Isolation/ recovery

Finnegan1

I have been in isolation for nearly 2 days, and the nuclear med Dr. wants 3 days out of me. I guess it had something to do with the dose. My question; does the constant queasiness go away? I sleep quite a bit, and it's there. I try to eat and I feel nauseated. I am drinking plenty of water, and the ocassional hard candy, but regular food is hard to stomach. I remember Seri saying she was sick through her recovery, and Nasher things tasted funny too. Has anyone else had these symptoms and how long did they last? Thanks for responses.

lglegl70

It will go away
I just went through RAI last week, and yes, the nausea will go away. I was actually very sick and vomiting the first day. I couldn't even keep water down. The second day I didn't eat anything. The third day I felt better and could eat a little. Days 4-6 were even better. but I felt nauseated after I ate. After that, I was able to eat with no nausea and things are back to normal now. I have the problem where things taste funny. I thought I was getting away with not having that side effect, but around day 4-5 that changed. My tongue feels like it's been burned by eating or drinking something that was too hot. Some things I can taste, other things taste like cardboard, and sometimes I have a metal taste in my mouth. Yuck. But everything I've read says that goes away too.

Keep your head up, things will get better (and hopefully taste better)! :-)

sunnyaz

Isolation/Recovery
Yes, the symptoms will go away soon. I was in isolation for four days (September 1-4,this year)and on the sixth and seventh day after the treatment I was back to normal. Sometimes if you drink too much water it can make you nauseated. You really don't need to drink more than about eight ounces every few hours. Focus more on hard candies that make you salivate. I at lots of Lifesavers and Jolly Ranchers. They seemed to work and I didn't have any issues with my salivary glands afterward. Hang in there, this is not forever, it only feels like it right now.

Finnegan1

sunnyaz said:

Isolation/Recovery
Yes, the symptoms will go away soon. I was in isolation for four days (September 1-4,this year)and on the sixth and seventh day after the treatment I was back to normal. Sometimes if you drink too much water it can make you nauseated. You really don't need to drink more than about eight ounces every few hours. Focus more on hard candies that make you salivate. I at lots of Lifesavers and Jolly Ranchers. They seemed to work and I didn't have any issues with my salivary glands afterward. Hang in there, this is not forever, it only feels like it right now.

Thank you
It does feel like forever. I am out of isolation now, but you both are right, I too, thought I would be lucky and not lose my taste, but no luck there. Some things I can taste, most others, taste like charred meat or rust? I am happy to hear it fades over time. How long? And what about the emotional craziness? I have severe ups and downs. Is it the medication or me? Thanks for the tip on the water. I was probably overdoing that. I do have hard candies. Have you had your scans yet? how did they turn out? Good I hope; I go in today and am a bit nervous. This forum, these pages, have been a saving Grace for me. To know, at the darkest point, that others are going through, or have gone through this is really what drags my butt around from day to day. Not very poetic, but you get my point. Thanks so much for keeping this up.

sunnyaz

Finnegan1 said:

Thank you
It does feel like forever. I am out of isolation now, but you both are right, I too, thought I would be lucky and not lose my taste, but no luck there. Some things I can taste, most others, taste like charred meat or rust? I am happy to hear it fades over time. How long? And what about the emotional craziness? I have severe ups and downs. Is it the medication or me? Thanks for the tip on the water. I was probably overdoing that. I do have hard candies. Have you had your scans yet? how did they turn out? Good I hope; I go in today and am a bit nervous. This forum, these pages, have been a saving Grace for me. To know, at the darkest point, that others are going through, or have gone through this is really what drags my butt around from day to day. Not very poetic, but you get my point. Thanks so much for keeping this up.

You are welcome!
The weird taste should be gone within a couple of days. The emotional craziness as well. You will be back to yourself in no time. This is a harsh medication so don't be too hard on yourself. I hope the nausea went away after cutting back on the water. My scan went well, but all it really told me is that the RAI took up in my remaining Thyroid cells. The didn't see any of the Lymph nodes glowing, so that was a good sign. It takes anywhere from one to two months for it to finish burning off the rest of the cells. You may have a sore throat for awhile, this is normal and means the treatment is working. Mine lasted about two weeks. I hope all goes well for you. Best wishes and God bless.

