you will touch. Wash out the sink with a lot of water after brushing your teeth or shaving. Nausea following therapy is very rare.

What should I do if my house is exposed to radiation?

Jun 26, 2012 · Radioactive iodine can be dissolved in water. Soap and water will take care of it. Do NOT use chlorox or other bleach products. Share Sharing discussion reply How to clean up after RAI home stay? ChewBear Share outside of Inspire Platform not installed Share to failed. Install or update the app and try again. React 3 jani72 (Inactive) Jun 25

How do you clean a room after radioactive iodine treatment?

The iodine-131 will wash out in the laundry. Vacuuming will pick up hair that is shed, which will have small amounts of radioactivity in it since our heads also sweat. The conservative approach would be to cover the chair with a sheet.Apr 30, 2009

How long does radioactive iodine stay on surfaces?

So the general rule of thumb is that after three months, all of the radioactivity is gone.May 26, 2015

Can I use my cell phone after radioactive iodine?

You will have to stay in your room for at least 1 to 2 hours after your treatment. You can use your cell phone or watch TV to help pass the time. You won't be able to have visitors during this time. You may not have any side effects from the treatment right after you get it, but you may have side effects later.Aug 19, 2020

How long does it take for radioactive iodine to dissipate?

The radioiodine from your treatment will temporarily remain in your body. Most of the radioiodine not taken up by your thyroid gland will be eliminated within the first (2) two days after treatment. Radioiodine leaves your body primarily by your urine. Very small amounts may leave in your saliva, sweat, or feces.

How do you clean radioactive material?

You can still use tap water for decontamination. Any radioactive material that gets into surface water or ground water sources will be diluted to very low levels by the water and will be safe to use for washing skin, hair, and clothing.

Can radiation Stay on clothes?

Taking off your outer layer of clothing can remove up to 90% of radioactive material. Be very careful in removing your clothing to prevent radioactive dust from shaking loose. Put the clothing in a plastic bag or other sealable container. Put the bag in an out-of-the-way place, away from other people and pets.

Can I prepare food after radioactive iodine treatment?

For 2 hours after you swallow the capsule: Do not eat any solid foods. An empty stomach helps your body absorb the radioactive iodine. Drink only water. For 3 days after you swallow the capsule: Follow your low-iodine diet.

What can I eat after radioactive iodine treatment?

Foods you are allowedfruits 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...

When can I eat regular food after radioactive iodine?

What is a low iodine diet? Follow a low-iodine diet 2 weeks before to 2 days after receiving your RAI Treatment. Therefore, you may go back to eating as usual 2 days after you ingest the RAI Treatment capsule(s).

What are the side effects of taking radioactive iodine?

What are the side effects of radioactive iodine?Neck tenderness and swelling.Nausea.Swollen salivary glands.Loss of taste or taste change.Dry mouth/insufficient salivary production.Dry eyes.Excessive tearing from the eyes.Sep 8, 2020

What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?

Longer-term complications include recurrent sialoadenitis associated with xerostomia, mouth pain, dental caries, pulmonary fibrosis, nasolacrimal outflow obstruction, and second primary malignancies. This article summarizes the common complications of RAI and methods to prevent and manage these complications.

How does RAI leave your body?

Report. Keep in mind that the RAI leaves your body through sweat, urine, etc. if you've had a barrier between your body and the couch, , like sheets and a blanket, or a sleeping bag, you only need to wash the sheets and blanket.

How long do books need to be stored after RAI?

Books will need to be set aside in a safe place for 60-90 days after RAI, unless you are the only one who will be coming in contact with them. You can't recontaminate yourself. Other radioactive waste, like your toothbrush and cleanup items like wipes, sponges, etc., also need to be held in a safe place (attic, shed, etc.) before disposal.

Does RAI contain bleach?

There is a product called Scrubbing Bubbles, which has been recommended here by a radiation nurse, but you must be sure that it does not contain bleach. Buy the plain kind.

How long should you wash your clothes after a radioactive reaction?

