Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. But, I am having a lots of rashes all over my neck and scalp, it got swollen and bumps. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . More important than how the procedure works is how it will affect you afterward. I had RAI treatment nearly 2 years ago, and deeply regret it. Doctors use nuclear medicine to diagnose, evaluate, and treat . Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. With that in mind, lets jump into what you should expect after your procedure. I have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, asthma, arthritis, allergies, MCS, auto-immune thyroid disease, etc. I am on NP with an additional Synthroid to balance me out. 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. June 7, 2022 . Taking a safe nascent iodine supplement may boost hair health and growth in the . 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. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. In some radiation emergencies, usually nuclear power plant accidents, radioactive iodine may be released into the environment and enter the body through breathing or eating it. Im 60 years old, so its not like Ive got a full life ahead of me, not a big deal. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. 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. The hardest time I had and have with my diet is getting hospital dietitian to understand that vegan/plant based does not mean fish and chicken are allowed. Radioactive iodine treatment is a therapy that your veterinary surgeon may recommend if your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? A large study found an increase in some cancer types in people who had radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism compared with the general population. 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). My hair has always been my pretty part of me, the one thing that makes me feel like a pretty girl. I have the symptoms of hypo not hyper, is she wrong? The radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) is also known as a thyroid uptake. 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. What are you concerned about? He is now smelling smoke, all the time. Read our, An Overview of Thyroid Disease Treatments, The Low-Iodine Diet for Radioactive Iodine Treatment, Society of Nuclear Medicine Procedure Guidelines (PDF), Practice Recommendations of the American Thyroid Association (PDF). 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. People who do have hyperthyroidism tend to have a fast metabolism, but the treatment for hyperthyroidism (the medication you are taking) slows down the metabolism dramatically which leads to weight gain. Initially, before treatment I went to a renowned clinic due to having double vision. 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. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment. The thyroid gland relies on iodine to make the hormones necessary for the growth of healthy hair, teeth, and bones. I dont have any definitive results/reports as yet, however, I do have that gut feeling. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. 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. Then PCP wants B/P readings and daily weights. 240-760-6600. Improving gut function can be done through diet and supplements. I have not lost any weight. Havent met yet my endoc after the RAI. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. Leave a Comment Cancel Reply . The interesting part was the B12 level was normal at 737 but methylmalonic acid slightly high(319) and homocysteine at 13.9. olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils. Radiation can be measured around your body and I-131 is present in your skin oil and sweat. Hi I am in the military, stationed in Fl. The amount This is my own journey with battling cancer and by any means not meant to scare or offend anyone, but to get my story out. For my surgery in April, I had a double whammy because a week prior to my surgery I had a molar tooth extracted with surgical dental sedation, and was still on a soft diet, so that was easy, they supplied me with baby food pureed fruits the entire time I was in the hospital. Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. First off, why am I so tired? Because of PTC, I had a total thyroidectomy two weeks ago and now on Levo. Gadolinium-based Contrast Material. You're given a drink or capsule that contains iodine and a low dose of radiation, which is . I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. After Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Getting home. But if you're having radiation to the head and neck area and experience hair loss, it's best to wait a few months after your hair has grown back. After your treatment, you won't be able to go home using public transportation, such as buses, the subway, trains, or a plane. I am already over weight and working on losing it. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. After that they again were having the same symptoms. Is this normal? You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do. (Pat). I go to great lengths to help my users better understand their health; however, the content you see here is not a substitute for medical advice. Claim Your Free eBook Now. TSH. I was exercising and my nutrition intake is organic most fruits, vegetables, meets grass fed etc. and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 6 years. American Thyroid Association. I was recently on Naturethroid for some years and it seemed to be a better choice for me, it was quite the battle to get the Drs to prescribe it. So for the last 6 mos Ive had to take Levothroxine. not the treatment of choice for them. The entire goal of the procedure is to put radioactive iodine molecules into your body with the sole purpose of destroying your thyroid gland. 