Finnegan1

sunnyaz said:

You are welcome!
The weird taste should be gone within a couple of days. The emotional craziness as well. You will be back to yourself in no time. This is a harsh medication so don't be too hard on yourself. I hope the nausea went away after cutting back on the water. My scan went well, but all it really told me is that the RAI took up in my remaining Thyroid cells. The didn't see any of the Lymph nodes glowing, so that was a good sign. It takes anywhere from one to two months for it to finish burning off the rest of the cells. You may have a sore throat for awhile, this is normal and means the treatment is working. Mine lasted about two weeks. I hope all goes well for you. Best wishes and God bless.

Scan results
Scan results were, like you said, just to let me know, that most thyroid tissue is gone! Yay! and the remaining radiation is being taken up by salivary glands and this is normal!The doctors (one a resident) want me to check back for levels in 6 weeks, but I believe this is the end of treatment other than to get all the correct medications and levels. He said that it would be roughly 3-4 weeks until my taste is back to normal, but most else should be fine soon enough! At 150 millicules (-curies?) I can't remember the measurement, It will take a bit longer to burn off. And yes, cutting back on water did help the nausea. Thanks for that too.
So , thank you thank you for the support on this, and I wish you all the best as well!

sunnyaz

Finnegan1 said:

Scan results
Scan results were, like you said, just to let me know, that most thyroid tissue is gone! Yay! and the remaining radiation is being taken up by salivary glands and this is normal!The doctors (one a resident) want me to check back for levels in 6 weeks, but I believe this is the end of treatment other than to get all the correct medications and levels. He said that it would be roughly 3-4 weeks until my taste is back to normal, but most else should be fine soon enough! At 150 millicules (-curies?) I can't remember the measurement, It will take a bit longer to burn off. And yes, cutting back on water did help the nausea. Thanks for that too.
So , thank you thank you for the support on this, and I wish you all the best as well!

Scan Results
Excellent news! You made it through the worst part!
Sunny

LizP

post rai effects
Hi Finnegan,
Happy to hear that you're out of isolation and the scans looked good! I had my RAI treatment on Sept 8th. At first, I couldn't taste salt or sugar. A month later, my taste buds are still off, but not as bad. My tongue feels burnt.

It may take a little bit of time to adjust to the meds. After working all week I was feeling run down by the time Friday, Saturday and Sunday rolled around. I went back to the dr. last week, had my blood tested for TSH levels, and he determined I needed a higher dosage of Synthroid. (150 rather than 125). I've only been on the higher dosage 5 days, and I feel much more normal.

Don't be afraid to ask to be tested if you're unsure. It's pretty easy, and well worth it.

take care!

lglegl70

LizP said:

post rai effects
Hi Finnegan,
Happy to hear that you're out of isolation and the scans looked good! I had my RAI treatment on Sept 8th. At first, I couldn't taste salt or sugar. A month later, my taste buds are still off, but not as bad. My tongue feels burnt.

It may take a little bit of time to adjust to the meds. After working all week I was feeling run down by the time Friday, Saturday and Sunday rolled around. I went back to the dr. last week, had my blood tested for TSH levels, and he determined I needed a higher dosage of Synthroid. (150 rather than 125). I've only been on the higher dosage 5 days, and I feel much more normal.

Don't be afraid to ask to be tested if you're unsure. It's pretty easy, and well worth it.

take care!

I'm so glad to hear your
I'm so glad to hear your scan turned out well! You and I had the same dose of RAI (150 mCi) and our scans sound like they turned out about the same. Just residual thyroid tissue.

I have that same burnt tongue feeling like LizP posted. I don't like it - mine feels like a mixture of burnt tongue and metallic taste. And it makes me feel like my breath is bad all the time. I have sprays and mints, but I can't taste them so it makes me feel like they aren't working. Weird, I know! lol

Did anyone else get mouth sores after RAI? I've got about 3-4 mouth sores (inside my mouth)and am wondering if it's from treatment. I plan on asking my oncologist at my appointment this Friday, but wondered if anyone had experienced it.

Thanks, and take care everyone!

nasher

well i had my radiation on
well i had my radiation on the 5th of May and yes i still notice everything tastes a little off (and most times heavly salted)<--mabey rusted like you mentioned.

I have noticed it less often that my taste is off (when i think about it i notice it all the time) eithor way its less than it was origianly.

i was told that most people eithor dont notice or get over the taste changes in a year .. if not they never will .. shrug... I am alive and I will beat or have beaten this thing time to get on with life

Seri

nasher said:

well i had my radiation on
well i had my radiation on the 5th of May and yes i still notice everything tastes a little off (and most times heavly salted)<--mabey rusted like you mentioned.

