It is worth pointing out, however, that some other tissues can take up the radioactive iodine such as the beta cells in your pancreas (2) though it isnt clear how much damage exists (if any) in these other cells. can i color my hair after radioactive iodinesvetlana invitational 2022 Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. If you havent already then you would probably want to make sure it isnt your other hormones causing these issues. . You usually take radioactive iodine as a capsule that you swallow. There is nowhere else to go tricare insurance is awful. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Thyroid Health: Is it Safe to Use? Very small amounts of iodine may also be taken up transiently by . 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. Thank you and God bless! 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. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. Theres a higher risk that the cancer comes back but its also a way to preserve some thyroid function. 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. Because your thyroid has been ablated, you will most likely need thyroid medication for life. The permanency can be seen as a benefit as patients condition will become stable and symptoms can be more easily controlled. It does have effect : Radioactive dyes containing iodine of the iodide type can cause permanent thyroid damage and cancer. Prior to radioactive iodine treatment, doctors create a hypothyroid state in your body. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? Will destroying your thyroid gland have long-term consequences? They wanted to give me more RAI IV for test, but I refused and I know I would have died had they done that. I would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. Use disposable dishes and place them in a specially marked plastic bag for disposal. I have been asked to transport a friend who is having Radioactive Iodine treatment both the day of and a couple days later for her followup scan. Most people who get radioactive iodine treatment do so because they are considered to be hyperthyroid (sometimes people get RAI for thyroid cancer (5) but most people get it for hyperthyroidism). Last week labs getting better with a methylpro supplement. They all tell me Thyroid Cancer is the easy cancer. Another doctor wants my temp and glucose readings, temp shes ok with once or twice during the day. Radioactive iodine ( 131 -I) is a radioactive isotope that is administered orally, in a liquid or capsule form. My hair has been a part of me for many years, it is waist length, and Im wondering if having it cut off and sent to make a wig for myself would be best or just wait and see if I do in fact loose my hair. Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as "iodized". This can delay subsequent use of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy because the iodine can compete for uptake. To increase the effectiveness of your upcoming radioactive iodine therapy, you may be prescribed a low iodine diet. My hair has always been my pretty part of me, the one thing that makes me feel like a pretty girl. Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. I had this feeling when I went into surgery last Tuesday, but shrugged it off as just my fears in over time. Personally I doubt that what you describe is RAI-related because it is ongoing and (in my experience) reversible and because iodine does not have an obvious connection with hair follicles, whereas thyroid axis hormones . Thank You. 4. Im having my RAI tomorrow, and my oncologist said I could go back to work right after. Because of this, people may experience symptoms that may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can. A second set of scans will be taken after the contrast dye has been given. menopause etc. The relationship between your thyroid to your hair growth aside, iodine . I keep telling them that I dont feel so good flaking nails, dry skin, fatigue, weight-loss resistant with brain fog. My GP at the time liked to keep me on that level despite blood results as he said it was better for patients to be at the higher end of the scale in case they needed a metabolic boost when ill. This particular visit, my HA1C was up to 6 point something, and caused alarm as I am strict with my diet, admit though at that time I allowed myself a free day to eat as much and all the treats I wanted or craved. If below 100 I will consider a snack of some nuts or piece of fresh fruit. Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). 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Radioactive iodine is absorbed and concentrated by the thyroid gland. It sounds like you are being underdosed based on your TSH level. Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. Hi Dr. Childs, They said it was Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. In this procedure, you are intentionally given Iodide, I-131, which emits radiation. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. Theres no way for doctors to give you a pill once a day and for that pill to perform the exact same function that your thyroid gland does every minute of every day. You wouldnt want to use a steroid on it unless you know what it is. Then PCP wants B/P readings and daily weights. Claim Your Free eBook Now. So, if papillary or follicular thyroid cancer has spread to any other part of the body, we can still use this therapy to find and destroy it. There's no medical indication to support this as a benefit, and as we mentioned above, excess iodine could cause much bigger problems in the long run. The iodine is taken into the thyroid gland and incorporated into thyroxine. Hi, olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils. Im hoping I still have some thyroid function based on the fact that he kept lowering my dose of levothyroxine and I can just take your supplements and see some weight loss and feel a bit better. The next person to tell me how easy this cancer is, Im going to pull their toenails out threw their nostrils then tie them in a knot out their but hole. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, infants and children should ideally stay outside the home for the recommended period. I'm Dr. Westin Childs. The most common reason for RAI is the autoimmune condition known as Graves disease (6). 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. biotin or a hair and nail vitamin might be good. While we are on the topic of thyroid medication we should also spend a few minutes talking about other symptoms you may experience. I expect to be back to probably about 60 to maybe 70% and that is pushing it. And was doing well on a vegan/plant based diet. The study followed people for 26 years after two or more treatments. I am in a gym 3 days a week I do water therapy/aerobics 3 days a week and I still cant lose weight I try to eat a low calorie Healthy diet Mostly either paleo or keto and no matter what I do I still cant lose the belly fat. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. After rai treatment I had blood test results was :freet4 was 13.3pmol/L (11-23)free t3 was 4.30pmol/L it was normal (3.1-6.8) I was happy and I had another blood test 26 July 2017 and results was TSH was 0.01 (0.35-4.94) freet3 was 16.32 pmol/L (never ever high like this before) (3.1-6.8) my freet4 was 46.3 pmol/L (11-23) I was shocked how this happened after RAI treatment Sir ? Radioactive iodine can also show whether cancer has spread beyond the thyroid. Keep Your Distance. I saw 2 eye professionals. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. that I need doesnt come in one pill so Im taking 100 mcg one day and 75 on the other. If you are unable to get ahold of them then it may be necessary to go to the ER. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. Any suggestions? Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. It really depends on whether or not your entire thyroid gland was destroyed. (I also bought a digital scale to get the most accurate weight) Then my full set of VS and glucose readings. It may take some trial and error but 80% of patients should approximate normal symptoms over a few months. If you fit into this category then you may not need to use thyroid medication afterward. I feel horrible. Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in appetite. 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. Tips for Eating and Cooking While on a Low Iodine Diet. Like the effects of chemotherapy, hair follicles and new hair are more delicate and prone to . Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . 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. This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. So I had the ablation without much research on my own, and now Im at the highest weight of my life and miserable. Radioactive iodine. I am on NP with an additional Synthroid to balance me out. Affected cats produce too much thyroid hormone. Now they are suggesting a second treatment at a higher dose. Will you be able to lead a normal life? OR IT WILL BE GIVE ME PROBLEM? 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. Radioiodine treatment avoids surgery, anesthesia, and anti-thyroid drugs. Call (800) 542-1123 or visit www.labtechinc.com to learn more about protecting your home against radioactive iodine. Abnormal menstrual cycles. NOT GOING TO TAKE MORE PILLS! Some on the list I cant take to begin with, iron is one, when I take it, no matter how strict I am about taking it so many hours before or after other meds and meals, I still puke it up about fifteen to twenty minutes after taking it. If I have all of these symptoms and have had levels increase so much, is it worth seeing another dr due to my history or do you think this is normal? Because your thyroid gland concentrates and stores iodine in your body. not the treatment of choice for them. It can be an iodine-based material, barium-s ulfate, gadolinium, or saline and air mixture that can be swallowed or injected intravenously. Because it changes how you should be thinking about your medical condition, it changes the types of natural treatment options that may be available to you, and it changes your treatment. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers develop from follicular cells, which absorb iodine. I cannot take anything other than porcine thyroid with rice flour as filler (compounded). I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. The majority of radioactive iodine, therefore, will be absorbed by any remaining thyroid cells. Read More. Anecdotally, youve probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure. The problem is that once you destroy your thyroid gland you are no longer considered to be hyperthyroid. I know they are going to try to drop me further. Check out my thyroid supplements. It can also help to diagnose and treat some other cancers and conditions. In regards to diets that can help, please see this article: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-diet/. Is it 10 days? Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. They are planning radioactive iodine in the future. I was experiencing heart palpations, diffuclty breathing while lying down, weight gain. 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 ? I fall backwards with no explanation other than car exhaust in my air space, with some injuries as a result. What are you concerned about? Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. . Another problem Ive faced is I ask one doctor about this or that feeling Im having and I get told that doctor doesnt deal with that have to tell the other doctor, I tell the other doctor and they tell me I have to tell another doctor because they dont deal with that issue. Image: Shutterstock. 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. If a person with a health thyroid intakes the I131, it will damage their . I am on my own taking more precautions, and going at this as a Haz Mat Tech, Yes, Im that too, as I am a volunteer fire fighter/EMT/ and wear many other hats as well as Haz Mat Tech and am certified in Decon operations. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. June 7, 2022 . Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. who gave me 150 of Synthyroid. This is an extension of what weve already discussed but its worth spending some time on this specific point. Dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese . So, when I get up at Midnight unless I stay up that late, I get a full set of VS plus my glucose readings, and take my Levothyroxine. My symptoms include very dry skin, heart problems, severe pain, muscle problems, joint issues, sometimes brain fog, hair is brittle and dry, constipation, stomach issues, basically nothing is right since the treatment. Its been a week after In the mean time, thanks to the WWW. To protect family pets, do not sleep with them for up to 21 days. I read your list of vitamins all NINE of them, and the only thing I could think of is NO! Its the working hard for absolutely nothing that I dont want to do! Your doctor should monitor you for symptoms of hypothyroidism after RAI treatment. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! My only option for help is the ER which is somewhere I dont want to go with all the crap a going around. 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. I felt well on this level. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. They may even preemptively schedule you to start thyroid hormone treatment within a few weeks of the RAI procedure, just to be safe. My health is anything but wonderful. Im a nurse, and tend to over think things. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. Small amounts of I-131 may also leave through your saliva, sweat and feces. To decrease the spread of radioactivity: If possible, use a separate bathroom. Some doctor told me to move to the mountains, which I did to avoid toxic chemicals. 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.