I would take a look at this article for more information on why people gain weight after RAI: https://www.restartmed.com/hyperthyroidism-weight-gain/, You can also find some tips for weight loss in this article (even though it is more specific to thyroidectomy): https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-thyroidectomy/, After the treatments, How fast do the weight begin to add in the pounds. My problem now is my hair loss and I cant help get rid of this problem. LH :4.12(1.70-8.60) You should have your thyroid lab levels tested to see if you need medication. Its been a week after 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. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7703e5f38024655a2d5bbdddbfa13ec" );document.getElementById("bc952adef4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hey There! The amount I have not lost any weight. 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. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). 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 . 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. Looking forward to your feedback . The trip will be about 45 minutes each way. You can find some tips and tricks on how to find the right type of doctor here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. . Reply. This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Westin Childs and is for educational and information purposes only. First off, why am I so tired? If you are a man, just be sure to consider this before you get your operation. It doesn't matter where those cancerous cells might be. If your overactive thyroid symptoms persist 6 months after treatment, you may need a second dose. The highest sources (and those to be avoided) are iodized salt, grains and cereals, some breads . I dont have any definitive results/reports as yet, however, I do have that gut feeling. 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. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. Radioactive iodine. I feel more like a ping pong ball being bounced back and forth! Iodine is also sometimes prescribed as a topical treatment for certain conditions that cause hair loss on the scalp. Radioiodine treatment avoids surgery, anesthesia, and anti-thyroid drugs. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! What should I do after this treatment to restore my metabolic functioning and gut biome? Fortunately, most patients experience reduced symptoms about a month after treatment. rice and dries pasta. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers develop from follicular cells, which absorb iodine. 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. In this procedure, you are intentionally given Iodide, I-131, which emits radiation. non dairy spreads such as Vitalite, Pure and non dairy Flora. You can eat the following foods because they contain very low levels of iodine: fruits and vegetables including potatoes. I had radiation treatment for my thyroid 5 days ago to shut down my thyroid. One study looked at 157 people and tracked them both before and after their procedure. These are just a few of the questions that I want to answer in this article. Then she said I would have to have iodine radiation if these pills didnt work. Pls.can u explain about this. under the skin, like a vaccine) and the radioactive iodine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Your body then takes up this radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland where the radiation proceeds to destroy thyroid gland tissue. He is now smelling smoke, all the time. After all, didnt the radioactive iodine work to reduce your overall thyroid hormone production? Hair that is not being treated directly with radiation can be dyed. I HAD MY RAI LAST SEPTEMBER 12, NOW IM ALREADY 2 MONTHS AFYER MY RAI. So for the last 6 mos Ive had to take Levothroxine. Are those levels indicative of something going wrong? relative viscosity of nylon 6; predictive index cognitive assessment answers; why do baseball players spit so much my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. 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. Restoring your metabolism will have more to do with your dose of thyroid medication than anything else. This is usually put into pill form for patients to ingest. Can Hashimotos Be Reversed? You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do. So, do your research, make sure RAI treatment is right for you. In regards to diets that can help, please see this article: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-diet/. 20 Life has been very difficult as I basically go very few places now and live a life with little social contact. A thyroid scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. The good news is that not every single person who gets RAI will necessarily gain weight. It is not common in the United States to hospitalize patients after RAI, but if you are receiving a particularly high dosage of iodine 131 and have no way to protect children or babies, it may be an option. I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. 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. 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. I am considering following up with the endocrinologist in the morning. Hives. June 10, 2022 . I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. . The other 20% may require additional testing and the use of other thyroid medications which contain T3 thyroid hormone. #4. Because of this, people may experience symptoms that may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can. 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. Thank you for any advice! Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment method for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. #2. 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. Free T3. If I have all of these symptoms and have had levels increase so much, is it worth seeing another dr due to my history or do you think this is normal? Tips for Eating and Cooking While on a Low Iodine Diet. Neck tenderness and swelling. what is the normal amount of time a person needs to be off thyroid supplemental medication before the radioactive iodine treatment is done? This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! Although hair dying can be an artifact on the postablation . To keep my glucose readings at or below 120, the desired reading by my PCP and endocrinologist, I am strict to my vegan/plant based diet, and consume 600 to 800 calories per day. 