what to avoid after radioactive iodine treatment

The greater the distance you are from others, the less radiation they will receive. You will be advised to sleep alone for the first few days after your treatment. During this period, you should avoid kissing or sexual intercourse.

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How do you clean after radioactive iodine treatment?

• Avoiding physical contact with other members of the household, including sleeping alone
• Flushing your toilet twice after every use
• Washing your hands frequently with decontamination soap
• Avoiding cooking for others
• Using plastic gloves to cook
• Keeping all clothing and linens separate from the rest of the household

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Can you smoke while on radioactive iodine treatment?

currently undergoing a low dose 30mg radioactive iodine treatment. Will the treatment have a different effect if I smoke. Thank you. ... View answer What causes pain in ribcage after receiving dose of radioactive iodine?

What precautions should I take after receiving chemotherapy?

What precautions should I take after receiving chemotherapy?

• Wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom.
• Close the lid and flush the toilet after each use.
• Use gloves to clean up any linen soiled with body fluids, and wash these items separately from the other laundry.
• Use gloves and disposable towels to wipe up any urine, vomit, or stool. Wash and rinse the soiled area well. ...

What are the risks of radioactive iodine 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. ...
• Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity.
• Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. ...

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What precautions should be taken with radioactive iodine therapy?

What precautions should be taken with radioactive iodine therapy?Avoid prolonged, close physical contact with others, especially children and pregnant women.For the first few days stay a distance of at least 6 feet away from others. ... Sleep alone in a separate bed (at least 6 feet away from another adult).More items...•

When can I eat normally after radioactive iodine treatment?

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).

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.

How long does it take to get radioactive iodine out of your system?

Most of the radioiodine not collected by your thyroid gland will be eliminated during the first two days after your treatment. It leaves the body primarily through your urine, but very small amounts may leave in your saliva, sweat and during a bowel movement.

How much water should I drink after Rai?

Patients undergoing RAI treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma are routinely encouraged to ingest about 2 - 3 L (8 - 10 cups) of water a day following treatment with RAI, to encourage diuresis and thus enhancing the elimination of RAI through renal excretion [15].

Will I gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI or anti-thyroid medications is associated with an increased risk of gaining weight and even developing obesity. This risk is slightly higher with RAI therapy compared to medications.

Does radioactive iodine affect teeth?

High-dose radioiodine treatment can impair the long-term dental health, depending on the intensity of treatment and individual radioiodine uptake within the salivary glands. Patients should be made aware of salivary gland damage before high-dose radioiodine treatment.

How do I clean my house 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.

Can you be around others after radiation?

The radiation travels a very short distance, so the effects are mostly to the tumor. However, you may have to limit contact with other people for up to one week after treatment. It is especially important to avoid close contact with children and women who are pregnant.

What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?

Possible long term side effectsAbility to have children (fertility) Some women may have irregular periods after radioactive iodine treatment. ... Inflammation of the salivary glands (where spit is made) ... Tiredness. ... Dry or watery eyes. ... Lower levels of blood cells. ... Lung problems. ... Second cancers.

Can you exercise after radioactive iodine treatment?

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.

Can the thyroid gland grow back after radioactive iodine?

Once hypothyroidism has been achieved, it is usually irreversible with the patient requiring lifelong thyroid replacement. Recurrence of hyperthyroidism after RAI therapy may be due to inadequate dosing or early Marine Lenhart syndrome.

Why do people get radioactive iodine?

Most people who get radioactive iodine treatment do so because they are considered to be hyperthyroid ( sometimes people get RAI for thyroid cancer (5) but most people get it for hyperthyroidism).

What is radioactive iodine used for?

Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism.

How long does 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).

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'.

What happens if your thyroid is destroyed?

Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to.

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.

What happens if you don't have thyroid?

If you don't have thyroid hormone at all then you risk the chance of coma and death.

How to avoid radiation?

If you live or work with other people, you will need to keep a distance from them. Avoid standing or sitting close to them. This stops them from getting radiation from you.

How long after iodine treatment should you follow safety precautions?

You will need to follow safety precautions for a few days after your radioactive iodine treatment. This is to protect others from the radiation. The advice about precautions varies for different people and for different hospitals. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse.

How long after radioactive iodine treatment can you take thyroid medicine?

Your nurse will tell you when you should start to take them again. Usually, this is 2 to 3 days after your treatment.

Why do you need thyroxine?

You will need to take thyroxine tablets to replace the hormones that your thyroid gland normally makes. Your doctors will want to keep your thyroid hormones at a slightly higher level than you would normally need. This is to stop your body producing another hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH can help some types of thyroid cancer cells to grow.

How long after iodine treatment can you go home?

After radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. Having radioactive iodine treatment means you will be radioactive for several days afterwards. You will be able to go home from hospital when the radiation level in your body is at a safe level.

How to get rid of radiation in your body?