I have noticed it less often that my taste is off (when i think about it i notice it all the time) eithor way its less than it was origianly.

i was told that most people eithor dont notice or get over the taste changes in a year .. if not they never will .. shrug... I am alive and I will beat or have beaten this thing time to get on with life</p>

yay for a good scan!
So glad to hear you are doing alright and your scan results were good!

My taste buds are getting back to normal. My tongue still feels burnt sometimes, but at least food is tasting good again!

Seri

nasher said:

well i had my radiation on
well i had my radiation on the 5th of May and yes i still notice everything tastes a little off (and most times heavly salted)<--mabey rusted like you mentioned.

I have noticed it less often that my taste is off (when i think about it i notice it all the time) eithor way its less than it was origianly.

i was told that most people eithor dont notice or get over the taste changes in a year .. if not they never will .. shrug... I am alive and I will beat or have beaten this thing time to get on with life</p>

yay for a good scan!
So glad to hear you are doing alright and your scan results were good!

My taste buds are getting back to normal. My tongue still feels burnt sometimes, but at least food is tasting good again!

Finnegan1

Seri said:

yay for a good scan!
So glad to hear you are doing alright and your scan results were good!

My taste buds are getting back to normal. My tongue still feels burnt sometimes, but at least food is tasting good again!

Thanks everyone!
Thanks all of you for responding!
It is good to hear that you are all doing better each day. My taste is still off, except for Mexican dishes. I can taste those fine!, Seems like all else has that rusty taste after I eat or drink. Seri, I know what you mean, at least I can taste SOmething again!
Nasher, you aren't alone in your attitude. This is SUCH a small price to pay for beating this. You are all in my prayers, and for future scans to come clean!
Thanks for your responses, and LizP, I am glad to hear your med levels went up to 150 mcg and seem to be helping. Every day is better than the one before.
My memory is returning to normal function, but soooo slowly! *sigh* ah well. I guess the 150 dosage for the radiation is pretty high, but not unusual? Good to hear you had the same Iglegl70, and are recovering well?
Thanks again guys!

Finnegan1

sunnyaz said:

Scan Results
Excellent news! You made it through the worst part!
Sunny

Sunny
Thank you! It has been the worst so far, and if that's all this thing has, I got it beat! Thanks for support!

lglegl70

Finnegan1 said:

Thanks everyone!
Thanks all of you for responding!
It is good to hear that you are all doing better each day. My taste is still off, except for Mexican dishes. I can taste those fine!, Seems like all else has that rusty taste after I eat or drink. Seri, I know what you mean, at least I can taste SOmething again!
Nasher, you aren't alone in your attitude. This is SUCH a small price to pay for beating this. You are all in my prayers, and for future scans to come clean!
Thanks for your responses, and LizP, I am glad to hear your med levels went up to 150 mcg and seem to be helping. Every day is better than the one before.
My memory is returning to normal function, but soooo slowly! *sigh* ah well. I guess the 150 dosage for the radiation is pretty high, but not unusual? Good to hear you had the same Iglegl70, and are recovering well?
Thanks again guys!

I agree
Finnegan1 - I agree with you and Nasher, this is definitely a small price to pay to be cancer free! It may not have sounded like I have that attitude in my original post, but I sure do feel that way!

Hope everyone is well!

twiggs33

Finnegan1 said:

Thanks everyone!
Thanks all of you for responding!
It is good to hear that you are all doing better each day. My taste is still off, except for Mexican dishes. I can taste those fine!, Seems like all else has that rusty taste after I eat or drink. Seri, I know what you mean, at least I can taste SOmething again!
Nasher, you aren't alone in your attitude. This is SUCH a small price to pay for beating this. You are all in my prayers, and for future scans to come clean!
Thanks for your responses, and LizP, I am glad to hear your med levels went up to 150 mcg and seem to be helping. Every day is better than the one before.
My memory is returning to normal function, but soooo slowly! *sigh* ah well. I guess the 150 dosage for the radiation is pretty high, but not unusual? Good to hear you had the same Iglegl70, and are recovering well?
Thanks again guys!

experiences
Hello everyone! I just signed up today and I was reading everyone's discussions and it's amazing to hear how many people have similar stories. Mine is quite the same as many of you. I had the RAI done twice, and neither experience was pleasant. The only good thing about doing it the second time was knowing ahead of time how i was going to feel. I was extremely nauseated the 2nd time around, and nothing made it better. Doctors said it was due to the 150 dosage, so for everyone that's had a higher dosage and felt like crap, you are not alone. Hope to hear more experiences and get involved. Thanks for sharing!