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. Improving gut function can be done through diet and supplements. Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. Muscle pain or weakness. (former Osteopathic Physician). Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. It's a highly effective treatment that can cure an overactive thyroid. And how can I persuade my GP to think about more than a TSH reading? I was experiencing heart palpations, diffuclty breathing while lying down, weight gain. General Information. I had this feeling when I went into surgery last Tuesday, but shrugged it off as just my fears in over time. 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. 20 yrs ago. I am getting ready to have thyroid removed due to cancer. Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. not the treatment of choice for them. I had a lot of hair loss right after my thyroidectomy. Thank You. I am on my own taking more precautions, and going at this as a Haz Mat Tech, Yes, Im that too, as I am a volunteer fire fighter/EMT/ and wear many other hats as well as Haz Mat Tech and am certified in Decon operations. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Doctors made me think it was my only option at the time. 3 Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction. Radioactive iodine can also show whether cancer has spread beyond the thyroid. Very small amounts of iodine may also be taken up transiently by . All rights reserved. Protecting Your Family After Radioactive Iodine Treatment. Contact: NCI Press Office. I love to write and share what I've learned over the 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. Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. Its even more important to test free thyroid hormone levels if you no longer have a thyroid gland. If you have heard of this before is there a natural vitamin or something that will help me control the heat in my body? It can also help to diagnose and treat some other cancers and conditions. Potassium iodide (KI) is a type of iodine that is not radioactive and can be used to help block one type of radioactive material, radioactive iodine (I-131), from being absorbed by the thyroid. I feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Iodine is essential for proper function of the thyroid gland, which uses it to make the thyroid hormones. So far I feel strong and as I did before. Symptoms of a moderate or severe reaction that require urgent medical care include: Severe vomiting. 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. Its drastically changed my life. (I also bought a digital scale to get the most accurate weight) Then my full set of VS and glucose readings. If a person with a health thyroid intakes the I131, it will damage their . Its definitely possible it just takes more time and the weight loss is slower. I know it Hass to be because it started affecting me as soon as I Started losing weight and before I had been diagnosed. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2. Any idea Sir ? After you get the dose, the scanner checks your entire body for signs of radioactivity. I know, I know, I shouldnt be so vain. Now I cant stand the heat and I used to go to the beach all the time. Will it . You probably will not feel sick during this time, but these precautions are in place to prevent you from accidentally harming another person! Is this normal? You usually take radioactive iodine as a capsule that you swallow. This usually means that you are being overtreated and are being put into a state of hypothyroidism. Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. My blood work prior was This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. I am gaining weight! 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 ? Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I live in Florida and I cannot stand enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the heat. Some people also feel flushed. June 7, 2022 . Please help me what to do with this. You usually have radioactive iodine as a capsule or a drink. 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. 8.1, Because I began feeling very unhealthy this week further blood tests were done. Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. Strange I know. Yes, absolutely. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. I know they are going to try to drop me further. olive oil, vegetable oils and nut oils. My question is what if I do radiation while my thyroid isnt hyperactive? Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. I will know more in a few days when he has all the pathology reports back etc. SHBG :43 (16-55) It targets VEGFR, BRAF, and RET tyrosine kinase and inhibits the proliferation and angiogenesis of cancer cells. I welcome Barbara Lougheed, author of the book Tired Thyroid: From Hyper to Hypo to Healing - Breaking the TSH Rule. I have my EMG the end of the month and take things from there. It can be an iodine-based material, barium-s ulfate, gadolinium, or saline and air mixture that can be swallowed or injected intravenously. The radiation comes from a radioactive substance called iodine-131. This distinction is actually quite important. 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. We know that that still leaves lots of options if your heart isn't already set on a color. RAI is a form of radioactive nuclear medication that permanently destroys thyroid tissue. Its the working hard for absolutely nothing that I dont want to do! If you destroy the entire gland then you will definitely need to be on thyroid medication. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) fresh bread. Prior to radioactive iodine treatment, doctors create a hypothyroid state in your body. 5. 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. I have AFib and concerned for my heart about going into the obese stage. Thank you! Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment that uses radiation to treat thyroid cancer. There is nowhere else to go tricare insurance is awful. 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. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Hi , I just had ROI treatment done a little over a week ago . It's permanent; once you take the iodine capsule there is no changing your mind. These are the questions that I want to focus on today and hopefully answer many of the current questions that you already have.