Please help me what to do with this. 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. Since the science is inexact there are two ways of approaching the treatment. Generally, yes. To help prevent thyroid problems that may cause hair problems, it's important to get sufficient dietary . Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain, hypothyroid symptoms, and other issues. 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. 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. What can I be looking at regarding weight gain. These effects include a warm, flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea. Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. 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. 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. 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. The only other condition that causes heat intolerance that comes to mind is menopause and perimenopause. I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. My hair has been a part of me for many years, it is waist length, and Im wondering if having it cut off and sent to make a wig for myself would be best or just wait and see if I do in fact loose my hair. the tests after 3 weeks showed my TSH to be 12.920 and now she wants to increase the meds to 175. So, now my doctor told me a list of things to expect over the next while. Radioactive iodine treatment. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'. They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. 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. RAI is a form of radioactive nuclear medication that permanently destroys thyroid tissue. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here. 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. Dont let this be of major concern to you, though, because in most cases these symptoms can be managed. I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. Free T3. With a regime as this, its no wonder for depression, no sleep! According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, infants and children should ideally stay outside the home for the recommended period. 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. Now they are suggesting a second treatment at a higher dose. I have since been on a roller coaster ride with the levels fluctuating up and down and not sure why. This is usually put into pill form for patients to ingest. 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. Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. Because of this, people who undergo RAI (meaning those who destroy their thyroid gland) need some type of thyroid hormone replacement. 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). How is this happening? Is this normal? Hey! As a result, it isnt uncommon for some patients to suffer from persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism (meaning that they dont have enough thyroid hormone). I am 70 years old and I am beginning to worry. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? 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.) So is there any possible way to lose weight after the Radioactive iodone treatment or is it pretty much an absolute lost cause? Last week labs getting better with a methylpro supplement. Restart Medical LLC. 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. It has to do with how important your thyroid is in regulating your metabolism and your weight. They are planning radioactive iodine in the future. Reply. 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. And that training tells me I wont be ready to go back to work that afternoon. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . Please give me your thoughts. What medications (if any) will you need to be on? I was tested in 6 weeks and my thyroid numbers were still high so I was not tested again until Feb. 2019. It's a highly effective treatment that can cure an overactive thyroid. The problem is that once you destroy your thyroid gland you are no longer considered to be hyperthyroid. A high uptake of radioactive iodine suggests Graves' disease. And if the color is hash on the . 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. The connection between your weight gain and hyperthyroidism is explained here: https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/. I had a lot of hair loss right after my thyroidectomy. This is an FDA and EMA approved drug used for the treatment of thyroid cancer refractory to radioactive iodine treatment, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! 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/. These are just a few of the questions that I want to answer in this article. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. can i color my hair after radioactive iodinehtml5 interactive animation. So far I feel strong and as I did before. Iodine (chemical symbol I) is a chemical element. Radioactive iodine (often abbreviated RAI) is a therapy used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Is it 10 days? About 25 years ago they killed my thyroid with radioactive iodine. 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. With all I forgot I had posted prior. Then too, my annual eye exam with dilation is due now, that appointment is upcoming, as well as further dental with my regular dentist now that I have the one impacted and rotted tooth extracted. One study looked at 157 people and tracked them both before and after their procedure. Theres a higher risk that the cancer comes back but its also a way to preserve some thyroid function. They said it was 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. I'm Westin Childs D.O. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) Hello Dr .Child You usually have radioactive iodine as a capsule or a drink. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Most of the radioiodine in your body will come out through the urine and stool. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now: #1. It's permanent; once you take the iodine capsule there is no changing your mind. Affected cats produce too much thyroid hormone. The last person put me on methazolo and I read the awful side affects. Im hoping I still have some thyroid function based on the fact that he kept lowering my dose of levothyroxine and I can just take your supplements and see some weight loss and feel a bit better. Will it cause you to gain weight? 20 yrs ago. 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 problem now is my hair loss and I cant help get rid of this problem. 240-760-6600. I was being treated for hypothyroidism and graves . Findings from a study of patients who received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism show an association between the dose of treatment . can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. 2 capsules of T3 Conversion Booster daily (important if you take T4 only medication!) 8.1, Because I began feeling very unhealthy this week further blood tests were done. You probably will not feel sick during this time, but these precautions are in place to prevent you from accidentally harming another person! But it does increase your risk of weight gain if you have the procedure by about 2 to 3 times. Radioactive iodine is created when the unstable atoms of radioactivity is piggybacked onto iodine so it will be absorbed by the body. 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. Hi 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. . Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. This is of particular concern because this can lead to internal uptake with the radioactive iodine then accumulating in their thyroids. She said I am normal and not to worry. Iodine and Hair Loss. What are you concerned about? 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. Along with a pain and numbness in my right hand. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! I had RAI 20 plus years, I am 56 and my numbers are good. 