Not only can doctors NOT find a thyroid replacement that works for me due to side affects, Ive lost 70% of my hair and have to wear wig, Ive gained more weight than ever before in my life, Im constantly fatigued, in pain, moody, still have a very fast heart rate between 110-130, anxiety (like Im still hyperthyroid, but Im not.) Does Taking Thyroid Medication Cause High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Is this normal? Importance: Patients who undergo radiographic studies with contrast receive an enormous bolus of iodine. It was also noted my B/P was sometimes Hypertensive, and my glucose readings were starting to climb. Contrast distinguishes, or "contrasts," between organs, tissues, bones, or blood vessels during your imaging exam. American Thyroid Association. hisc hose nozzle parts. As a result, it isnt uncommon for some patients to suffer from persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism (meaning that they dont have enough thyroid hormone). 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. 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 ? Some doctor told me to move to the mountains, which I did to avoid toxic chemicals. This distinction is actually quite important. It is also called radio iodine. Can Hashimotos Be Reversed? Yes, absolutely. Oh, my CTS now has to be taken care of too, and ortho doc has me on Vit B6 for the nerve damage, also the CTS has gone into my elbow, shoulder, neck and back now too. You are very welcome, I hope you find the information helpful! Like the effects of chemotherapy, hair follicles and new hair are more delicate and prone to . To further avoid exposing others to radiation:. He just does my blood work and adjusts my medicine as needed. Are those levels indicative of something going wrong? Because of this, people may experience symptoms that may lead them to want to restore whatever thyroid function they can. Because the hair is sealed off during the BK treatment the color might not be able to penetrate into the cuticle. Pretty much any of the diets listed there will be at least somewhat beneficial. 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. If your head and scalp are exposed to radiation (usually after a brain tumor surgery), it can affect the hair follicles and cause hair loss while the rest of the body may be unaffected. Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. 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. And in addition to going back to surgery for the left lobectomy, to expect to be on the Radioactive Iodine therapy. Take care in washing, treating and grooming your hair. It turns out, which should come as no surprise, that medications are not a 100% complete substitute for the activity that your thyroid gland does on a day-to-day basis. Most people who get radioactive iodine treatment do so because they are considered to be hyperthyroid (sometimes people get RAI for thyroid cancer (5) but most people get it for hyperthyroidism). This usually means that you are being overtreated and are being put into a state of hypothyroidism. I am going in for radioactive iodine treatment next week and wanted to ask what the best diet plan is that can stop me gaining more weight and help me to reduce my bmi. My last blood test shows TSH of 0.02 and I have been asked to go for a follow up test. IM HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH WHAT I TAKE NOW! It was not and I have been searching for help ever since. can i color my hair after radioactive iodine. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or dull. I ordered the dutch test so have those results but I cannot read it and I am not sure what it all means. I was being treated for hypothyroidism and graves . 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. He is now smelling smoke, all the time. In your case, these would be best: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroidectomy-rai-bundle/. 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). I had never been to endocrinology prior and had no idea about thyroid function. I'm Westin Childs D.O. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is a common disease of older cats. Radiation can be measured around your body and I-131 is present in your skin oil and sweat. Family Medicine 59 years experience. I dont see such good numbers. I would recommend that you read this article for more info: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/. You can drive yourself, have someone pick you up and take you home, or take a taxi or private car. In the mean time, Im feeling worse about myself than with this original post. I have my thyroid ablated about 20 so years ago. what is the normal amount of time a person needs to be off thyroid supplemental medication before the radioactive iodine treatment is done? The next person to tell me how easy this cancer is, Im going to pull their toenails out threw their nostrils then tie them in a knot out their but hole. 3 Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction. 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/. No ill effects have been noted in the children born to parents who received radioactive iodine in the past. Also learn more about our which will minimize the contamination in your home's isolation room. I was exercising and my nutrition intake is organic most fruits, vegetables, meets grass fed etc. 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.. Your TSH should always drop as you increase your thyroid dose and you should aim to get that TSH around the 1.0 range (which is considered normal in healthy adults). Thyroid Hormone Resistance: What is it & How to Diagnose it. Im worried more about loosing my hair than my life. I am a female, and Im 60 years old, soon to be 61. Fact sheet: guidelines for patients receiving radioiodine I-131 treatment. Your body then takes up this radioactive iodine into your thyroid gland where the radiation proceeds to destroy thyroid gland tissue. When you are given radioactive iodine, it is taken up by cancer cells and destroys themincluding those that have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. If you are a man, just be sure to consider this before you get your operation. I dont have another drs appointment till after the holidays. This means avoiding public transportation, hotels, carpools, and in some cases, your workplace. Once your thyroid is destroyed, it will no longer work exactly as it used to. Please help! After you get the dose, the scanner checks your entire body for signs of radioactivity. Hi,I have awhile to have enough hair to dye.I also have another 4wks. I had this feeling when I went into surgery last Tuesday, but shrugged it off as just my fears in over time. 