Personal clothing, sheets, bedding, washcloths, and towels should be collected and washed separately for the first 48 hours. After washing, run the washing machine through an extra wash cycle to clear out any residual radioiodine before using it for others.

How long does it take for iodine to be excreted?

Excretion is so rapid that as long as you have reasonable kidney function, 50% of the administered iodine is gone within eight hours. Another 50% of the remaining circulating iodine is excreted during the second eight hours and so on.

What percentage of iodine is fixed in thyroid?

The remaining 1.6% of the iodine at this point is primarily fixed in any residual thyroid tissues and no longer circulating. It's this residual fixed iodine that achieves the therapeutic effect of the treatment. You should first understand that you don't need to place yourself in an isolation room.

How does radioiodine work?

In short, radioiodine is administered as a salt pill or solution. Instead of being normal salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), it is sodium iodide (NaI). Once you swallow the treatment dose, iodine-131 ( 131 I) is rapidly absorbed into the circulation.

What tissue is 131 I?

Only one tissue in the body has a need to fix and hold onto the iodine, namely thyroid tissu e. The remaining tissues in the body treat the iodine as salt and the iodine is rapidly cleared from the body circulation, ...

How long after iodine is taken to go away?

After the first two days post-administration, 98% of the iodine will be gone and you can begin to ease up on these instructions. However, many providers will recommend that you try to keep it up for the first week post-administration, just to be overly cautious.

How long should you sleep with radioiodine?

You should also make separate sleeping arrangements for the first 48 hours to maintain this distance. Since the radioiodine is administered as a salt, is can pass through the skin barrier with perspiration, so you shouldn't exercise or swim in pools during the first 48 hours.

How to get radioactive iodine out of a daughter's body?

A. The iodine will come out of your daughter's pores in sweat, urine, and stools. Frequent hand washing will reduce the spread of contamination. The bedsheets and pillowcases will retain most of the radioactive iodine, as will anything she touches, such as the phone.

How to reduce radioactivity?

To decrease the spread of radioactivity: If possible, use a separate bathroom. Flush the toilet two times after each use. Men should sit down when urinating. If urine should be spilled/splashed, wash and rinse the affected area three times, using paper towels or tissue.

How to clean your hands after using the bathroom?

Be sure to carefully wash your hands after using the bathroom. Do not share utensils or food with others. (For example, do not drink from the same glass or share a sandwich with someone.) Use towels and washcloths only you will touch. Wash out the sink with a lot of water after brushing your teeth or shaving.

How long does it take for radioiodine to come out of your body?

My institution recommends the following: The First Four Days : 1. Most of the radioiodine in your body will come out through the urine and stool. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. To decrease the spread of radioactivity: If possible, use a separate bathroom.

How to reduce radiation dose to others?

To decrease the radiation dose to others: You should sleep in a separate bed. Cover the pillow with two pillowcases or a water-resistant cover if possible. Remain in your home for the first four days. Do not hold young children or spend much time near a pregnant woman.

How far away should you be from a pregnant woman?

Do not hold young children or spend much time near a pregnant woman. Family members should stay about six feet or more from you. After the first two days, they may be closer for brief periods, such as a few minutes. At the end of four days wash your laundry, including the pillowcases, by itself.

Can you vomit after shaving?

Wash out the sink with a lot of water after brushing your teeth or shaving. Nausea following therapy is very rare. However, if you feel sick to your stomach, try to vomit into the toilet or a plastic bag that can be sealed and thrown away.

Is bleach safe to use in toilets?

Ya, apparently some people say bleach is a no no and some people say it is ok. Either way, I took all of the bleach tabs out of my toilet just in case!

Does bleach break up cell walls?

A bleach will act through lysis to break open a cell wall, and there are no cell walls to break open since we are not cleaning a bacteria. So bleach is not needed. A soap acts to disperse greases or oils of any kind. I guess we give off a little of that with our sweat and so on, but maybe not even that much. Maybe just water might take up a sodium and an iodine, but can't hurt to use a mild soap for our personal "grease".#N#I brought a couple old sponges into my guest bath with a basic spray cleaner and went wild several times cleaning everything, then just threw out the sponges. I covered up an old mattress with a plastic mattress cover, then tossed that later on. I tried cleaning up any and all dust everythwere I was.

