They may even preemptively schedule you to start thyroid hormone treatment within a few weeks of the RAI procedure, just to be safe. Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. 3 days after that I started to become sick after I ate an unable to sleep. 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. I feel more like a ping pong ball being bounced back and forth! If you havent already then you would probably want to make sure it isnt your other hormones causing these issues. Within the first 2 years I gained 15 pounds with no diet/lifestyle change. Hi So far I feel strong and as I did before. Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity. Shower once a day to rinse away the leftover radioiodine, but make sure to scrub the shower well after using it. In your case, these would be best: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroidectomy-rai-bundle/. Doctors use nuclear medicine to diagnose, evaluate, and treat . Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. Free T3. The real concern with radiation exposure to others in your family has more to do with them coming into contact with actual contamination. Will it cause you to gain weight? 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. Very small amounts of iodine may also be taken up transiently by . Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. I also used Nioxin shampoo. They said I have HYPERthyroidism but she said I have a HIGH metabolism which doesnt make sense?! Thanks look forward, Yes! Then I get up at 7AM and during that first hour get my daily weight after I void and empty my bladder, and strip down for a true body weight. This shouldnt stop you from trying natural therapies (as long as they are relatively inexpensive and not harmful) but you should have reasonable expectations as you do so. My hair is the one and only thing about my looks that is considered beauty. When we are deficient in this nutrient, the health of our hair is affected, leading to hair weakness or even total hair loss. 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. Take care in washing, treating and grooming your hair. 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. I am 67 years old and just wonder how many years I may have either way. 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. So, I have to laugh at your 80 to 90% back to a normal life. 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. Free androgen index was :24.21(24-104) and endocrinologist said RAI didnt work I dont understand how thyroid levels goes up after RAI treatment 21.04.2017). Thyroid Hormone Resistance: What is it & How to Diagnose it. My only option for help is the ER which is somewhere I dont want to go with all the crap a going around. And was doing well on a vegan/plant based diet. I would recommend that you read this article for more info: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/. Since I was at the office a week ago complaining about what PTU was doing to my body I feel nervous about calling the endocrinologist again. So, if I go to bed earlier, I have to set my alarm clock to get up to take the damn pill, then have a hard time to get back to sleep, then just when I do fall into slumber, its time to get up and going for the day, and take a list of other meds, and monitor VS and glucose readings. How can I speed up a metabolism if I dont have a thyroid anymore because of the RAI? is this a side effect of this proceedure. You can eat the following foods because they contain very low levels of iodine: fruits and vegetables including potatoes. Hi doc! My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldnt do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. Prior to my RAI my level was .03. After Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Getting home. I have to take my Levothyroxine at midnight, as in the morning it causes me to have a jitteriness and brain fog, that is bothersome, and to have it in the time frame away from other meds and meals, midnight is the only option. 1. How is this happening? Its normal in the sense that ALL post RAI patients will become hypothyroid but abnormal in the sense that you should NOT feel poorly if you are treated properly. Currently they have me on a combination of 100mcg Synthroid with 1 Grain of Armour (60mg. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is a common disease of older cats. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. But my surgeon palpated three nodules and pathology report confirmed PTC, so a completion surgery was scheduled and performed this past April, and that lobe also showed cancer nodules on pathology report as well as some tissue purposely left because some cancer nodules had invaded my vocal chords. One thing I didnt see in your article is the correlation of Thyroid to Diabetes and CTS. Iodine-131 (I-131) is radioactive. Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. It does have effect : Radioactive dyes containing iodine of the iodide type can cause permanent thyroid damage and cancer. 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. You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods, including the following: Fish (such as cod and tuna), seaweed, shrimp, and other seafood, which are generally rich in iodine. When the gadolinium is injected, it is normal to feel coolness at the site of injection, usually the arm for a minute or two. 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. ordinary table salt and sea salt. Its been a week after Before they killed my thyroid and before it was even diagnosed the heat affected me something terrible and would just take my breath away. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) I cant find anything suggesting these are expected symptoms after RAI. . But, if I was being honest, I think that most people should not rely on the possibility of restoring much thyroid function after their procedure. What medications (if any) will you need to be on? Iodine (chemical symbol I) is a chemical element. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". For this reason, its ideal to try and lose weight prior to the procedure as opposed to after. Because your thyroid gland concentrates and stores iodine in your body. You wont be able to sleep next to people, go to work, prepare food for others, go into public places, fly on an airplane, ride a bus, share utensils with others, sit on a public toilet, and so on for about 1 week (3). The highest sources (and those to be avoided) are iodized salt, grains and cereals, some breads . Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. I am concerned. Rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo it. Any help will be appreciated. I'm Westin Childs D.O. Catnip works for lighter colors. I am now living in the Midwest originally from Iowa. I am feeling all the emotions you described, depression is a big one, but all anyone is interested in is giving me another pill to make me happy again. I have battled my weight since I was a child, I had dropped from 400 pounds to 210 about six years prior, and was afraid all my efforts would be lost now. The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! Or longer Since then, each year various GPs have looked at my thyroid function test results, focused solely on the low TSH reading and have now reduced my levothyroxine down to 100 despite my arguments to the contrary. can i color my hair after radioactive iodinehtml5 interactive animation. A large study found an increase in some cancer types in people who had radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism compared with the general population. Please help me what to do with this. My throat is killing me and outside of my neck is swollen. to covid weight, but now the hair loss! And I cry at the drop of a hat now too. What Is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test? Need better symptom control? I have the symptoms of hypo not hyper, is she wrong? Foods to Avoid if you Have Thyroid Problems: Ive found that these 10 foods cause the most problems for thyroid patients. 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 forgot to mention, I was on nature Throid and changed to NP thyroid because of the dosage I need. 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 ? Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. Even at this age, I still want to feel and look pretty. Any advice . As a result, it isnt uncommon for some patients to suffer from persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism (meaning that they dont have enough thyroid hormone). Thanks. My Dr. stated that my MTHFH enzyme is blocked indicating a genitic issue. Prior to radioactive iodine treatment, doctors create a hypothyroid state in your body. Have you ever heard of this before? There are 37 known isotopes isotopesA form of an element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus, giving it a different atomic mass. These effects include a warm, flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. American Thyroid Association. Radioactive iodine treatment. 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. And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Can I dye my hair? RAI is a form of radioactive nuclear medication that permanently destroys thyroid tissue. You can drive yourself, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car. MY QUESTION IS AM I ABLE TO WORK ABROAD WITH THIS. Then, also there is the womens health portion of all this, and so I had my annual, and a polyp was found on my cervix, it was a rather large one, and thankfully no cancer cells on that, my PAP Im waiting for results. 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. So I stopped going. 08 July, 2011. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To hide grays, try rhubarb root in two cups of water, simmer, strain, and pour over hair. I know, I know, I shouldnt be so vain. Can Hashimotos Be Reversed? Generally, yes. This is possibly TMI but any guidance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 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. 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. These are the questions that I want to focus on today and hopefully answer many of the current questions that you already have. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). I dont see such good numbers. 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. But you probably at least know a little bit about RAI or you wouldnt be here. They wanted to give me more RAI IV for test, but I refused and I know I would have died had they done that. You can find some tips and tricks on how to find the right type of doctor here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution. These are just a few of the questions that I want to answer in this article. 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. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism. No, you won't lose your hair after a radioactive iodine treatment. The study followed people for 26 years after two or more treatments. Many people undergo radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) without really understanding what is happening in their bodies. I have spoken to my doctor about it but he doesnt care. 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. How will I know if I am producing my own thyroxine? (I also bought a digital scale to get the most accurate weight) Then my full set of VS and glucose readings. Most of the radioiodine in your body will come out through the urine and stool. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. So when you take radioactive iodine your body will automatically take it up and store it in the thyroid gland. 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. This is an extension of what weve already discussed but its worth spending some time on this specific point. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. I underwent RAI 14 years ago for Graves disease. It is what it is. I had never been to endocrinology prior and had no idea about thyroid function. I dont feel like I have gone back hyper after being off my meds for 4 weeks. She said I am normal and not to worry. Because your thyroid has been ablated, you will most likely need thyroid medication for life. Memory loss. And that training tells me I wont be ready to go back to work that afternoon. I had my RAI 3weeks ago and they did not gave me a pros and con what to expect after. Will you be able to lead a normal life? Protecting Your Family After Radioactive Iodine Treatment. I have been on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for 3 years now and feel somewhat better. There is nowhere else to go tricare insurance is awful. Iodine, an essential mineral, may affect hair health and hair growth through its effects on thyroid function. The interesting part was the B12 level was normal at 737 but methylmalonic acid slightly high(319) and homocysteine at 13.9. I hope this post is still active. 2 capsules of T3 Conversion Booster daily (important if you take T4 only medication!) Over the next 5 years I gained another 10 lbs. Keep Your Distance. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! I fall backwards with no explanation other than car exhaust in my air space, with some injuries as a result. Hi Dr. Childs, You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! 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. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . The radiation comes from a radioactive substance called iodine-131. 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. I had RAI about 15 years ago and yes I have gained weight, less energy & I sweat a lot(buckets) doing nothing 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. I'm Dr. Westin Childs. However, all of these symptoms are also part of the menopause for which I now take HRT. Check out my own personal health story. 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. But over the past month I see my weight dropping a half to a pound daily. If I take a snack is determined on what my glucose reading was. Most thyroid patients who receive RAI treatment eventually end up hypothyroid and will need to take thyroid hormone replacement drugs indefinitely. 