Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. Thanks look forward, Yes! Thyroid Ultrasound: A thyroid gland impacted by Graves' disease is often enlarged and may have increased blood flow; both of these elements can be visualized by thyroid ultrasound. 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. Pretty much any of the diets listed there will be at least somewhat beneficial. What To Expect After Radioactive Iodine Treatment Very small amounts of radioactive iodine may be absorbed by your salivary glands, and the lining of your stomach, which may cause side effects such as a sore throat or hoarseness. My eyes improved for a while but now seem to be getting worse. June 7, 2022 . This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. I have to take my Levothyroxine at midnight, as in the morning it causes me to have a jitteriness and brain fog, that is bothersome, and to have it in the time frame away from other meds and meals, midnight is the only option. Like the effects of chemotherapy, hair follicles and new hair are more delicate and prone to . Hi, 1. Can I dye my hair? My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where your body produces too much thyroid hormone so the treatment is to destroy your thyroid gland and stop that production. Hi doc! Difficulty breathing. 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. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. The amount of iodine taken up by your thyroid is then measured. Want to know why I'm so passionate about these topics? 8PM HS snack and VS and glucose readings. My entire life has been turned upside down. Serum folate levels was :17.1(2.0-18.7)b12 vitamin levels was :565 (197-771)ferritin levels was :175.9(30-400)red cell count was :4.87(4.25-5.77)white cell count was :5.6(4.5-13.0) I dont understand how this happened sir ? He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. 2 capsules of T3 Conversion Booster daily (important if you take T4 only medication!) Since then I have suffered most every day with severe chemical sensitivity. Radioactive iodine for cats - is it worth it? - Vet Help Direct The issue now is that I have no refills on the levothyroxine and have not had any blood work in about 2 years. Not to mention the radiation! I dont have any definitive results/reports as yet, however, I do have that gut feeling. You might need contrast when you are having an X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound exam. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. My throat is killing me and outside of my neck is swollen. I have been on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for 3 years now and feel somewhat better. My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, infants and children should ideally stay outside the home for the recommended period. I have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, asthma, arthritis, allergies, MCS, auto-immune thyroid disease, etc. 240-760-6600. Any advice . What medications (if any) will you need to be on? False Positive Radioiodine Post-ablation Scan in Scalp Region in A The hardest time I had and have with my diet is getting hospital dietitian to understand that vegan/plant based does not mean fish and chicken are allowed. You probably will not feel sick during this time, but these precautions are in place to prevent you from accidentally harming another person! She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". Just have my RAI 2days ago. I feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). Why have millions of patients been treated with Radioactive Iodine The cold also affects me if its too cold I really get cold but thinking back I pretty much think I was always like that with cold. 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. Now, yesterday and today I had my Thyrogen injections, and tomorrow I go get my I 131 RAI pill and on home isolation for the following 7 days, and then my whole body scan. Im planning on RAI in the next 2 weeks. Its normal in the sense that ALL post RAI patients will become hypothyroid but abnormal in the sense that you should NOT feel poorly if you are treated properly. 4. In earlier forms of Iodine contrast, people with Myasthenia gravis faced an increased chance of exacerbation of the disease. (Pat). 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. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of an animal. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To keep my glucose readings at or below 120, the desired reading by my PCP and endocrinologist, I am strict to my vegan/plant based diet, and consume 600 to 800 calories per day. Your doctor should monitor you for symptoms of hypothyroidism after RAI treatment. Be wary of home-use products, and use recommended professional products for dye, highlights and conditioning. I would recommend that you read this article for more info: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/. Radioactive iodine can also show whether cancer has spread beyond the thyroid. Thanks. 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. Abnormal menstrual cycles. Information for patients administered radioactive iodine (I-131). Will my house retain radioactivity after a therapy dose? No ill effects have been noted in the children born to parents who received radioactive iodine in the past. Additionally, there is also a hypersensitivity reaction. Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. I would actually think about taking chances with the cancer instead of gaining weight. It doesnt appear that the first treatment was sufficient to destroy the hot nodules (or there is some other issue). So I stopped going. I am a female, and Im 60 years old, soon to be 61. my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. I have my thyroid ablated about 20 so years ago. The doctor started me on .50 of Synthroid, and taking the first dose my eyes cleared the next day. It turns out, which should come as no surprise, that medications are not a 100% complete substitute for the activity that your thyroid gland does on a day-to-day basis. Thanks Doctor please, I had private clinic blood test after RAI sir this was the result:17 may 2017 :DHEA:11.020(0.44-13.00) Protecting Your Home against Radioactive Iodine: Laboratory Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! Because your thyroid has been ablated, you will most likely need thyroid medication for life. Then I get up at 7AM and during that first hour get my daily weight after I void and empty my bladder, and strip down for a true body weight. Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Cancer - webmd.com It may sound counterintuitive, but youll understand why you might want to after your procedure. Iodine - Consumer - National Institutes of Health I had RAI 1 month ago. If you will be traveling via airplane or crossing an international border in the period following RAI treatment, you must be provided with a written document from your healthcare provider stating they you have been given a medical treatment involving radiation, as security monitoring devices can detect it. I'm Dr. Westin Childs. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Answer (1 of 9): I have direct experience with this question because my wife had radioactive iodine treatment for her thyroid cancer and she was supposed to stay away from me and our parrots for 3 days until the radioactive iodine dissipated from her system. Its often a far better use of your time to find a new doctor than try to convince an old doctor to change what they think: https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-find-a-doctor-to-treat-your-thyroid/. I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. Fortunately, most patients experience reduced symptoms about a month after treatment. The most common reason for RAI is the autoimmune condition known as Graves disease (6). Another doctor wants my temp and glucose readings, temp shes ok with once or twice during the day. Because of PTC, I had a total thyroidectomy two weeks ago and now on Levo. You usually take radioactive iodine as a capsule that you swallow. 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. My endocrinologist said he never heard someone like that after RAI, but i asked my cousin who is a family doctor back home that you will expect that will happened to you. Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . 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 have Graves Disease and lost 40 pounds. They wanted to give me more RAI IV for test, but I refused and I know I would have died had they done that. Use disposable dishes and place them in a specially marked plastic bag for disposal. Radioactive iodine therapy is a type of internal radiotherapy treatment for thyroid cancer. Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. Radioactive iodine (often abbreviated RAI) is a therapy used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. I am considering following up with the endocrinologist in the morning. What should I do after this treatment to restore my metabolic functioning and gut biome? . The interesting part was the B12 level was normal at 737 but methylmalonic acid slightly high(319) and homocysteine at 13.9. I had RAI treatment done 10 years ago. Free androgen index was :24.21(24-104) and endocrinologist said RAI didnt work I dont understand how thyroid levels goes up after RAI treatment 21.04.2017). Well since this journey has began Ive lost almost all of my hair and gained a ton of weight. Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism - EndocrineWeb Feline Hyperthyroidism - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Will it . Family Medicine 59 years experience. The thyroid gland relies on iodine to make the hormones necessary for the growth of healthy hair, teeth, and bones. The best course of action is to contact the doctor that was responsible for your procedure and let them know about your symptoms. 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. These are the questions that I want to focus on today and hopefully answer many of the current questions that you already have. It may take some trial and error but 80% of patients should approximate normal symptoms over a few months. Contrast distinguishes, or "contrasts," between organs, tissues, bones, or blood vessels during your imaging exam. The risk of developing a secondary malignancy due to radioactive iodine therapy . Hi, Dr. Westin ChildsI had Graves disease and had the radioactive iodine treatmentyour information was so good to read..weight gain is becoming an issue I just watch what I eat and exercise as much as I can I also have osteoporosis but managing well so far Thank you so much for your information. No social life, have to check VS and glucose readings so often. Thank you What will you really expect after your RAI, side effects Im so confused my gp has no explanation my hair is falling out I dont eat anything only 3oranges a day and pure fruit juice now I have moderate atrophy on my pancreas and I cant get into a specialist for 1-2 years ., can h explain whats really going on, Please see this article for more information on managing hair loss with thyroid problems: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/. 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. I had RAI about 15 years ago and yes I have gained weight, less energy & I sweat a lot(buckets) doing nothing I underwent RAI 14 years ago for Graves disease. A swollen or tender neck and feeling flushed. The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. There are 37 known isotopes isotopesA form of an element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus, giving it a different atomic mass. 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). Lowered heart rate. If you dont have thyroid hormone at all then you risk the chance of coma and death. 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 would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. Need better symptom control? Image: Shutterstock. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) 20 yrs ago. I had RAI treatment 4 weeks ago 29.9 mci due to hyperthyroid hot noduals. It is a good idea to increase your fluid intake after an imaging exam involving an iodine-based contrast material to help remove the contrast material from your body. 