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, ...

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.

Does iodine affect thyroid?

Because the radioactive iodine used (known as iodine 131) may expose those around you to the effects of radiation (and theoretically negatively affect their thyroid glands), you will be given guidelines on how to prevent such exposure. Laura Porter / Verywell.

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.

What is the best way to remove radioactive contamination from your home?

Additionally, there are special soaps and cleaners that should be used to minimize and remove radioactive contamination from your home. While decontamination soaps are great for removing the contaminants from the skin, they are not as effective on surfaces. around the house.

How is iodine excreted?

And as iodine is excreted through bodily fluids such as saliva, urine and perspiration, others who share the same living space can be exposed to harmful radioactive contamination. When the patience leaves their in-home isolation area, the danger to family members is not over.

What organs are treated with iodine?

During this form of nuclear medicine therapy, the radioactive iodine is targeted at the thyroid gland, but not the other bodily organs and tissues. And as iodine is excreted through bodily fluids such as saliva, urine and perspiration, others who share the same living space can be exposed to harmful radioactive contamination. When the patience leaves their in-home isolation area, the danger to family members is not over.

How to avoid contaminating others?

To avoiding contaminating others, there must be a comprehensive decontamination protocol followed at all times, and it must be strictly adhered until your therapy is completed, you open your isolation are, and your physician gives you the okay to resume a normal lifestyle. Call (800) 542-1123 or visit www.labtechinc.com to learn more about ...

What to do with plastic gloves?

Using plastic gloves to cook. Keeping all clothing and linens separate from the rest of the household. Placing all paper dishes, pads, tissues, bandages, and paper towels in plastic bags, and return them to your them to your clinic for waste disposal or decayed at home.

Can you use decontaminant spray on nuclear medicine?

These decontaminant sprays, which are the very same ones used in nuclear medicine facilities, can be purchased for home use as well. They are commercial grade quality, but designed specifically for your home. In sum, nuclear medicine is a very powerful method for diagnosing and treating many diseases within the body.

Can you put paper towels in plastic bags?

In addition, while receiving this powerful and potent cancer therapy, your doctor may advise several aggressive precautionary guidelines, including: Placing all paper dishes, pads, tissues, bandages, and paper towels in plastic bags, and return them to your them to your clinic for waste disposal or decayed at home.

What to do if your feet are radioactive?

Do's. DO - Wear Slippers (cheap and disposable) or thick socks at all times. Your feet perspire and will leave radioactive “footprints”. DO - Place a plastic drop cloth under your bed sheets and above your mattress pad. Wrap your pillow (under the pillow case) with plastic cooking wrap.

Can you sleep on the other side of a wall?

DON'T - Sleep on the other side of a wall from someone. The wall provides almost no shielding. and you are basically sleeping head to head with the other person and exposing them for 8 hours continuously. Hospitals don’t use bleach, household cleaners or disinfectants to clean up radioactive spills. Neither should you.

Can bleach cause radioactive iodine?

Dont's. DON'T - USE BLEACH or bleach containing cleaners. Bleach will cause radioactive iodine to become gaseous and may spread far and wide. DON'T - Forget to remove any drop-in toilet tank cleaners that have bleach in them. DON'T - Eat any foods with cores or bones (such as apples, fried chicken, etc.) or chew gum.

How long can you live after iodine treatment?

You can expect to live a fairly normal life after radioactive iodine treatment but your life will probably not be exactly as it was before your procedure. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'.

How long does radioactive iodine affect sperm count?

Important to men is the fact that radioactive iodine can cause short-term reductions in sperm count for up to 2 years after your procedure (8). This may or may not be important to you based on your age, your gender, and whether or not fertility is something you are interested in but, again, it's worth knowing about.

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.

What happens if you destroy your thyroid gland?

And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Anectodally, you've probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure.

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.