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. Does Taking Thyroid Medication Cause High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? I had severe and sudden weight loss along with many other troubling symptoms. LH :4.12(1.70-8.60) It can also help to diagnose and treat some other cancers and conditions. I would say many of your symptoms are unusual but this article highlights some of the routine side effects that may be experienced. If you are unable to get ahold of them then it may be necessary to go to the ER. I have a quick question. I am already over weight and working on losing it. 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. It turns out that thyroid hormone is actually necessary to not only thrive in life but also to survive. Anna Thomas. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) 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. 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. I was wondering can I color my hair at a salon. 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. Restart Medical LLC. Fortunately, most patients experience reduced symptoms about a month after treatment. 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 . I was being treated for hypothyroidism and graves . The amount of iodine taken up by your thyroid is then measured. Hi! Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? I would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. They also found that nearly 1 third of all patients (31.2%) moved into the overweight or obese category from a lower weight category (based on BMI charts by the CDC). Hives. I have Hypothyroid Mom readers struggling with hypothyroidism now since treatment for their Graves' with radioactive iodine (RAI) or thyroidectomy. They ran many tests including an cerebral angiogram to check for a brain tumor which I doubted. One study looked at 157 people and tracked them both before and after their procedure. Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism. Some people also feel flushed. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. Hi,I have awhile to have enough hair to dye.I also have another 4wks. If a person with a health thyroid intakes the I131, it will damage their . Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. Welcome to my website! 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. my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. As I am not a doctor, my specific question is why does the level of levothyroxine I require change if my thyroid was destroyed? If you destroy the entire gland then you will definitely need to be on thyroid medication. 20 yrs ago. It Depends on These Factors, Add Back Therapy for Graves & Hyperthyroidism: When to use Levothyroxine, Hashimotos and Hyperthyroidism: Why it Happens & What it Means, How to Prevent Thyroid Surgery and Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy | Dr. Osansky and Dr. Childs. not the treatment of choice for them. The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine. My eyes improved for a while but now seem to be getting worse. I was exercising and my nutrition intake is organic most fruits, vegetables, meets grass fed etc. Any suggestions? Your doctor should monitor you for symptoms of hypothyroidism after RAI treatment. It is also called radio iodine. 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. I expect to be back to probably about 60 to maybe 70% and that is pushing it. It is a measurement of thyroid function, but does not involve imaging. 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. Iodine and Hair Loss. I can barely eat . Results were. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order. My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. Want to know why I'm so passionate about these topics? Read More. Its the working hard for absolutely nothing that I dont want to do! 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 . Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism cause intolerance to heat and cold respectively, so that isnt uncommon but what is uncommon is to experience those symptoms after RAI. Thank you for any advice! Its drastically changed my life. and seriously lethargic?! It may sound counterintuitive, but youll understand why you might want to after your procedure. Will you be able to maintain your current weight? #2. 1-2 Capsules of Leptin Resistance RX daily https://www.restartmed.com/product/leptin-resistance-rx/. You should have your thyroid lab levels tested to see if you need medication. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. If you drive home after your appointment and there's another . Be particularly careful around infants and children, who are especially at risk for exposure complications. Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. Radioactive iodine treatment is a type of radiotherapy is used to destroy the cells in the thyroid gland, reducing the amount of hormones it can produce. 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. fresh bread. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. I know this post is older but I am considering radiation! I feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). But what if you only destroy 30 to 40% of your gland function? In the mean time, Im feeling worse about myself than with this original post. I guess that is my main question because I am willing to do the hard work even if it takes a long time. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. Prior to discovering the bump, I had reversed my Diabetes and had consistent HA1C readings of 5 or lower. I was experiencing heart palpations, diffuclty breathing while lying down, weight gain. No one told me about any of the particular foods to avoid, I told everyone that I am vegan/plant based diet to control my diabetes and because of many food intolerances to animal proteins. I had radiation iodine therapy in late September. Small amounts of I-131 may also leave through your saliva, sweat and feces. depression, brain fog and other symptoms for years now. I had RAI treatment for severe Graves disease in 1993. It was also noted my B/P was sometimes Hypertensive, and my glucose readings were starting to climb. At that time my numbers were so low I was experiencing eye problems. 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. Claim Your Free eBook Now. My hair has always been my pretty part of me, the one thing that makes me feel like a pretty girl. It really depends on whether or not your entire thyroid gland was destroyed. Credit: iStock. I ordered the dutch test so have those results but I cannot read it and I am not sure what it all means. Since the science is inexact there are two ways of approaching the treatment. Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. 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 ! While we are on the topic of thyroid medication we should also spend a few minutes talking about other symptoms you may experience. 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. Although hair dying can be an artifact on the postablation . 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. Havent met yet my endoc after the RAI. They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. 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. My problem now is my hair loss and I cant help get rid of this problem. You get it in liquid or pill form. Call (800) 542-1123 or visit www.labtechinc.com to learn more about protecting your home against radioactive iodine. #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.