Anna Thomas. Doctors made me think it was my only option at the time. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Symptoms of a moderate or severe reaction that require urgent medical care include: Severe vomiting. Protecting Your Family After Radioactive Iodine Treatment. I also noticed my left leg larger than my right, so I do a daily measurement at mid calf before I eat or drink anything. My eyes improved for a while but now seem to be getting worse. I guess that is my main question because I am willing to do the hard work even if it takes a long time. The iodine is taken into the thyroid gland and incorporated into thyroxine. <0.01 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. Certain 'hair supplements' should be avoided as they may contain iodine or interfere with levothyroxine . 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. Although hair dying can be an artifact on the postablation . Have you ever heard of this before? Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck. 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. 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. The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine. If you are unable to get ahold of them then it may be necessary to go to the ER. 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. 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 back in 2010 For Thyroid nodules And I have been on hormone replacement ever since I get my blood tested every 3 months And Im either too high or too low So I keep getting switched from a 112 To a dose of 125 This is been going on for several year several years so now my doctor has me switch every other day Between the 2 doses to see if this will stabilize my levels My problem is the weight gain That came after the RAI treatment treatment.. Theres no way to tell if your eye symptoms are related to your thyroid without first trying to optimize your TSH (which should be your next step). menopause etc. When the gadolinium is injected, it is normal to feel coolness at the site of injection, usually the arm for a minute or two. 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. If you need to add red tint to your hair, then using carrot juice is one of the easiest ways to do it. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism. SHBG :43 (16-55) I used to be bubbly, and interactive with people. 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. 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. Can you tell me about when I will start medication, or should I be tested first? Dr. Yash Khanna answered. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. 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. Life has been very difficult as I basically go very few places now and live a life with little social contact. I will know more in a few days when he has all the pathology reports back etc. The doctor started me on .50 of Synthroid, and taking the first dose my eyes cleared the next day. Pls.can u explain about this. Yes, absolutely. I had RAI about 15 years ago and yes I have gained weight, less energy & I sweat a lot(buckets) doing nothing June 10, 2022 . After your treatment, you won't be able to go home using public transportation, such as buses, the subway, trains, or a plane. I dont have any definitive results/reports as yet, however, I do have that gut feeling. Thank you! Thanks look forward, Yes! However, all of these symptoms are also part of the menopause for which I now take HRT. of radiation.But I wonder after that if I can dye my hair.Unforuntly it is coming back completly gray.I will be thankful to have hair.But I don,t look good with gray either.I know some people do.Someone said they thought you had to wait a year.I hope their wrong.Thanks for your replys. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). to covid weight, but now the hair loss! I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. Radioactive iodine treatment. I had RAI about 39 years ago and every year Im tested for my TSH level which always seems to be in the normal range. Iodine (chemical symbol I) is a chemical element. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! Initially, before treatment I went to a renowned clinic due to having double vision. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . Question. The real concern with radiation exposure to others in your family has more to do with them coming into contact with actual contamination. So, I ate what I could and left the rest. 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 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) Iodine is a mineral that your thyroid uses to create thyroid hormone. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. By looking at markers such as your TSH, free t3, and free t4 you can get an idea as to what is actually going on. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. My hair is the one and only thing about my looks that is considered beauty. The interesting part was the B12 level was normal at 737 but methylmalonic acid slightly high(319) and homocysteine at 13.9. Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. . Told to me by each and everyone whos never had this cancer! My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. No ill effects have been noted in the children born to parents who received radioactive iodine in the past. Add black tea to the darker colors above to help the color last longer. Its been a week after OR IT WILL BE GIVE ME PROBLEM? So I have graves disease but was only diagnosed because I was actually gaining weight. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. It may take some trial and error but 80% of patients should approximate normal symptoms over a few months. Claim Your Free eBook Now. 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 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). 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 cant find anything suggesting these are expected symptoms after RAI. It was also noted my B/P was sometimes Hypertensive, and my glucose readings were starting to climb. Or longer These effects include a warm, flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea. hisc hose nozzle parts. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. I live in Florida and I cannot stand enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the heat. You get it in liquid or pill form. 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). Hair that is not being treated directly with radiation can be dyed. Many clinical studies have also confirmed that weight gain after RAI is a real risk. 08 July, 2011. I was originally on Synthroid for a while and as I got older my body changes and T3 was required for optimal levels. Hi , I just had ROI treatment done a little over a week ago . This usually means that you are being overtreated and are being put into a state of hypothyroidism. 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. 