When can I go home from hospital after radiation therapy?
You will be able to go home from hospital when the radiation level in your body is at a safe level. As you will still have some radioactivity in your body you may still have to take some precautions when you go home.
What is Rai treatment?
RAI treatment (Includes: preparing for RAI treatment, what to expect before and after receiving the treatment, and side effects of RAI treatment) Stable Iodine, an essential trace element, is used by the thyroid gland to produce two thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
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!
Should I be hospitalized after taking iodine 131 for 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. Do not share any towels, razors, toothbrushes, cups, spoons, forks, or dishes.
Why do I have to stay away from people after radioactive iodine?
Radioactive iodine is passed through bodily fluids, so it is about reducing this risk to pass on to others. To keep this risk as low as possible we will ask you to avoid prolonged and close contact with friends/relatives for a period after your discharge from hospital.
Can you go home after radioactive iodine treatment?
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.
Why do you have to quarantine after radioactive iodine treatment?
Patients who need to travel in the days after I-131 RAI treatment are advised to carry a letter of explanation from their physician. This is because radiation detection devices used at airports or in federal buildings may pick up even very small radiation levels.
How long do you stay in hospital after radioactive iodine?
Having radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine treatment takes place in the hospital. You usually stay there for a few days until your radiation levels have fallen to a safe level. You will be looked after in a single room, where you stay alone.
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.
What is the most common complication of radioiodine therapy?
Risks and side effectsNeck tenderness and swelling.Nausea and vomiting.Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands.Dry mouth.Taste changes.
Is it safe to be around someone who has had radioactive iodine?
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.
What happens if you are exposed to someone with radioactive iodine?
If too much radioactive iodine enters your body, the radioactive iodine will destroy your thyroid gland so that the gland will stop making hormones. Too much radioactive iodine in your body can also cause thyroid nodules or cancer.
What precautions should be taken after radioactive iodine?
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...•
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?
NCI study finds long-term increased risk of cancer death following common treatment for hyperthyroidism. New study findings show an association between the dose of a common treatment for hyperthyroidism and risk of death from solid cancers.
Does radioactive iodine shorten your life?
Quality of life is worse at 6-10 years after radioactive iodine therapy of Graves' disease compared with treatment with antithyroid drugs or surgery. Quality of life is worse at 6-10 years after radioactive iodine therapy of Graves' disease compared with treatment with antithyroid drugs or surgery.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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 does it take for a syringe to get better?
You may have short term changes to your taste and smell. This may not start until you get home. It usually gets better within 4 to 8 weeks. It can help to drink plenty of fluids after your treatment.
Can you travel after iodine treatment?
Talk to you doctor if you plan to travel abroad. You can have a certificate from the hospital, or a letter from your doctor, explaining the treatment you have had.
How long does RAI last?
@CSW: The half life of RAI (or I-131) is 8 days. So it takes a good while for our bodies to get rid of it. During that time we are radioactive and people close to us can be affected just by the radiation. And while we do excrete a lot of our dose through the urinary tract, there is still a lot that passes through saliva and sweat. And of course there is uptake in the neck that remains until it cycles through all the half lives. It just takes time.
What is the problem with booking a room?
The problem with booking a room is the you are exposingthe hotel staff who clean that room with your RAI. Also, the radio activity could affect the next person who stays in that room once your daughter leaves. Just a thought.
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.
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'.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
What is the radiation from I-131?
Radioactive I-131 emits both gamma and beta radiation. The gamma radiation allows it to be easily detected and located with radiation survey meters and imaged by nuclear medicine imaging techniques. The gamma radiation from I-131 in the patients is the major source of external radiation to others after an I-131 procedure.
What is the NRC radiation safety brochure?
The NRC staff developed a printable brochure to inform patients about radiation safety precautions that they need to follow before, during, and after treatment with radioactive drugs. The brochure is intended to foster a radiation-safety oriented dialogue between patients and their health care team. [NOTE: This tri-fold brochure is formatted to print double-sided].
Is beta radiation a concern?
The beta radiation is the primary concern when there is an oral uptake of I-131 indirectly from contaminated surfaces or directly by transfer from the patient. For the radioactive iodine to be effective, the availability of stable iodine has to be reduced so more radioactive I-131 will be used by the cells.
Can I-131 be absorbed through the digestive tract?
Contamination of the area the patient is in can happen in a number of ways. Patients that vomit before the radioactive I-131 has been absorbed through the digestive track may lose a significant amount of the iodine they received in the vomited fluid.
Does I-131 emit beta radiation?
Radioactive I-131 emits both gamma and beta radiation and a person receiving an I-131 procedure will continue to emit both gamma and beta radiation until the I-131 is gone. The amount of I-131 will decrease over time as the unstable I-131 decays or as the body processes the iodine and eliminates the I-131 from the body.
Can I-131 cause contamination?
Saliva and urine can cause contamination in bathrooms. Basic radiation safety associated with radioactive I-131 involves using the principles of time and distance to reduce exposure to others as the basis for precautions to take after treatment.
Can saliva contaminate a room?
Hands, coughing, or sneezing can contaminate objects in a room and normal room surfaces and trash. Saliva can contaminate eating utensils, partially eaten foods such a chicken, beef or pork bones and result in contaminated trash. Saliva and urine can cause contamination in bathrooms.
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.
How to clean a bathroom after a precaution period?
Clean the bathroom thoroughly. After your precaution period is up, wipe down the bathroom with disinfecting wipes. Wear gloves for the process, and then place the wipes and gloves in a designated trash bag. ...
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.
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.
Can radiation contaminate other people?
With this treatment, it's possible to contaminate others with radiation, even though the amount of radiation you're given is fairly small. For that reason, take precautions to clean up after yourself, particularly in the bathroom and the kitchen, and to isolate items you use from other household items.
Can you shower with radioiodine?
Showering helps wash away what your body's shedding each day in radioiodine. However, skip baths, as you'd just be soaking in radioiodine. Plus, you're more likely to leave radioiodine behind in the bathtub. ...
