I had RAI in 2010 and was eventually started on a regime of 150 Levothryroxine daily, about 8 weeks post treatment. I eat three meals with three snack times. It turns out that thyroid hormone is actually necessary to not only thrive in life but also to survive. The amount of iodine taken up by your thyroid is then measured. In most reports, the side effects include contrast dye allergy reactions, hyperthyroidism, and contrast-induced nephropathy accumulation of metformin. I am gaining weight! Havent met yet my endoc after the RAI. I know they are going to try to drop me further. This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Westin Childs and is for educational and information purposes only. You should have your thyroid lab levels tested to see if you need medication. I have Graves Disease and lost 40 pounds. I would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. (former Osteopathic Physician). If you find that your TSH is high or that your free t3/free t4 is low, then this may be the cause of your symptoms. 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. As I am not a doctor, my specific question is why does the level of levothyroxine I require change if my thyroid was destroyed? Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. 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. It's a highly effective treatment that can cure an overactive thyroid. Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. MY QUESTION IS AM I ABLE TO WORK ABROAD WITH THIS. So I stopped going. I dont have any definitive results/reports as yet, however, I do have that gut feeling. The study followed people for 26 years after two or more treatments. 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. 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. Hi, doctor, I am in a lot of pain I stay cold 100 percent of the time with body aches sleepless nights. I had this feeling when I went into surgery last Tuesday, but shrugged it off as just my fears in over time. They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. I eat all organic. Pls.can u explain about this. Redness, tired eyes, they were seeing double, and not accommodating going from reading to distance. Anna Thomas. 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. 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/. He is now smelling smoke, all the time. 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 ? 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. Radioiodine treatment avoids surgery, anesthesia, and anti-thyroid drugs. So is there any possible way to lose weight after the Radioactive iodone treatment or is it pretty much an absolute lost cause? Thank you Thank You. Ultrasound can also be performed if . What will you really expect after your RAI, side effects The last person put me on methazolo and I read the awful side affects. I has RIT approx. 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. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! In the mean time, thanks to the WWW. Additionally, there is also a hypersensitivity reaction. 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. I ordered the dutch test so have those results but I cannot read it and I am not sure what it all means. Your hair should be colored before a BK treatment. I had RAI treatment done 10 years ago. Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. Free T3. 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. I feel more like a ping pong ball being bounced back and forth! Hopefully, you're now a lot closer to figuring out what color you should dye your hair. meat. Um, Im a night shift nurse on a dementia unit in a nursing home, would you want me taking care of your loved one and have the brain fog, the jitteriness, the irritableness, and depression? 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. The radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) is also known as a thyroid uptake. I dont feel like I have gone back hyper after being off my meds for 4 weeks. It was not and I have been searching for help ever since. 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). With a regime as this, its no wonder for depression, no sleep! can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Flush the toilet twice after using it and wipe it thoroughly to properly get rid of radioactive fluids. Use disposable dishes and place them in a specially marked plastic bag for disposal. Lowered heart rate. I have not lost any weight. My supplements can help but they will not take the place of thyroid medications like levothyroxine. 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. This ThyCa has kicked my Gluteus Maximus but good! <0.01 P.S. Then PCP wants B/P readings and daily weights. 240-760-6600. You probably will not feel sick during this time, but these precautions are in place to prevent you from accidentally harming another person! 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! If this occurs, it is usually goes away as the body heals. Radioactive iodine is created when the unstable atoms of radioactivity is piggybacked onto iodine so it will be absorbed by the body. Your thyroid gland absorbs nearly all of the iodine in your body. Even at this age, I still want to feel and look pretty. 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. Told to me by each and everyone whos never had this cancer! Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. However, all of these symptoms are also part of the menopause for which I now take HRT. 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. best army base in germany is dr abraham wagner married is dr abraham wagner married I know, I know, I shouldnt be so vain. 12 noon, lunch and VS with glucose readings. Your body then takes up this radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland where the radiation proceeds to destroy thyroid gland tissue. I moved doctors in 2016 and my new GP immediately put my dosage down to 125 despite my protestations that I felt absolutely fine on 150. However, it affects only the body part that is being treated with radiation. Some allergic reactions can cause severe anaphylaxis, but this . 