Importance: Patients who undergo radiographic studies with contrast receive an enormous bolus of iodine. After Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Getting home. This is my own journey with battling cancer and by any means not meant to scare or offend anyone, but to get my story out. A large study found an increase in some cancer types in people who had radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism compared with the general population. Hi , I just had ROI treatment done a little over a week ago . This is my story. This was published id a study by dr brunelli fro. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. <0.01 You might need contrast when you are having an X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound exam. After that they again were having the same symptoms. My hair is the one and only thing about my looks that is considered beauty. In your case, these would be best: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroidectomy-rai-bundle/. I had the motto: Ive never met a stranger, they are just the friends I havent met yet. Now, I would rather not talk to anyone, and if Im forced to, I keep it to bare minimum. Therefore, it may be found in varying amounts in all food and beverages. This comes in the form of a simple hormone medication that you can take each and every day to help normalize your thyroid hormone levels. Not everyone gains weight after RAI, if thats what you mean by treatment but if you are going to, it will start within 4-6 weeks of the procedure and may continue for several months. My endo physician would not increase the dosage so I went to my G.P. Hey! It may take some trial and error but 80% of patients should approximate normal symptoms over a few months. Lowered heart rate. To protect family pets, do not sleep with them for up to 21 days. Because your thyroid gland concentrates and stores iodine in your body. If you are unable to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants and young children, ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of hospitalization. To increase the effectiveness of your upcoming radioactive iodine therapy, you may be prescribed a low iodine diet. One thing I didnt see in your article is the correlation of Thyroid to Diabetes and CTS. of radiation.But I wonder after that if I can dye my hair.Unforuntly it is coming back completly gray.I will be thankful to have hair.But I don,t look good with gray either.I know some people do.Someone said they thought you had to wait a year.I hope their wrong.Thanks for your replys. RAI is a form of radioactive nuclear medication that permanently destroys thyroid tissue. This is of particular concern because this can lead to internal uptake with the radioactive iodine then accumulating in their thyroids. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now: #1. Some allergic reactions can cause severe anaphylaxis, but this . I was originally on Synthroid for a while and as I got older my body changes and T3 was required for optimal levels. American Thyroid Association. The permanency can be seen as a benefit as patients condition will become stable and symptoms can be more easily controlled. Redness, tired eyes, they were seeing double, and not accommodating going from reading to distance. Is there anything I can do to protect myself as I am driving her. This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Westin Childs and is for educational and information purposes only. I dont feel like I have gone back hyper after being off my meds for 4 weeks. Is this normal? Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . I am on my own taking more precautions, and going at this as a Haz Mat Tech, Yes, Im that too, as I am a volunteer fire fighter/EMT/ and wear many other hats as well as Haz Mat Tech and am certified in Decon operations. Can You Eat Soy If You Have a Thyroid Condition? This usually means that you are being overtreated and are being put into a state of hypothyroidism. A high uptake of radioactive iodine suggests Graves' disease. Take care in washing, treating and grooming your hair. I HAD MY RAI LAST SEPTEMBER 12, NOW IM ALREADY 2 MONTHS AFYER MY RAI. We know that that still leaves lots of options if your heart isn't already set on a color. The trip will be about 45 minutes each way. I have since been on a roller coaster ride with the levels fluctuating up and down and not sure why. rice and dries pasta. My question is even though my thyroid is dead, should the T3 and T4 level be tested as well? Claim Your Free eBook Now. In this procedure, you are intentionally given Iodide, I-131, which emits radiation. They may even preemptively schedule you to start thyroid hormone treatment within a few weeks of the RAI procedure, just to be safe. Radioactive iodine may also affect a woman's ovaries, and some women may have irregular periods for up to a year after treatment. I would say many of your symptoms are unusual but this article highlights some of the routine side effects that may be experienced. