Sore throat. Neck pain. Radioactive iodine treatment can make your neck swell up or hurt. Nausea or vomiting, which is usually mild. Constipation or diarrhea. Unusually low hypothyroidism or unusually high hyperthyroidism thyroid levels.
What To Think About Most people—depending on their ages, how much thyroid hormone their bodies make, and other health conditions they have—are treated first with radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine is not used if: You are pregnant or you want to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment. You are breastfeeding. You have thyroiditis or another kind of hyperthyroidism that is often temporary.
If you plan to travel within 5 to 7 days of your radioactive treatment: Check with local authorities about special procedures or considerations. Ask your doctor to write a letter describing the radiation isotope used, the date and time of treatment, the dose, and its biological half-life how long it takes for half of the radioactive iodine to be eliminated from the body.
The letter should include your doctor's hour telephone numbers so that authorities can call your doctor if they need to verify the information in the letter. Keep in mind that you will have to wait for permission to travel. References Citations Sisson JC, et al. Radiation safety in the treatment of patients with thyroid diseases by radioiodine I: Practice recommendations of the American Thyroid Association. Thyroid , 21 4 : — Credits Current as of: March 31, Current as of: March 31, Sisson JC, et al.
Home » Radioactive Iodine. Iodine is essential for proper function of the thyroid gland, which uses it to make the thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine.
Iodine, in the form of iodide, is made into two radioactive forms of iodine that are commonly used in patients with thyroid diseases: I harmless to thyroid cells and I destroys thyroid cells. The radiation emitted by each of these forms of iodine can be detected from outside the patient to gain information about thyroid function and take pictures of the size and location of thyroid tissues.
RAI is safe to use in individuals who have had allergic reactions to seafood or X-ray contrast agents, since the reaction is to the compound containing iodine, not the iodine itself. RAI is given by mouth in pill or liquid form. I is the usual isotope used to take pictures and determine the activity of the intact thyroid gland Thyroid Scan and Radioactive Iodine Uptake, RAIU , since it is harmless to thyroid cells.
I can also be used to take pictures of the thyroid gland, although it is rarely used due to the harmful effects it has on thyroid cells. If your work or daily activities involve prolonged contact with small children or pregnant women, you should wait several days after your treatment to resume these activities. Patients with infants at home should arrange for care to be provided by another person for the first several days after treatment.
Your radiologist can be more specific for your given situation, but this is usually for two to five days. Your treatment team will give you a list of other precautions to take following your treatment with I The following guidelines comply with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission:. Patients who need to travel immediately after radioactive iodine treatment are advised to carry a letter of explanation from their physician.
Radiation detection devices used at airports and federal buildings may be sensitive to the radiation levels present in patients up to three months following treatment with I Depending on the amount of radioactivity administered, your endocrinologist or radiation safety officer may recommend continued precautions for up to several weeks after treatment.
Doctors do not use radioiodine therapy in pregnant patients. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, I given to the mother may damage the baby's thyroid gland. If you are pregnant, discuss this issue with your doctor. When given to a nursing mother, radioactive iodine can reach a baby through her breast milk. Most physicians feel that this procedure should not be used in women who are breastfeeding unless they are willing to stop breastfeeding. Also, you should avoid getting pregnant for at least six to 12 months after treatment.
Hyperthyroidism treatment is almost always done on an outpatient basis because the dose required is relatively small. The radioiodine I is swallowed in a single capsule or liquid dose and is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream in the gastrointestinal GI tract. Although the radioactivity remains in the thyroid for some time, it is greatly diminished within a few days.
The effect of this treatment on the thyroid gland usually takes between one and three months to develop. Maximum benefit occurs three to six months after treatment. Usually, a single dose is successful in treating hyperthyroidism. However, rarely, a second treatment is necessary. A third treatment is very rarely necessary.
Patients may experience pain in the thyroid after therapy like a sore throat. Ask your doctor to recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever if this occurs. It is highly likely that this procedure will destroy some or most of your thyroid gland. Since hormones produced by the thyroid are essential for metabolism, most patients will need to take thyroid pills for the rest of their life following the procedure. Plan for transportation after treatment Radioactive iodine gives off radiation.
Make a plan for getting home before you come for your treatment. Back to top The Day of Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Showering You can shower with soap and water the night before or the morning of your treatment.
You can use your usual deodorant, lotions, creams, and makeup. Medications Talk with your doctor about your thyroid medication. Take all other medications as you normally would. Diet Continue to follow a low-iodine diet. Eat a light breakfast, such as oatmeal, at least 2 hours before your scheduled treatment. You can take these items home with you after your treatment.
During your treatment Your visitors will be asked to leave. The liquid is clear and has little to no flavor. Most people say it tastes like water, but some say that it has a slightly stale or musty taste.
After your treatment Right after your treatment, the health physicist will monitor your radiation levels with a hand-held device. You will have to stay in your room for at least 1 to 2 hours after your treatment. You can use your cell phone or watch TV to help pass the time. You may not have any side effects from the treatment right after you get it, but you may have side effects later.
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