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 eyes improved for a while but now seem to be getting worse. I must admit I feel like a lab rat at times with all the tests and trials. I have AFib and concerned for my heart about going into the obese stage. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a treatment method for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. The issue now is that I have no refills on the levothyroxine and have not had any blood work in about 2 years. This was published id a study by dr brunelli fro. Hyperthyroid Symptoms Checklist Do you Have an Overactive Thyroid? 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. Radioactive iodine (often abbreviated RAI) is a therapy used to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Please help me what to do with this. Have you ever heard of this before? While you cant control this side effect 100%, you can do your best to mitigate (or reduce) any weight gain by going into your procedure at a normal and healthy weight. I would like to try some of your supplements, but not sure which ones I should be looking at. Anecdotally, youve probably already heard stories about people gaining weight after their procedure. I was originally on Synthroid for a while and as I got older my body changes and T3 was required for optimal levels. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now: #1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here. My Dr. stated that my MTHFH enzyme is blocked indicating a genitic issue. 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. Researchers estimated a 12% increased risk for death from breast cancer and a 5% increased risk for death from . I felt well on this level. Results were. 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). I had a miscarriage about a year after the RAI treatment. Because of this . They have already said I would need to take the radiation iodine treatment. 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. The only other condition that causes heat intolerance that comes to mind is menopause and perimenopause. I would say many of your symptoms are unusual but this article highlights some of the routine side effects that may be experienced. 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. Im planning on RAI in the next 2 weeks. If you need to add red tint to your hair, then using carrot juice is one of the easiest ways to do it. I underwent RAI 14 years ago for Graves disease. He also told me something about an injection of something, as well as being on some sort of thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the remainder of my life. The cold also affects me if its too cold I really get cold but thinking back I pretty much think I was always like that with cold. 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/. This keeps the radioactivity from destroying other cells in your body and only allows for the destruction of your thyroid gland. People may take RAI . Anna Thomas. The amount The problem is that once you destroy your thyroid gland you are no longer considered to be hyperthyroid. My weight seems to be of no concern to him as long as my blood work looks okay. What Is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test? Radioactive iodine therapy is a systemic and targeted treatment. My supplements can help but they will not take the place of thyroid medications like levothyroxine. I know, I know, I shouldnt be so vain. In some radiation emergencies, usually nuclear power plant accidents, radioactive iodine may be released into the environment and enter the body through breathing or eating it. They wanted to give me more RAI IV for test, but I refused and I know I would have died had they done that. Receiving intravenous iodinated contrast (iodine "dye") may also cause hyperthyroidism. . Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it in for 20 minutes. Its even more important to test free thyroid hormone levels if you no longer have a thyroid gland. What can I be looking at regarding weight gain. I am concerned. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your normal. I am worried the medication or added T3 (Armour)is making that happen and it could be hurting my heart. Thank you! Many thanks in advance for any help. 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). Im 60 years old, so its not like Ive got a full life ahead of me, not a big deal. I has RIT approx. If you will be traveling via airplane or crossing an international border in the period following RAI treatment, you must be provided with a written document from your healthcare provider stating they you have been given a medical treatment involving radiation, as security monitoring devices can detect it. Contact: NCI Press Office. cooked green vegetables. A single injection is given subcutaneously (i.e. You can find my recommendations on how to manage hair growth/hair loss with thyroid disease in this detailed guide: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/. Radioactive Iodine. But, if I was being honest, I think that most people should not rely on the possibility of restoring much thyroid function after their procedure. Findings from a study of patients who received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism show an association between the dose of treatment . Radioactive iodine works by taking advantage of the physiology in your body (1). Some allergic reactions can cause severe anaphylaxis, but this . Also I drink 100 ounces of water plus other hydrating fluids and food per day. If this occurs, it is usually goes away as the body heals. My GP at the time liked to keep me on that level despite blood results as he said it was better for patients to be at the higher end of the scale in case they needed a metabolic boost when ill. Your article is quite interesting. I dont want to go back to him but no one else will see me without a referral since Im still considered his patient. A better option might be to try just a partial thyroidectomy or to take out just the half of the thyroid with the cancer. My endo physician would not increase the dosage so I went to my G.P. Can I dye my hair? Youll still need to get those but the supplements can be used in addition to them. 