LOW IODINE DIET

grateful1
grateful1 Member Posts: 80 Member
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
i AM CONFUSED ABOUT HOW LONG YOU ARE ON THE LOW IODINE DIET. MY DR'S OFFICE GAVE ME NO REAL INSTRUCTIONS.
I WENT ON THE THYCA LOW IODINE COOKBOOK FOR TWO WEEKS I GO TO THE HOSPITAL MONDAY THREE DAYS IN A ROW--MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY. I WAS TOLD ON WEDNESDAY I BELIEVE I SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN WHEN I COME HOME. MY TUMOR IS LARGE--AND IT WAS INOPERABLE BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION.
THEN I WAS TOLD I COME BACK THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY FOR A SCAN.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT--AS THE SECRETARY DIDN'T RETURN MY CALL.
I DON'T LIKE THE DIET AS I CAN'T COOK DUE TO A DISABILITY SO SOMEONE MAKES UP SOME DISHES FOR ME--THE SAME COUPLE OVER AND OVER. ALSO, I FIND MISTAKES--LIKE SHE BROUGHT HOME A WHOLE BAG OF SEA SALT. IT IS HARD TO GET THE CONCEPT THROUGH TO HER. SHE IS MORE CONCERNED THAT I LIKE HER COOKING. BUT I AM GRATEFUL SHE IS MAKING ME SOMETHING.
THE QUESTION IS:

WHEN CAN I GO OFF THE LOW IODINE DIET? AFTER THE FIRST WEDNESDAY WHEN I GO THREE DAYS A WEEK IN A ROW STARTING THIS MONDAY, THEN TUESDAY, THEN WEDNESDAY?
OR DO I HAVE TO STAY ON IT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY UNTIL I GO BACK FOR THE SCAN?

ALSO HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE? TWO DAYS AFTER THIS MON., TUES., WEDS.? OR LONGER? THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP. I DEPEND ON HIRED HELP SO I NEED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS?
DID YOU TAKE ANY SUPPLEMENTS DURING THIS TREATMENT OR DID YOU DISCONTINUE THEM? THANKS SO MUCH! THEY ARE HOPING MY TUMOR WIL SHRINK FIFTY PERCENT . WAS THEIR A GOAL FOR YOU?

Comments

  • vickihol
    vickihol Member Posts: 12
    thyca.org
    I have not gone through this treatment yet, but read your post, and thought you might get information on the web site thyca.org. Maybe this will help. Good luck!
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    answers i hope
    honestly it is up to your doctors how long you stay on the diet after RAI i was off it withing 8 hours after RAI but some people stay on it for longer .. no clue the reason they choose diffrent. the doctors should have told you

    as for staying away from people it is all based on the amount of radiation you are given

    for myself i got 175mCi (enough to be kept in the hospital for 2 days)

    but basicaly you are trying to minimize exposure to other people

    for myself after the 2 days of high radioactivity levels (the dr and nurse would come close if they needed) the doctors basicaly put a line on the floor about 5 feet away from the bed and said that is the normal stay away distance

    after about 1 day they moved it to 3 foot

    i was told once released that i should try minimize others exposures and if they spent less than 1 hour a day withing 4 feet of me that there shold be no problems (for people 18-60) people older than 60 or less than 18 they recomended staying more than 4 feet away for a week except brief contact like a hug or such (and pets)

    after 7 days the recomendation was to keep kids and elderly away as much as posible but i could sleep in the same bed as my wife and could use the same bathroom

    at 14 days had no restrictions but they wanted to make sure i still minimized distance from infants and pets still as much as practicable

    after 21 days they told me my levels would be low enough not to affect kids or pets eithor

    questions.. how large (mine was 7.1 cm ) but i had a TT but it sounds like yours is imoperable.

    2) are they going to be able to operate after the treatment if it gets small enough?

    if you havent gone to www.thyca.org i seriously recomend it lots of good answers and questions you can ask your doctors

    i wish you good luck
  • weberdns
    weberdns Member Posts: 154
    Your radiologist should give you all your instructions
    I was told to stay away from people and pets for 1 week after my RAI. I was supposed to stay on the LID diet for 72 hours after my dose was given. Talk with your doctor and the radiologist who is giving you your treatment for more information.