If you destroy the entire gland then you will definitely need to be on thyroid medication. When the gadolinium is injected, it is normal to feel coolness at the site of injection, usually the arm for a minute or two. I had RAI treatment for severe Graves disease in 1993. I am on NP with an additional Synthroid to balance me out. 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. Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism. 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. My problem now is my hair loss and I cant help get rid of this problem. Symptoms of a moderate or severe reaction that require urgent medical care include: Severe vomiting. 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. He also told me something about an injection of something, as well as being on some sort of thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the remainder of my life. #1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22914564, #2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5413587/, #3. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.2010.0090, #4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5455212/, #5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28545679, #6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3336179/, #7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851449/, #8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18832945. But it does increase your risk of weight gain if you have the procedure by about 2 to 3 times. Will it . Oh, my CTS now has to be taken care of too, and ortho doc has me on Vit B6 for the nerve damage, also the CTS has gone into my elbow, shoulder, neck and back now too. The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! I HAD MY RAI LAST SEPTEMBER 12, NOW IM ALREADY 2 MONTHS AFYER MY RAI. If your overactive thyroid symptoms persist 6 months after treatment, you may need a second dose. The connection between your weight gain and hyperthyroidism is explained here: https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/. I know it Hass to be because it started affecting me as soon as I Started losing weight and before I had been diagnosed. Many people undergo radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) without really understanding what is happening in their bodies. Even at this age, I still want to feel and look pretty. The problem is that once you destroy your thyroid gland you are no longer considered to be hyperthyroid. It was also noted my B/P was sometimes Hypertensive, and my glucose readings were starting to climb. If it doesnt go away then you have your answer, and if it does go away then you also have your answer. Anecdotally, youve probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment that uses radiation to treat thyroid cancer. 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. To further avoid exposing others to radiation:. 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. Your TSH should always drop as you increase your thyroid dose and you should aim to get that TSH around the 1.0 range (which is considered normal in healthy adults). For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'. I dont want radiation therapy especially as she hasnt even told me what caused this. 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. 1-2 Capsules of Leptin Resistance RX daily https://www.restartmed.com/product/leptin-resistance-rx/. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. I dont have another drs appointment till after the holidays. Now they are suggesting a second treatment at a higher dose. Ultrasound can also be performed if . Yup, the pain and numbness Dx CTS, that was put on the back burner for a while, as it wasnt all that troublesome at the moment. Because it is entirely possible to only destroy a portion of your thyroid gland and not the entire gland. Improving gut function can be done through diet and supplements. Potassium iodide (KI) is a type of iodine that is not radioactive and can be used to help block one type of radioactive material, radioactive iodine (I-131), from being absorbed by the thyroid. This was published id a study by dr brunelli fro. Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. non dairy spreads such as Vitalite, Pure and non dairy Flora. I work hard at it. Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. I still have to work a few more years, so Im looking and applying for other jobs that arent as stressful, that are day shift Mon-Fri, with weekends, holidays and nights to myself. I was originally on Synthroid for a while and as I got older my body changes and T3 was required for optimal levels. So, fast forward to February of this year, all blood tests were negative for signs of cancer, so no fine needle biopsy was done, and at that point it was just a simple goiter, and was supposed to simply have a partial right side lobectomy, and after a couple weeks return to work and life goes on. and seriously lethargic?! The only other condition that causes heat intolerance that comes to mind is menopause and perimenopause. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in appetite. I have my EMG the end of the month and take things from there. Not to mention the radiation! can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. It's permanent; once you take the iodine capsule there is no changing your mind. 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. Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. I had severe and sudden weight loss along with many other troubling symptoms. To help prevent thyroid problems that may cause hair problems, it's important to get sufficient dietary . This distinction is actually quite important. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . . He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. Homocysteine down to 11.5, methlymalonic acid down to 257. Told to me by each and everyone whos never had this cancer! The thyroid gland relies on iodine to make the hormones necessary for the growth of healthy hair, teeth, and bones. I has RIT approx. Radioactive iodine works by taking advantage of the physiology in your body (1). that I need doesnt come in one pill so Im taking 100 mcg one day and 75 on the other. Radioactive iodine ( 131 -I) is a radioactive isotope that is administered orally, in a liquid or capsule form. I had this feeling when I went into surgery last Tuesday, but shrugged it off as just my fears in over time. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here. 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. You can drive yourself, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car. Prior to my RAI my level was .03. Catnip works for lighter colors. 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. Another doctor wants my temp and glucose readings, temp shes ok with once or twice during the day. Restart Medical LLC. I have been tested and my doctor says that Im right where I need to be. Now I cant stand the heat and I used to go to the beach all the time. If radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) is recommended as part of your treatment for Graves disease, hyperthyroidism, or thyroid cancer, you will most likely be given it as an outpatient. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). OR IT WILL BE GIVE ME PROBLEM? I dont feel like I have gone back hyper after being off my meds for 4 weeks. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. 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/ I had RAI 20 plus years, I am 56 and my numbers are good. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now: #1. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldnt do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. cooked green vegetables. No social life, have to check VS and glucose readings so often. I saw 2 eye professionals. If possible, its always ideal to try and normalize your weight BEFORE the procedure. But over the past month I see my weight dropping a half to a pound daily. This is possibly TMI but any guidance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Your body then takes up this radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland where the radiation proceeds to destroy thyroid gland tissue. Methimazole Side Effects You Should Be Aware Of (What to Expect), Hashimotos vs Graves Disease: Differences & Similarities, read more about my own personal health journey, free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here, https://www.restartmed.com/hyperthyroidism-weight-gain/, https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-thyroidectomy/, https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/, https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/, https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-mastery/, https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/, https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-daily-essentials-thyroid-multivitamin/, https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/, https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/, https://www.restartmed.com/product/leptin-resistance-rx/, https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/, https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-find-a-doctor-to-treat-your-thyroid/, https://www.restartmed.com/levothyroxine-thyroidectomy-patients/, https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-after-thyroid-removal/, https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-diet/, https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroidectomy-rai-bundle/, 3 New Thyroid Support Supplements: Thyro Fuel, Thyro Biotic & Hashimotos Ab Rx, The 50 mcg Levothyroxine & Synthroid Medication Hack. Ive certainly seen some patients reduce their total dose of thyroid medication by undergoing some natural therapies to help restore thyroid function after RAI (but the number of patients Ive seen in this category is somewhat limited). Prior to radioactive iodine treatment, doctors create a hypothyroid state in your body. I would take a look at this article for more information on why people gain weight after RAI: https://www.restartmed.com/hyperthyroidism-weight-gain/, You can also find some tips for weight loss in this article (even though it is more specific to thyroidectomy): https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-thyroidectomy/, After the treatments, How fast do the weight begin to add in the pounds. Yes, radiation therapy causes hair loss. The highest sources (and those to be avoided) are iodized salt, grains and cereals, some breads . and my being a nurse, Im researching and learning all I can. This may or may not be important to you based on your age, your gender, and whether or not fertility is something you are interested in but, again, its worth knowing about. Life has been very difficult as I basically go very few places now and live a life with little social contact. to covid weight, but now the hair loss! 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.