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. You can eat the following foods because they contain very low levels of iodine: fruits and vegetables including potatoes. So is there any possible way to lose weight after the Radioactive iodone treatment or is it pretty much an absolute lost cause? Radionuclide Basics: Iodine | US EPA Taking a safe nascent iodine supplement may boost hair health and growth in the . The permanency can be seen as a benefit as patients condition will become stable and symptoms can be more easily controlled. While I was taking Levothyroxine So I have graves disease but was only diagnosed because I was actually gaining weight. The radiation comes from a radioactive substance called iodine-131. I had RAI back in 2010 For Thyroid nodules And I have been on hormone replacement ever since I get my blood tested every 3 months And Im either too high or too low So I keep getting switched from a 112 To a dose of 125 This is been going on for several year several years so now my doctor has me switch every other day Between the 2 doses to see if this will stabilize my levels My problem is the weight gain That came after the RAI treatment treatment.. Are you thinking about getting radioactive iodine treatment? I know it Hass to be because it started affecting me as soon as I Started losing weight and before I had been diagnosed. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. The radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) is also known as a thyroid uptake. Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity. My exercise routine has been reduced because of back injuries and arthritis. These symptoms are not caused by the procedure itself but rather a consequence of the damage of the thyroid gland and the inability of your body to produce thyroid hormone. It is a measurement of thyroid function, but does not involve imaging. Its definitely possible it just takes more time and the weight loss is slower. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. But you probably at least know a little bit about RAI or you wouldnt be here. MY QUESTION IS AM I ABLE TO WORK ABROAD WITH THIS. Call (800) 542-1123 or visit www.labtechinc.com to learn more about protecting your home against radioactive iodine. Please help me what to do with this. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. Also learn more about our which will minimize the contamination in your home's isolation room. One doctor wants a monitor of pulse five times daily, hes concerned about para thyroid damage. Credit: iStock. This usually means that you are being overtreated and are being put into a state of hypothyroidism. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. How to Clean After Radioactive Iodine Treatment - wikiHow I had severe fatigue, sweats etc and they did labs and said my count was high 5.4 and referred me to a civilian provider. I am 67 years old and just wonder how many years I may have either way. 7 Natural Ways to Dye & Color Your Hair without Chemicals This can delay subsequent use of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy because the iodine can compete for uptake. I wish I had found it weeks ago, but I didnt so I have to move on. This was published id a study by dr brunelli fro. These are just a few of the questions that I want to answer in this article. SHBG :43 (16-55) P.S. You can opt-out at any time. Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. to covid weight, but now the hair loss! My health is anything but wonderful. and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 6 years. My supplements can help but they will not take the place of thyroid medications like levothyroxine. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your normal. I was tested in 6 weeks and my thyroid numbers were still high so I was not tested again until Feb. 2019. Any help will be appreciated. By looking at markers such as your TSH, free t3, and free t4 you can get an idea as to what is actually going on. Hello Dr .Child In your case, these would be best: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroidectomy-rai-bundle/. IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! The other 20% may require additional testing and the use of other thyroid medications which contain T3 thyroid hormone. Its drastically changed my life. I know they are going to try to drop me further. Severe reactions occur in 0.04% to 0.02% of people receiving contrast, with a death rate of one person in every 170,000. Check out my thyroid supplements. Last week labs getting better with a methylpro supplement. Pls.can u explain about this. It Depends on These Factors, Add Back Therapy for Graves & Hyperthyroidism: When to use Levothyroxine, Hashimotos and Hyperthyroidism: Why it Happens & What it Means, How to Prevent Thyroid Surgery and Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy | Dr. Osansky and Dr. Childs. 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. So far I feel strong and as I did before. Many clinical studies have also confirmed that weight gain after RAI is a real risk. Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. With that in mind, lets jump into what you should expect after your procedure. Calculating the half life of radiation, it will be a couple months before I can be around nursing home residents and pregnant women, and each and every nursing home has several pregnant women on each unit and each shift. While we are on the topic of thyroid medication we should also spend a few minutes talking about other symptoms you may experience. If weight loss is your primary goal then I would take a look at my weight loss program here: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-mastery/. Dr.DanielleWeiss is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. Over the next 5 years I gained another 10 lbs. To protect family pets, do not sleep with them for up to 21 days. Even at this age, I still want to feel and look pretty. Treating Hypothyroidism After Radioactive Iodine - BodyLogicMD And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. It really depends on whether or not your entire thyroid gland was destroyed. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. It can also help to diagnose and treat some other cancers and conditions. If you find that your TSH is high or that your free t3/free t4 is low, then this may be the cause of your symptoms. 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. 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. 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. I am already over weight and working on losing it. June 10, 2022 . I am now living in the Midwest originally from Iowa. that I need doesnt come in one pill so Im taking 100 mcg one day and 75 on the other. This resource is dedicated to helping people with thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss problems get the help that they need. 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.