For a few weeks you will need to use your own towel and keep your cutlery and plates away from others until washed. Continue to flush the toilet twice and wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.

Why do you have to wait for radiation treatment?

This is because the eggs and sperm produced after treatment may be damaged by the radiation. Research suggests that if you wait for the advised period of time, you don’t have an increased risk of abnormalities with future pregnancies or children.

How to get rid of radioiodine in urine?

Clean your hands thoroughly every time you use the bathroom. After you go to the bathroom, soap up and scrub your hands thoroughly, as you'll be passing the most radioiodine in your urine. Scrub for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.

How to prevent radioactive particles in the house?

1. Wash your linens and clothes separately from the rest of the household. Always wash your towels, sheets, and clothes in a different load from other household items. They may spread radioactive particles to other items in the house if you don't take this precaution.

How to keep dishes from spreading radioactive particles?

2. Wash your dishes separately from the rest of the dishes. Reserve dishes and utensils for yourself that only you use, kept away from other dishes and utensils. Also, wash these items separately from other household dishes so you don't spread radioactive particles to other items.

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What to do if you spill urine?

If you spill urine or vomit, clean up the area with toilet paper and a household cleaner. With spills, always contact the radiation clinic to find out if you need to do more to clean them. ...

Why do we dispose of radioactive material?

Your bodily fluids will shed radioactive material. Disposing of them this way helps keep others safe.

What to do with contaminated disposable items?

Place all contaminated disposable items in a separate trash bag. The facility where you have your treatment may give you a special bag for trash. Anything you use that's disposable, such as food plates, utensils, non-flushable cleaning wipes, and gloves, should be placed in that bag. The bag should be leak-proof.

How long before radioactive iodine is stopped?

Your doctor will tell you when to start and stop following a low-iodine diet. Most people start 1 to 2 weeks before their dose of radioactive iodine and stop after their radioactive iodine therapy is complete. A low-iodine diet doesn’t meet the suggested daily allowance for all nutrients.

What is a low iodine diet?

A low-iodine diet is a diet with less than 50 micrograms (mcg) of iodine per day.

What is the best phone number to talk to a nutritionist about low iodine?

If you have questions about foods not listed in these tables, call your clinical dietitian nutritionist or 212-639-7312 to talk with an outpatient clinical dietitian nutritionist. You can reach a staff member Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

What are some foods that contain iodate?

Carrageen. Agar. Commercial breads and bakery products that contain iodate bread conditioners (such as calcium iodate or potassium iodate) Milk (except for 1 ounce a day) and milk products (such as cheese, yogurt, and cream) Egg yolks. Most seafood (except fresh-water fish)

Where does iodine come from?

Your body uses iodine to make certain hormones, such as the hormones made by your thyroid gland. All of the iodine in your body comes from your diet. Most of the iodine in your diet comes from iodized salt and other products made with added iodine. Only a few foods (such as seaweed, dairy, and some fish) naturally contain iodine.

Can you buy iodate bread conditioner?

Read the ingredient list on the Nutrition Facts label carefully. If it lists “potassium iodate” or “calcium iodate,” don’t buy it.

Is sodium the same as iodine?

Not always. Sodium and iodine aren’t the same thing. Most commercial food manufacturers use non-iodized salt in their products. But, it’s hard to know for sure. It’s best to choose unsalted products in case the salt does contain iodine.

How long should you wait to breastfeed after radioiodine?

You must stop breastfeeding before you can be treated with radioiodine. If possible, you should stop breastfeeding for 6 weeks prior to treatment. You should not resume breastfeeding after treatment for your current child, but you may safely breastfeed babies you may have in the future.

How can radiation exposure be reduced?

Radiation exposure to other people can be reduced by keeping a reasonable distance between yourself and others and keeping the time you are close to others to a minimum. Your doctor should review the following instructions with you and answer all of your questions.

What is radioiodine used for?

What is radioiodine? Radioiodine (sodium I-131) is a form of radiation therapy that has been used for many years to treat thyroid conditions. It is safe and effective but requires you to observe certain precautions to decrease the small amount of radiation that other people may receive from your body and bodily fluids.

How long does radioiodine stay in your system?

Radioiodine stays in your body for only a short time. Most of the radioiodine that does not go to thyroid tissue will be eliminated from your body during the first few days after treatment. Radioiodine leaves your body primarily through your urine, but very small amounts can be found in your saliva, sweat and bowel movements.

What to do if you have urine in your clothes?

Wash your towels, bed linens, underwear, and any clothing stained with urine or sweat.

Where can I get more information about nuclear medicine?

Ask your doctor for more information. You also may get more information from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging at www.snmmi.org.

How to get rid of a swollen bladder?

Drink one glass of water each hour and use the bathroom as soon as possible when you need to empty your bladder. Men should sit on the toilet while urinating to decrease splashing. Use a tissue to wipe up any urine on the toilet bowl and flush twice. Wash your hands and rinse the sink.