What precautions should be taken with radioactive iodine therapy?

Avoid prolonged, close physical contact with others, especially children and pregnant women.
For the first few days stay a distance of at least 6 feet away from others.
Sleep alone in a separate bed (at least 6 feet away from another adult).

How long do you have to stay isolated after radioactive iodine?

You are also required to self isolate for 7 days after your radioiodine treatment in order to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 whilst there is still a large amount of radioactivity in your body. A small proportion of people with COVID-19 may become very unwell and require admission to hospital.

Can I be around my dog after radioactive iodine treatment?

There is no need for concern about effects on your family, pets, etc., but it is still prudent to avoid close, prolonged contact for the first week. The advice to patients who are going home depends on whether they were treated for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer and on how much radioactive iodine was administered.

How bad is radioactive iodine?

Radioactive iodine can kill the cells that make up the thyroid gland and thyroid cancer. If thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of the body, radioactive iodine can attack the disease there, too.

Does radioactive iodine affect teeth?

High-dose radioiodine treatment can impair the long-term dental health, depending on the intensity of treatment and individual radioiodine uptake within the salivary glands. Patients should be made aware of salivary gland damage before high-dose radioiodine treatment.

How to prepare for radioactive iodine ( RAI ) therapy?

Preparing for RAI therapy. This drug is given daily for 2 days, followed by RAI on the 3 rd day. Most doctors also recommend that you follow a low iodine diet for 1 or 2 weeks before treatment. This means avoiding foods that contain iodized salt and red dye #3, as well as dairy products, eggs, seafood, and soy.

What can radioiodine be used for after thyroidectomy?

After thyroidectomy with or without lymph node dissection, radioiodine is also used for thyroid remnant ablation, for adjuvant treatment, and for the treatment of distant metastases ( 3 – 5 ).

Can you take radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer?

Discuss your risks and benefits of RAI therapy with your doctor. Radioactive iodine therapy cannot be used to treat anaplastic (undifferentiated) and medullary thyroid carcinomas because these types of cancer do not take up iodine.

How long does it take for radioactive iodine to work?

The RAI treatment may take up to several months to have its effect. Frequently, the end result of RAI treatment of hyperthyroidism is hypothyroidism, which is treated by thyroid hormone replacement (see Hypothyroidism brochure ).