She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution. 5 years ago I had intense radiation treatment for breast cancer and was told to avoid X-Rays, Cat Scan, unless absolutely necessary. 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). 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/. Hair follicles, which can influence hair shaft structure, length, and color, are known to respond to hormones including TSH. Is it healing and producing its own thyroxine now? IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! I welcome Barbara Lougheed, author of the book Tired Thyroid: From Hyper to Hypo to Healing - Breaking the TSH Rule. Thank you. Most of the radioiodine in your body will come out through the urine and stool. Is it 10 days? You should have your thyroid lab levels tested to see if you need medication. Here are some ways to minimize radiation risks to other people (and pets) after you have had RAI treatment: Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. I feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). The relationship between your thyroid to your hair growth aside, iodine . Catnip works for lighter colors. (former Osteopathic Physician). Thanks. Prior to that, I always weighed in the 125-130 lb range (normal for my height). The answer is maybe, and it depends on the person, how much damage was done to their thyroid, and other factors that arent always in your control. 20 yrs ago. I had a lot of hair loss right after my thyroidectomy. My biggest fear is loosing my hair, my identity as a woman. What can I be looking at regarding weight gain. Its the working hard for absolutely nothing that I dont want to do! Last week labs getting better with a methylpro supplement. Im planning on RAI in the next 2 weeks. Improving gut function can be done through diet and supplements. Therefore, it may be found in varying amounts in all food and beverages. Homocysteine down to 11.5, methlymalonic acid down to 257. The last person put me on methazolo and I read the awful side affects. One of the more surprising aspects of getting RAI done is the fact that you are quite literally radioactive after your procedure. I had never been to endocrinology prior and had no idea about thyroid function. Free T3. They wanted to give me more RAI IV for test, but I refused and I know I would have died had they done that. Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. The I-131 leaves your body through your urine primarily. 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. Severe reactions occur in 0.04% to 0.02% of people receiving contrast, with a death rate of one person in every 170,000. And, if you destroy your thyroid gland, it turns out that that may have consequences on your metabolism. Consuming excess iodine: If you're at risk for hyperthyroidism and consume too much iodine (through your diet or medications), it can cause your thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone. I know some people contribute this 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. And Ive become Flat with my emotions now. Im 60 years old, so its not like Ive got a full life ahead of me, not a big deal. cooked green vegetables. 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). 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). 1-2 Capsules of Leptin Resistance RX daily https://www.restartmed.com/product/leptin-resistance-rx/. I am a former Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (no longer practicing) that now focuses on producing the information you see here while also formulating some of the best supplements on the market (in my HUMBLE opinion) :). Total testosterone was :10.47(7.60-32) low I would recommend touching base with your doctor to see if its related to your procedure or if its caused by something else. How can I speed up a metabolism if I dont have a thyroid anymore because of the RAI? You can opt-out at any time. Hyperthyroid Symptoms Checklist Do you Have an Overactive Thyroid? 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. With all I forgot I had posted prior. 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. and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 6 years. Doctors use nuclear medicine to diagnose, evaluate, and treat . It targets VEGFR, BRAF, and RET tyrosine kinase and inhibits the proliferation and angiogenesis of cancer cells. Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. I have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, asthma, arthritis, allergies, MCS, auto-immune thyroid disease, etc. I had RAI treatment 4 weeks ago 29.9 mci due to hyperthyroid hot noduals. Looking forward to your feedback . MY QUESTION IS AM I ABLE TO WORK ABROAD WITH THIS. The thyroid gland relies on iodine to make the hormones necessary for the growth of healthy hair, teeth, and bones. The most common reason for RAI is the autoimmune condition known as Graves disease (6). I eat three meals with three snack times. Image: Shutterstock. This is of particular concern because this can lead to internal uptake with the radioactive iodine then accumulating in their thyroids. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. It may take some trial and error but 80% of patients should approximate normal symptoms over a few months. Like the effects of chemotherapy, hair follicles and new hair are more delicate and prone to . This can delay subsequent use of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy because the iodine can compete for uptake. rice and dries pasta. While I was taking Levothyroxine depression, brain fog and other symptoms for years now. If you are a man, just be sure to consider this before you get your operation. my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. 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. 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. Then she said I would have to have iodine radiation if these pills didnt work. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism. 20 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. It sounds like you are being underdosed based on your TSH level. Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, Information for patients administered radioactive iodine (I-131), Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. I cant find anything suggesting these are expected symptoms after RAI. I had RAI 20 plus years, I am 56 and my numbers are good. I have been tested and my doctor says that Im right where I need to be. Can Hashimotos Be Reversed? meat. 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. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment method for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. 