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. Calculating the half life of radiation, it will be a couple months before I can be around nursing home residents and pregnant women, and each and every nursing home has several pregnant women on each unit and each shift. 5PM supper with VS and glucose readings. In regards to diets that can help, please see this article: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-diet/. I used to be bubbly, and interactive with people. Credit: iStock. fresh bread. For example, uranium has thirty-seven different isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. The thyroid gland is the only tissue in the body that takes up and holds onto iodine. I go to great lengths to help my users better understand their health; however, the content you see here is not a substitute for medical advice. It sounds like you are not being treated adequately. My TSH is very low but my free T3 indicates my body isnt using T3. 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. Thank Sharon. 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? Theres no way to tell if your eye symptoms are related to your thyroid without first trying to optimize your TSH (which should be your next step). Iodine (chemical symbol I) is a chemical element. Yes, radiation therapy causes hair loss. The amount of iodine taken up by your thyroid is then measured. June 7, 2022 . It seems though that people who are already overweight BEFORE their procedure probably have the worst outcome and tend to gain the most weight compared to others. Symptoms of a moderate or severe reaction that require urgent medical care include: Severe vomiting. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers develop from follicular cells, which absorb iodine. So, do your research, make sure RAI treatment is right for you. My question is even though my thyroid is dead, should the T3 and T4 level be tested as well? I am already over weight and working on losing it. 240-760-6600. Fifteen years ago diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had RAI. 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. Endocrine Today | A 25-year-old woman was referred for radioactive iodine remnant ablation for multifocal micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. So, I have to laugh at your 80 to 90% back to a normal life. 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. 8PM HS snack and VS and glucose readings. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Thyroid Health: Is it Safe to Use? P.S. Thanks look forward, Yes! This is my own journey with battling cancer and by any means not meant to scare or offend anyone, but to get my story out. And that training tells me I wont be ready to go back to work that afternoon. not the treatment of choice for them. Instead of working to actively reduce thyroid function in your body (which is what the treatment for hyperthyroidism is), you may want to start focusing on how to optimize what little thyroid function you have left. Not to mention the radiation! and my being a nurse, Im researching and learning all I can. Important to men is the fact that radioactive iodine can cause short-term reductions in sperm count for up to 2 years after your procedure (8). Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. I have spoken to my doctor about it but he doesnt care. 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. If below 100 I will consider a snack of some nuts or piece of fresh fruit. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. I know this post is older but I am considering radiation! 3 weeks after I was taken off of PTU. Iodine and Hair Loss. I had the motto: Ive never met a stranger, they are just the friends I havent met yet. Now, I would rather not talk to anyone, and if Im forced to, I keep it to bare minimum. Radioactive iodine may also be helpful for people with certain types of thyroid cancer. Need better symptom control? Theres a higher risk that the cancer comes back but its also a way to preserve some thyroid function. Life has been very difficult as I basically go very few places now and live a life with little social contact. I am gaining weight! Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do. 5 years ago I had intense radiation treatment for breast cancer and was told to avoid X-Rays, Cat Scan, unless absolutely necessary. Because the radioactive iodine used (known as iodine 131) may expose those around you to the effects of radiation (and theoretically negatively affect their thyroid glands), you will be given guidelines on how to prevent such exposure. 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. By Mary Shomon I am now 54 years old. I also used Nioxin shampoo. https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/ Although hair dying can be an artifact on the postablation . Iodine is a mineral that your thyroid uses to create thyroid hormone. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism presented themselves very quickly and I was very sick when I had the ablation. Be wary of home-use products, and use recommended professional products for dye, highlights and conditioning. 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. By looking at markers such as your TSH, free t3, and free t4 you can get an idea as to what is actually going on. They are basically useless here, Ive been to two, and I am actually SCARED for the first time in my life. Iodine-131 (I-131) is radioactive. 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. my husband had the iodine radiation, for Graves disease. I feel good, but still struggling with tiredness and some weight gain (some weight gain due to post menopause). But Im not a pretty woman, rather plane, and frumpy.