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) I was normal weight and now frustrated to be 30 pounds overweight. 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. The short answer to this is no taking iodine supplements will have little to no effect on your hair growth. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment that uses radiation to treat thyroid cancer. Improving gut function can be done through diet and supplements. Hives. Add black tea to the darker colors above to help the color last longer. I have been battling back and forth with weight gain and hair loss, mild IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! Read More. A better option might be to try just a partial thyroidectomy or to take out just the half of the thyroid with the cancer. 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). 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). At that time my numbers were so low I was experiencing eye problems. 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). Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Radioactive iodine can also show whether cancer has spread beyond the thyroid. The only other condition that causes heat intolerance that comes to mind is menopause and perimenopause. 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. If I take a snack is determined on what my glucose reading was. . 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 feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine. And that training tells me I wont be ready to go back to work that afternoon. I feel horrible. 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. 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. Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. #2. It is what it is. If you drive home after your appointment and there's another . This isnt always true, but it is true for MOST people. To help prevent thyroid problems that may cause hair problems, it's important to get sufficient dietary . My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. And Ive become Flat with my emotions now. For this reason, its ideal to try and lose weight prior to the procedure as opposed to after. 08 July, 2011. 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. If your overactive thyroid symptoms persist 6 months after treatment, you may need a second dose. Before you or any family members have RAI treatment, it is strongly recommended that you read up on post-RAI guidelines and speak with your healthcare providers about how they should be applied to you. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. Difficulty breathing. Your best bet to AVOID weight gain after RAI is to go into your procedure with a normal weight and to maintain a healthy lifestyle both before and after. The doctor started me on .50 of Synthroid, and taking the first dose my eyes cleared the next day. When we are deficient in this nutrient, the health of our hair is affected, leading to hair weakness or even total hair loss. FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) Instead, you are now hypothyroid (7) (meaning you dont produce enough thyroid hormone on your own). I have tried everything and it is frustrating. Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. 20 yrs ago. What type of cancer is treated with radioactive iodine? Its drastically changed my life. RAI is a form of radioactive nuclear medication that permanently destroys thyroid tissue. Also I drink 100 ounces of water plus other hydrating fluids and food per day. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type. Within the first 2 years I gained 15 pounds with no diet/lifestyle change. Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity. After your treatment, you won't be able to go home using public transportation, such as buses, the subway, trains, or a plane. 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 . The entire goal of the procedure is to put radioactive iodine molecules into your body with the sole purpose of destroying your thyroid gland. A thyroid scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in appetite. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. New study findings show an association between the dose of a common treatment for hyperthyroidism and risk of death from solid cancers. I welcome Barbara Lougheed, author of the book Tired Thyroid: From Hyper to Hypo to Healing - Breaking the TSH Rule. I would actually think about taking chances with the cancer instead of gaining weight. Thank you. Taking a safe nascent iodine supplement may boost hair health and growth in the . Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. Currently they have me on a combination of 100mcg Synthroid with 1 Grain of Armour (60mg. what is the normal amount of time a person needs to be off thyroid supplemental medication before the radioactive iodine treatment is done? Total testosterone was :10.47(7.60-32) low 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. 5. This resource is dedicated to helping people with thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss problems get the help that they need. Doctors use nuclear medicine to diagnose, evaluate, and treat . . However, I havent been placed on any med after treatment what is your professional opinion. Thyroid Hormone Resistance: What is it & How to Diagnose it. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. This is usually put into pill form for patients to ingest. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I wish I had found it weeks ago, but I didnt so I have to move on. After all, didnt the radioactive iodine work to reduce your overall thyroid hormone production? under the skin, like a vaccine) and the radioactive iodine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. They are planning radioactive iodine in the future. The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Is this normal? I know some people contribute this fresh bread. It has to do with how important your thyroid is in regulating your metabolism and your weight. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ The thyroid gland relies on iodine to make the hormones necessary for the growth of healthy hair, teeth, and bones. 