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. But my surgeon palpated three nodules and pathology report confirmed PTC, so a completion surgery was scheduled and performed this past April, and that lobe also showed cancer nodules on pathology report as well as some tissue purposely left because some cancer nodules had invaded my vocal chords. You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods, including the following: Fish (such as cod and tuna), seaweed, shrimp, and other seafood, which are generally rich in iodine. The recommended timeframes are based on the size of the dosage you are receiving, so discuss the specifics with your healthcare provider prior to treatment. Taking a safe nascent iodine supplement may boost hair health and growth in the . can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. You can drive yourself, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car. I think that she was supposed to maint. It really depends on whether or not your entire thyroid gland was destroyed. Several of my siblings make fun of me and say I am hiding but dont even know what Graves disease is and I was not around them and did not share my health issues until recently with them. The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. Wash your clothes and dishes separately from your family's so you don't contaminate their belongings. In the mean time, thanks to the WWW. People who do have hyperthyroidism tend to have a fast metabolism, but the treatment for hyperthyroidism (the medication you are taking) slows down the metabolism dramatically which leads to weight gain. meat. My GP at the time liked to keep me on that level despite blood results as he said it was better for patients to be at the higher end of the scale in case they needed a metabolic boost when ill. Because it is entirely possible to only destroy a portion of your thyroid gland and not the entire gland. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! I had a lot of hair loss right after my thyroidectomy. Your article is quite interesting. Thanks. Thyroid Hormone Resistance: What is it & How to Diagnose it. Radioactive iodine is a treatment for papillary and follicular thyroid cancers. Then PCP wants B/P readings and daily weights. Hi! olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? Total testosterone was :10.47(7.60-32) low Some people also feel flushed. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. Abnormal menstrual cycles. Prior to my RAI my level was .03. Radioactive iodine therapy is a type of internal radiotherapy treatment for thyroid cancer. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Hello Dr .Child I tend to have a high heart rate when I exercise it goes up to 130 righ away then may go as high as 174 at harder workouts. Muscle pain or weakness. Whatever touches your skin will pick up a small amount of radiation. If you need to add red tint to your hair, then using carrot juice is one of the easiest ways to do it. Read More. 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. My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. And if the color is hash on the . If possible, its always ideal to try and normalize your weight BEFORE the procedure. Pls.can u explain about this. Radiation can be measured around your body and I-131 is present in your skin oil and sweat. my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. No social life, have to check VS and glucose readings so often. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. This ThyCa has kicked my Gluteus Maximus but good! The amount Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). So for the last 6 mos Ive had to take Levothroxine. 5 years ago I had intense radiation treatment for breast cancer and was told to avoid X-Rays, Cat Scan, unless absolutely necessary. I used to be bubbly, and interactive with people. This distinction is actually quite important. I am now 54 years old. https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-after-thyroid-removal/, Hello I had the rai treatment 33 years ago and I have never felt good since then , more recent they ultrasound my thyroid gland and the lady who did the ultrasound kinda freaked out saying to me where is your thyroid gland hat did they do it it, I was in the hospital with pancreatitisNo dr has told me there could be a reason for getting pancreatitis with hypothyroid and how can my blood tests say my thyroid is producing hormones and is low which means high . But why would you want to restore thyroid function to your thyroid gland if you had it destroyed because you were already producing too much? Doctors made me think it was my only option at the time. The thyroid is equipped with an active system or "pump" for moving iodine into its cells, where it is concentrated as iodide. Additionally, there is also a hypersensitivity reaction. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. No one said it could be from my low thyroid, but I found clinical trials that mentioned it was rare but could affect eyes and should be treated aggressively. If you are unable to get ahold of them then it may be necessary to go to the ER. my RAI, i have rough horsey voice also for a month . But over the past month I see my weight dropping a half to a pound daily. I had my RAI 3weeks ago and they did not gave me a pros and con what to expect after. So I have graves disease but was only diagnosed because I was actually gaining weight. If I have all of these symptoms and have had levels increase so much, is it worth seeing another dr due to my history or do you think this is normal? Sign up to receive 20% off your first order. I am a former Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (no longer practicing) that now focuses on producing the information you see here while also formulating some of the best supplements on the market (in my HUMBLE opinion) :). I was normal weight and now frustrated to be 30 pounds overweight. Iodine is a mineral that your thyroid uses to create thyroid hormone. 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. Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Your healthcare provider will give you specific guidelines regarding how long various restrictions should remain in place in order to protect those around you. No, you won't lose your hair after a radioactive iodine treatment. I was recently on Naturethroid for some years and it seemed to be a better choice for me, it was quite the battle to get the Drs to prescribe it. So is there any possible way to lose weight after the Radioactive iodone treatment or is it pretty much an absolute lost cause? What Is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test? I am a female, and Im 60 years old, soon to be 61. You wont be able to sleep next to people, go to work, prepare food for others, go into public places, fly on an airplane, ride a bus, share utensils with others, sit on a public toilet, and so on for about 1 week (3). Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. When we are deficient in this nutrient, the health of our hair is affected, leading to hair weakness or even total hair loss. To hide grays, try rhubarb root in two cups of water, simmer, strain, and pour over hair. They said it was Im hoping I still have some thyroid function based on the fact that he kept lowering my dose of levothyroxine and I can just take your supplements and see some weight loss and feel a bit better. How is this happening? So, when I get up at Midnight unless I stay up that late, I get a full set of VS plus my glucose readings, and take my Levothyroxine. This is an extension of what weve already discussed but its worth spending some time on this specific point. Tips for Eating and Cooking While on a Low Iodine Diet. I had RAI treatment done 10 years ago. I know some people contribute this I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) I have tried everything and it is frustrating. Thank you, I had RAI treatment 21 April 2017 dose was 400 MBq ( United Kingdom) I was diagnosed Graves disease 2008 my thyroid levels wasnt massively high I refused rai treatment 2011 contunie Antithyroid medication treatment almost 8 years ! Anna Thomas. Not to mention the radiation! I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. So, I need to have an exercise program, vitamin and minerals that may help, food intake regulated to progress to increasing bone mass and weight loss. But you probably at least know a little bit about RAI or you wouldnt be here. I has RIT approx. If you have any thoughts, I would appreciate those. They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. I will know more in a few days when he has all the pathology reports back etc. I go to great lengths to help my users better understand their health; however, the content you see here is not a substitute for medical advice. #3. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). Protecting Your Family After Radioactive Iodine Treatment. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! not the treatment of choice for them. Just have my RAI 2days ago. I have my EMG the end of the month and take things from there. One doctor wants a monitor of pulse five times daily, hes concerned about para thyroid damage. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! Hi, Many clinical studies have also confirmed that weight gain after RAI is a real risk. Over the next 5 years I gained another 10 lbs. Told to me by each and everyone whos never had this cancer! Radioactive iodine ( 131 -I) is a radioactive isotope that is administered orally, in a liquid or capsule form. I had an RAI about three years ago, due to hyperthyroidism. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. Hi,I have awhile to have enough hair to dye.I also have another 4wks. Radioactive iodine works by taking advantage of the physiology in your body (1). I live in Florida and I cannot stand enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the heat. Your concerns should be taken seriously and evaluated. 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. You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldnt do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. A second set of scans will be taken after the contrast dye has been given. Because the hair is sealed off during the BK treatment the color might not be able to penetrate into the cuticle. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Your hair should be colored before a BK treatment. Please see these articles which explain why weight loss is so difficult after thyroid removal or RAI: https://www.restartmed.com/levothyroxine-thyroidectomy-patients/ Thank you 8.1, Because I began feeling very unhealthy this week further blood tests were done. Many doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant for 6 months to a year after treatment. This is possibly TMI but any guidance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Can you tell me about when I will start medication, or should I be tested first? Because your thyroid has been ablated, you will most likely need thyroid medication for life. #4. And I cry at the drop of a hat now too. When they injected RAI contrast dye through an IV for the test, I went in shock and they stopped the testing until later that day. They do this by either stopping your oral thyroid medication or giving you thyrogen. Does Taking Thyroid Medication Cause High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? I feel horrible. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in appetite. What should I do after this treatment to restore my metabolic functioning and gut biome? Here is my story: A year ago I felt a bump on the right side of my neck, so on a routine follow up visit with my PCP for diabetes, I mentioned it to him. New study findings show an association between the dose of a common treatment for hyperthyroidism and risk of death from solid cancers. This is probably not what you want to hear, especially if this is a procedure that is necessary for your health, but its still important to know about it. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain, hypothyroid symptoms, and other issues. SPECT/CT scan can contribute to establishing a final diagnosis in patients being evaluated for atypical locations of radioactive iodine accumulation after ablative doses of radioactive iodine, distinguishing between metastases from DTC and false positive accumulations or artifacts. I have been on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for 3 years now and feel somewhat better. Also learn more about our which will minimize the contamination in your home's isolation room. I am worried the medication or added T3 (Armour)is making that happen and it could be hurting my heart. P.S. 5PM supper with VS and glucose readings. The majority of radioactive iodine, therefore, will be absorbed by any remaining thyroid cells. 1-2 Capsules of Leptin Resistance RX daily https://www.restartmed.com/product/leptin-resistance-rx/. After all, didnt the radioactive iodine work to reduce your overall thyroid hormone production? 1. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. The most common side effect of radioactive iodine treatment immediately after it's been administered is that you will feel very tired for the first few days after the treatment. Radioactive iodine (often abbreviated RAI) is a therapy used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. I expect to be back to probably about 60 to maybe 70% and that is pushing it. biotin or a hair and nail vitamin might be good. A better option might be to try just a partial thyroidectomy or to take out just the half of the thyroid with the cancer. NOT GOING TO TAKE MORE PILLS! Some on the list I cant take to begin with, iron is one, when I take it, no matter how strict I am about taking it so many hours before or after other meds and meals, I still puke it up about fifteen to twenty minutes after taking it. I work hard at it. Radioactive iodine is absorbed and concentrated by the thyroid gland. Read our, An Overview of Thyroid Disease Treatments, The Low-Iodine Diet for Radioactive Iodine Treatment, Society of Nuclear Medicine Procedure Guidelines (PDF), Practice Recommendations of the American Thyroid Association (PDF). (I also bought a digital scale to get the most accurate weight) Then my full set of VS and glucose readings. I keep telling them that I dont feel so good flaking nails, dry skin, fatigue, weight-loss resistant with brain fog. Hi Dr. Childs, I have been battling back and forth with weight gain and hair loss, mild I am 70 years old and I am beginning to worry. Certain 'hair supplements' should be avoided as they may contain iodine or interfere with levothyroxine . A thyroid scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. I dont want radiation therapy especially as she hasnt even told me what caused this. I am in the military, stationed in Fl. For this reason, its ideal to try and lose weight prior to the procedure as opposed to after. A swollen or tender neck and feeling flushed. 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. I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I cant find anything suggesting these are expected symptoms after RAI. There is a paucity of literature on the minimum interval between contrast administration and RAI therapy. Are you thinking about getting radioactive iodine treatment? Gadolinium-based Contrast Material. I have a quick question. Affected cats produce too much thyroid hormone. I am going in for radioactive iodine treatment next week and wanted to ask what the best diet plan is that can stop me gaining more weight and help me to reduce my bmi. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) Unfortunately, the best way to prevent weight gain after RAI is to go into the procedure at a normal weight. I had RAI treatment 4 weeks ago 29.9 mci due to hyperthyroid hot noduals. In the mean time, Im feeling worse about myself than with this original post. 3 days after that I started to become sick after I ate an unable to sleep. I must admit I feel like a lab rat at times with all the tests and trials. Thank you and God bless! Hair that is not being treated directly with radiation can be dyed. You can get by this side effect by simply banking some of your sperm prior to your procedure and then using that sperm at a later date with procedures such as intrauterine insemination. Radioactive iodine treatment is a therapy that your veterinary surgeon may recommend if your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism. Contact: NCI Press Office. You probably will not feel sick during this time, but these precautions are in place to prevent you from accidentally harming another person! June 7, 2022 . It is a measurement of thyroid function, but does not involve imaging. Anecdotally, youve probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure. 3 Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction. Prior to that, I always weighed in the 125-130 lb range (normal for my height). A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. Thank Sharon. I am considering following up with the endocrinologist in the morning. You can find some tips and tricks on how to find the right type of doctor here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/. I had RAI treatment nearly 2 years ago, and deeply regret it. Many people undergo radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) without really understanding what is happening