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. the tests after 3 weeks showed my TSH to be 12.920 and now she wants to increase the meds to 175. Check out my own personal health story. What are you concerned about? That may not be the best decision, but I was becoming very depressed. This is possibly TMI but any guidance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Information for patients administered radioactive iodine (I-131). But it does increase your risk of weight gain if you have the procedure by about 2 to 3 times. 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. If this occurs, it is usually goes away as the body heals. Radioactive iodine is absorbed and concentrated by the thyroid gland. The entire goal of the procedure is to put radioactive iodine molecules into your body with the sole purpose of destroying your thyroid gland. The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. Now they are suggesting a second treatment at a higher dose. Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. The risk of developing a secondary malignancy due to radioactive iodine therapy . The good news is that not every single person who gets RAI will necessarily gain weight. If so, what are you struggling with? These are the questions that I want to focus on today and hopefully answer many of the current questions that you already have. You're given a drink or capsule that contains iodine and a low dose of radiation, which is . Be wary of home-use products, and use recommended professional products for dye, highlights and conditioning. As it turned out, my fears, or premonitions were right. I know I shouldnt be so vain, but honestly I am on this. Just have my RAI 2days ago. Dont let this be of major concern to you, though, because in most cases these symptoms can be managed. This isnt always true, but it is true for MOST people. Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. Im having my RAI tomorrow, and my oncologist said I could go back to work right after. I tend to have a high heart rate when I exercise it goes up to 130 righ away then may go as high as 174 at harder workouts. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. Over the next 5 years I gained another 10 lbs. He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. No. Abnormal menstrual cycles. I was normal weight and now frustrated to be 30 pounds overweight. I dont see such good numbers. If you are unable to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants and young children, ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of hospitalization. who gave me 150 of Synthyroid. 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. 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 have Graves disease and recently have a hyperthyroid flare up after being in remission, I went back on my meds but was recently taken off to see if I can do radiation. 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. 3 Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction. You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldnt do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. I had RAI treatment done 10 years ago. 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. My throat is killing me and outside of my neck is swollen. 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). When they injected RAI contrast dye through an IV for the test, I went in shock and they stopped the testing until later that day. 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/. Another doctor wants my temp and glucose readings, temp shes ok with once or twice during the day. Some people also feel flushed. With that in mind, lets jump into what you should expect after your procedure. I have been tested and my doctor says that Im right where I need to be. 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 . If we extrapolate out this data then it means that on average 30% of all people who undergo RAI can expect to gain some kind of weight. This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Westin Childs and is for educational and information purposes only. Thinning hair. Not to mention the radiation! They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. How will I know if I am producing my own thyroxine? 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. Hi Dr. Childs, My question is even though my thyroid is dead, should the T3 and T4 level be tested as well? Although caffeine-containing shampoos are popular they are not useful. What is your life going to be like after radioactive iodine treatment? 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. Thank you for any advice! Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. Im planning on RAI in the next 2 weeks. They said it was My weight seems to be of no concern to him as long as my blood work looks okay. Family Medicine 59 years experience. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. As a result, it isnt uncommon for some patients to suffer from persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism (meaning that they dont have enough thyroid hormone). You should have your thyroid lab levels tested to see if you need medication. Hair follicles, which can influence hair shaft structure, length, and color, are known to respond to hormones including TSH. I know it Hass to be because it started affecting me as soon as I Started losing weight and before I had been diagnosed. I am now living in the Midwest originally from Iowa. Reply. (Pat). Endocrine Today | A 25-year-old woman was referred for radioactive iodine remnant ablation for multifocal micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". To lighten hair dyed that is too dark with vitamin c powder, mix together 1 tablespoon of vitamin c powder with 1/2 cup of water. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. As I said earlier not everyone will necessarily need thyroid medication after they ablate their thyroid. So I stopped going. Will it cause you to gain weight? Ultrasound can also be performed if . I know they are going to try to drop me further. 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. I wish I had found it weeks ago, but I didnt so I have to move on. And was doing well on a vegan/plant based diet. 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. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. I have Graves Disease and lost 40 pounds. I had radiation iodine therapy in late September. Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. 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. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) While we are on the topic of thyroid medication we should also spend a few minutes talking about other symptoms you may experience. However, I havent been placed on any med after treatment what is your professional opinion. Shower once a day to rinse away the leftover radioiodine, but make sure to scrub the shower well after using it. Pretty much any of the diets listed there will be at least somewhat beneficial. You can opt-out at any time. It probably wont be an issue if you left but you wouldnt want to find yourself in a situation where you are unable to get your thyroid medication and your symptoms are poorly controlled. I had RAI 20 plus years, I am 56 and my numbers are good. My blood work prior was I had severe and sudden weight loss along with many other troubling symptoms. Hi, doctor, I am in a lot of pain I stay cold 100 percent of the time with body aches sleepless nights. I have since been on a roller coaster ride with the levels fluctuating up and down and not sure why. Does Taking Thyroid Medication Cause High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Its drastically changed my life. 