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 . Hyperthyroidism is a condition where your body produces too much thyroid hormone so the treatment is to destroy your thyroid gland and stop that production. #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. I have Hypothyroid Mom readers struggling with hypothyroidism now since treatment for their Graves' with radioactive iodine (RAI) or thyroidectomy. non dairy spreads such as Vitalite, Pure and non dairy Flora. I live in Florida and I cannot stand enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the heat. I can barely eat . (I also bought a digital scale to get the most accurate weight) Then my full set of VS and glucose readings. I am considering following up with the endocrinologist in the morning. 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.. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. General Information. Your hair should be colored before a BK treatment. I have the symptoms of hypo not hyper, is she wrong? 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. Contrast distinguishes, or "contrasts," between organs, tissues, bones, or blood vessels during your imaging exam. 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. One doctor wants a monitor of pulse five times daily, hes concerned about para thyroid damage. I know I shouldnt be so vain, but honestly I am on this. Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism. I had an RAI about three years ago, due to hyperthyroidism. This ThyCa has kicked my Gluteus Maximus but good! 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. Prior to discovering the bump, I had reversed my Diabetes and had consistent HA1C readings of 5 or lower. Because of PTC, I had a total thyroidectomy two weeks ago and now on Levo. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). 3 days after that I started to become sick after I ate an unable to sleep. Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. And Ive become Flat with my emotions now. He is now smelling smoke, all the time. 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. Welcome to my website! In the mean time, Im feeling worse about myself than with this original post. To protect family pets, do not sleep with them for up to 21 days. In this procedure, you are intentionally given Iodide, I-131, which emits radiation. I wish I had found it weeks ago, but I didnt so I have to move on. And how can I persuade my GP to think about more than a TSH reading? I eat all organic. To decrease the spread of radioactivity: If possible, use a separate bathroom. Are you thinking about getting radioactive iodine treatment? But why would you want to restore thyroid function to your thyroid gland if you had it destroyed because you were already producing too much? I would recommend that you read this article for more info: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. Over the next 5 years I gained another 10 lbs. 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. 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. I have a quick question. and my being a nurse, Im researching and learning all I can. SHBG :43 (16-55) New study findings show an association between the dose of a common treatment for hyperthyroidism and risk of death from solid cancers. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! LH :4.12(1.70-8.60) I am worried the medication or added T3 (Armour)is making that happen and it could be hurting my heart. It turns out that thyroid hormone is actually necessary to not only thrive in life but also to survive. 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. Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. Taking a safe nascent iodine supplement may boost hair health and growth in the . 08 July, 2011. I am already over weight and working on losing it. What Is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test? 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. Your doctor should monitor you for symptoms of hypothyroidism after RAI treatment. 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 ? Its the working hard for absolutely nothing that I dont want to do! MY QUESTION IS AM I ABLE TO WORK ABROAD WITH THIS. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! Radioactive iodine therapy is a systemic and targeted treatment. my RAI, i have rough horsey voice also for a month . The amount Hi! If you destroy the entire gland then you will definitely need to be on thyroid medication. Because the hair is sealed off during the BK treatment the color might not be able to penetrate into the cuticle. So, I ate what I could and left the rest. I will know more in a few days when he has all the pathology reports back etc. To further avoid exposing others to radiation:. Five years later I was diagnosed with a severe case of Graves and the doctor said RAI was the best course of action and convinced me of that. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. Any advice . Thyroid Hormone Resistance: What is it & How to Diagnose it. The I-131 leaves your body through your urine primarily. We know that that still leaves lots of options if your heart isn't already set on a color. Havent met yet my endoc after the RAI. 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. 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 guess that is my main question because I am willing to do the hard work even if it takes a long time. Are those levels indicative of something going wrong? But you probably at least know a little bit about RAI or you wouldnt be here. Iodine is also sometimes prescribed as a topical treatment for certain conditions that cause hair loss on the scalp. Thanks look forward, Yes! This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your . 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). One of the more surprising aspects of getting RAI done is the fact that you are quite literally radioactive after your procedure. Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. Thank you and God bless! 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. It sounds like you are being underdosed based on your TSH level. 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. 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. Some doctor told me to move to the mountains, which I did to avoid toxic chemicals. 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. I would actually think about taking chances with the cancer instead of gaining weight. Its not just that I cant stand the heat I get overheated so fast that I have to get in the AC or I feel like Im gonna pass out. All rights reserved. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. 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. My exercise routine has been reduced because of back injuries and arthritis. The issue now is that I have no refills on the levothyroxine and have not had any blood work in about 2 years. He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. I have spoken to my doctor about it but he doesnt care. Have you ever heard of this before? Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The researchers found that the proportion of overweight people increased from 9.6% to 18.5% (almost double) and the proportion of obese patients increased from 6.4% to 21% (almost quadruple) (4). Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). 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. As so many of you, I too was very unaware of the many causes of having your thyroid removed can have on a person, or the underlying affects that can be caused by the I-131 RAI "therapeutic" radioactive iodine treatment. I had RAI treatment for severe Graves disease in 1993. Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. This was published id a study by dr brunelli fro. You get it in liquid or pill form. After rai treatment I had blood test results was :freet4 was 13.3pmol/L (11-23)free t3 was 4.30pmol/L it was normal (3.1-6.8) I was happy and I had another blood test 26 July 2017 and results was TSH was 0.01 (0.35-4.94) freet3 was 16.32 pmol/L (never ever high like this before) (3.1-6.8) my freet4 was 46.3 pmol/L (11-23) I was shocked how this happened after RAI treatment Sir ? Just have my RAI 2days ago. Iodine is a mineral that your thyroid uses to create thyroid hormone.