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. All rights reserved. Iodine is also sometimes prescribed as a topical treatment for certain conditions that cause hair loss on the scalp. Can You Eat Soy If You Have a Thyroid Condition? I have expressed my symptoms to the dr and she did a panel revealing my TSH to be 3.687. Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolic rate of an animal. The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. Its not vain at all! 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. I forgot to mention, I was on nature Throid and changed to NP thyroid because of the dosage I need. Be wary of home-use products, and use recommended professional products for dye, highlights and conditioning. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. 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. SHBG :43 (16-55) What are you concerned about? If it doesnt go away then you have your answer, and if it does go away then you also have your answer. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. Hi! Yes I took the radation iodine pill five days ago what can I take for itchy skin I got some cortisone will that help. I am gaining weight! After years of somewhat of a normal feeling with the Naturethroid I received a letter saying they were taking it off the market. Endocrine Today | A 25-year-old woman was referred for radioactive iodine remnant ablation for multifocal micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. Many clinical studies have also confirmed that weight gain after RAI is a real risk. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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 . Cats can receive a second treatment, if necessary. I live in Florida and I cannot stand enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the heat. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. I had RAI treatment year 2010, and now I am taking levothyroxine for my hormonal replacement since I am considered as hypothyroid patient. People may take RAI . I would actually think about taking chances with the cancer instead of gaining weight. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . Are those levels indicative of something going wrong? So I have graves disease but was only diagnosed because I was actually gaining weight. If you fit into this category then you may not need to use thyroid medication afterward. Thanks look forward, Yes! 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. Certain 'hair supplements' should be avoided as they may contain iodine or interfere with levothyroxine . Not to mention the radiation! Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. Will you be able to lead a normal life? One doctor wants a monitor of pulse five times daily, hes concerned about para thyroid damage. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as "iodized". The trip will be about 45 minutes each way. Well since this journey has began Ive lost almost all of my hair and gained a ton of weight. After you get the dose, the scanner checks your entire body for signs of radioactivity. I was being treated for hypothyroidism and graves . 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. Radioactive iodine is a procedure that is often used to treat hyperthyroidism. Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. 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 exercise routine has been reduced because of back injuries and arthritis. 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. Dont let this be of major concern to you, though, because in most cases these symptoms can be managed. By Mary Shomon If you havent already then you would probably want to make sure it isnt your other hormones causing these issues. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. So, now my doctor told me a list of things to expect over the next while. Hello Dr .Child I read your list of vitamins all NINE of them, and the only thing I could think of is NO! I am in the military, stationed in Fl. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here. I am concerned. Recently also diagnosed with B12 deficiency and had exhibited most of the symptoms! In the mean time, thanks to the WWW. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. What medications (if any) will you need to be on? Iodine and Hair Loss. So is there any possible way to lose weight after the Radioactive iodone treatment or is it pretty much an absolute lost cause? https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ 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. I am 67 years old and just wonder how many years I may have either way. Your hair should be colored before a BK treatment. 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. The majority of radioactive iodine, therefore, will be absorbed by any remaining thyroid cells. What is your life going to be like after radioactive iodine treatment? If your overactive thyroid symptoms persist 6 months after treatment, you may need a second dose. That may not be the best decision, but I was becoming very depressed. Then PCP wants B/P readings and daily weights. Although caffeine-containing shampoos are popular they are not useful. Yes, radiation therapy causes hair loss. Havent met yet my endoc after the RAI. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. Perhaps the most concerning of all of the issues after RAI is weight gain. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment that uses radiation to treat thyroid cancer. 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/. Strange I know. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in appetite. So far I feel strong and as I did before. Lowered heart rate. Please give me your thoughts. I used to be bubbly, and interactive with people. Is this normal? This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. and my being a nurse, Im researching and learning all I can. Hi, Iodine is essential for proper function of the thyroid gland, which uses it to make the thyroid hormones. 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 had RAI about 39 years ago and every year Im tested for my TSH level which always seems to be in the normal range. I am getting ready to have thyroid removed due to cancer. 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 ! When we are deficient in this nutrient, the health of our hair is affected, leading to hair weakness or even total hair loss. If a person with a health thyroid intakes the I131, it will damage their . Abnormal menstrual cycles. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism presented themselves very quickly and I was very sick when I had the ablation. Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. Then, also there is the womens health portion of all this, and so I had my annual, and a polyp was found on my cervix, it was a rather large one, and thankfully no cancer cells on that, my PAP Im waiting for results. After your treatment, you won't be able to go home using public transportation, such as buses, the subway, trains, or a plane. Any advice . My endo physician would not increase the dosage so I went to my G.P. The short answer to this is no taking iodine supplements will have little to no effect on your hair growth. Its definitely possible it just takes more time and the weight loss is slower. So I had the ablation without much research on my own, and now Im at the highest weight of my life and miserable. 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 must admit I feel like a lab rat at times with all the tests and trials. My only option for help is the ER which is somewhere I dont want to go with all the crap a going around. Yes, absolutely. Everybody tells me that my thyroid being killed should have nothing to do with the heat affecting me like it does. I eat all organic. I was exercising and my nutrition intake is organic most fruits, vegetables, meets grass fed etc. A small portion of radioactivity will be found in your saliva and sweat. To increase the effectiveness of your upcoming radioactive iodine therapy, you may be prescribed a low iodine diet. They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. Radioactive Iodine. Is there anything I can do to protect myself as I am driving her. the tests after 3 weeks showed my TSH to be 12.920 and now she wants to increase the meds to 175. What will you really expect after your RAI, side effects #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. of iodine, and only one is not radioactive (Iodine-127). It can also help to diagnose and treat some other cancers and conditions. 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. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. 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. It's a highly effective treatment that can cure an overactive thyroid. You can omit the leptin resistance rx if weight isnt an issue (but it tends to be something that many RAI patients struggle with). You can find some tips and tricks on how to find the right type of doctor here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-doctor/. The other 20% may require additional testing and the use of other thyroid medications which contain T3 thyroid hormone. relative viscosity of nylon 6; predictive index cognitive assessment answers; why do baseball players spit so much So, I ate what I could and left the rest. The only other condition that causes heat intolerance that comes to mind is menopause and perimenopause. The average thyroid patient gains about 15 to 20 pounds after RAI/thyroidectomy and this weight is more pronounced if the thyroid patient was overweight prior to the procedure. Your Doctor will be able to help determine how much of your gland was destroyed. My health is anything but wonderful. Initially, before treatment I went to a renowned clinic due to having double vision. This is possibly TMI but any guidance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hi FSH was :4.33(1.50-12.40) The connection between your weight gain and hyperthyroidism is explained here: https://www.restartmed.com/methimazole-weight-gain/. And to key to getting there is to understand what happens to your body after this procedure and how it influences your thyroid function. 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). 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. And was doing well on a vegan/plant based diet. 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. Contrast distinguishes, or "contrasts," between organs, tissues, bones, or blood vessels during your imaging exam. If you are unable to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants and young children, ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of hospitalization. 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. 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. If contrast dye is used, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line. 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. My hair is the one and only thing about my looks that is considered beauty. 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. June 7, 2022 . Iodine is a mineral that your thyroid uses to create thyroid hormone. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. Difficulty breathing. 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. Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck. Before they killed my thyroid and before it was even diagnosed the heat affected me something terrible and would just take my breath away. 3 weeks after I was taken off of PTU. Welcome to my website! Memory loss. Because of this, people who undergo RAI (meaning those who destroy their thyroid gland) need some type of thyroid hormone replacement. Because your thyroid gland concentrates and stores iodine in your body. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". hisc hose nozzle parts. In regards to diets that can help, please see this article: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-diet/. My throat is killing me and outside of my neck is swollen. my RAI, i have rough horsey voice also for a month . As I am not a doctor, my specific question is why does the level of levothyroxine I require change if my thyroid was destroyed? And how can I persuade my GP to think about more than a TSH reading? I had my RAI 3weeks ago and they did not gave me a pros and con what to expect after. No ill effects have been noted in the children born to parents who received radioactive iodine in the past. Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals and as a stabilizer and/or safety element in food processing. I would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. I dont want radiation therapy especially as she hasnt even told me what caused this. June 10, 2022 . 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. My problem now is my hair loss and I cant help get rid of this problem. 3 days after that I started to become sick after I ate an unable to sleep. Rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo it. Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. Doctors made me think it was my only option at the time. So, I have to laugh at your 80 to 90% back to a normal life. This ThyCa has kicked my Gluteus Maximus but good! Its even more important to test free thyroid hormone levels if you no longer have a thyroid gland. Along with a pain and numbness in my right hand. The radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) is also known as a thyroid uptake. The majority of radioactive iodine is taken up by your remaining thyroid cells, since the thyroid normally uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. If it was, then you will most likely need to start thyroid medication relatively soon (within the next days to weeks).