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. 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. 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. After Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Getting home. No one said it could be from my low thyroid, but I found clinical trials that mentioned it was rare but could affect eyes and should be treated aggressively. can i color my hair after radioactive iodinesvetlana invitational 2022 Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. At that time my numbers were so low I was experiencing eye problems. After that they again were having the same symptoms. Radioactive iodine is created when the unstable atoms of radioactivity is piggybacked onto iodine so it will be absorbed by the body. My health is anything but wonderful. The connection between your weight gain and hyperthyroidism is explained here: https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/. Are you thinking about getting radioactive iodine treatment? One study looked at 157 people and tracked them both before and after their procedure. If your head and scalp are exposed to radiation (usually after a brain tumor surgery), it can affect the hair follicles and cause hair loss while the rest of the body may be unaffected. All my life my hair was thin and fine. Many people undergo radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) without really understanding what is happening in their bodies. 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. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. The recommended timeframes are based on the size of the dosage you are receiving, so discuss the specifics with your healthcare provider prior to treatment. 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. Wash your clothes and dishes separately from your family's so you don't contaminate their belongings. The best course of action is to contact the doctor that was responsible for your procedure and let them know about your symptoms. I know this post is older but I am considering radiation! Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! I forgot to mention, I was on nature Throid and changed to NP thyroid because of the dosage I need. I hope this post is still active. If you dont have thyroid hormone at all then you risk the chance of coma and death. 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. Then she said I would have to have iodine radiation if these pills didnt work. The relationship between your thyroid to your hair growth aside, iodine . What can I be looking at regarding weight gain. Hi,I have awhile to have enough hair to dye.I also have another 4wks. 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. 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). The other 20% may require additional testing and the use of other thyroid medications which contain T3 thyroid hormone. The amount It does have effect : Radioactive dyes containing iodine of the iodide type can cause permanent thyroid damage and cancer. Iodine is also sometimes prescribed as a topical treatment for certain conditions that cause hair loss on the scalp. As I am not a doctor, my specific question is why does the level of levothyroxine I require change if my thyroid was destroyed? Now, yesterday and today I had my Thyrogen injections, and tomorrow I go get my I 131 RAI pill and on home isolation for the following 7 days, and then my whole body scan. This is my story. Difficulty breathing. 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. If you fit into this category then you may not need to use thyroid medication afterward. These are just a few of the questions that I want to answer in this article. If you have heard of this before is there a natural vitamin or something that will help me control the heat in my body? meat. rice and dries pasta. Many doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant for 6 months to a year after treatment. I have not lost any weight. I am concerned. Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. relative viscosity of nylon 6; predictive index cognitive assessment answers; why do baseball players spit so much Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. Prior to discovering the bump, I had reversed my Diabetes and had consistent HA1C readings of 5 or lower. I am getting ready to have thyroid removed due to cancer. And to key to getting there is to understand what happens to your body after this procedure and how it influences your thyroid function. I underwent RAI 14 years ago for Graves disease. If you havent already then you would probably want to make sure it isnt your other hormones causing these issues. It seems though that people who are already overweight BEFORE their procedure probably have the worst outcome and tend to gain the most weight compared to others. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. Some doctor told me to move to the mountains, which I did to avoid toxic chemicals. Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. Use disposable dishes and place them in a specially marked plastic bag for disposal. It is also called radio iodine. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of an animal. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. Importance: Patients who undergo radiographic studies with contrast receive an enormous bolus of iodine. IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! Thank you and God bless! I expect to be back to probably about 60 to maybe 70% and that is pushing it. You wouldnt want to use a steroid on it unless you know what it is. Your concerns should be taken seriously and evaluated. The radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) is also known as a thyroid uptake. I feel more like a ping pong ball being bounced back and forth! 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. This is usually put into pill form for patients to ingest. Its impossible to predict how any one person will react to any given treatment or operation but the available research suggests that those who go into the procedure overweight are more likely to gain weight afterward. They are planning radioactive iodine in the future. This is an extension of what weve already discussed but its worth spending some time on this specific point. Im 60 years old, so its not like Ive got a full life ahead of me, not a big deal. For this reason, its ideal to try and lose weight prior to the procedure as opposed to after. I am worried the medication or added T3 (Armour)is making that happen and it could be hurting my heart. Additionally, there is also a hypersensitivity reaction. Hi The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. To help prevent thyroid problems that may cause hair problems, it's important to get sufficient dietary .