Last night my sister and I prepped my apartment: covered my sofa and bed, separated my clothes and saran wrapped all my kitchen handles!
No one really explained this process to me in detail. So let me break it down.
I'm not an expert, just a girl feeling her way through this ordeal.
I read a lot of forums and personal experiences online prior to going in for RAI therapy myself. From what I understand, it used to be an in-patient process. However, my hospital doesn't offer admittance for this procedure. Hence is why I had to radioactive-proof my own apartment. While it would've been nice and convenient for me to not have to contaminate my own things, it is very comforting to be in my own apartment. I just have to be very aware of what I touch.
At the hospital, I was taken to the lab to get my pregnancy test done. It's my state's law to conduct a MANDATORY pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to RAI therapy. Once the negative results came, it was a mountain of paperwork. I sat at a tiny desk signing paper after paper stating that I understand the dangers and risks of nuclear medicine and this particular procedure, agreeing to stay away from other people for 6 days, confirming that I've had all my questions answered and am willing to go ahead with RAI therapy. After the last paper was signed, I was given a glove and was told that the radiologist will place the pill in my gloved hand and I should take the pill with the glass of water provided for me. Whoa, it's serious if I need a medical glove to even handle this pill. I was scared of it. What would it look like? Would it be green and glowing or something?
I was receiving 100 mCi (millicuries) of radioactive iodine. I asked my radiologist if this dose was "a lot." She responded like a true medical professional, "it's all relative" but 100 mCi is the standard amount for thyroid cancer patients. Compared to patients with hyperthyroidism, who receive 10 - 15 mCi, it's "a lot." Compared to patients undergoing radiation for other forms of cancer, it's "pennies."
She picked up the tongs and opened a jar while standing safely behind a shield. She brought a tiny bottle towards me and I offered my gloved hand. Out came a tiny white capsule. That's it? This is the pill? It looked like nothing. I looked up to find that the radiologist had now backed away from me at least 4 giant steps. She said from afar, just take the pill with the water on the counter and then you can leave.
I popped the little white capsule in my mouth and downed it with some water. I walked out of the room to find that all the technicians stepped back as I stepped forward. I felt like I had the plague or something. They smiled politely from 5 feet away and waved.
As I walked down the hallway, I was very aware of my personal space. I tried to stay on one side of the hall. After seeing a doctor and technicians back away from me, I began to sense the seriousness of this tiny pill.
I drove myself home wearing gloves and came into my apartment with just advise to not eat for 1 hour and drink plenty of water.
What I learned:
- most of the radioactive iodine (radioiodine) will be absorbed within 48 hours
- the unused iodine will get flushed out of the body through urine (hence all water drinking), a smaller portion through feces, sweat and saliva
- keeping good hygiene when using the restroom is imperative (this is true even when you're not receiving RAI therapy)
- at the end of treatment, no radioiodine will remain in the system
most importantly
- resume eating normally after 2-3 days after taking the pill...!!!!
NO MORE OF THIS CRAZY DIET~!!!!
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