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Radioactive Iodine Therapy (I-131)
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Oct 24, 2004 - 5:50 am
I am having Radioactive Iodine therapy on the 29th of this month. My endocrinologist informed me that following my therapy, I would need to stay in the hospital or a similar facility for 3 days, to avoid radiation exposure to family/friends because we only have 1 bathroom at home. However, the secretary at the nuclear medicine department of my local hospital said it wasn't necessary for me to stay in a hospital room, but to discuss it with the doctor when I come in for my scan. Did anyone else have to do this, and if so, what was the experience like? |
Joined: May 2006
I had radiation 2 weeks ago, had to stay 3 days,
was told this is law, they cant have you walking
around because you could contaminate other people.
Joined: Oct 2003
Hi I have been a thyroid cancer for 16yrs and and I have had 3 RAI treatments(2 in the hospital and last yr I was sent home) I had to isolate myself in a room for 5 days.I also have only 1 bathroom.But I was sent home with special instructions.I myself prefer to stay in the hospital because the treatment last yr was very strong and I felt really sick.If you have more questions you can write back to me here or at
caburtonpr@yahoo.com
Take care and God bless
Joined: Oct 2004
I just had radioactive iodine two weeks ago and also was in the hospital for three days total. I think it depends on the dose of radiation you get that determines wether you have to stay in the hospital or not. Also different states may have different laws regarding the acceptable exposure. Regarding the hospital stay, it is very boring and tedious. You can't bring anything in the room with you that you don't want to get thrown away, this includes glasses, clothes, anything. Bring lots of magazines and cross word puzzles and hard candy because the dry mouth is awful. Take two to three showers a day and change your bed linens at least twice a day. This will limit the amount of time you have to stay in the hospital because the radiation comes out in your sweat. I had to stay away from home for two weeks because my wife is pregnant. You also have to limit the time you spend around children because they are very suseptable to getting sick because of the radiation. The nuclear medicine tech and radiologist should go over all of this with you before the procedure. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions. You can email me at michael.daniel.curtis@us.army.mil
Joined: Sep 2004
Hi there, I had 2 large doses of radioactive iodine last year. Both times I was allowed to go home, but I could not be in contact with anyone or anything for 72 hours. At the time I lived alone. The laws may be different from state to state. I also wish that I would have been required to stay in the hospital because I felt very sick and alone. Best of luck. If you want you can email me w/ any questions - Krista o1championr1@comcast.net
Joined: Nov 2004
I had I-131 in August 2001. From speaking with other survivors I found out that going home right after treatment would be hazardess to my children (than 2 years old and 8 months old). When I went to set up for in hospital treatment I was told it was not nessecary. I knew better so I fought them. Finally, I agreed to go home,if, and only if, they would put IN WRITING that my children would not be endangered by my presence. Needless to say, they had a room ready for me in no time! I was in total insolation for 4 days and then stayed with my elderly mother for an additional 3 days. It wasn't easy but it was worth it.
By the way, one of the nurses told me that the reason the hospital wasn't originally going to admit me was because 1. I would need a private room and the couldn't charge me a higher rate for it because it was a nessecity and 2. they would have to re-schedule the nursing staff - I could only be seen by nurses who were out of their child bearing years.
It's sad but somtimes we have to fight for our right.
Joined: May 2006
Hi Krista - I was reading your posting, and then I saw the date 11/