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. Your article is quite interesting. Hopefully, you're now a lot closer to figuring out what color you should dye your hair. Because the hair is sealed off during the BK treatment the color might not be able to penetrate into the cuticle. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. 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. If your overactive thyroid symptoms persist 6 months after treatment, you may need a second dose. I have been battling back and forth with weight gain and hair loss, mild Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck. the tests after 3 weeks showed my TSH to be 12.920 and now she wants to increase the meds to 175. Abnormal menstrual cycles. I have noticed more and more symptoms within the past 5 years That lead me to believe i May have become hypothyroid. I know some people contribute this As it turned out, my fears, or premonitions were right. Its been a week after The doctor started me on .50 of Synthroid, and taking the first dose my eyes cleared the next day. With all I forgot I had posted prior. Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. Free T4. 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. Your Doctor will be able to help determine how much of your gland was destroyed. You can expect to live a fairly normal life after radioactive iodine treatment but your life will probably not be exactly as it was before your procedure. #4. Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. You might need contrast when you are having an X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound exam. 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. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Thyroid Health: Is it Safe to Use? While I was taking Levothyroxine Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. All rights reserved. under the skin, like a vaccine) and the radioactive iodine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Dr.DanielleWeiss is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. I am now living in the Midwest originally from Iowa. He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! It may sound counterintuitive, but youll understand why you might want to after your procedure. My endo physician would not increase the dosage so I went to my G.P. I feel more like a ping pong ball being bounced back and forth! Radioactive iodine is created when the unstable atoms of radioactivity is piggybacked onto iodine so it will be absorbed by the body. 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. What type of cancer is treated with radioactive iodine? You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). It's permanent; once you take the iodine capsule there is no changing your mind. Take care in washing, treating and grooming your hair. Iodine, an essential mineral, may affect hair health and hair growth through its effects on thyroid function. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, infants and children should ideally stay outside the home for the recommended period. Additionally, there is also a hypersensitivity reaction. I have Graves Disease and lost 40 pounds. One thing I didnt see in your article is the correlation of Thyroid to Diabetes and CTS. The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. Be particularly careful around infants and children, who are especially at risk for exposure complications. Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. Image: Shutterstock. I have a quick question. Because of this, people may experience symptoms that may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can. Im having my RAI tomorrow, and my oncologist said I could go back to work right after. Is it 10 days? The majority of radioactive iodine, therefore, will be absorbed by any remaining thyroid cells. I was tested in 6 weeks and my thyroid numbers were still high so I was not tested again until Feb. 2019. Will it cause you to gain weight? No. Read More. Yes I took the radation iodine pill five days ago what can I take for itchy skin I got some cortisone will that help. I'm Westin Childs D.O. 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. Radioactive iodine. 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. Findings from a study of patients who received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism show an association between the dose of treatment . Well since this journey has began Ive lost almost all of my hair and gained a ton of weight. 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. How is this happening? You can find some tips and tricks on how to find the right type of doctor here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/. MY DOCTORS ADVICE ME TO STAY UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL FOR FURTHER CHECK UP.. Its probably a good idea to stay close to your doctor until your dose of thyroid medication is optimized. I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. I think that she was supposed to maint. Reds that lean more violet or pink than red are also your best bet. Dr. Yash Khanna answered. Will destroying your thyroid gland have long-term consequences? Have you ever heard of this before? As I said earlier not everyone will necessarily need thyroid medication after they ablate their thyroid. If you have any thoughts, I would appreciate those. 8PM HS snack and VS and glucose readings. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. After reading all the comments I feel worried about the side effects.I saw in the report that they give me I-131 15mcl for hyperthyroidism. It is a measurement of thyroid function, but does not involve imaging. If possible, its always ideal to try and normalize your weight BEFORE the procedure. Radioactive iodine is a treatment for papillary and follicular thyroid cancers. My doctor has changed my meds 5 times I was doing better if my medication was a little on the high sideI had started to lose wait, had more energy & the best ever NO SWEATS, but she said no, WHY! There isnt a specialist in the area of hormone balancing but you can use the resource above to help you find someone who can help you. My last blood test shows TSH of 0.02 and I have been asked to go for a follow up test. Pls.can u explain about this. 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. Catnip works for lighter colors. A thyroid scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. fresh bread. 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. Consuming excess iodine: If you're at risk for hyperthyroidism and consume too much iodine (through your diet or medications), it can cause your thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone. 3 Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction. Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). 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. And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Free T3. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Not only can doctors NOT find a thyroid replacement that works for me due to side affects, Ive lost 70% of my hair and have to wear wig, Ive gained more weight than ever before in my life, Im constantly fatigued, in pain, moody, still have a very fast heart rate between 110-130, anxiety (like Im still hyperthyroid, but Im not.) Need better symptom control? If weight loss is your primary goal then I would take a look at my weight loss program here: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-mastery/. These symptoms are not caused by the procedure itself but rather a consequence of the damage of the thyroid gland and the inability of your body to produce thyroid hormone. 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. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. biotin or a hair and nail vitamin might be good. Will you be able to maintain your current weight? I was put on Levothyroxine 175, then when I met my endocrinologist, by that time TSH levels had dropped some so Levothyroxine down to 137. I eat a diet free of inflammatory foods and exercise 3-5 times a week, but I cant get my weight to budge more than 5-10 pounds. Thank you, I had RAI treatment 21 April 2017 dose was 400 MBq ( United Kingdom) I was diagnosed Graves disease 2008 my thyroid levels wasnt massively high I refused rai treatment 2011 contunie Antithyroid medication treatment almost 8 years ! If you are unable to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants and young children, ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of hospitalization. Not everyone gains weight after RAI, if thats what you mean by treatment but if you are going to, it will start within 4-6 weeks of the procedure and may continue for several months. My supplements can help but they will not take the place of thyroid medications like levothyroxine. Just realize that you will always be in a sensitive category and you will be more likely to gain weight compared to people with their thyroid intact. I had severe fatigue, sweats etc and they did labs and said my count was high 5.4 and referred me to a civilian provider. My health is anything but wonderful. The good news is that you can fairly easily identify these symptoms and you can order tests to determine how well your thyroid is functioning. P.S. If a person with a health thyroid intakes the I131, it will damage their . Hi Dr. Childs, It was not and I have been searching for help ever since. Several of my siblings make fun of me and say I am hiding but dont even know what Graves disease is and I was not around them and did not share my health issues until recently with them. The most common side effect of radioactive iodine treatment immediately after it's been administered is that you will feel very tired for the first few days after the treatment. I am a female, and Im 60 years old, soon to be 61. Redness, tired eyes, they were seeing double, and not accommodating going from reading to distance. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. 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. The short answer to this is no taking iodine supplements will have little to no effect on your hair growth. I was originally on Synthroid for a while and as I got older my body changes and T3 was required for optimal levels. Also I drink 100 ounces of water plus other hydrating fluids and food per day. that I need doesnt come in one pill so Im taking 100 mcg one day and 75 on the other. I am worried the medication or added T3 (Armour)is making that happen and it could be hurting my heart. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain, hypothyroid symptoms, and other issues. I used to be bubbly, and interactive with people. Instead of working to actively reduce thyroid function in your body (which is what the treatment for hyperthyroidism is), you may want to start focusing on how to optimize what little thyroid function you have left. Generally, yes. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. I have expressed my symptoms to the dr and she did a panel revealing my TSH to be 3.687. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? hisc hose nozzle parts. It turns out that thyroid hormone is actually necessary to not only thrive in life but also to survive. Hair that is not being treated directly with radiation can be dyed. General Information. 