in their bodies. So, if I go to bed earlier, I have to set my alarm clock to get up to take the damn pill, then have a hard time to get back to sleep, then just when I do fall into slumber, its time to get up and going for the day, and take a list of other meds, and monitor VS and glucose readings. Iodine is essential for proper function of the thyroid gland, which uses it to make the thyroid hormones. to covid weight, but now the hair loss! Because it changes how you should be thinking about your medical condition, it changes the types of natural treatment options that may be available to you, and it changes your treatment. For my surgery in April, I had a double whammy because a week prior to my surgery I had a molar tooth extracted with surgical dental sedation, and was still on a soft diet, so that was easy, they supplied me with baby food pureed fruits the entire time I was in the hospital. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. I would recommend touching base with your doctor to see if its related to your procedure or if its caused by something else. The risk of developing a secondary malignancy due to radioactive iodine therapy . Um, Im a night shift nurse on a dementia unit in a nursing home, would you want me taking care of your loved one and have the brain fog, the jitteriness, the irritableness, and depression? If you drive home after your appointment and there's another . 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. The good news is that not every single person who gets RAI will necessarily gain weight. Keep Your Distance. . Hair follicles, which can influence hair shaft structure, length, and color, are known to respond to hormones including TSH. June 10, 2022 . I had RAI about 39 years ago and every year Im tested for my TSH level which always seems to be in the normal range. It targets VEGFR, BRAF, and RET tyrosine kinase and inhibits the proliferation and angiogenesis of cancer cells. It can be an iodine-based material, barium-s ulfate, gadolinium, or saline and air mixture that can be swallowed or injected intravenously. Yes, absolutely. As a result, it isnt uncommon for some patients to suffer from persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism (meaning that they dont have enough thyroid hormone). The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! Prior to radioactive iodine treatment, doctors create a hypothyroid state in your body. Because of this, people who undergo RAI (meaning those who destroy their thyroid gland) need some type of thyroid hormone replacement. If it doesnt go away then you have your answer, and if it does go away then you also have your answer. Not only can doctors NOT find a thyroid replacement that works for me due to side affects, Ive lost 70% of my hair and have to wear wig, Ive gained more weight than ever before in my life, Im constantly fatigued, in pain, moody, still have a very fast heart rate between 110-130, anxiety (like Im still hyperthyroid, but Im not.) The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. My entire life has been turned upside down. The I-131 leaves your body through your urine primarily. My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? As I said earlier not everyone will necessarily need thyroid medication after they ablate their thyroid. If below 100 I will consider a snack of some nuts or piece of fresh fruit. The combination you would want to try if you are post RAI is as follows: Thyroid Daily Essentials 1 packet each day https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-daily-essentials-thyroid-multivitamin/ Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. Although caffeine-containing shampoos are popular they are not useful. Its been a week after What medications (if any) will you need to be on? My symptoms include very dry skin, heart problems, severe pain, muscle problems, joint issues, sometimes brain fog, hair is brittle and dry, constipation, stomach issues, basically nothing is right since the treatment. When you are given radioactive iodine, it is taken up by cancer cells and destroys themincluding those that have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Welcome to my website! I read your list of vitamins all NINE of them, and the only thing I could think of is NO! In regards to your question, its normal to feel terrible if your TSH is so high, but its not normal for your doctor to try and not optimize this level. Then, also there is the womens health portion of all this, and so I had my annual, and a polyp was found on my cervix, it was a rather large one, and thankfully no cancer cells on that, my PAP Im waiting for results. I had RAI 1 month ago. This is an FDA and EMA approved drug used for the treatment of thyroid cancer refractory to radioactive iodine treatment, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. I saw 2 eye professionals. I am feeling all the emotions you described, depression is a big one, but all anyone is interested in is giving me another pill to make me happy again. I have battled my weight since I was a child, I had dropped from 400 pounds to 210 about six years prior, and was afraid all my efforts would be lost now. I am now living in the Midwest originally from Iowa. The presence of any of these symptoms AFTER your procedure (especially if you didnt have them prior to your procedure) may be an early indication that your thyroid medication is not optimized. Do not share any towels, razors, toothbrushes, cups, spoons, forks, or dishes. I eat a diet free of inflammatory foods and exercise 3-5 times a week, but I cant get my weight to budge more than 5-10 pounds.