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. So, do your research, make sure RAI treatment is right for you. 5PM supper with VS and glucose readings. Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive material called radiotracers. Will destroying your thyroid gland have long-term consequences? Iodine, an essential mineral, may affect hair health and hair growth through its effects on thyroid function. I have been on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for 3 years now and feel somewhat better. Pretty much any of the diets listed there will be at least somewhat beneficial. Just have my RAI 2days ago. The connection between your weight gain and hyperthyroidism is explained here: https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/. They ran many tests including an cerebral angiogram to check for a brain tumor which I doubted. If you are unable to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants and young children, ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of hospitalization. Dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese . Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . I was wondering can I color my hair at a salon. I have been tested and my doctor says that Im right where I need to be. 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. 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 dont have another drs appointment till after the holidays. My Dr. stated that my MTHFH enzyme is blocked indicating a genitic issue. One doctor wants a monitor of pulse five times daily, hes concerned about para thyroid damage. Some people, however, may have further trouble after their treatment and suffer from weight gain . Many people undergo radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) without really understanding what is happening in their bodies. So, I ate what I could and left the rest. I guess that is my main question because I am willing to do the hard work even if it takes a long time. 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 . can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Is there anything I can do to protect myself as I am driving her. Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Your healthcare provider will give you specific guidelines regarding how long various restrictions should remain in place in order to protect those around you. Your concerns should be taken seriously and evaluated. LH :4.12(1.70-8.60) My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? Any idea Sir ? 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. If you dont have thyroid hormone at all then you risk the chance of coma and death. Take care in washing, treating and grooming your hair. 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.. 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 ! 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. You can obviously survive after RAI (otherwise they wouldnt do the procedure) but I want to teach you how to thrive afterward. Hi,I have awhile to have enough hair to dye.I also have another 4wks. Unfortunately, the best way to prevent weight gain after RAI is to go into the procedure at a normal weight. 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. 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. Thinning hair. Thanks look forward, Yes! How can I speed up a metabolism if I dont have a thyroid anymore because of the RAI? 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 know I shouldnt be so vain, but honestly I am on this. What should I do after this treatment to restore my metabolic functioning and gut biome? Prior to my RAI my level was .03. Fortunately, most patients experience reduced symptoms about a month after treatment. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. 1. Anecdotally, youve probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure. June 7, 2022 . What medications (if any) will you need to be on? and seriously lethargic?! Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. 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. If you have heard of this before is there a natural vitamin or something that will help me control the heat in my body? The best course of action is to contact the doctor that was responsible for your procedure and let them know about your symptoms. No. 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. Because of PTC, I had a total thyroidectomy two weeks ago and now on Levo. I cant find anything suggesting these are expected symptoms after RAI. Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. You can eat the following foods because they contain very low levels of iodine: fruits and vegetables including potatoes. 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. Then she said I would have to have iodine radiation if these pills didnt work. 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. 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. My last blood test shows TSH of 0.02 and I have been asked to go for a follow up test. You may gain weight after you undergo radioactive iodine treatment. If you have any thoughts, I would appreciate those. 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. Symptoms of a moderate or severe reaction that require urgent medical care include: Severe vomiting. #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. Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. It was also noted my B/P was sometimes Hypertensive, and my glucose readings were starting to climb. Small amounts of I-131 may also leave through your saliva, sweat and feces. I would say many of your symptoms are unusual but this article highlights some of the routine side effects that may be experienced. You're given a drink or capsule that contains iodine and a low dose of radiation, which is . After Your Radioactive Iodine Treatment Getting home. 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. Since the science is inexact there are two ways of approaching the 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 had my RAI 3weeks ago and they did not gave me a pros and con what to expect after. 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.