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). I am 70 years old and I am beginning to worry. I am 67 years old and just wonder how many years I may have either way. Since then I have suffered most every day with severe chemical sensitivity. Approximately 90% of people who take radioactive iodine to treat hyperthyroidism need only one dose, although it may take up to 6 months for it to fully work. 3 days after that I started to become sick after I ate an unable to sleep. 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. I had RAI treatment done 10 years ago. Now the top of my hair is thick and fine and the back of my hair is thick and curly it has a little bit of wire feeling to it. Please help me what to do with this. Thank you and God bless! What will you really expect after your RAI, side effects 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. So I have graves disease but was only diagnosed because I was actually gaining weight. I am gaining weight! If it doesnt go away then you have your answer, and if it does go away then you also have your answer. https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-after-thyroid-removal/, Hello I had the rai treatment 33 years ago and I have never felt good since then , more recent they ultrasound my thyroid gland and the lady who did the ultrasound kinda freaked out saying to me where is your thyroid gland hat did they do it it, I was in the hospital with pancreatitisNo dr has told me there could be a reason for getting pancreatitis with hypothyroid and how can my blood tests say my thyroid is producing hormones and is low which means high . Theres a higher risk that the cancer comes back but its also a way to preserve some thyroid function. I feel horrible. Add black tea to the darker colors above to help the color last longer. I was wondering can I color my hair at a salon. Therefore, it may be found in varying amounts in all food and beverages. depression, brain fog and other symptoms for years now. Reply. Doctors tell cancer patients that the thyroid is the only tissue which takes up iodine, thus making this a safe form of cancer treatment that will not . Repeat the process if necessary. 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. Please help! Most thyroid patients who receive RAI treatment eventually end up hypothyroid and will need to take thyroid hormone replacement drugs indefinitely. My endocrinologist said RAI didnt work I need surgery or second RAI treatment my other hormone results was :FSH 5.3(1.5-12.4)LH:8.8(1.7-8.6) The following recommendations will give you an idea of precautions to take to avoid exposing other people (as well as pets) to iodine 131, which may be present in bodily fluids or occur as a result of close contact. This is probably not what you want to hear, especially if this is a procedure that is necessary for your health, but its still important to know about it. 3 weeks after I was taken off of PTU. After you get the dose, the scanner checks your entire body for signs of radioactivity. About 25 years ago they killed my thyroid with radioactive iodine. Information for patients administered radioactive iodine (I-131). In the mean time, thanks to the WWW. Before they killed my thyroid and before it was even diagnosed the heat affected me something terrible and would just take my breath away. 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 . While you cant control this side effect 100%, you can do your best to mitigate (or reduce) any weight gain by going into your procedure at a normal and healthy weight. The good news is that this particular side effect doesnt last very long (compared to some of the other issues we will be discussing next). Here is my story: A year ago I felt a bump on the right side of my neck, so on a routine follow up visit with my PCP for diabetes, I mentioned it to him. Important to men is the fact that radioactive iodine can cause short-term reductions in sperm count for up to 2 years after your procedure (8). And to key to getting there is to understand what happens to your body after this procedure and how it influences your thyroid function. Your hair should be colored before a BK treatment. I eat all organic. The answer is maybe, and it depends on the person, how much damage was done to their thyroid, and other factors that arent always in your control. Im at the point now where I told all the doctors for my medical team, and team being the operative word here, that Im not going to offer anymore feelings of what Im going threw, or feeling, Im not going to ask anything, nothing, you all have my lab reports and other diagnostics, y all can figure it out for yourselves! and my being a nurse, Im researching and learning all I can. My question is even though my thyroid is dead, should the T3 and T4 level be tested as well? To further avoid exposing others to radiation:. 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. SHBG :43 (16-55) The amount of iodine taken up by your thyroid is then measured. You can drive yourself, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car. 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 1 month ago. Hi doc! Want to know why I'm so passionate about these topics? Does Taking Thyroid Medication Cause High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? What do you recommend? Im so confused my gp has no explanation my hair is falling out I dont eat anything only 3oranges a day and pure fruit juice now I have moderate atrophy on my pancreas and I cant get into a specialist for 1-2 years ., can h explain whats really going on, Please see this article for more information on managing hair loss with thyroid problems: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/. This distinction is actually quite important.
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